6800nu vs the 6600GT

[Cisco Kid]

I figured since the 6600GT agp version has just come out and the benches look really nice I figured many may be interested in how and where the 6800nu card fits in and if it still represents good value/performance. I think there are alot of people out there who want to upgrade their video card such as 9500-9800 Pro owners and those running G3-Ti4600 cards but they really do not want to spend even more cash on an PCie board.

I think it is safe to state that both of these cards are going to perform best at 1280x1024 max res with eye candy on. Any higher res and large performance decrease. Please feel free to add links as the ones below are of a 6600GT pcie vs the 6800nu and other cards, and I will update if there is enough interest. Reviews or tests pitting the 6600GT agp vs the 6800nu seem scarce sine the 6600GT is so new.


Xbit link dated Nov 18/04 showing the 6800NU ahead of the 6600GT in HL2 and the 9800XT putting in a good performance. Top spots all held by ATI though
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/half-life_4.html

6600GT $214.99 shipped till 11/30/04 w coupon from cyberdeals

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10387999&dcaid=1688
http://www.buy.com/retail/coupon.asp?prid=88301879&dcaid=1688

http://www.digitimes.com/mobos/a20041117PR204.html

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_6600_gt/default.asp
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_6600_gt/page15.asp
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_6600_gt/page12.asp

AGP 6600GT - $229+/- currently
SLI ready
8 pipes
.11 process
128 bit interface
500 core/900 mem 2ns DDR3
Dual 400MHz RAMDACs
stated to run cooler
6600GT has working/better video processor than 6800 series

6600GT review below and card specs

http://hardocp.com/article.html?art=Njg5

vs

AGP 6800nu - $249 +/- currently
12/5 pipes = soft mod chance to 16/6 if so, HUGE performance increase
.13 process
256 bit = increased bandwidth
325-350/700 mem ? DDR1 proven to overclock quite well
Dual 400MHz RAMDACs
run a bit hotter

6800nu reviews below and card specs

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/gffx/nv40-3-p4.html

http://www.hexus.net/content/reviews/review.php?dXJsX3Jldmlld19JRD04MDQmdXJsX3BhZ2U9Mg= =

My personal vote would be to go with a 6800nu card. Lets get some feedback!

CK

[mattspalace]

I would also go with the 6800nu, but I think a lot of people will be drawn to the 6600GT's core and memory speeds - plus the 'new' factor.

[techun]

i think i saw a 6600 gt for 205 shipped, look around, i might be wrong

[Cisco Kid]

i think i saw a 6600 gt for 205 shipped, look around, i might be wrong

post links if you can as the lowest i have come across is $229. we can assume that the nu price may fall a bit as the 6600GT is released or it may remain constant. $249 for a BFG if you can find in stock is a great deal

CK

[musawi]

You arent wrong, the deal is in the Cyber Deals section.

[techun]

yeah, if i had an agp slot i'd be all over that...:(

[Cisco Kid]

You arent wrong, the deal is in the Cyber Deals section.

topic edited with 6600GT limited time deal

CK

[Ad Rock]

I would go with the 6800nu just for the fact that you might be able to softmod it and get some really nice numbers out of it.

I really am looking forward to a head to head review of these two cards.

[capmuffin]

dude msi makes the best gfx cards,the ti4200 i got from them had cooling kinda like this meaning it covered the RAM like the new cards do...plus the software is amazing and tons of free stuff. OH YEAH BABY I FORGOT $190 w/ free 2day http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=321916 kekeke :D

also it seems cisco kid,as myself am looking at the specs and prices of these two cards. I was going w/ the gt than went to the NU (if it came out for pcie) than i saw prices and a few more benchies,for $100 more its not worth the difference,if they still came unlocked i would get one.But it appears as they are. http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2278

ohh also i know this is pcie and your mostly looking at agp,but future upgrades can help decide early :D

also ck you have under the agp that its sli ready :D-if only

some more links http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2258
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2238

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2196
^mostly 1 fps difference between them :D

[Cisco Kid]

dude msi makes the best gfx cards,the ti4200 i got from them had cooling kinda like this meaning it covered the RAM like the new cards do...plus the software is amazing and tons of free stuff. OH YEAH BABY I FORGOT $190 w/ free 2day http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=321916 kekeke :D

also it seems cisco kid,as myself am looking at the specs and prices of these two cards. I was going w/ the gt than went to the NU (if it came out for pcie) than i saw prices and a few more benchies,for $100 more its not worth the difference,if they still came unlocked i would get one.But it appears as they are. http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2278

ohh also i know this is pcie and your mostly looking at agp,but future upgrades can help decide early :D

also ck you have under the agp that its sli ready :D-if only

some more links http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2258
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2238

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2196
^mostly 1 fps difference between them :D

the whole thread is geared towards the AGP version of both cards, I think there will be more interest for those interested in upgrading their current AGP video card and not having to spend more cash on a pci board.

Yes I made an error thanks for correcting me, and the links I have posted show the 6800nu in tests being pretty equal but the HUGE advantage imho that the 6800 has is the potential unlocking of the pipes. Should a person get a card that can unlock perfect they have a much faster agp card

We will have to wait to see the tests pitting the 2 against one another both in agp form. I think the greater bandwidth the nu offers will offset the clock speed of the 6600GT more than people expect but we will have to wait and see.

Keep the links coming

ck

[capmuffin]

the 6800NU is a better buy only if it is unlocked,16/6 is the only way its worth the price difference IMO. however (remembering agp thread) I checked nvidia's site, and the 6600gt 6800gt and 6800U are the only cards that are going to have SLI. also the agp says that it has less memory clock? the xfx has the same clocks but why slow it down? baa its another marketing trick like pcie. They want you to buy the fastest so they came out with a "slower" version on agp by clocking it slower so ppl will think it sux and spring for the pcie......


Graphics Bus PCI Express AGP 8X
Memory Interface 128-bit 128-bit
Memory Bandwidth 16.0 GB/sec. 14.4 GB/sec.
Fill Rate (texels/sec.) 4.0 billion 4.0 billion
Vertices per Second 375 million 375 million
Memory Data Rate 1000 MHz 900 MHz
Pixels per Clock (peak) 8 8
RAMDACs 400 MHz 400 MHz

[Cisco Kid]

the 6800NU is a better buy only if it is unlocked,16/6 is the only way its worth the price difference IMO. however (remembering agp thread) I checked nvidia's site, and the 6600gt 6800gt and 6800U are the only cards that are going to have SLI. also the agp says that it has less memory clock? the xfx has the same clocks but why slow it down? baa its another marketing trick like pcie. They want you to buy the fastest so they came out with a "slower" version on agp by clocking it slower so ppl will think it sux and spring for the pcie......


Graphics Bus PCI Express AGP 8X
Memory Interface 128-bit 128-bit
Memory Bandwidth 16.0 GB/sec. 14.4 GB/sec.
Fill Rate (texels/sec.) 4.0 billion 4.0 billion
Vertices per Second 375 million 375 million
Memory Data Rate 1000 MHz 900 MHz
Pixels per Clock (peak) 8 8
RAMDACs 400 MHz 400 MHz


Yep, keep in mind as well that the price diff between a 6600GT after the short rebate available on buy.com really closes the gap. We are talking about a $20 difference between an AGP 6600GT and a 6800NU such as the BFG card at bestbuy.com

Xbit link added as well thanks to another oc.com member

CK