Is 6600gt gonna be worth it?

Goateh

Member

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Joined

Apr 27, 2003

• Jul 13, 2005

• #1

Well, I want to update my video card mostly so I can play bf2 (mostly). Nvidia is the only option I'm going to consider this time around, frankly I've kinda had it with ATi and there troubles for now (that and the cards seem to be a pain to OC ).

I'm looking at a 6600gt to replace my 9500pro because its just not really cutting it anymore in some of the games I enjoy playing. If you have any other suggestions I'm open to them, but they must be Nvidia and AGP as I don't intend on updating to PCI-E for a while yet. I did post earlier about getting a 6200, but thats only 30$ less than a 6600gt so I thought I may as well spend the extra $30.

The games I play I don't really play any higher than 800x600 when i'm playing online, even single player I hardly go above that. Any thoughts, suggestions and/or comments?


Thanks
Goateh

edit: Is it worth getting the 128 over the 256?

 

Last edited: Jul 13, 2005

C

consumer9000

Former STASIS Guy

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Joined

Oct 26, 2004

Location

Bay Area, CA

• Jul 13, 2005

• #2

Well it depends how nice you want BF2 to look and how smooth you want it to run. Looking at your ram, you are 1536MB shy of what that game needs to run well. A 6600GT is not a bad card, especially when overclocked, but is seriously outclassed by a 6800GT or of course the latest generation of 7800 boards.

If you can't afford to upgrade beyond a 6600GT, you'll still be getting a card that is easily twice as fast as your 9500.

 

ScottinIndy

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Joined

Mar 24, 2005

Location

Western Arkansas

• Jul 13, 2005

• #3

Perhaps an option to ponder, Seems most folks have had good success at getting at least 4 of the extra pipes to unlock, And some all 8. The 256 bit memory would be a plus also. I don't know if it would be better than a 66gt, It seems like it has the potential to be though.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122212

 

OP

Goateh

Member

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Joined

Apr 27, 2003

• Jul 13, 2005

• Thread Starter
• #4

Hrmm that could be a viable option, especially if the pipes unlock.

If they don't though would it still be better than 6600gt? Or would it be worse? :S

edit: Plus the 6800LE is still about $150 dearer than a 6600gt over here and as a comparison a 7800 GTX is about $950NZ

 

ScottinIndy

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Joined

Mar 24, 2005

Location

Western Arkansas

• Jul 13, 2005

• #5

If there is a sizeable price difference I wouldn't go for the 68le. I tend to forget that prices aren't the same everywhere!

 

OP

Goateh

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Joined

Apr 27, 2003

• Jul 13, 2005

• Thread Starter
• #6

Yer. Well the 6600gt should be fine hopefully. I take it the difference between the 128mb and the 256mb is the latency on the ram ?

 

jenko

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Joined

Jul 27, 2004

• Jul 13, 2005

• #7

I would go for the 6600GT specialy if you game at the 800x600 you mentioned 6800GT wouldnt be any better at such res's.
I play BF2 with everything set to highest except textures with a res of 1024x768, and it plays perfect.
I would recomend getting a extra 512mb of ram as 1GB is needed for BF2.

 

Zebbo

Mushkin Tech Rep

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Joined

Jun 5, 2004

Location

End of the Redline

• Jul 13, 2005

• #8

I had PNY 6600GT card sometime ago and the performance is very pleasant if you're looking the price you have to pay for 6600GT card. But you also have to take notice, it has only 128-bit memory interface so this eats alot performance when using high resolution (eg. 1280x960, 1600x1200), but if you're planning to go with the lower ones like 1024x768 or 800x600, then I think 6600GT is the card you're looking for.

 

S

Spion

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Joined

Sep 25, 2004

Location

KC

• Jul 13, 2005

• #9

i recently bought my 6600gt and am very happy with it. i upgraded from a 9600se, so a performance increase was ovious . it took me a long time to decide between a 9800pro and 6600gt, but i eventually decided on the 6600gt becuase once you turn the eyecandy on with most new games, the 6600gt came ahead by quite a bit. the 9800pro has 256bit memory but the 6600gt still comes ahead in most games.

 

avalanche83

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Joined

Jul 2, 2004

Location

Grand Rapids, MI.

• Jul 15, 2005

• #10

Unless you can unlock the pipes on the 6800le this thing doesn't have a chance. The unlocked version holds up ok but not very impressive to the 6600GT. 8 out of 15 benches the 6600GT was better than the unlocked 6800le. Here is a link for those specs. http://www.digital-daily.com/video/roundup2agp/index03.htm

 

Last edited: Jul 15, 2005

C

cooper15

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Joined

Apr 3, 2005

• Jul 15, 2005

• #11

"
Well it depends how nice you want BF2 to look and how smooth you want it to run. Looking at your ram, you are 1536MB sh"

i play bf2 with 1gb ram and it runs fine

 

B

Battle_Rattle

Registered

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Joined

Dec 19, 2004

• Jul 15, 2005

• #12

6800le?!?!?!??! Do NOT get that card.... go for a 6800nu or a 6600gt ..... the worst choice you brought up would be the 6200. Get a 6600gt man.... you wont be dissapointed for the money you paid. after the 6600gt the prices get a bit crazier.

The most important thing is DO NOT GET A 6200 or a 6800le..... Search google for Benchmarks and/or go to Toms Hardware for Benchmarks

 

OP

Goateh

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Joined

Apr 27, 2003

• Jul 15, 2005

• Thread Starter
• #13

Yeah but the thing I was thinking on with the 6200 would be unlocking the pipes, but it appear 6600gt is the way to go

 

TechtonicPC

Member, formerly Surfrat

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Joined

Nov 1, 2004

Location

Florida

• Jul 15, 2005

• #14

I agree the 6600GT is the best bang for your buck!

 

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BrutalDrew

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Joined

May 22, 2005

Location

NY

• Jul 15, 2005

• #15

Surfrat said:

I agree the 6600GT is the best bang for your buck!

Click to expand...

Ditto.

 

bohansen

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Joined

Dec 27, 2004

• Jul 15, 2005

• #16

with the lowered prices i would get a 6800.. a stock 6800 would outperform any 6600gt.oced or not. Then if u get the 6800 you can try to unlock it to GT

 

S

Spion

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Joined

Sep 25, 2004

Location

KC

• Jul 16, 2005

• #17

bohansen said:

with the lowered prices i would get a 6800.. a stock 6800 would outperform any 6600gt.oced or not. Then if u get the 6800 you can try to unlock it to GT

Click to expand...

yeah right, no stock 6800nu will outperform my 6600gt, i will garantee that. show me a stock 6800nu that can break 4k in 3dmark05, then i will beleive you.

 

007

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Joined

Feb 19, 2004

Location

England Lancashire.

• Jul 16, 2005

• #18

Yup the 6600GT is the card for you bro - no doubts there my man.
The rig in my sig runs BF2 at 1024/768 at 85refresh rate using the 6600GT I have fine and dandy..

I have BF2 settings all medium to high so the eye candy is very noticable.. and the game runs perfectly..

It runs just as good after I put in some extra 2700 ram I had to take my ram over 1gig and then underclocked the FSB so the ram would work... and BF2 is still running great guns

I think you're in same sort of situation as I am, and are waiting till the whole dual cpu next gen cards and pci-e stuff starts to come down in price a good deal before we start to think about spending the hard earned cash..

For the rest of this year... a 6600GT will suite you fine...

007

 

pik4chu

Senior Yellow Forum Rat

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Joined

Jan 17, 2003

Location

Centennial, Colorado

• Jul 28, 2005

• #19

bohansen said:

with the lowered prices i would get a 6800.. a stock 6800 would outperform any 6600gt.oced or not. Then if u get the 6800 you can try to unlock it to GT

Click to expand...

the 6800le will never be able to = a GT even with unlocks. It comes close but an unlocked/OCed LE still doesnt compare to an OCed GT. Plus its only about 40% chance you can unlock the card.