256MB PCIe 6600GT finally reappears

[apoppin]

Fron the Inq

It might seem strange that nVidia has had to sneak the 256MB 6600GT out but it's one of the firm's darkest secrets. It can't have escaped the notice of many gaming and graphics fans that you could buy a 256MB AGP version of the chip but were completely out of luck if you tried to get a PCIe version. And the reason was bordering on scandalous.

When the 6600GT launched, the game that everyone wanted to run was Doom 3. It gave all the nVidia fanboys warm feelings because the game ran beautifully on their hardware and badly on ATI chips. But that's not the whole story.

It didn't take long for nVidia to realise that two 256MB 6600GTs in SLI could give the 6800 Ultra a run for its money in Doom 3. And two 256MB 6600GTs cost about 30% less at the time. The solution was simple: kill the 256MB version and only sell a 128MB version. That way the cards were hobbled and couldn't interfere with sales of the top end Ultra.

Now that the 6800 has been killed off there's no problem having a 256MB 6600GT back on the market. A pair in SLI shouldn't interfere too badly with sales of the recently announced 6800GS or with the upcoming 7600

nVidia does it too

 

[dug777]

with a 128bit mem interface i kinda doubt that...on AGP there's no difference between a 128mb and 256mb 6600GT as far as i know...

 

[lifeguard1999]

6600 256MB Review

Note, it is not the 6600GT 256MB.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: lifeguard1999
6600 256MB Review

Note, it is not the 6600GT 256MB.

the point is:

2 x 6600GT-256 [a pair was 30% cheaper than a single 6800 ultra]
was faster then [or equal to] a single 6800u

so nVidia CRIPPLED the PCIe version [but made a 256mb ver of the AGP card]

i always wondered why there was a 256mb version of the 6600GT but NOT the PCIe version. . . .

now we know :Q

:roll:

 

[kylebisme]

Originally posted by: dug777
with a 128bit mem interface i kinda doubt that...

Half the memory bus width per card, but two cards that each only have to worry about rendering half the scene.

Originally posted by: dug777on AGP there's no difference between a 128mb and 256mb 6600GT as far as i know...

Sure there is, the difference of being able to fid well more than 128mb worth of data on the card.

 

[Gstanfor]

6600GT cards have been available with 256mb in both PCI-E and AGP for at least the last 9 months.

Link
Text

They are extremely popular and sell like wildfire.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
6600GT cards have been available with 256mb in both PCI-E and AGP for at least the last 9 months.

Link
Text

They are extremely popular and sell like wildfire.

not in your first link - at all

nor in your second

they are either AGP or the 6800 series

 

[Gstanfor]

Are you blind, or just plain stupid?

GF-FX6600GTA-C3 GeForce 6600GT 128mb GDDR3 128bit DVI TVout HDTV AGP8x $ 239
GF-FX6600GTA-D3 GeForce 6600GT 256mb GDDR3 128bit DVI TVout HDTV AGP8x $ 285

They most certainly are not 6800's - I build midrange systems around them virtually daily.

 

[kylebisme]

You are right pic in his second link but the first link lists:
GF-FX6600GT-D3 GeForce 6600GT 256mb GDDR3 128bit DVI TVout PCI-E $ 275

However, it is from a company called XpertVision, who I have never even heard of before, but I checked their site and they don't list any such card. So I have to wonder if that linked shop even really has what they are listing.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Are you blind, or just plain stupid?

GF-FX6600GTA-C3 GeForce 6600GT 128mb GDDR3 128bit DVI TVout HDTV AGP8x $ 239
GF-FX6600GTA-D3 GeForce 6600GT 256mb GDDR3 128bit DVI TVout HDTV AGP8x $ 285

They most certainly are not 6800's - I build midrange systems around them virtually daily.

look again - they are AGP cards

:roll:

find a better link . . . i am beginning to wonder about your builds
:Q


EDIT: Looks like you are BOTH blind and stupid



======================

Originally posted by: TheSnowman
You are right pic in his second link but the first link lists:
GF-FX6600GT-D3 GeForce 6600GT 256mb GDDR3 128bit DVI TVout PCI-E $ 275

However, it is from a company called XpertVision, who I have never even heard of before, but I checked their site and they don't list any such card. So I have to wonder if that linked shop even really has what they are listing.

Look at the heading they are listed under: AGP cards

 

[kylebisme]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Are you blind, or just plain stupid?

GF-FX6600GTA-C3 GeForce 6600GT 128mb GDDR3 128bit DVI TVout HDTV AGP8x $ 239
GF-FX6600GTA-D3 GeForce 6600GT 256mb GDDR3 128bit DVI TVout HDTV AGP8x $ 285

They most certainly are not 6800's - I build midrange systems around them virtually daily.

Heh.

 

[Gstanfor]

As I said, I build systems around these cards. I'm sure my nforce4 owning clients will be supruised to learn I managed to fit an AGP card in a PCI-E slot...

suck it down

edit: the supplier webpage has an error on it, wherein it lists AGP twice I have just noted. One of those should be and in fact is, PCI-E

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
As I said, I build systems around these cards. I'm sure my nforce4 owning clients will be supruised to learn I managed to fit an AGP card in a PCI-E slot...

suck it down

suck it down yourself, forum flamer


did you even read the article i quoted?

i'll summarize for those with ADD:

ALL during the 6800u "reign", nVidia "held-back" on the PCIe 6600GT 256MB version so as not to compete with the ultra . . . when the ultra was "canned", the 6600GT PCIe was FINALLY released - withOUTfanfare [even though there should have been] . . . and yes it is available [since the ultra's demise]. . . . and 'yes' you can find it on nVidia's website

 

[LTC8K6]

If Newegg doesn't carry them, they don't really exist.

 

[crazydingo]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Are you blind, or just plain stupid?

GF-FX6600GTA-C3 GeForce 6600GT 128mb GDDR3 128bit DVI TVout HDTV AGP8x $ 239
GF-FX6600GTA-D3 GeForce 6600GT 256mb GDDR3 128bit DVI TVout HDTV AGP8x $ 285

They most certainly are not 6800's - I build midrange systems around them virtually daily.

look again - they are AGP cards

:roll:

find a better link . . . i am beginning to wonder about your builds
:Q


EDIT: Looks like you are BOTH blind and stupid



======================

Originally posted by: TheSnowman
You are right pic in his second link but the first link lists:
GF-FX6600GT-D3 GeForce 6600GT 256mb GDDR3 128bit DVI TVout PCI-E $ 275

However, it is from a company called XpertVision, who I have never even heard of before, but I checked their site and they don't list any such card. So I have to wonder if that linked shop even really has what they are listing.

Look at the heading they are listed under: AGP cards

pwned?

 

[kylebisme]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: TheSnowman
You are right pic in his second link but the first link lists:
GF-FX6600GT-D3 GeForce 6600GT 256mb GDDR3 128bit DVI TVout PCI-E $ 275

However, it is from a company called XpertVision, who I have never even heard of before, but I checked their site and they don't list any such card. So I have to wonder if that linked shop even really has what they are listing.

Look at the heading they are listed under: AGP cards

I don't follow what you are saying. The listing I pointed out is in a group of PCIe cards, and is under the heading "VGA cards."

 

[Viper96720]

Come on now look who the source of the article is "The Inquirer" nuff said.

 

[crazydingo]

Originally posted by: Viper96720
Come on now look who the source of the article is "The Inquirer" nuff said.

Funny that we tend to believe the same inquirer when it comes to 512MB GTX news .. double standards.

 

[Gstanfor]

It turns out that my first link, viciously attacked by fanATIcs who hate me for debunking yet another baseless rumour is quite correct after all. The PCI-E version IS listed, just slightly further down from the AGP versions

third card from the bottom ladies

As for the Palit (ExpertVision) site not having any info on the card in question :disgust:
6600GT PCI-E 128/256mb

For those who forgot their bifocals

As originally stated, these have been in plentiful supply for at least the last 9 months.

Another Inquirer article bites the dust...

 

[kylebisme]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
It turns out that my first link, viciously attacked by fanATIcs who hate me for debunking yet another baseless rumour is quite correct after all. The PCI-E version IS listed, just slightly further down from the AGP versions

third card from the bottom ladies

You are the one who posted a pic of the wrong part of the page the first time, do you blame that on "fanATIcs" too?

Originally posted by: GstanforAs for the Palit (ExpertVision) site not having any info on the card in question :disgust:
6600GT PCI-E 128/256mb

For those who forgot their bifocals

I went to http://www.xpertvision.com.tw/ and they didn't have any info on the card. I had never even heard of Palit or XpertVision before, tough luck if that trully disgusts you.

Originally posted by: GstanforAs originally stated, these have been in plentiful supply for at least the last 9 months.

Another Inquirer article bites the dust...

Apparnetly they have been avalable around your part of the globe, but the same isn't true for many of us including the people at the Inquirer. Not that I am one to defend the Inquirer here, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.

 

[Gstanfor]

No, my first link was correct. The picture was wrong, I admit that, but, when I posted it was 3 AM in the morning.

Palit/Expertvision have been around since the GeForce4 days, they just don't get as much media coverage as other brands.

Google review search

 

[route66]

Then why don't they just drop the 6800U and replace it with a dual 6600GT board?

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
No, my first link was correct. The picture was wrong, I admit that, but, when I posted it was 3 AM in the morning.

Palit/Expertvision have been around since the GeForce4 days, they just don't get as much media coverage as other brands.

Google review search

hehe, i've heard some horror stories about xpertvision cards over here in Aus
And owned an xpertvision 9550 that wasn't even stable at stock speeds. Ask at OCAU what they think of them

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: TheSnowman

Originally posted by: dug777
with a 128bit mem interface i kinda doubt that...

Half the memory bus width per card, but two cards that each only have to worry about rendering half the scene.

Originally posted by: dug777on AGP there's no difference between a 128mb and 256mb 6600GT as far as i know...

Sure there is, the difference of being able to fid well more than 128mb worth of data on the card.

i've never actually seen a benchmark on this, but as with all 256mb/128-bit cards, i'd doubt there was any advanatge at all to that extra 128mb of RAM...i can't think of a single case where that was the case, and even the 256bit/256mb 9800 pro shows a negligable advantage over the 256bit/128mb 9800 pro, at least undtil you hit unplayable settings.

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
No, my first link was correct. The picture was wrong, I admit that, but, when I posted it was 3 AM in the morning.

Palit/Expertvision have been around since the GeForce4 days, they just don't get as much media coverage as other brands.

Google review search

hehe, i've heard some horror stories about xpertvision cards over here in Aus
And owned an xpertvision 9550 that wasn't even stable at stock speeds. Ask at OCAU what they think of them

Never received a bad 600GT from them or had to replace one gone bad (not saying it can't happen). Like any 6600 series card, DO NOT handle the card by its heatsink or chances are very good you will damage the core (the mounting pins act like lever arms that can crush the edge of the core).

As for OCAU, these cards are intended for mainstream buyers and I would not reccomend one if you intend overclocking. There are more suitable cards on the market for that.

The extra 128mb helps in the 600GT's one weak spot - performance dropoff at high res + AA. It's also just smart purchasing. texture sets for games are not going to get smaller as time goes on - 128mb's day has been and gone.