6600GT or 6800(plain) max 1024x768 AGP

[GrayWolf8]

I need a new graphics card - currently using a Geforce 3 TI200 with a 2.4 Pentium 4 Prescott with 512 memory. My crt 17" monitior is 1024x768 max. I am playing COD, Generals, Sub Hunter III. Computer used for surfing web & gameplay. Lots of multiplayer online gaming.

Looking for major improvments in video in the $180 or less range. Been looking at the 6600GT and the plain 6800 but if a cheaper card will work for me that would be better as to put more memory in my system. I do want to be able to play some of the new games coming out. Max res I need is 1024&768 as that all my Toshiba 17" CRT will do.

Thanks in advance for the advice. AGP cards only.

 

[Malladine]

Between those two i'd go with the 6800 tbh.

Nice upgrade btw

 

[Colonel C]

The vanilla 6800 is better, and it can be overclocked to GT speeds.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: Colonel C
The vanilla 6800 is better, and it can be overclocked to GT speeds.

Not the memory.
Normally I'd be a cheap bastard and say just to get the 6600GT, but I'd imagine that 6800NU will let you crank detail with less of a hit than the 6600GT in the newer games coming out. Maybe you can even softmod it for a nice boost in power.

 

[xtknight]

The 6800NU is perfect...also a nice overclocker. It can even be unlocked to 16 pipes. With the 6600GT you're stuck with 8.

 

[ryanv12]

6800NU...that should prepare you for COD2

 

[Lonyo]

It depends on what you play/plan to play.
Limited to 1024x768, you'll want to crank up AA and AF to improve graphics, and both cards have their advantages, but in different games.
See here
The 6800NU seems to win most, but then if the only games you play are the ones it loses in, it's not worth it.

 

[A554SS1N]

I'd definately go for the AGP 6800 over the AGP 6600GT, due to the AGP 6600GT having a bridge-chip which can occasionally overheat and also uses lots of power. The 6800 is faster and much more efficient in power consumption. Always the possibility of unlocking pipes in a 6800, too, if you're into that kind of thing.

 

[RajunCajun]

If you will ALWAYS be limited to 1024x768 then the two cards are very, very close with the 6600GT beating it in some games related to faster GPU & memory. Most all reviews I've read show the 6800 faster only at high resolutions (1280x1024 & higher with AA/AF) I max out at 1280x1024 and decided to get a 6600GT. It runs HL2, Doom3, & Far Cry at this res with all settings at very high, 8xAF, and no AA. Games run very smooth.

The 256bit memory inteface of the 6800NU is faster at higher resolutions and heavy AA, But the 6600GT GPU and memory are faster, so most games at this low res run faster. If down the road you plan to upgrade the monitor (and you will), the 6800 will have longer legs.

Whichever way you go, BE CAREFUL when buying a sub $200 6800NU. Some of these cards have only 8 pipes instead of 12 pipes. So do your research before spending $$$.

 

[Kenjix]

I'm pushing towards getting the 6600gt since it has the WMV-HD hardware acceleration. Has anyone used this feature?

 

[majmera]

Doesn't the 6800NU have that as well?

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2305

"PureVideo is exclusively available on the GeForce 6 series of GPUs and only the latest GeForce 6 GPUs have a fully functional PureVideo core. The original NV40 and NV45 (GeForce 6800GT/Ultra) do not have functional Windows Media Video 9 decode acceleration, but the rest of the GeForce 6 series are feature complete (GeForce 6800/6600GT/6600/6200)."

 

[Kenjix]

I thought that as well but the nvidia website says that the 6800 doesn't have it.

if you go under features and benefits on their website the 6800 doesn't have it but the 6600 series does.

Any feedback to clear this up would be appreciated

 

[Avalon]

The AGP 6800NU video encoder thingy is broken, so if that's important to you, maybe you should grab the 6600GT after all.

 

[majmera]

Even nVidia's website says that it supports 6800. http://www.nvidia.com/page/purevideo_support.html
Avalon, why do you say it is broken?

 

[coomar]

it doesn't work on the 6800 series, if you need it, get the 6600gt