6800GS AGP

[Kissimurra]

There are a lot of rumours concerning the "new" 6800GS AGP, so I thought that we could clear them up in this thread!

First of, the most interesting question:

Can you unlock the pipes on the AGP version to get 16 pipes instead of 12?

And the second question:

The AGP version is clocked at 350Mhz while the PCI-E version is clocked at 425Mhz-485Mhz. Why is the AGP version clocked lower and can it be overclocked to 425 Mhz?

If there's someone out there with a 6800GS AGP, can you look it up in Riva Tuner to see if there is 4 disabled piplines / quad?

Thanks in advance for the answers!

// Hjalmar Mill

 

[mwmorph]

1. yes, though results are mixed. initial extimates are 50/50 just like the 6800nu since it's the same cores.
2. it's a differet core(.13 micron instead of .11micron, agp native and, bigger, more complex) and it is sorta unlkely to overclock to 425mhz. There is a xfx special edition that's stock with 450mhz though.

 

[Wolfshanze]

1) Nobody knows for sure, at least not in the US, because the card hasn't been released here yet.

2) Why is anyone even bothering to compare the AGP card to the PCI-E card... they're on differant cores and about as similar as comparing a 6800GT with a X850XT... they're differant animals, so there's no good reason to be comparing the AGP 6800GS with the PCI-E 6800GS... I wish they used differant model names for these two cards, because the two are nothing alike.

(I assume we'll have more concrete answers in a couple of weeks when the card is released in the US... we need some Guinea Pigs to buy the card and experiment).

 

[theMan]

a few uk'ers around here have got them, but i still havent heard much about it.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: theman
a few uk'ers around here have got them, but i still havent heard much about it.

one UK member "claims" to have o/c'd it and UNlocked it but we have no proof nor has he returned . . . it was in one ot the two 'GS' threads.

 

[Kissimurra]

The 6800GS AGP has been released in Sweden! Yay!

XFX 6800GS eXtreme AGP

I wonder why the AGP version is more expensive than the PCI-E version, is the NV40 core more expensive to manufacture?

Well, I won't get one until I know how good the 6800GS AGP overclocks and if it can be unlocked.

And I agree with you Wolfshanze, it's kinda wierd that they name 2 cards with the same name when they have different GPUs.

 

[amenx]

I suspect Nvidia isnt manufacturing the NV40 (for the 6800gs AGP), it think it may be left over stock from last years 6800 production which when depleted, they'll say sorry folks, thats it.

Some will be unlockable, some wont. They'll be of varying quality, thats why you had 6800 nu, 6800gt and 6800u in the past, they speedbin them to sort out the better quality chips for the higher up models.

I agree they shouldnt have used the same 6800gs label. They're trying to ride the wave off the good reviews for the pci-e models. This is like what they did a few years ago with the GeForce4 cards and the Ti models, they went on to name the much cheaper, lower performing cards (the Mx cards) with the same Geforce4 label. Well it fooled me and many others into buying one and I did not appreciate it.

 

[Wolfshanze]

I suspect Nvidia isnt manufacturing the NV40 (for the 6800gs AGP), it think it may be left over stock from last years 6800 production which when depleted, they'll say sorry folks, thats it. Some will be unlockable, some wont. They'll be of varying quality, thats why you had 6800 nu, 6800gt and 6800u in the past, they speedbin them to sort out the better quality chips for the higher up models.

I totally agree here... I'm sure it's old left-over N40 stock... they DO speedbin-test these chips.... back "in the day" when N40 was hot, the ones that got the highest ratings and passed the most tests all got 6800U and 6800GT labels slapped on them... the ones that failed to score high got 6800NU labels stuck on them.

With the long line of 6800U and especially 6800GT production runs, I doubt there's much stock left of "quality" N40 chips left over. We're still not sure if you can or can't unlock the 6800GS, but even if you can, it's almost certainly not the same quality of N40 chip as a tested and certified 6800GT or 6800U.

So while the AGP 6800GS potential customers may be dreaming of a 6800GT or even 6800U utopia because "it's an N40 chip", they need to realize the quality of that chip is probably not on the same level as a certified GT or U.

 

[CKXP]

Originally posted by: Wolfshanze

I suspect Nvidia isnt manufacturing the NV40 (for the 6800gs AGP), it think it may be left over stock from last years 6800 production which when depleted, they'll say sorry folks, thats it. Some will be unlockable, some wont. They'll be of varying quality, thats why you had 6800 nu, 6800gt and 6800u in the past, they speedbin them to sort out the better quality chips for the higher up models.

I totally agree here... I'm sure it's old left-over N40 stock... they DO speedbin-test these chips.... back "in the day" when N40 was hot, the ones that got the highest ratings and passed the most tests all got 6800U and 6800GT labels slapped on them... the ones that failed to score high got 6800NU labels stuck on them.

With the long line of 6800U and especially 6800GT production runs, I doubt there's much stock left of "quality" N40 chips left over. We're still not sure if you can or can't unlock the 6800GS, but even if you can, it's almost certainly not the same quality of N40 chip as a tested and certified 6800GT or 6800U.

So while the AGP 6800GS potential customers may be dreaming of a 6800GT or even 6800U utopia because "it's an N40 chip", they need to realize the quality of that chip is probably not on the same level as a certified GT or U.

QFT, with the exception of the XFX edition @450mhz, but at XFX website, the same exact model is listed @350mhz XFX GeForce 6800 GS 256 MB DDR3 8X AGP (PV-T40B-UDF3) , but here it's listed @450
(PV-T40B-UDF3) link, i'm pretty sure it's a typo, even the memory clock speed doesn't match up (1100mhz) in the product info. at the top of the page it shows 450/1000

 

[Wolfshanze]

I'm sure the XFX will end up being a 350MHz card... there's no "miracle" N40 chips floating around out there and NVidia isn't going to release a 6800GS on an N40 chip that runs like a 6800U.

These are N40 chips after all... the card (including XFX) will be at 350MHz I'm sure.

 

[NoStateofMind]

Yep, the XFX 6800GS and the XFX Extreme 6800GS will be the same core clock. Wonder what the 'extreme' is for?:roll:

 

[CKXP]

Originally posted by: Wolfshanze
I'm sure the XFX will end up being a 350MHz card... there's no "miracle" N40 chips floating around out there and NVidia isn't going to release a 6800GS on an N40 chip that runs like a 6800U.

These are N40 chips after all... the card (including XFX) will be at 350MHz I'm sure.

agree...you don't see too many 6800u/gt NV40's running past 450mhz, i can barely get 440mhz on my 6800gt

 

[Wolfshanze]

Wonder what the 'extreme' is for?

The XFX 6800GS Extreme is targetted to the 20-something and lower crowd... the card will be "more hip"... TO THE EXTREME!

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
Yep, the XFX 6800GS and the XFX Extreme 6800GS will be the same core clock. Wonder what the 'extreme' is for?:roll:

"extreme" editions cost more.

 

[Mavke]

You can unlock the GeForce 6800 GS AGP but not the PCI-E version so be aware of that... Also the voltage can be modified in the BIOS of the GS to increase the performance.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Mavke
You can unlock the GeForce 6800 GS AGP but not the PCI-E version so be aware of that... Also the voltage can be modified in the BIOS of the GS to increase the performance.

we are still looking for "proof" that the GS can be unlocked.

 

[Wolfshanze]

You can unlock the GeForce 6800 GS AGP but not the PCI-E version so be aware of that... Also the voltage can be modified in the BIOS of the GS to increase the performance.

So you have the AGP 6800GS, you've done it yourself, and you can provide proof?!?

Right now everything is conjecture... until somebody actually gets a card in their hand, tests it, and posts results (with pics), I'd like to wait on passing a firm judgement!

 

[Project86]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150126

XFX 6800GS now in stock at newegg. $229, 350/1100 stock speeds. No reviews yet so no stories of unlocking success/failure.

I was one of the people holding out for the AGP version of this card, but I'm not really convinced anymore. Assuming average OC on the core (maybe 410-430ish) and not much OC on the memory (1100 is already very fast), and looking at the price, it's not a great deal. Even with a guaranteed unlock of the pipes, it's still just "OK". 6800GT's can be found for a similar price on the forums. And with that Microcenter X850XT deal for $200ar, there's no reason to buy the GS unless the price dips WAAAAY down.

 

[Chriz]

The EVGA card from Monarch is also in stock:

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=190141

 

[joincamp]

I bought the evga one from monarch. I guess I'll be one of your guinee pigs. Hopefully I will be able to provide some proof.

 

[the Chase]

Woot! Curious readers are dying to know. Thanks joincamp!

 

[Wolfshanze]

Nothing as cool as letting somebody else spend the cash to be the first guniea pig!

Good luck, and keep us posted!

 

[imported_helto]

Hi, I am new to this forum although I have been visiting for many years.

I took delivery of an XFX GeForce 6800GS 256MB GDDR3, eXtreme, AGP8X yesterday and, using Rivatuner, have unlocked both the pixel and vertex units that were listed as locked. The card is running smoothly.

I have not yet tried to overclock the card but may do so when I have more time.

I am happy to be your 'guinea pig'.

Helto

ps How do I post pics?

 

[secretanchitman]

Originally posted by: helto
Hi, I am new to this forum although I have been visiting for many years.

I took delivery of an XFX GeForce 6800GS 256MB GDDR3, eXtreme, AGP8X yesterday and, using Rivatuner, have unlocked both the pixel and vertex units that were listed as locked. The card is running smoothly.

I have not yet tried to overclock the card but may do so when I have more time.

I am happy to be your 'guinea pig'.

Helto

ps How do I post pics?

:Q - welcome to the forums btw!

you really did unlock the pipes and vertex units?? thats AWESOME!

how to post pics...do you know how to take a screenshot of your desktop? its the "prnt/scrn" button near the top-right of your keyboard, near scroll lock. then open up paint, photoshop, or whatever picture program you use and just paste the image in there (right click, paste). then save the image wherever you want.

as for uploading, you can use our AT hosting which is called bbzzdd, or alternatively, you can use imageshack. both are free and easy to use.

i hope this helps!

 

[imported_helto]

Hi again.

Is this what you want to see?


Helto