6800nu vs. x800pro refurb

[wallrunnerm15]

if i can get a 6800nu for around $150 and then unlock it, should i get it...or i could get a refurb x800pro for around $180. is the performance gap worth the extra 30 bucks. I need the AGP version for my MSI Neo 2 865pe

 

[nRollo]

Of these two I'd get the X800Pro. It's not guaranteed the NUs will unlock, and at stock the X800Pro is a better card.

 

[MX2]

I have owned both cards and the x800 Pro is the better of the two.

 

[kyparrish]

x800pro hands down

 

[Megatomic]

I've had both and I vote X800 Pro as well. Awesome card.

 

[touchmyichi]

I'd bite the bullet and get a 6800NU and go for the pipes, especially if you can return it locally if you aren't satisfied .

EDIT: Actually, I think you should go with a X800GTO2 or the 6800NU w/ 16 pipes and GDDR3 (essentially a GT w/ 128mb). Either of these would be worth the extra dough.

 

[Kogan]

Depends on what games you play. For doom3 and OpenGL games, the 6800nu will be faster. For everything else that uses directx, the x800pro is faster.

I'm a 6800nu owner, and I've actually been trying to upgrade to an x800 series card for a while, mainly for these reasons:
1. The 6800 is hot! It puts out a lot of heat and good caseflow is an absolute must. From what I've read, the x800 series produce less heat and use less power.
2. Most games that I play are directx - WoW, Guild wars, Fable, Half life, Battlefield2, and more.
3. My 6800nu wouldn't unlock

If you can find a good deal on an x800xl (sometimes sell for under $200 used/refurbished), this will be your best bet since it's better than a stock 6800nu in every way

 

[blckgrffn]

AGP == X800 Pro, for the obvious reasons that no one has shared yet. You are going to NEED that 256 megs of ram to run the highest detail levels with upcoming games like fear, and if you want to run games like HL2 or even doom3 at 1280*1024 with some AA, that 256 megs of ram will also seal the deal.

X800 Pro all the way, under IQ situations it will blow even a 16 pipe 6800NU out of the water. My GF's PNY did 415 mhz on the core with the reference cooler with 16 pipes, and when it came the gaming we were doing, my x800xl was much, much smoother, and the x800 Pro is in all reality the approximate equal of that card when the latest drivers are considered for each card.

*edit - is it worth $30? Most definitely, IMHO. That 256 megs of much faster ram is the clincher for me.

 

[OhHenry]

Or for 90 dollars more you can get this and unlock the 16 pipes and potentially achieve x800xt pe speeds. Instructions here and I was gonna buy this card but I decided on a x850 pro vivo instead and it worked.

 

[gac009]

x800pro, I like mine.

 

[chinkgai]

if rollo picks ati over nvidia, then the ati HAS to be the better card

 

[memories2002]

Originally posted by: chinkgai
if rollo picks ati over nvidia, then the ati HAS to be the better card

OR MAYBE he wants to keep all the good nvidia stuff for himself....!

 

[Nickrand]

a $30 difference makes the x800pro the better choice but typically the price difference is more like $60-70 which makes it not quite so cut and dry.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: chinkgai
if rollo picks ati over nvidia, then the ati HAS to be the better card

You are correct. I never lie about video cards, and the only way a 6800Nu has a chance against a X800Pro is unlocked and OCd, and the X800 is still probably a bit better.

So, X800Pro is the obvious choice here, wins way more benches than it loses, and has 256MB RAM.

I doubt the 6800NU was ever meant to compete with a X800Pro, the 6800GT was. (and I'd pick that over a X800Pro)

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: memories2002

Originally posted by: chinkgai
if rollo picks ati over nvidia, then the ati HAS to be the better card

OR MAYBE he wants to keep all the good nvidia stuff for himself....!

Or it could just be the fact that the X800Pro is better.