How to find out what 6800 PCI-e I have???

[jamesbond007]

Hey guys! I was wondering if there's a program or utility that will tell me what kind of GeForce 6800 PCI-express 256MB I have in my Dell XPS Gen4 machine. It's the non-ultra, I do know that, and it has DVI and analog outputs. By the looks of the card in my hand, it came from nVIDIA directly as there are no 3rd party markings, like Sapphire, Gainward, ASUS, etc. The card itself takes 1 slot; no dual-slot cooling required I guess.

What I want to find out is if I can enable the 4 remaining pipes, as I understand there are 12 enabled in the PCIe non-ultra and 16 enabled in the GT/Ultra series. I was also told that it is harder/impossible to unlock the pipes and overclock the videocard some. How accurate is this?

Mainly I want to see what speeds my GPU and RAM are running at. My idle temps hover around 51-52C and peak at about 62-63C on the GPU core, according to my 66.93 nVIDIA drivers.

The GTO version of this card was an extra $180 or so, IIRC, which I felt was too much at the time I purchased this machine. If I can squeeze a few more ounces of performance out without needing extra cooling or damaging anything in the process, then in the words of Joe from Family Guy, "LET'S DO IT!!!!"

 

[darkswordsman17]

Its almost certainly the 6800GTO. Its a card made specially for Dell by an OEM (hence the reason for no markings of a manufacturer).

Run Rivatuner, that should tell all you want to know.

 

[jamesbond007]

I didn't order the GTO though! Wouldn't it say GTO in the nVIDIA Display Driver Properties? I think the GTO also has dual-DVI, which mine does not. Just a single DVI, single analog, and TV-out.

I'll be home in about 90 minutes, so I can run rivatuner then.

 

[nitromullet]

If you didn't order a video card upgrade, you most likely have a vanilla 6800. Can't you just type in your service tag or something like that on Dell's website to get the complete specs of that particular system? Doesn't nVidia driver say what kind of card it is?

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: nitromullet
If you didn't order a video card upgrade, you most likely have a vanilla 6800. Can't you just type in your service tag or something like that on Dell's website to get the complete specs of that particular system? Doesn't nVidia driver say what kind of card it is?

Yeah it'll tell me that I have a GeForce 6800 256MB, but I was inquiring to find out if there was a 3rd party manufacturer involved or if it was made by nVIDIA directly. (ie: Reference card)

EDIT: I just ran Rivatuner. Under system tweaks, the core and memory start at 325/600 respectively. Is this what my card is clocked at right now? The sliders are all the way to the left. I also see that there are 12 pipes and 5 vp...vertex something?
"256-bit NV41 (A2,12x1,5vp) with 256MB DDR"

(RivaTuner v2.0 RC 15.3 NYE)

Thanks.

 

[darkswordsman17]

nVidia doesn't really make any cards but their original engineering and reference designs. Dell signs contracts with companies like MSI to make certain parts for them. MSI gets the chips from nVidia, and then makes the cards, finally sending them to Dell.

Sorry, I was thinking Dell only had the 6800GTO.

Those specs fit what a regular 6800 runs, although the memory speed sounds kinda low (probably whoever makes it for Dell specifies it for that speed).

 

[mdahc]

I haven't heard of anyone unlocking the pipes on the PCIe 6800 standard. I thought that was only possible with the AGP variant. BTW, did you get an XPS with a new P4 6xx? How does it perform?

 

[jamesbond007]

mdahc, I have a 540 P4, sorry!

darkswordsman17, what should the memory be, according to nVIDIA? Perhaps the program wasn't accurate?

Thanks for the info on the manufacturing process! That's why I figured everyone wants the AGP versions of the 6800s....to overclock!

 

[darkswordsman17]

Looks like the memory for the standard 6800 is 700Mhz.

 

[jamesbond007]

Hm, I wonder if I could raise it to 700MHz without any issues using rivatuner? Are the clocks and RAM locked with PCIe or do they not overclock as well? I am tempted to play with the sliders...

Using Rivatuner, are the effects taken immediately? Is my core speed running right, according to a 6800NU?

Thanks!

 

[Herbman]

I have the same card you have I was not able to unlock the extra 4pipes with rivatuner.

I checked the clock settings when i got it and they were set at 325/600 which i thought was pretty low.

I was able to overclock nicely 450 core 850 mem. Ithas been running great for a week now.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: Herbman
I have the same card you have I was not able to unlock the extra 4pipes with rivatuner.

I checked the clock settings when i got it and they were set at 325/600 which i thought was pretty low.

I was able to overclock nicely 450 core 850 mem. Ithas been running great for a week now.

W O W! That's very impressive. I'm guessing you got a nice boost in games, eh? How are your core GPU temps?

Oh, and did you use any extra cooling?

 

[Herbman]

No extra cooling temps have been fine.

I was tempted to get the gto when I ordered but for 180 more i couldnt see it being worth it.

I am glad i just got the plain 6800 with the oc i was able to get.