nvidia 6600GT or 6800NU?

[imhungry]

THIS IS FOR AN AGP BUS SLOT

Circuit city just put up a sale on 6600GTs...

Down to $150 AGP from $250. The problem is, this sale is sparking a thought in my mind to upgrade the GPU in my old Dell D4600, which is still using the onboard 865G Chipset (100 FPS constant 1.6).

The problem is, I looked online, and for the same price, I could get a 6800NU, which stock doesn't offer a whole lot of performance difference over the 6600GT. BUT, it has a good chance of unlocking. Should I get the 6600GT from a closer more local store, or should I go for the 6800NU purely on the fact that I might unlock it? My 330W power supply will easily power them either way, if I don't get constant 12r, then I'll just buy a new one ; /.

Would Circuit City pricematch Newegg on the 6800NU?

I'll actually put it on my 4700, as the 4600 is a P4 2.66 Ghz 533 mhz bus, and the 4700 is a P4 2.8 800 mhz bus. Would a 6600GT be bottlenecked on a 2.66 GHz proc? especially at 1024x768.

 

[Dudewithoutapet]

No they will not pricematch newegg.com and yes you should buy the 6800nu from an online retailer. These days most places will have it at your door in less than a week.

On a side note- since you are looking at online retailers, the 6600gt can be had online for about 120-130 instead of the 150.

 

[Eureka]

The 6800 can be faster in some applications, plus you can unlock it.

Norm

 

[gac009]

if you dont mind messing with your card get the 6800nu, and if you do....get the 6800nu anyway.

 

[Gstanfor]

I'd just get the 6600GT, in a 256mb flavor personally. The difference in performance is negligible and the extra 128mb of memory will prove more useful anyway.

If you need more grunt find a 6800GT.

 

[IntelHydralisk]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
I'd just get the 6600GT, in a 256mb flavor personally. The difference in performance is negligible and the extra 128mb of memory will prove more useful anyway.

If you need more grunt find a 6800GT.

The 6600GT won't put the extra RAM to use. More doesn't mean better. It's just a selling gimick.

6800 NU definitely.

 

[Gstanfor]

Actually, it does with hires +AA/AF, where 128mb models start to falloff in performance.

Also most games coming out nowadays expect 256mb for full details.

 

[Corporate Thug]

6800NU

 

[imhungry]

Is there anywhere that I could get an ad for circuitcity to pricematch a 6800NU? I really don't feel like ordering much online (a lot of hassle for me), and I'm going around to comp stores tomorow.

Any ad I can pricematch for a 6800NU?

 

[Inappropriate4AT]

Where do you see a 6800 for $150? I'd say go for a 6600GT, they perform almost identically unless the 6800 can be unlocked which is pretty hit or miss.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Actually, it does with hires +AA/AF, where 128mb models start to falloff in performance.

Also most games coming out nowadays expect 256mb for full details.

meh, in those situations where it actually pulls ahead in any meaningful fashion, i bet it's at unplayable fps...in a similar fashion to the difference between the 128 and 256mb 9800 pros (both on 256-bit mem at that, the 6600GT is only on 128-bit)...so if they were the same price, i'd grab the 256mb one, but for anything more than a $10 price difference i'd go the 128mb one..

but aside from all that, get the 6800 vanilla

 

[imhungry]

Like I said...only problem is that I really want to be able to buy it at a store, and the only way to do that is to get a price match...

Last hope = newegg.com

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Search.d...d=evga&searchSection=All&go.x=0&go.y=0

In the paper ad, the 6600GT is listed as 150, so I'd say that's really good for a store price...

Would there be a big performance difference in games like HL2 or FEAR? (At resolutions 10x7 and lower).
Remember...it's a 2.66Ghz Dell with 1 gig of ram, is a 6600GT gunna be bottlenecked?

 

[xtknight]

Just curious, why do you want to go to a store?

Newegg very often has cheaper prices. You could add overnight shipping and still come below brick and mortar stores I bet. I have done an RMA with Newegg before (because I ordered the wrong thing). It was completely flawless. Anyways the 6600GT is very close to the 6800 in all cases, even very close in high res/AA. However you might get lucky and unlock an AGP 6800.

 

[cbehnken]

Originally posted by: Inappropriate4AT
Where do you see a 6800 for $150? I'd say go for a 6600GT, they perform almost identically unless the 6800 can be unlocked which is pretty hit or miss.

$150-$160.00 all day long for a 6800 at newegg.

It will be faster in any kind of high res situation with the 256 bit memory bus.

 

[imhungry]

So they will perform the same unless I get the 6800 unlocked?

Sounds like I'd rather go with the 6600GT then... because if I get the 6800 unlocked it'll definately be bottlenecked as well as be very hot in my 2 fan case...and I doubt if there's enough room for an aftermarket fan...

Opinions?

 

[Inappropriate4AT]

Originally posted by: cbehnken

Originally posted by: Inappropriate4AT
Where do you see a 6800 for $150? I'd say go for a 6600GT, they perform almost identically unless the 6800 can be unlocked which is pretty hit or miss.

$150-$160.00 all day long for a 6800 at newegg.

It will be faster in any kind of high res situation with the 256 bit memory bus.

Uh, the cheapest 6800 on Newegg is $167.50 AFTER a $30MIR, the cheapest bottom line card is $173...

Any situation that would have the 256-bit bus outperform the 6600GT would be unplayable on both cards anyways, all reviews I've read have showed either even performance for the 2 cards, or a 5fps and less lead for the 6800. That level of performance isn't worth the $35-40 premium over a 6600GT in my opinion, unless the card is guaranteed to unlock.

If you want a marginally faster card in a few situations go for the 6800, if you want more for your money, get a 6600GT.

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: imhungry
So they will perform the same unless I get the 6800 unlocked?

Sounds like I'd rather go with the 6600GT then... because if I get the 6800 unlocked it'll definately be bottlenecked as well as be very hot in my 2 fan case...and I doubt if there's enough room for an aftermarket fan...

Opinions?

I don't like your chances of finding an unlockable 6800 core at this stage of the game anyway. nVidia did a respin of n40 that removed the extra quad, initially for PCI-e, though that core will be being used on everything under a 6800GT by now. So unless you know of a store that has had NU's sitting untouched on a shelf for the past year and a bit I wouldn't risk it.

edit: 6600's will definitely be better in regard to heat production too, less power draw as well.

Even if you do find one, you will be stuck with DDR memory and only 128mb.

 

[imhungry]

See, the problem is that the only place I can get a 6800 for under $200, is at newegg.com . And if it doesn't unlock, according to above, then there won't be a big performance difference. Which means, $30 - $50 more + shipping back for a replacement that in turn again, might not unlock, is a waste of time and money for me when I can just drive 10 minutes and pick up a 6600GT for cheap.

I do have a good gaming rig, but I also want a backup...this is where this rig comes in.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor

Originally posted by: imhungry
So they will perform the same unless I get the 6800 unlocked?

Sounds like I'd rather go with the 6600GT then... because if I get the 6800 unlocked it'll definately be bottlenecked as well as be very hot in my 2 fan case...and I doubt if there's enough room for an aftermarket fan...

Opinions?

I don't like your chances of finding an unlockable 6800 core at this stage of the game anyway. nVidia did a respin of n40 that removed the extra quad, initially for PCI-e, though that core will be being used on everything under a 6800GT by now. So unless you know of a store that has had NU's sitting untouched on a shelf for the past year and a bit I wouldn't risk it.

edit: 6600's will definitely be better in regard to heat production too, less power draw as well.

Even if you do find one, you will be stuck with DDR memory and only 128mb.

The 6800 PCI-E doesn't even use the same GPU as the 6800 AGP. I have never seen a 6800 PCI-E that is NV40+NV45. Mine and every one I've heard of is NV41. I don't understand what you're saying by respin. The respin would still have to enable four quads due to GT/Ultra. Unless they aren't binning failed-quad cards to 6800 anymore, I don't understand what you mean?

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: Gstanfor

Originally posted by: imhungry
So they will perform the same unless I get the 6800 unlocked?

Sounds like I'd rather go with the 6600GT then... because if I get the 6800 unlocked it'll definately be bottlenecked as well as be very hot in my 2 fan case...and I doubt if there's enough room for an aftermarket fan...

Opinions?

I don't like your chances of finding an unlockable 6800 core at this stage of the game anyway. nVidia did a respin of n40 that removed the extra quad, initially for PCI-e, though that core will be being used on everything under a 6800GT by now. So unless you know of a store that has had NU's sitting untouched on a shelf for the past year and a bit I wouldn't risk it.

edit: 6600's will definitely be better in regard to heat production too, less power draw as well.

Even if you do find one, you will be stuck with DDR memory and only 128mb.

The 6800 PCI-E doesn't even use the same GPU as the 6800 AGP. I have never seen a 6800 PCI-E that is NV40+NV45. Mine and every one I've heard of is NV41. I don't understand what you're saying by respin. The respin would still have to enable four quads due to GT/Ultra. Unless they aren't binning failed-quad cards to 6800 anymore, I don't understand what you mean?

The respin in question is NV42

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
The respin in question is NV42

Sorry, still no idea what you mean... NV42 is the Go 6800 Ultra's chip. What does that have to do with the AGP 6800?

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
The respin in question is NV42

Sorry, still no idea what you mean... NV42 is the Go 6800 Ultra's chip. What does that have to do with the AGP 6800?

Don't rely too heavily on that chart - Baumann can't even get the rumber of textures per pass right (should be twelve, not sixteen).

These chips are already used on PCI-e 6800 NU's and lower, do you really think nVidia would restart NV40 production when they run out of chips for 6800nu production?, no, they just use the latest version.

 

[Nextman916]

I dont know if your 330W power supply is enough especially if its the stock one that came with the dell. You need at least 20A on the 12v rail for unlocking+overclock.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
These chips are already used on PCI-e 6800 NU's and lower, do you really think nVidia would restart NV40 production when they run out of chips for 6800nu production?, no, they just use the latest version.

The PCIe 6800s (NV41) could never be unlocked anyway nor did they ever use the NV40 (AFAIK). You're saying the AGP 6800s will use this NV42 chip also? Wouldn't they restart NV40 production for 6800GT and Ultras or they use some new chip also? I don't see why they'd stop collecting the failed quads and turning them in to AGP 6800s. It's less money lost for them. (isn't it?)

 

[Gstanfor]

NV40 was fabbed by IBM, not TSMC.

It's cheaper for nVidia to use TSMC than IBM, and yeilds are high enough that they decided to do a dedicated 3 quad chip.