Video Card questions (6800 series)

[Edbert1]

I have a game that I cannot play (PF) with the eye candy all the way up on my FX53/9800-pro and need a 6800 but I am confused about the various flavors of 6800s out there.

6800GT-128 for $343

versus

6800 Ultra-256 for $422

Which one is better disregarding price? There's also a 6800 Ultra-128 for only $280 but my last three video cards all had 128 and I'm thinking its time to move up.

So, whats the scoop on the 6800 series?

[JoeBWan17]

Originally posted by Edbert
I have a game that I cannot play (PF) with the eye candy all the way up on my FX53/9800-pro and need a 6800 but I am confused about the various flavors of 6800s out there.

6800GT-128 for $343

versus

6800 Ultra-256 for $422

Which one is better disregarding price? There's also a 6800 Ultra-128 for only $280 but my last three video cards all had 128 and I'm thinking its time to move up.

So, whats the scoop on the 6800 series?

As a general rule there are 3 "versions" of the 6800 series.

1) Plain vanilla 6800 (sometimes with letter U).  Only have 12 pipes instead of the 16 of the other two.  Also the chip is clocked lower than the other version 325 I believe.

2) 6800 GT, has a higher clock than the vanilla 6800, has 16 pipes, but has lower memory speed than the 6800 Ultra (700 I believe)

3) 6800 Ultra, the highest clock, 16 pipes, and fastest DDR3 memory (1100 if i remember correctly)

Some vendors are mixxing and matching these cards though.  For example I have a card that the chip runs at 6800 vanilla speeds, but it has all 16 pipes and DDR3 memory running at 1100.

[Reschke]

For what its worth my video card died last night after I finished playing Rome Total War. So now I have crap all over the screen and really washed out colors and all that. Having tried new RAM I finally popped in an old TNT 32MB Ultra card I have and it works in XP fine.

So I am at a cross roads. Pacific Fighters arrives for me in the morning but I need a video card now instead of Christmas. I was planning a 6800GT but don't have the funds for it. However I have the funds for a 6600GT but the AGP versions aren't out yet...supposed to be out later this week from what I have seen and read...and I don't have the cash to step up to a 939 AMD and a PCI-E based video card motherboard.

I guess I will have to hang around till next week or so OR go take out a home equity line on the house to buy a 6800GT OC card.

BUT Edbert if it was me I would spring for the 6800GT if I could get it close to $300. It should do everything you want and more. BTW BFG is probably the best complete package I have read about for those 6800 based cards right now.

[AKS\/\/ulfe]

Don't waste your money... even the 6800 series cards can't run the full perfect water.

I have a 9800 Pro, and it runs the current FB perfect just fine - all I do is set water=0 in the conf.ini.

The land reflections are "neat", but beyond that wouldn't happen in real life except for a very stagnant lake.
-SW

[eagl]

The Asus 6800 GT 128 meg uses the full-speed 6800GT GPU, the same processor as in the 6800 Ultra but slower than the ultra.  The 128meg GTs use 700mhz memory and are cheaper than the 256 meg GTs which use 1000mhz memory.  ASUS is making their cards non-standard and confusing things

Reference designs:

6800 - 12 pipes, slower gpu, 700mhz memory (128 or 256 meg)
6800 GT - 16 pipes, 350 mhz gpu, 1000mhz memory (256 meg)
6800 Ultra -16 pipes, 400mhz gpu, 1100 mhz memory (IIRC), (256 meg)

ASUS designs:

ASUS 6800 GE - 12 pipes, slower GPU, 1000mhz memory (128 or 256 meg, dunno)
Asus 6800 GT 128 meg - 16 pipes, 250 mhz gpu, 700 mhz memory (128 meg)

BFG makes "OC" models that come from the factory running at higher speeds than the reference designs.  They may have custom heatsinks that helps them get this higher speed.  You'd pay a bit more but they run at what are typically considered overclocked speeds for those cards straight out of the box, and they still have a full warranty at those higher speeds.

Clear as mud now?  The 6800 GT 128 meg you quoted is probably the ASUS one which is why it's a bit cheaper than the other 6800GTs out there.  A full-up 6800GT ought to cost at least $375-$400.

I personally looked at the prices and performance and got myself a 6800GT with 256 meg of memory, one of the "reference" designs that are the same from all card manufacturers except ASUS.  These cards have a really good chance (apparently over 80%) of being able to be overclocked to 6800 Ultra speeds with zero modifications.

[Edbert1]

Thanks to this BBS I was able to run PF in "perfect" mode with no issues or poor frame-rates. Guess I'll hold onto my hard-earned money and wait for the 7800s to come out

[Reschke]

BFG GeForce 6800 OC 128MB DDR AGP Graphics Card

Due to my previous card failing I am going to have to grab this card today at Best Buy. Its only $249.99 plus tax when picked up locally. Not my card of choice but its what I have to get.

[eagl]

Reschke I think you'll be happy with it.  Some people have even been able to "unlock" the extra pipelines in the 6800s, although as often as not doing that will cause graphics glitches or crashing.

Even without it being unlocked, the 6800s have a good price/performance ratio.  My guess is that you'll keep that card and not upgrade until you change over to pci express because it'll be good enough to last a while.  I could be wrong, but according to the reviews I've read almost all of the 6800 cards are turning in honest "next generation" performance.

I still went with a GT because I could, but I think lots of people are happy with their 6800s and the BFG 6800 OC is probably one of the best of those.  ASUS makes one with faster memory but I'm not sure it's worth the extra money over that BFG 6800 OC deal.

[Reschke]

Well the thing that is really pushing me towards the BFG line is the lifetime warranty they are offering on this. I called them today just to get an idea and asked that if I have this card for 5 years and it dies what happens. The guy in support I talked to said that if I still had the reciept that in 5 years if this card lasted that long in my hands they would replace the card with whatever current version video card they had at the same price as the one I bought.

That sold me right there. I placed the order and have the confirmation from Best Buy that the card is waiting on me in the store.

[214thCavalier]

Good warranty...... if they plan on being around that long

[Reschke]

Heck if they are about to fold up and close the doors I will just send the flippin card back and say its screwed up if thats the case just to get whatever they have available...