6600 v. 6800XT

[fredhe12]

I saw these two cards on New Egg today:

6800XT 256MB DDR

6800XT 128MB DDR3

I'm wondering if it would be worth the trouble of returning my PNY 6600 (still within the return period for full refund) and "upgrade" with one of these two.

The cost is going to be a wash, so no worries there. I'm just wondering if there will be an appreciable performance gain that will make it worth the trouble of removing my existing 6600 and returning it to the store. I do some moderate gaming, nothing that's too 3D intensive, mostly strategy. I'm building my rig on a budget - and yes I know 7800 or whatever would be better, etc. But this is what I'm stuck with for now.

Thanks all.

 

[imhungry]

Yes the first 6800XT will smother the 6600 non-GT in terms of performance.

The extra couple bucks will be worth it for the 256MB memory buffer.

 

[drpootums]

The first 6800XT will beat the living crap out of the regular 6600 as imhungry stated.

 

[Ika]

yep 256mb for the 6800XT really helps heaps.

 

[996GT2]

Yes, the DDR3 will help quite a bit. The extra memory buffer on the DDR equipped XT will probably not make up its speed disadvantage against the first XT.

Given a choice to get other cards, though, I would seriously look at the Sapphire X800GTO^2, selling for $138 AR. It comes unlocked to 16 PPs and is equal to an X850XT PE after OCing.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102646

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Yes, the DDR3 will help quite a bit. The extra memory buffer on the DDR equipped XT will probably not make up its speed disadvantage against the first XT.

they're both 600mhz...

 

[toyota]

how could the 6800xt be that much better than a 6600? they both have 8 pipelines and the core and memory on a 6800xt are barely faster. 256mb over 128mb wont make hardly any difference at this level of card.

 

[bigboi86]

The 6800XT has 256bit ram, the 6600 only has 128bit ram. That makes a HUGE difference.

The 6800XT also has the chance of being unlocked, I bet it will at least unlock to 12pipelines, maybe 16.

I'd try for the 6800XT if you are into overclocking.

 

[HopJokey]

Originally posted by: toyota
how could the 6800xt be that much better than a 6600? they both have 8 pipelines and the core and memory on a 6800xt are barely faster. 256mb over 128mb wont make hardly any difference at this level of card.

The 256bit memory interface the 6800XT sports (versus 128-bit of the 6600) helps a lot.

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: HopJokey

Originally posted by: toyota
how could the 6800xt be that much better than a 6600? they both have 8 pipelines and the core and memory on a 6800xt are barely faster. 256mb over 128mb wont make hardly any difference at this level of card.

The 256bit memory interface the 6800XT sports (versus 128-bit of the 6600) helps a lot.

how could it? the card is fairly weak and you are not going to be able to run high resolutions and have the eye candy cranked up. the 7600gt does great with just 128-bit memory.

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: bigboi86
The 6800XT has 256bit ram, the 6600 only has 128bit ram. That makes a HUGE difference.

The 6800XT also has the chance of being unlocked, I bet it will at least unlock to 12pipelines, maybe 16.

I'd try for the 6800XT if you are into overclocking.

256mb on that level of card makes virtually NO difference. the card is to weak to have every thing cranked up anyway.

 

[rmed64]

Oh 256MB does make a hell of a difference especially in games with lots of texture loading like BF2.

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: rmed64
Oh 256MB does make a hell of a difference especially in games with lots of texture loading like BF2.

take a 6600 with 256mb and a 6600gt with 128mb. the 6600gt will blow away the the plain 6600 no matter how much memory it has. the POINT is these cards are too weak for 256mb to really even matter.

 

[fredhe12]

Thanks everyone who gave their opinion. I ended going with 7600GT that I got from the Sale/Trade forum for a smokin' deal. It's much easier to go up to the next level, rather than trying to eke out a bit more from cards with little difference. All the comments definitely helped me make up my mind to get the better card. Thanks.