6800 XT - Opinions/Questions from a neophyte

[Crapshoot]

Hey,
I'm fairily new here, and any searches on the 6800XT didn't seem to yield the results I needed. I'm debating a new video card today, and am torn betwen the 6800 GS, the 6600 GT, and the 6800 XT - the difference is just 40 bucks from the first one to the latter two, but I'm unsure about the performance.

The cards I'm looking at:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130267 (6800 GS)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150098 (6600 GT)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150130 (6800 XT)

My basic worry with the 6800 XT is that its the equivalent to an LE or SE card, and is more likely to crap out of me. I'm not into FPS's - Civ 4 or Gal Civ will probably test the boundaries of my graphic capabilities, but I'm looking for something that will last (I'm upgrading from an MX 420) for a little while.

Any thoughts/suggestiosn would be appreciated - Newegg has a sale on the 6800 XT I'm tempted to jump on.

 

[Extelleron]

From best to worst:

6800GS
6600GT
6800XT

EDIT: Looking at the 6800XT I see it has 1000 MHz effective memory.... usually the 6800XT's I look at have around 600-700 and would get blown away by 6600GT's.... this might not be the case, the 256-Bit MI might allow this 6800XT to beat the 6600GT. IDK....... heres what MunkyMark06 says about F.EA.R. performance @ 1280x960, 4xAA/8xAF, Max Settings, no SS:

6800XT 350/1000: 21 FPS
6600GT 500/1000: 16 FPS

 

[hans030390]

The 6800xt is better than a 6600gt, and I've heard of one case of being able to unlock pipes on it...but that might just be agp.

 

[Crapshoot]

thanks for the advice. I've never bought an XFX card before- are they a lifetime warranty shop like BFG and EVGA ?

Also, I'm torn on whether the price is a good deal, or whether its worth a waiting a while to see if 6800 prices drop.

 

[ElFenix]

looking at gpureview.com's comparison it looks like anything shader heavy will be 6600GT
but fillrate heavy stuff will be the 6800XT.

get both and send the slower one back?

 

[Crapshoot]

I would, except Newegg's RMA means a 15% restocking fee, as it were. I'm tempted to just pay the 40 bucks more and get the 6800 GS.

 

[bcoupland]

Just go for the 6800GS, especially if you don't upgrade often.

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: Crapshoot
I would, except Newegg's RMA means a 15% restocking fee, as it were. I'm tempted to just pay the 40 bucks more and get the 6800 GS.

40 bucks difference?

GS FTW.

-z

 

[Giantsfan24]

I just got a GS and its great. Try and maybe find a used one thats a proven overclocker. My 3d Mark 05 score went up over 1000 points when going from stock 425/1000 to 523/1190. And I was even pushing it to the max. I have yet to find its max OC but 523/1190 is pretty darn good.

 

[Crapshoot]

THanks guys. One point of confusion - someone pointed me towards an X800 GTO at Newegg, pointing out that its a lower price point than the GS, and probably an equivalent if not better performer. What I do know is that the older ATI cards only support Shader Model 2.0 - while the Nvdia ones support 3.0 . As a pragmatic issue, how much of a difference is this going to be (I intend to keep the card for 2-3 years, but the extent of my gaming goes to Civ 4, Galactic Civilizations 2, KOTOR (which I ran on the Mx ) - thus my confusion.

 

[Vinnybcfc]

Shader Model 3 shouldn't be a required feature in any games for a while (3 to 5 years think BF2 and GF4) and civ 4 on max @ 1280 x 960 ran great on my 9700pro so a 12 pipe card will be even better (X800 GTO and 6800GS) although a 6800XT and 6600GT will still give a decent boost.

Edit:

Get this card (Sapphire GTO2) if you can it will unlock to 16 pixel pipelines which means it will have the performance of a X800XL or a X850XT with a moderate overclock

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102674

 

[Bull Dog]

X800XL roughly equals a 6800GS

 

[Crapshoot]

Finally decided to go with the GS, and then noticed that Newegg had the Factory OC'ed one for the same price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130271

Thanks' for the all the help.