Originally posted by: munky
Originally posted by: beggerking
I would say go with 6800GS, at least it uses shader model 3.0
performance wise it should be comparable. I would say x800GT2 is a little faster and overclocks better.
but shader model 3.0 is NOT a gimmik! its a necessary graphic element in today's standard..
IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Although sm3 can enable more eye candy, do you think a 6800gs is fast enough to use it? In the link you posted, B&W2 has the same IQ in sm3 as sm2.1, and in AOE3 the IQ is better, but what about the performance?
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/games-2005_4.html
The only playable resolution on a 6800gt is 1024x768, and that's without AA or AF. Once you add AA the performance literally drops in half, and the 6800gt is even slower than the x1600xt. If anyone really wants to play with SM3 eye candy, I'd strongly advise getting a 7800 series card or x1800/x1900.