Originally posted by: michaelpatrick33
I am still leaning toward the x800xt but I just don't know. I have had good cards from both sides. HMMM.
If your CPU is 2.8ghz or 3800+ read this article which helps to show some cPU limitation upon the new end cards. It seems unless your cpu is above 3000+/3.0ghz 6800gt is just as fast as the x800xt.
CPU Limitation
Of course other cpu/gpu related articles are featured on firingsquad and hardocp.com ..... if this one doesnt help you enough
If your cpu falls somewhere in between teh 2 above - ie. 3.2ghz p4 then this article will hopefully shed some light on which gpu to get.
Top cards on P4 3.2ghz
Now if price is not an issue, you can clearly see that on a 3.2ghz p4 x800xt is faster than 6800gt and sometimes by as much as 30-40%. Since x800xt is faster already than 6800gt, even if you overclock the 6800gt, and x800xt, xt should still be faster assuming equal % of overclocks. You'll probably need to push 6800gt to 480 on the gpu just to match the x800xt at 575 (which is achievable on air cooling). That's 350 to 480 overclock!!!! Of course if you are comparing x800xt, it is only fair to compare it to 6800ultra since they are the same price and 6800ultra will hold higher overclocking room.
On another note, 6800gt is faster in doom 3, supports ps3.0 (but the problem with this is that it has not proven any visual difference whatsoever, and x800xt is faster than 6800 series cards in 1 game that support ps3.0 (far cry)). But 6800gt is only $340 at Provantage --- that is roughly $200 cheaper than x800xt. This pretty much covers your cpu or ram or watercooling, etc. If money is no object though, i'd probably take the x800xt. But for the best bang for the buck, 6800gt.
EDIT: the provantage sale has just ended, unfortunately. So the cheapest 6800gt is still about $160 less ($389 on pricewatch).
