7600 GS or 6800 GT

[Fike]

I am trying to figure out how to most cheaply leap into DX9 with some decent performance. I want to play Battlefield 2142, but I don't need to play it at the highest level. Otherwise, I am playing AOE III and some car racing games like Colin Mcrae 2005. I am still using AGP with a 754 board running a Newcastle 3000 overclocked to 2300.

I am torn between picking up a used 6800 GT and getting a new 7600 GS. They are similarly priced, but I can't decide whether there are any really imporant new technologies that I will be sacrificing by staying back in the 6800 series. I have a 450 watt power supply, so I think I am okay on the power front.

What should I consider? I am not a slave to all things new and bleeding edge, but I only upgrade a video card every few years, so I want to do it right.

suggestions...

 

[dug777]

6800GT lays the smack down all over a 7600GS, in every aspect except power consumption

 

[Munky]

Both cards are based on the same technology, and both have the same feature set. The 6800gt is the faster card of the two.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Proud owner of AGP 6800GT here.
Don't expect to play at 1280x1024 with all the bells on...
(I use AMD 3200+ (32 bit) and 1 gb DDR 400 RAM)

 

[gorbs]

since we are talking 6 series v/s 7 series, how does the 7800gs stack up. currently have a leadtek 6600gt agp. not ready to go pci-e yet.

 

[Fike]

I finally found a comparison that looks like an apples to apples comparistion.

6800GT Performance benchmarks

7800GS Performance Benchmarks

Both of these charts illustrate FPS for Far Cry. While I didn't do a detailed comparison of the platforms of the two tests, they are close. 60.0 FPS for the 6800GT and 57 for the 7800GS. The difference is around 5% , so it doesn't sound like the 6800 smacks down the 7600 in a bad way, at least for this game.

I will need to look for some other comparisons that seem relevant. It is hard to find benchmarks in two different generations of video cards. Generally all the benchmarks are done with current games, so making the comparisons meaningful can be tough.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: Fike
I finally found a comparison that looks like an apples to apples comparistion.

6800GT Performance benchmarks

7800GS Performance Benchmarks

Both of these charts illustrate FPS for Far Cry. While I didn't do a detailed comparison of the platforms of the two tests, they are close. 60.0 FPS for the 6800GT and 57 for the 7800GS. The difference is around 5% , so it doesn't sound like the 6800 smacks down the 7600 in a bad way, at least for this game.

I will need to look for some other comparisons that seem relevant. It is hard to find benchmarks in two different generations of video cards. Generally all the benchmarks are done with current games, so making the comparisons meaningful can be tough.

FPS varies with games you play.
I think that if you want older benchies, use site's archives or archive.org

 

[Munky]

http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/hard...x1900_gt/9/#abschnitt_age_of_empires_3

Here's the latest benchmark comparing a wide range of cards, including a 6800gt, 7800gs and 7600gs. It's in German, but the charts speak for themselves.

 

[Fike]

Originally posted by: munky
http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/hard...x1900_gt/9/#abschnitt_age_of_empires_3

Here's the latest benchmark comparing a wide range of cards, including a 6800gt, 7800gs and 7600gs. It's in German, but the charts speak for themselves.

That is very helpful! Thanks! I noticed above that I started comparing 7600GS to 6800 GT and then shifted to 7800GS and 6800 GT. That is an easier formula, I think, but the 7800GS is more expensive and probably the winner of the three. I still wonder if a 7600GS might stack up okay in the long run.

These charts seem to show a marginal difference between the 6800GT and 7600GS with a 10-15% edge given to the 6800GT. Now I need to find out which one displays prettier pictures.

 

[gorbs]

looks like the 7800gs doesnt beat the 7600gt buy much at all and in some cases falls short. have to go back and look at the 6800 vs the 7600 and 7800 comparison.

great info thanks

just rechecked that link: those three cards are so close its not funny and depending on price and availability the 7600gt might be the better buy.

 

[Fike]

Well, I caved and just got an ATI X850 Pro instead. It seems to be right there in the same ballpark as the 6800 GT and better than the 7600 GS. This is my first foray into ATI products since I built a machine with an All in Wonder about 6 years ago and had all sorts of problems. Hopefully compatability and drivers have gotten better in the last few years.