AGP 6800GS now in stock and available

[Wolfshanze]

Just thought I'd make it plainly obvious for people interested in this card... it's now in stock at two places:

XFX 6800GS at NewEgg (dual DVI)

EVGA 6800GS at Monarch (DVI+D-Sub)

As predicted, these are 12-pipe 6800GTs in any other aspect and go for about $230. So who's going to be the first to experiment and see if it can be unlocked.

 

[Malladine]

Dude I want that $20 less matrox Millennium P750 64MB DDR. That card must rock.

To lessen the chances of being accused of thread crapping with silly humour, heres a link to a 6800gs review for anyone who hasn't already seen it.
http://beyond3d.com/previews/nvidia/68gs/

 

[Chriz]

I might buy one, because I want SM 3.0 and it will be more compatible with some older games, like FF7 is the one i really want to play with an nvidia card. But, I'm not so sure I want to buy one right away, kinda hoping XFX or EVGA might release a faster version that is similar priced...like they did with the PCI-E versions.

 

[Avalon]

$220 for a 350mhz core, 12 pipeline card. You can probably get a 6800GT for less than $30 more, and it'll be faster.

Or not. I can't seem to find many left. Weird.

 

[Wolfshanze]

kinda hoping XFX or EVGA might release a faster version that is similar priced... like they did with the PCI-E versions.

Keep waiting... a "faster" AGP 6800GS is about as likely as the GeForce-8 coming to AGP. Also, we really need to end the comparisons of the AGP 6800GS and the PCI-E 6800GS... these are completely differant cards using completely differant cores.

Speaking of cores, the 6800GS is made from left-over Nv40 cores that didn't "cut the mustard" as 6800GTs and 6800Us... so seeing these things magically clocked to 450MHz just isn't going to happen.

Bottom line, if you want an AGP 6800GS, this is it... 350MHz w/12-pipes (unlockability YTBD). Buy now or don't, but don't choose not to because there will be a "faster" 6800GS... I just don't see that happening (other then the BFG 20MHz overclock).

The 6800GT is still the king of NVidia AGP cards (short of the uber-difficult-to-find 6800U). Of course availability of the AGP 6800GT is getting pretty scarce too (get one now if you still can).

 

[the Chase]

I'm glad it came out- more choices for AGP still a good thing. Kind of a halfhearted attempt...I wonder why there are no reviews on the web for this card. Today must be launch day. Did Nvidia forget to ship the usual NDA cards out to the sites? Haven't searched the web real hard so maybe there are a few reviews out there.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Malladine
Dude I want that $20 less matrox Millennium P750 64MB DDR. That card must rock.

To lessen the chances of being accused of thread crapping with silly humour, heres a link to a 6800gs review for anyone who hasn't already seen it.
http://beyond3d.com/previews/nvidia/68gs/

That review covers the PCI-e GS with 425 core 1000 GDDR3.
The AGP version would be 75MHz slower on the core. And if it is the NV40 130nm core, don't count on stellar overclocks like the 110nm NV42 gets.

Nobody even knows if the AGP version is unlockable yet, or if there are even 4 extra pipes to unlock. If it is the NV40 core and unlockable, then this AGP GS would be a terrific deal as it would essentially be a GT for 229.00.

 

[theMan]

or just get a 6800nu, and unlock it, that is near 6800gt speeds right? its a lot cheaper too.

 

[Wolfshanze]

or just get a 6800nu, and unlock it, that is near 6800gt speeds right? its a lot cheaper too.

Well, the big differance with the NU is that it's a 128-bit card with DDR1 memory (and 128MB at that). Even unlocked and overclocked, the NU is still not a GT. If (and that's a big IF), the 6800GS can be unlocked, it would for all intents and purposes be a GT.

So who's going to be the first guniea pig and see if they can unlock this thing?

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: Malladine
Dude I want that $20 less matrox Millennium P750 64MB DDR. That card must rock.

To lessen the chances of being accused of thread crapping with silly humour, heres a link to a 6800gs review for anyone who hasn't already seen it.
http://beyond3d.com/previews/nvidia/68gs/

That review covers the PCI-e GS with 425 core 1000 GDDR3.
The AGP version would be 75MHz slower on the core. And if it is the NV40 130nm core, don't count on stellar overclocks like the 110nm NV42 gets.

Nobody even knows if the AGP version is unlockable yet, or if there are even 4 extra pipes to unlock. If it is the NV40 core and unlockable, then this AGP GS would be a terrific deal as it would essentially be a GT for 229.00.

I figured it offers a close approximation of agp performance. I don't OC my video cards so this agp might just be the ticket.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: Wolfshanze

or just get a 6800nu, and unlock it, that is near 6800gt speeds right? its a lot cheaper too.

Well, the big differance with the NU is that it's a 128-bit card with DDR1 memory (and 128MB at that). Even unlocked and overclocked, the NU is still not a GT. If (and that's a big IF), the 6800GS can be unlocked, it would for all intents and purposes be a GT.

So who's going to be the first guniea pig and see if they can unlock this thing?

The NU is a 256bit card. The only thing it lacks is 128MB of memory, and slower memory at that, although the DDR1 memory speeds are not really directly comparable to DDR3 memory speeds. Timings come into play as well, but a 300mhz DDR3 advantage will still be a good advantage. In any game that's not COD2 or FEAR, at 1280x10(9) and below, an unlocked 6800NU will be pretty close to a 6800GT. In COD2/FEAR, it will be more like 10x7. You'll probably be stuck at those resolutions for these kind of games anyway.

 

[theMan]

but still, is that worth the 50 dollars to get a GS?

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: Chriz
I might buy one, because I want SM 3.0 and it will be more compatible with some older games, like FF7 is the one i really want to play with an nvidia card. But, I'm not so sure I want to buy one right away, kinda hoping XFX or EVGA might release a faster version that is similar priced...like they did with the PCI-E versions.

Yep there will be a faster version. XFX is going to release a 6800GS Extreme clocked at 450Mhz. When? When I see one for sale, I'll post it here. I simply would wait. But it's up to you

 

[Keysplayr]

Just checked out all 3 6800GS's offered by XFX.

Both PCI-e versions have the number 42 in the part number.
The AGP has 40 in the part number and states "0.13 Micron Process Technology
Delivers high performance through faster clock rates."

So the AGP XFX is indeed an NV40 on IBM's 130nm process. So, we now know that the 4 extra pipes are there. Whether or not they are unlockable is a different matter. I hope they did not laser cut them.

XFX GeForce 6800 GS 256 MB DDR3 8X AGP
(PV-T40B-UDF3)

XFX GeForce 6800 GS 256 MB DDR3 XXX edition
(PV-T42G-UAD7)

XFX GeForce 6800 GS 256 MB DDR3 Extreme Edition
(PV-T42G-UAF7)

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: theman
but still, is that worth the 50 dollars to get a GS?

Sort of. Personally, it wouldn't bother me to go either way. Now, if it were a $75 difference, then I'd be taking the 6800NU. I'd lean towards the 6800GS, otherwise.

 

[Wolfshanze]

Yep there will be a faster version. XFX is going to release a 6800GS Extreme clocked at 450Mhz. When? When I see one for sale, I'll post it here. I simply would wait. But it's up to you

I'm sure it's a typo... I wouldn't be holding my breath for a 450MHz N40 AGP GeForce 6800GS... you'll die long before that day happens!

No way will there be a 450MHz AGP GeForce 6800GS... just don't see it happening. They'd probably have to make a new core to get an extra 100MHz speed. Either XFX is talking about a PCI-E 450MHz card, or somebody got confused and typed "4" instead of "3" when they were refering to the AGP card. PC Surgeon, I think you are waiting for the white elephant.

 

[CKXP]

Originally posted by: Wolfshanze

Yep there will be a faster version. XFX is going to release a 6800GS Extreme clocked at 450Mhz. When? When I see one for sale, I'll post it here. I simply would wait. But it's up to you

I'm sure it's a typo... I wouldn't be holding my breath for a 450MHz N40 AGP GeForce 6800GS... you'll die long before that day happens!

No way will there be a 450MHz AGP GeForce 6800GS... just don't see it happening. They'd probably have to make a new core to get an extra 100MHz speed. Either XFX is talking about a PCI-E 450MHz card, or somebody got confused and typed "4" instead of "3" when they were refering to the AGP card. PC Surgeon, I think you are waiting for the white elephant.

agree, there aren't to many NV40's that will push that high, and if there was a extreme @450mhz there will be very little headroom for OCing. i really believe it was a typo.

 

[the Chase]

I agree also- don't think we'll see 450 out of the box- having only to "drive" 12 pipes might give these chips some more room to crank up the chipspeed- the GTO's that use the older cores but only 12 pipes seem to O/C a lot better than the 16 pipe versions- anyone see any reviews yet on these?

 

[Keysplayr]

If it unlocks, then you really don't need to o/c if you do not wish to. It would be exactly a 6800GT. I wonder what memory they are using for the AGP version. People are sometimes getting over 1400MHz on the PCI-e versions.

 

[Wolfshanze]

People are sometimes getting over 1400MHz on the PCI-e versions.

Man, I wish they never named the PCI-E and AGP 6800GS's with the same name. These cards should never be compared to one another.

Looks to me like there is no mystery about this card in regards to what it is made from... it's a 12-pipe 6800GT... looks like same core, same memory, same everything as the GT... only missing the 4-pipes... now whether or not you can unlock those pipes is the only mystery... otherwise, this card is identical to the AGP 6800GT.

Let's be real... NVidia put as little effort as humanly possible into the AGP 6800GS... this is not a new core... it's not magically faster... it's not new memory... it's left-over N40 stock that they didn't know what to do with... somebody said "let's slap a name on the card and sell it as a 'new' model!"... behold... the birth of the AGP 6800GS.

This is not a new card, it's not a new core, it's not got fancy new memory, or inflated specs.

A 12-pipe 6800GT in anything but name. Only mystery, does it unlock?

 

[CKXP]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
If it unlocks, then you really don't need to o/c if you do not wish to. It would be exactly a 6800GT. I wonder what memory they are using for the AGP version. People are sometimes getting over 1400MHz on the PCI-e versions.

what i did notice the XFX 6800gs memory is clocked @1100mhz out of box, hopefully it will have more headroom for OCing(1200+)might be possible

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Its for sale@eVGA with a MSRP of $249.99 :thumbsdown: obviously the e-tailers are a better value.

 

[Chriz]

Originally posted by: Avalon
$220 for a 350mhz core, 12 pipeline card. You can probably get a 6800GT for less than $30 more, and it'll be faster.

Or not. I can't seem to find many left. Weird.

6800GT's in AGP are very expensive. The cheapest one I saw was on the AT price engine from allstarshop, was a OEM XFX for 259, but it's no longer available, and that's still 30 bucks more than the GS. From there, it jumps another 30 bucks and keeps going up, very expensive.

 

[Wolfshanze]

Yeah, 6800GTs are hard to find... took me awhile to find mine a few months ago.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Wolfshanze

or just get a 6800nu, and unlock it, that is near 6800gt speeds right? its a lot cheaper too.

Well, the big differance with the NU is that it's a 128-bit card with DDR1 memory (and 128MB at that). Even unlocked and overclocked, the NU is still not a GT. If (and that's a big IF), the 6800GS can be unlocked, it would for all intents and purposes be a GT.

So who's going to be the first guniea pig and see if they can unlock this thing?

not i . . . looks like Wolfie is really carrying on a logic campaign against a faster "extreme" version.

maybe . . . maybe not . . . i just got sick and tired of waiting . . . and when my 9800xt died . . . i just went for the $200 x850xt . . .


and i really did want an nVidia card . . . originally i wanted the 6800GT/u but the never came down in price in AGP . . . and waiting for nextgen AGP that might never show isn't realistic.

at any rate . . . although i am still very interested inthe unlocking and o/c'ing results of the agp GS . . . i just couldn't justify paying more than i did for a "maybe" . . .

and i still have 30 days to change my mind if something 'exciting' shows up . . .
. . . right