Best mid/low-range(price) graphics card? Bang for the buck?

[r0llot0masi]

I've been out of the game for a while so help me out...been running a Kyro II since my Ti4400 decided to asplode

XFX Geforce 6800 PVT40KNDD3 Video Card - Retail $142 after MIR

or

RADEON® X800 PRO AGP 256MB - REFURB $179.00

or

cheaper 6600gt or...suggestions?


I'd like to play the newest fps hungry games not needing an upgrade for at least a year, and money is tight as I'm a poor college student...I can live with 800x600 or 1024x768 after a while if it comes to that. I'm going to be picking up an Athlon 64 Venice 3200+ and 1gb Corsair Value, haven't decided on a motherboard...if I get an AGP card I'll probably get the ASRock board.
I really don't want to go higher than $150 for the graphics card and the $179 (+shipping) for the Ati would be a stretch...but it seems like quite a deal. What are your thoughts? Also (and I know it's not the forum for this), if you'd like to recommend a PSU and HSF for this setup (and possibly overclocking) go right ahead Thanks in advance.

 

[fbrdphreak]

This is a good question. I know the 6800GT is > X800 Pro, bu I'm not sure about the X800 Pro vs 6800NU.

 

[Eureka]

I'd get a x800pro at least.

Norm

 

[sisq0kidd]

At the resolution you are playing at, that 6800nu would be plenty. Buy one here on the forums that comes unlocked and you are good to go.

That x800pro is a relly good deal though... Dang... I'm just as confused as you now. Flip a coin, you can't lose with either

 

[crockman]

At the resolution you are playing at, that 6800nu would be plenty. Buy one here on the forums that comes unlocked and you are good to go.

Unlocked, What do you mean, Unlocked ?

 

[Tsosczb]

Originally posted by: crockman
Unlocked, What do you mean, Unlocked ?

All AGP 6800s have all the pipelines and vertex processors physically in place, but the 6800 and 6800LE have some pipelines and vertex processors disabled. You can use a program that alters the BIOS code so it will start up with all things unlocked. They were disabled for a reaon, so they might not work right, and you'll have to lock them back up.

I got a 6800LE, which has 8 pipelines and 2 vertex processors disabled, and all but one vertex processor are perfectly fine. That one bad one gave me some artifacts with the newer graphics technology in some demo.

The 6800 has 4 pipelines and 1 vertex processor disabled. Though neither of these cards will reach the performance of 6800GT, because the clockspeeds are a bit lower, and they have regular DDR memory (GT and Ultra have GDDR2 or 3).

 

[Aznguy1872]

I'd stay away from refurbished video cards. I'd go with the 6800 and try to unlock the 4 pipelines and that one vertex processor.

 

[xtknight]

6800. Unlockable, SM3, real HDR, cheaper, and in your case its the non-refurb. It's also an insane overclocker if you so desire. I'm happy with mine (a slightly slower PCI-e variant). You might as well avoid any chances and go with a more reputable manufacturer like EVGA, Leadtek, BFG, or Asus, Chaintech (for low price) even are still better than XFX or PNY. On my Leadtek 6800 PCIe I play BF2 at 1280x1024 with No AA, lighting to medium, rest to high, I get about 50 FPS. Can't say its perfect but it's playable, especially at 1024x768, which feels more like 70 FPS. BF2 is a particularly intensive game too. The AGP version is clocked 100 MHz higher on the memory if I recall so it should do better than mine at stock. It depends because the AGP version only has 128MB of memory though. If I put myself in your shoes I'd go with the 6800.

 

[Pete]

All 6800s (AGP and PCIe) have 256-bit memory buses.

I dunno, I'd lean toward the ATI refurb. You get a three-year warranty from ATI and an extra 128MB of much faster RAM as well as a much higher core clock right off the bat, and no rebates to futz with. Of course, you can OC and likely unlock the 6800.

Is the X800P worth $27, or 20% more than the 6800? I haven't seen benchmarks in a while, so I guess you should look up some recent ones (THG's VGA Charts, etc.).

 

[crockman]

That XFX 6800 your looking has, well, rather a Big Problem. If you read through the 'User Reviews' you'll notice A lot of Complaints about HEAT. Also take the Photo-tour and look at the Memory-Chips, You'll notice that the Memory-Chips are Not covered by the Fan or any Heatsinks. So unless you want buy an After-Market Cooling Solution, I wouldn't buy it.

Now take a look at the EVGA 6800 (link below) that Newegg is offering for $159 after the MIR. It has a Much Better Fan-Heatsink Setup. And better User Reviews than the XFX.

http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130202

I was looking at that XFX 6800, real good price, but it has a 'rinky-dink' Cooling System. So even with the Great low price and a Lifetime Warranty, i chose not to buy it.

I bought the EVGA instead.

And for a Heads-up, that EVGA has already gone up in price from $154-after-rebate w/ $3.50 shipping, what I payed for it yesterday, to $159-after-rebate w/ $5.00 shipping

Edited to add:

By the Way, that ATI X800 Pro Deal is Over With (Dead)

 

[TGHI]

Keep in mind: Unlocking doesn't always work. My friend unlocked his vanilla 6800 and got it to work, but lost the ability to overclock - and in his case overclocking it offered more performance than unlocking it. You just never know, but all in all a 6800 is a nice card indeed.

edit: speeelling

 

[gnomepunk]

Good notes on the card, but for overclocking...

Get the XP-90 heatsink. Great price from SVC when they have it in stock. Signup for the email list and they will send deals and coupon codes out in that sometime.
http://www.svc.com/xp-90-21.html

That Venice will overclock nicely and that corsair value will do you fine.

 

[Corporate Thug]

x800 pro > 6800 vanilla

 

[johnnqq]

i woudl say 6800 because of the price...but the link is dead soooo nevermind.

 

[shimsham]

Originally posted by: TGHI
Keep in mind: Unlocking doesn't always work. My friend unlocked his vanilla 6800 and got it to work, but lost the ability to overclock - and in his case overclocking it offered more performance than unlocking it. You just never know, but all in all a 6800 is a nice card indeed.

edit: speeelling

i solved that by setting my overclock first, then unlocking. kept my speeds then.

edit: that was just the extra shader, tho. not the pipes. should still work, as it worked for others and thats how i got the tip.

 

[PremiumG]

what % approximately of 6800s unlock?

 

[Hacp]

about 25% get both pipes and shaders unlocked/ 35 pipes only/ and like 90% get their shaders unlocked.