For those considering a 6600GT AGP upgrade...here is a consideration

[imported_Sincity]

I posted in the HOT DEALS section: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=1797963&enterthread=y

eVGA 6800 AGP 128m (non GT/ULTRA) for $236-150 MIR @ Circuit City. This is a Clearance so supplies are very limited. The store I went to only had 3 (now 2 after I bought one for my XP rig to replace my 5900XT).

 

[Gstanfor]

Nice. Wish I could get that sort of deal here. I'm replacing my 5900XT with a 6600GT 256mb AGP this thursday (actually the 5900XT is replacing my GF3-Ti200 in my legacy gaming PC, it will keep my Voodoo2 and Aureal sound card company).

 

[Cygnus X1]

Will this card beat my 6600gt and by how much?

 

[Gstanfor]

Stock, your 6600GT is slightly stronger. However the 6800 vanilla has the *potential* to unlock all the way up to a 6800 Ultra (at least on the core).

Personally I'd still probably get the 6600GT even if I could get one of these easily, since the memory technology is better (DDR3 vs DDR or DDR2) and I get 256mb of it (the major factor in retiring the 5900XT actually).

 

[imported_Sincity]

Minimal speed improvement over 6600GT. Check http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/07/05/vga_charts_vii/page4.html

This is for someone who has a 5 series FX board or earlier and want to upgrade on a budget. I bought this to replace my 5900XT with a 2.0 ghz 1700+. I could play BF2 at LOW settings, 2xAA and 1280 res in the mid 60s FPS with this card.

 

[edplayer]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Nice. Wish I could get that sort of deal here. I'm replacing my 5900XT with a 6600GT 256mb AGP this thursday (actually the 5900XT is replacing my GF3-Ti200 in my legacy gaming PC, it will keep my Voodoo2 and Aureal sound card company).

which 256MB 6600gt are you getting?

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: edplayer

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Nice. Wish I could get that sort of deal here. I'm replacing my 5900XT with a 6600GT 256mb AGP this thursday (actually the 5900XT is replacing my GF3-Ti200 in my legacy gaming PC, it will keep my Voodoo2 and Aureal sound card company).

which 256MB 6600gt are you getting?

Do we have any benchmarks on the 256mb 6600GT vs 128mb ones? I'm still skeptical that another 128mb of 128bit ram will make much of a difference (or, like the 256mb 9800 pro, it will only make a difference when the framerates are unplayably slow anyway), but i'm quite happy to be proven wrong Here in Perth the price difference between a 128 and 256 6600GT is so crazy that it would have to be a startling difference in fps to make it worth it...

You can get a 256mb/256bit 6800XT at the same price here as a 6600GT 128mb which gets you similar fps performance but that extra 128mb of RAM if you so desire...

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: edplayer

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Nice. Wish I could get that sort of deal here. I'm replacing my 5900XT with a 6600GT 256mb AGP this thursday (actually the 5900XT is replacing my GF3-Ti200 in my legacy gaming PC, it will keep my Voodoo2 and Aureal sound card company).

which 256MB 6600gt are you getting?

Do we have any benchmarks on the 256mb 6600GT vs 128mb ones? I'm still skeptical that another 128mb of 128bit ram will make much of a difference (or, like the 256mb 9800 pro, it will only make a difference when the framerates are unplayably slow anyway), but i'm quite happy to be proven wrong Here in Perth the price difference between a 128 and 256 6600GT is so crazy that it would have to be a startling difference in fps to make it worth it...

You can get a 256mb/256bit 6800XT at the same price here as a 6600GT 128mb which gets you similar fps performance but that extra 128mb of RAM if you so desire...

I wouldn't touch 6800XT - way too crippled and the cores being used are very unlikely to unlock successfully to anything at all worth while. Bear in mind also the 6800XT uses DDR memory only. None of the distributors I source components from stock such garbage.

Unlike your beloved radeon, extra memory does help the 6600's, especially when AA is being applied. Only a fool would invest in a 128mb graphics card at this stage of the game. Memory requirement for games are going to increase, not decrease and I plan on keeping the 6600GT around for several years to come.

The dollar difference is $66AU ($49.05US) for AGP and $50AU ($37.15US) for PCI-e - if you can't afford that, you can't afford a graphics card, period.
retail outlet link Image

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: edplayer

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Nice. Wish I could get that sort of deal here. I'm replacing my 5900XT with a 6600GT 256mb AGP this thursday (actually the 5900XT is replacing my GF3-Ti200 in my legacy gaming PC, it will keep my Voodoo2 and Aureal sound card company).

which 256MB 6600gt are you getting?

The same one I use in the PC's I sell to clients - Expertvision is the local brand, palit the board manufacturer. See linkage in previous post. If you are american, I believe the same card is sold under a different name - check out this thread the branding in the USA appoears to be "Diablotek"

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: edplayer

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Nice. Wish I could get that sort of deal here. I'm replacing my 5900XT with a 6600GT 256mb AGP this thursday (actually the 5900XT is replacing my GF3-Ti200 in my legacy gaming PC, it will keep my Voodoo2 and Aureal sound card company).

which 256MB 6600gt are you getting?

Do we have any benchmarks on the 256mb 6600GT vs 128mb ones? I'm still skeptical that another 128mb of 128bit ram will make much of a difference (or, like the 256mb 9800 pro, it will only make a difference when the framerates are unplayably slow anyway), but i'm quite happy to be proven wrong Here in Perth the price difference between a 128 and 256 6600GT is so crazy that it would have to be a startling difference in fps to make it worth it...

You can get a 256mb/256bit 6800XT at the same price here as a 6600GT 128mb which gets you similar fps performance but that extra 128mb of RAM if you so desire...

I wouldn't touch 6800XT - way too crippled and the cores being used are very unlikely to unlock successfully to anything at all worth while. Bear in mind also the 6800XT uses DDR memory only. None of the distributors I source components from stock such garbage.

Unlike your beloved radeon, extra memory does help the 6600's, especially when AA is being applied. Only a fool would invest in a 128mb graphics card at this stage of the game. Memory requirement for games are going to increase, not decrease and I plan on keeping the 6600GT around for several years to come.

The dollar difference is $66AU ($49.05US) for AGP and $50AU ($37.15US) for PCI-e - if you can't afford that, you can't afford a graphics card, period.
retail outlet link Image

Well, i can get a 128 mb 6600GT for less than 200 AUD new So that's a huge difference in price between a 128 and 256mb 6600GT card (you can't twist that).

I asked for benchmark differences, not your mantra you keep repeating (i even said i was happy to be shown my thoughts were wrong, a FEAR benchmark would be ideal i suggest)...

I believe that a 6800XT 256/256 should be a bit faster than a 6600GT (128mb) ( at least from here (it's a benchmark ) http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/286/7/) and it comes with DDR3 (at least the one i'm looking at and the one in that review do.

Now answer that in a mature and sensible fashion...please.

EDIT: and i've had a few horror stories with xpertvision cards here (and heard a fair few more on OCAU) for what that's worth, we all have different experiences with brands i suppose...

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: Gstanfor

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: edplayer

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Nice. Wish I could get that sort of deal here. I'm replacing my 5900XT with a 6600GT 256mb AGP this thursday (actually the 5900XT is replacing my GF3-Ti200 in my legacy gaming PC, it will keep my Voodoo2 and Aureal sound card company).

which 256MB 6600gt are you getting?

Do we have any benchmarks on the 256mb 6600GT vs 128mb ones? I'm still skeptical that another 128mb of 128bit ram will make much of a difference (or, like the 256mb 9800 pro, it will only make a difference when the framerates are unplayably slow anyway), but i'm quite happy to be proven wrong Here in Perth the price difference between a 128 and 256 6600GT is so crazy that it would have to be a startling difference in fps to make it worth it...

You can get a 256mb/256bit 6800XT at the same price here as a 6600GT 128mb which gets you similar fps performance but that extra 128mb of RAM if you so desire...

I wouldn't touch 6800XT - way too crippled and the cores being used are very unlikely to unlock successfully to anything at all worth while. Bear in mind also the 6800XT uses DDR memory only. None of the distributors I source components from stock such garbage.

Unlike your beloved radeon, extra memory does help the 6600's, especially when AA is being applied. Only a fool would invest in a 128mb graphics card at this stage of the game. Memory requirement for games are going to increase, not decrease and I plan on keeping the 6600GT around for several years to come.

The dollar difference is $66AU ($49.05US) for AGP and $50AU ($37.15US) for PCI-e - if you can't afford that, you can't afford a graphics card, period.
retail outlet link Image

Well, i can get a 128 mb 6600GT for less than 200 AUD new So that's a huge difference in price between a 128 and 256mb card (you can't twist that).

I asked for benchmark differences, not your mantra you keep repeating (i even said i was happy to be shown my thoughts were wrong, a FEAR benchmark would be ideal i suggest)...

I believe that a 6800XT should be a bit faster than a 6600GT (128mb) ( at least from here (it's a benchmark ) http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/286/7/) and it comes with DDR3 (at least the one i'm looking at and the one in that review do.

Now answer that in a mature and sensible fashion...please.

EDIT: and i've had a few horror stories with xpertvision cards here (and heard a fair few more on OCAU) for what that's worth, we all have different experiences with brands i suppose...

Last first, about the expertvision quality, we have had this discusssion (and the 256 vs 128 one) before, I don't know why you are trying to dredge the past up.

As for pricing, of course you can get it under $200 with dealer pricing, but Joe Average can't, and I'm twisting nothing Dug, it's you (as per usual) doing the twisting)...

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: Gstanfor

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: edplayer

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Nice. Wish I could get that sort of deal here. I'm replacing my 5900XT with a 6600GT 256mb AGP this thursday (actually the 5900XT is replacing my GF3-Ti200 in my legacy gaming PC, it will keep my Voodoo2 and Aureal sound card company).

which 256MB 6600gt are you getting?

Do we have any benchmarks on the 256mb 6600GT vs 128mb ones? I'm still skeptical that another 128mb of 128bit ram will make much of a difference (or, like the 256mb 9800 pro, it will only make a difference when the framerates are unplayably slow anyway), but i'm quite happy to be proven wrong Here in Perth the price difference between a 128 and 256 6600GT is so crazy that it would have to be a startling difference in fps to make it worth it...

You can get a 256mb/256bit 6800XT at the same price here as a 6600GT 128mb which gets you similar fps performance but that extra 128mb of RAM if you so desire...

I wouldn't touch 6800XT - way too crippled and the cores being used are very unlikely to unlock successfully to anything at all worth while. Bear in mind also the 6800XT uses DDR memory only. None of the distributors I source components from stock such garbage.

Unlike your beloved radeon, extra memory does help the 6600's, especially when AA is being applied. Only a fool would invest in a 128mb graphics card at this stage of the game. Memory requirement for games are going to increase, not decrease and I plan on keeping the 6600GT around for several years to come.

The dollar difference is $66AU ($49.05US) for AGP and $50AU ($37.15US) for PCI-e - if you can't afford that, you can't afford a graphics card, period.
retail outlet link Image

Well, i can get a 128 mb 6600GT for less than 200 AUD new So that's a huge difference in price between a 128 and 256mb card (you can't twist that).

I asked for benchmark differences, not your mantra you keep repeating (i even said i was happy to be shown my thoughts were wrong, a FEAR benchmark would be ideal i suggest)...

I believe that a 6800XT should be a bit faster than a 6600GT (128mb) ( at least from here (it's a benchmark ) http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/286/7/) and it comes with DDR3 (at least the one i'm looking at and the one in that review do.

Now answer that in a mature and sensible fashion...please.

EDIT: and i've had a few horror stories with xpertvision cards here (and heard a fair few more on OCAU) for what that's worth, we all have different experiences with brands i suppose...

Last first, about the expertvision quality, we have had this discusssion (and the 256 vs 128 one) before, I don't know why you are trying to dredge the past up.

As for pricing, of course you can get it under $200 with dealer pricing, but Joe Average can't, and I'm twisting nothing Dug, it's you (as per usual) doing the twisting)...

All i'm pointing out is that on the benchmarks i've seen, a 6800XT is faster than a 6600GT 128 generally I asked if you had any 128 vs 256 6600GT benchmarks because i'm genuinely interested (if that is ok by you) and in the past the difference has been shown to be negligable at playable settings...

The sub 200 AUD 6600GT price is at the largest retailer in perth (and the one that joe average is likely to visit, rather than ordering online at more specialist places).

Lastly i haven't banged the ATI drum for quite some time (i was just using the 9800 pro as an example of a case where extra ram made a negligable difference, i could have used a ti4200 64 vs 128 mb (the 64 was faster in everything in every benchmark i could find when someone asked this last year)...

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: Gstanfor

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: Gstanfor

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: edplayer

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Nice. Wish I could get that sort of deal here. I'm replacing my 5900XT with a 6600GT 256mb AGP this thursday (actually the 5900XT is replacing my GF3-Ti200 in my legacy gaming PC, it will keep my Voodoo2 and Aureal sound card company).

which 256MB 6600gt are you getting?

Do we have any benchmarks on the 256mb 6600GT vs 128mb ones? I'm still skeptical that another 128mb of 128bit ram will make much of a difference (or, like the 256mb 9800 pro, it will only make a difference when the framerates are unplayably slow anyway), but i'm quite happy to be proven wrong Here in Perth the price difference between a 128 and 256 6600GT is so crazy that it would have to be a startling difference in fps to make it worth it...

You can get a 256mb/256bit 6800XT at the same price here as a 6600GT 128mb which gets you similar fps performance but that extra 128mb of RAM if you so desire...

I wouldn't touch 6800XT - way too crippled and the cores being used are very unlikely to unlock successfully to anything at all worth while. Bear in mind also the 6800XT uses DDR memory only. None of the distributors I source components from stock such garbage.

Unlike your beloved radeon, extra memory does help the 6600's, especially when AA is being applied. Only a fool would invest in a 128mb graphics card at this stage of the game. Memory requirement for games are going to increase, not decrease and I plan on keeping the 6600GT around for several years to come.

The dollar difference is $66AU ($49.05US) for AGP and $50AU ($37.15US) for PCI-e - if you can't afford that, you can't afford a graphics card, period.
retail outlet link Image

Well, i can get a 128 mb 6600GT for less than 200 AUD new So that's a huge difference in price between a 128 and 256mb card (you can't twist that).

I asked for benchmark differences, not your mantra you keep repeating (i even said i was happy to be shown my thoughts were wrong, a FEAR benchmark would be ideal i suggest)...

I believe that a 6800XT should be a bit faster than a 6600GT (128mb) ( at least from here (it's a benchmark ) http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/286/7/) and it comes with DDR3 (at least the one i'm looking at and the one in that review do.

Now answer that in a mature and sensible fashion...please.

EDIT: and i've had a few horror stories with xpertvision cards here (and heard a fair few more on OCAU) for what that's worth, we all have different experiences with brands i suppose...

Last first, about the expertvision quality, we have had this discusssion (and the 256 vs 128 one) before, I don't know why you are trying to dredge the past up.

As for pricing, of course you can get it under $200 with dealer pricing, but Joe Average can't, and I'm twisting nothing Dug, it's you (as per usual) doing the twisting)...

All i'm pointing out is that on the benchmarks i've seen, a 6800XT is faster than a 6600GT 128 generally I asked if you had any 128 vs 256 6600GT benchmarks because i'm genuinely interested (if that is ok by you) and in the past the difference has been shown to be negligable at playable settings...

The sub 200 AUD 6600GT price is at the largest retailer in perth (and the one that joe average is likely to visit, rather than ordering online at more specialist places).

Lastly i haven't banged the ATI drum for quite some time (i was just using the 9800 pro as an example of a case where extra ram made a negligable difference, i could have used a ti4200 64 vs 128 mb (the 64 was faster in everything in every benchmark i could find when someone asked this last year)...

Dug, Dug, Dug, you were provided with benchmarks in our earlier 6600GT thread (the link I have to it doesn't work for some reason), showing there was a noticeable difference. You are also failing to factor in future gaming.

If you like I'll be happy to bury you in 256mb 6600GT benchmarks come thursday and you can compare them to your 128mb card to your hearts content.

A 6600GT is usually a very good overclocker whereas the 6800XT being built from scraps won't overclock nearly so well, so if the 6800XT is slightly faster stock (I don't see how since a stock 6600GT is better than a stock 6800 in AGP form, and XT is a bastardized 6800) an overclock will put the 6600GT firmly in the lead.

Lastly, I suggest you check the link to my pricing out - it isn't an online store, even though it may advertise only line and it certainly isn't a large store...

By the way, found a 128mb Expertvision at auspcmarket (of all places - they are usually WAY overpriced) for $170 for those interested, though - they will probably charge the extra $30 in shipping...

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: Gstanfor

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: Gstanfor

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: edplayer

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Nice. Wish I could get that sort of deal here. I'm replacing my 5900XT with a 6600GT 256mb AGP this thursday (actually the 5900XT is replacing my GF3-Ti200 in my legacy gaming PC, it will keep my Voodoo2 and Aureal sound card company).

which 256MB 6600gt are you getting?

Do we have any benchmarks on the 256mb 6600GT vs 128mb ones? I'm still skeptical that another 128mb of 128bit ram will make much of a difference (or, like the 256mb 9800 pro, it will only make a difference when the framerates are unplayably slow anyway), but i'm quite happy to be proven wrong Here in Perth the price difference between a 128 and 256 6600GT is so crazy that it would have to be a startling difference in fps to make it worth it...

You can get a 256mb/256bit 6800XT at the same price here as a 6600GT 128mb which gets you similar fps performance but that extra 128mb of RAM if you so desire...

I wouldn't touch 6800XT - way too crippled and the cores being used are very unlikely to unlock successfully to anything at all worth while. Bear in mind also the 6800XT uses DDR memory only. None of the distributors I source components from stock such garbage.

Unlike your beloved radeon, extra memory does help the 6600's, especially when AA is being applied. Only a fool would invest in a 128mb graphics card at this stage of the game. Memory requirement for games are going to increase, not decrease and I plan on keeping the 6600GT around for several years to come.

The dollar difference is $66AU ($49.05US) for AGP and $50AU ($37.15US) for PCI-e - if you can't afford that, you can't afford a graphics card, period.
retail outlet link Image

Well, i can get a 128 mb 6600GT for less than 200 AUD new So that's a huge difference in price between a 128 and 256mb card (you can't twist that).

I asked for benchmark differences, not your mantra you keep repeating (i even said i was happy to be shown my thoughts were wrong, a FEAR benchmark would be ideal i suggest)...

I believe that a 6800XT should be a bit faster than a 6600GT (128mb) ( at least from here (it's a benchmark ) http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/286/7/) and it comes with DDR3 (at least the one i'm looking at and the one in that review do.

Now answer that in a mature and sensible fashion...please.

EDIT: and i've had a few horror stories with xpertvision cards here (and heard a fair few more on OCAU) for what that's worth, we all have different experiences with brands i suppose...

Last first, about the expertvision quality, we have had this discusssion (and the 256 vs 128 one) before, I don't know why you are trying to dredge the past up.

As for pricing, of course you can get it under $200 with dealer pricing, but Joe Average can't, and I'm twisting nothing Dug, it's you (as per usual) doing the twisting)...

All i'm pointing out is that on the benchmarks i've seen, a 6800XT is faster than a 6600GT 128 generally I asked if you had any 128 vs 256 6600GT benchmarks because i'm genuinely interested (if that is ok by you) and in the past the difference has been shown to be negligable at playable settings...

The sub 200 AUD 6600GT price is at the largest retailer in perth (and the one that joe average is likely to visit, rather than ordering online at more specialist places).

Lastly i haven't banged the ATI drum for quite some time (i was just using the 9800 pro as an example of a case where extra ram made a negligable difference, i could have used a ti4200 64 vs 128 mb (the 64 was faster in everything in every benchmark i could find when someone asked this last year)...

Dug, Dug, Dug, you were provided with benchmarks in our earlier 6600GT thread (the link I have to it doesn't work for some reason), showing there was a noticeable difference. You are also failing to factor in future gaming.

If you like I'll be happy to bury you in 256mb 6600GT benchmarks come thursday and you can compare them to your 128mb card to your hearts content.

Lastly, I suggest you check the link to my pricing out - it isn't an online store, even though it may advertise only line and it certainly isn't a large store...

By the way, found a 128mb Expertvision at auspcmarket (of all places - they are usually WAY overpriced) for $170 for those interested, though - they will probably charge the extra $30 in shipping...

I would love to see them (i also have a memory like a sieve )

As far as future gaming is concerned tho, i did some in depth analysis last year (when someone asked which we recommended) on the 64 vs 128mb ti 4200s and the 64 always came out on top, even in later games. It would be interesting to see say the 9800 pro 128 and 256 benched in FEAR (or a 5700 128 vs 256)...

At the end of the day my point remains (and hence my question, is it worth it?), that the 256mb 6600GT is usually considerably more expensive than the 128mb model...

 

[Gstanfor]

I don't consider $295 expensive for a midrange graphics card and saving $50 or thereabouts and suffering a loss of 128mb memory is a false economy no matter how you add it up.

If you are that tight on cash, skip the 6600GT altogether and stick with the plain version.

 

[edplayer]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
I don't consider $295 expensive for a midrange graphics card and saving $50 or thereabouts and suffering a loss of 128mb memory is a false economy no matter how you add it up.

If you are that tight on cash, skip the 6600GT altogether and stick with the plain version.

everyone has their own opinion but I would consider that too much for a midrange card on a "dead" platform (AGP)

The 6600GT (128MB) is probably the best valued in gaming videocards right now. In the U.S. the 128MB versions can be had for about $120 (after rebate) currently with the 256MB versions going for about $180. I wouldn't even consider the 256MB versions. IF I were going to spend that amount then I would consider a high end video card that could actually make use of that extra 128MB.

With AGP the options are limited. Microcenter had a deal going before where you could get a X850 for about $200 after rebate. THAT is a good use of an extra 128MB.

I don't believe in paying extra now for the possibility of a small performance increase in the future. If I pay extra, I want a significant increase from day one. Not some 3~5% barely noticeable increase in FPS (and then in some games only). If it were like $5 more, I wouldn't care. But it is not...

 

[Gstanfor]

Bear in mind Dug777 and I are talking Australian, not American dollars

$295AU is $218.92 american and includes a 10% GST component (bringing it back to $197.011 American.

As I've said before, the 6600GT *can* make use of the extra ram, especially at when AA is being used. If you read reviews of the 128mb 6600GT, you will see they consistently beat the 9800 until hires + AA kicks in, then they fall back. This does not happen with the 256mb model.

If you are not restricted to AGP I suggest a 6800GS as your best value for money. You can see on my retail link one can be had for $375AU - thats only $80AU more and very good value for money.

 

[Gstanfor]

VR-Zone mini review of the ExpertVision 6600GT

Things to note as the review Points out - high quality branded capacitors (no taiwanese crap-ass-itors), a decent cooler, a redesigned PCB that eliminates the reference weakness where the bridge chip is on an angle and the heatsink is poorly secured with the possibility of crushing the GPU.

The Palit Expertvision may be cheap, but it certainly isn't nasty, and I wouldn't reccomend it here if it was either. As I've stated in an older 6600GT thread, I have sold many, many of these cards in both PCI-e and AGP format and never once had an issue with dead cards or returns.

 

[edplayer]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Bear in mind Dug777 and I are talking Australian, not American dollars

$295AU is $218.92 american and includes a 10% GST component (bringing it back to $197.011 American.

As I've said before, the 6600GT *can* make use of the extra ram, especially at when AA is being used. If you read reviews of the 128mb 6600GT, you will see they consistently beat the 9800 until hires + AA kicks in, then they fall back. This does not happen with the 256mb model.

Can you link some reviews comparing the 256MB to a 128MB 6600GT?

you did use the AU designation from the first price you quoted

 

[v8envy]

The 6600 is right on the edge of whether 256 meg makes a difference over 128 or not.

Remember the 6600 has comparatively low memory bandwidth, and 'future games' that have 256 meg textures or something won't be playable using those textures on that card anyway.

The other place you'd make use of lots of ram (other than texture caching) is FSAA. Once again, there the memory bandwidth to that ram is a problem for the 6600GT.

A 128 meg over a 256 meg 6600GT is absolutely not false economy. The 256 meg card won't be any slower (the reason the 128M 4200ti was slower than 64 is the 128 versions used slightly slower ram. I have 128M 'golden sample' using the same speed ram as the 64 meg version, and it benchmarks identical to a 64M card.). But it won't be perceptibly faster either. The only time it'll be faster is if a texture is cached on the video card, but not in system ram and the 128M system has to hit the disk to get it. This scenario happens nearly never if there's enough system ram (1G+).

The 128 may overclock the ram slightly higher, or not. Depends on whose chips are used, and how they're cooled.

A video card is not like the main memory in your box. Texture swapping from main ram even over AGP8x isn't going to kill you. If you don't have enough ram to have textures in memory and hit the disk all the time, well, 128 extra megs won't save you.

And the advice to get a vanilla 6600 if you can't afford a 256 meg 6600GT is just plain bad. There is a HUGE difference between the plain jane and GT versions. We're talking sometimes double the difference in perfomance (even 3dmark will show you 3700 vs 1990), as compared to maybe 1% on the 128 vs 256 meg GT versions.

Big ram on entry level cards is pure marketing. A 256 meg or even 512 meg X1300Pro will not outperform a 128 meg X800. Less (but faster) ram, to a point, is preferable to lots of slower ram.

I notice many etailers sort video cards by on-board ram. That's just playing into the misconception people have gotten from having 'more ram is more important than a faster CPU' drilled into them.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: v8envy
The 6600 is right on the edge of whether 256 meg makes a difference over 128 or not.

Remember the 6600 has comparatively low memory bandwidth, and 'future games' that have 256 meg textures or something won't be playable using those textures on that card anyway.

The other place you'd make use of lots of ram (other than texture caching) is FSAA. Once again, there the memory bandwidth to that ram is a problem for the 6600GT.

A 128 meg over a 256 meg 6600GT is absolutely not false economy. The 256 meg card won't be any slower (the reason the 128M 4200ti was slower than 64 is the 128 versions used slightly slower ram. I have 128M 'golden sample' using the same speed ram as the 64 meg version, and it benchmarks identical to a 64M card.). But it won't be perceptibly faster either. The only time it'll be faster is if a texture is cached on the video card, but not in system ram and the 128M system has to hit the disk to get it. This scenario happens nearly never if there's enough system ram (1G+).

The 128 may overclock the ram slightly higher, or not. Depends on whose chips are used, and how they're cooled.

A video card is not like the main memory in your box. Texture swapping from main ram even over AGP8x isn't going to kill you. If you don't have enough ram to have textures in memory and hit the disk all the time, well, 128 extra megs won't save you.

And the advice to get a vanilla 6600 if you can't afford a 256 meg 6600GT is just plain bad. There is a HUGE difference between the plain jane and GT versions. We're talking sometimes double the difference in perfomance (even 3dmark will show you 3700 vs 1990), as compared to maybe 1% on the 128 vs 256 meg GT versions.

Big ram on entry level cards is pure marketing. A 256 meg or even 512 meg X1300Pro will not outperform a 128 meg X800. Less (but faster) ram, to a point, is preferable to lots of slower ram.

I notice many etailers sort video cards by on-board ram. That's just playing into the misconception people have gotten from having 'more ram is more important than a faster CPU' drilled into them.

But...but...but...my FX5200 has 256mb of ram so it pwns your 9800pro!

The reason they make these underpowered cards with more ram then they can drive at playable framerates is because people buy them when they don't know any better. I know I did way back in the day when I got a geforce2mx 64mb. More is better is what you fall back on when you don't know. By all rights though, the ultra low end parts with high end amounts of ram shouldn't even exist.

As far as future games needing more ram...most of those cards probably won't even be able to throw out playable framerates at the settings needed to make use of the extra ram.

 

[Gstanfor]

You will be able to see the difference in Half-life2 for example. That is one game that will make use of a 256mb card. Same with doom3.

Any time you play a game at a resolution greater than 1280x960 with AA enabled you will see the difference between 128 & 256mb 6600GT's. You cannot directly compare a 6600GT to a 9800 series card here either since nVidia and ATi store their framebuffers differently to each other link

Regarding cost, if you are having a conniption over the cost of a 256mb 6600GT, the 128mb model is hardly going to be much better. The difference in cost will buy you 2 six packs of beer or 2 packs of cigarettes (if you smoke - I don't). So, if you can't afford the 256mb model, then IMO you can't afford the 6600GT series, period, and need to consider the 6600 plain series.

 

[dug777]

nvm