Jaton GF6800 NU

[cramerica]

Hey all

I've decided that a new video card will be the next upgrade to my system. I was leaning towards the 6600GT AGP, but now I like the looks of the Jaton 6800 NU AGP. I've learned my lesson with 128 Bit memory buses with my very disappointing Radeon 9600, and I'm willing to buck up the extra $ for a card that will actually last. Anyway, my question regards the brand of card I'm looking at. The Jaton 6800 is, from what I read, a full fledged, non ultra 128 Meg 6800, with an decent looking cooler. Its perfect for what I need.

But will this board withstand:
1 An experiment with overclocking...possibly to be permanently OC'ed if the results are favorable
2 A possible softmod to an Ultra? (is this even possbile with 6800 NU's?)
3 Life in general

In other words, it there anything wrong with trusting the cheapest available 6800 board?

 

[2Xtreme21]

Meh. A 6800 is basically a 6800. I don't think it'll perform any LESS, just may not include a lifetime warranty, software, etc.

Oh and you can't softmod a 6800nu to a 6800 ultra. If you're lucky, you can use Rivatuner to unlock 4 pipes and one vertex processor on the card, which increases performance, but doesn't change the fact that it has lower clocked DDR1 memory (as opposed to GDDR3 of a GT / Ultra).

Edit: Jaton doesn't seem to be the cheapest 6800nu on the market. Outpost.com is selling a BFG 6800OC for $250.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Meh. A 6800 is basically a 6800. I don't think it'll perform any LESS, just may not include a lifetime warranty, software, etc.

Oh and you can't softmod a 6800nu to a 6800 ultra. If you're lucky, you can use Rivatuner to unlock 4 pipes and one vertex processor on the card, which increases performance, but doesn't change the fact that it has lower clocked DDR1 memory (as opposed to GDDR3 of a GT / Ultra).

Edit: Jaton doesn't seem to be the cheapest 6800nu on the market. Outpost.com is selling a BFG 6800OC for $250.

It may not change the fact of the RAM, but at a lot of 10X7 and 12X10 settings it will split the difference in performance between a NU and a GT. Not much luck about it either, most polls I've seen give this a 50-60% chance.

(all of the above you should know, as you're doing it!)

 

[cramerica]

Cool. Thx for clearing up the softmodding confusion.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: cramerica
Cool. Thx for clearing up the softmodding confusion.

NP dude I'm running one myself right now.

 

[Pete]

CompUSA is selling the PNY 6800 for $230 - $30 MIR + tax again--a reprise of Black Friday, but for all week long. I'd probably go PNY over Jaton, especially if it's cheaper (as I suspect it will be).

But the PNY 6800s are reported to have poor signal quality on the VGA out, so consider yourself warned. No telling if the Jaton will, too, though, or if those who posted their complaints were just in the unlucky minority. You could always email PNY or Jaton or call CUSA and ask if you could exchange/RMA the card without fuss if it has poor signal quality.