Nvidia 6800 series video processors still broken?

[Johuuy]

Hi guys, I am looking at getting a good "future-proof" card for gaming and htpc. I remember a while back there was talk about NVIDIA 6800gt & ultra cards having broken video processors or not working as advertised. I would just go ATI if this is true but would like SM 3.0 as this will last a while.

Was NVIDIA's broken vp fixed and if not just how bad is it running HD video?

Should I just wait for the next gen cards?

thanks

 

[otispunkmeyer]

pretty much

less its a 6600, 6200 but i think even they dont fully work, and i think Nvidia is just ignoring it till it goes away. unless i missed something, i got bored of waiting to find out. maybe the $20 NVDVD decoders do something....but i dont think HDWMV is working at all on any of them

 

[ddogg]

just wait for the next generation cards from nvidia...they will be fixed!! the NVDVD decoders dont do much!
best bet is wait for the G70 series from nvidia to get the full functionality of purevideo.

 

[Johuuy]

LOL...figured that was the case. Ok, sounds like the only thing to do is wait.

Thanks guys

 

[Gamingphreek]

The 6600GT and the 6200's both have fully functional. The 6800's still do a lot however i believe they do not decode (in the hardware) WMV-HD.

-Kevin

 

[SilverTrine]

Why not just get a x800xl, its decently priced, performs well, and with 99% of all videocards out there not having sm3.0 any small benefit it might have(which is debateable) will not be on developers minds to exploit.

 

[Johuuy]

Nah, I'll wait. I want SM 3.0 support. SM 3.0 will be more prevalent in games in the next year or two. I've read all the articles debunking SM 3.0 but the bottom line is that it is what developers are going to be implementing in games. Anyway, I am more interested in the graphical improvements than the 3-10fps increase of SM 3.0. Also, one of my favorite games, splintercell chaos theory uses *only* sm 1.1 or 3.0...so that means any ATI card will be running SM 1.1...ugh

If I bought a card right now I would want 6800 ultra or x850xt pe performance...that's as low as I'll go...lol. So that right there eliminates the only available option right now of sli'ed 6600gt's.

So, I wait.

 

[lavaheadache]

I think pure video turned out to be a pure waste.

 

[SilverTrine]

Originally posted by: Johuuy
Nah, I'll wait. I want SM 3.0 support. SM 3.0 will be more prevalent in games in the next year or two. I've read all the articles debunking SM 3.0 but the bottom line is that it is what developers are going to be implementing in games. Anyway, I am more interested in the graphical improvements than the 3-10fps increase of SM 3.0. Also, one of my favorite games, splintercell chaos theory uses *only* sm 1.1 or 3.0...so that means any ATI card will be running SM 1.1...ugh

If I bought a card right now I would want 6800 ultra or x850xt pe performance...that's as low as I'll go...lol. So that right there eliminates the only available option right now of sli'ed 6600gt's.

So, I wait.

There will be no graphical improvement of Sm3.0 over Sm2.0, there will only be a possible FPS benefit. Many developers are on record stating that there is no effect you can do with Sm3.0 that you cant do with Sm2.0 just that some things can be done more efficently with Sm3.0.

Thats why the numbering scene is a bit of a misnomer, Sm1.0 to Sm2.0 was a massive change, but Sm2.0 to Sm3.0 offers some improvements and makes some things easier but isnt a huge leap.

 

[Pete]

Well, current "SM3" cards can also do FP blending, which allows for truer HDR (tone mapping), which no SM2 card can do at a reasonable framerate. It also seems that ATI's SM3 card will also support FP blending. So, even though the SM3 spec doesn't require FP blending, the reality may be that SM3 cards will all offer FP blending. In that case, SM3 cards will offer an IQ improvement over SM2 cards with tone mapping.

 

[imported_Ged]

There will be no graphical improvement of Sm3.0 over Sm2.0, there will only be a possible FPS benefit. Many developers are on record stating that there is no effect you can do with Sm3.0 that you cant do with Sm2.0 just that some things can be done more efficently with Sm3.0.

It really depends what you do and how much you take advantage of SM3.0.

I have seen a case where SM3.0 is about twice as fast as SM2.0

So saying there will be no graphical improvement isn't correct. Consider that if you save any number of GPU cycles using SM3.0 as a game developer, you can do more in a scene using the extra processing power. Yes, you can code that SM3.0 stuff in SM2.0, but you can't code as much SM2.0 stuff and have it run as fast. It's better to have everything in a scene rather than have to cut things out.

Anyway, if you want to hear about how great SM3.0 is, just wait until ATI supports it. Then ATI will be pushing for it like NVIDIA has been pushing for it.

 

[imported_Ged]

Originally posted by: Pete
Well, current "SM3" cards can also do FP blending, which allows for truer HDR (tone mapping), which no SM2 card can do at a reasonable framerate. It also seems that ATI's SM3 card will also support FP blending. So, even though the SM3 spec doesn't require FP blending, the reality may be that SM3 cards will all offer FP blending. In that case, SM3 cards will offer an IQ improvement over SM2 cards with tone mapping.

That's a good way to look at it too. HDR is sweet when it's implemented correctly. :thumbsup:

 

[imported_Ged]

Originally posted by: Johuuy
Hi guys, I am looking at getting a good "future-proof" card for gaming and htpc. I remember a while back there was talk about NVIDIA 6800gt & ultra cards having broken video processors or not working as advertised. I would just go ATI if this is true but would like SM 3.0 as this will last a while.

Was NVIDIA's broken vp fixed and if not just how bad is it running HD video?

Should I just wait for the next gen cards?

thanks

I'd wait to see NVIDIA's G70 and ATI's R520 before purchasing a card at this point.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: lavaheadache
I think pure video turned out to be a pure waste.

I agree, and I own a 6800GT. I remember reading last summer that it (the PVP) would decode all types of stuff, including HD content, because it was fully programmable (obviously this was not true). I also remember reading and being excited about that it could accelerate video encoding....and absolutely nothing came of that either. This is what I get for buying into the hype, I guess. (Not to say that it's not still a nice video card, but it just kinda bothers me when they promise stuff they have no intention of providing...)

 

[BillyBobJoel71]

me too, i couldn' afford to live on an fx 5200 till next gen cards came out, so i got a gt.

 

[lavaheadache]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: lavaheadache
I think pure video turned out to be a pure waste.

I agree, and I own a 6800GT. I remember reading last summer that it (the PVP) would decode all types of stuff, including HD content, because it was fully programmable (obviously this was not true). I also remember reading and being excited about that it could accelerate video encoding....and absolutely nothing came of that either. This is what I get for buying into the hype, I guess. (Not to say that it's not still a nice video card, but it just kinda bothers me when they promise stuff they have no intention of providing...)

Yeah I own a GT too, it really is a great card but most of the features it has are "hype".

 

[jrphoenix]

Is there any word on a class action suit for advertising & not providing a feature on the 6800's? Anyone has an X800 or 850XT they want to trade for my AGP Ultra?