the 6800OC/6600GT

[imported_alex007]

ok, i had my mind set to but the 6600gt because my budget was $200. BUt since christmas recently passed i received numerous bestbuy certificates. Thast means i can buy a $300 card. (the BFG 6800OC). Is the $100 difference between the 2 worth it. My mind is leaning towards the 6800OC but i really dont want to be a fool and throw my money away.



*and also another thing, hwne i card my card, i was thinkign of using the omega drivers, which do you guys recomend?



My System

Intel/Presscott 3.0ghz, 1mb L2 cache, 800mhz FSB
120gb Sata, Maxtor
1 gb Kingston dual channel, 400ddr/pc3200
MSI 865PE NEO2-PFISR
Gainward Geforce FX 5200

 

[xtknight]

I would definitely get the 6800 OC for $100 more. Worst case scenario: You have a slightly better card than the 6600 GT. Best case scenario: Your card is just short of the performance of a 6800 GT. With the 6800, you can unlock pipelines and overclock to get more toward 6800 GT performance! So, the choice is kind of this even: Is $100 more worth a ~6800 GT << only if you're lucky though.

 

[wmansfield]

Keep in mind that unlocking the 4 pixel pipelines on the 6800 isn't a 100% guarantee. They seem to be about 50/50 success. The 6800OC is a better card overall with its 256bit memory bus, but ATI is supposedly bringing out a $299 X800XL 16 pipe card during this month to compete with the 6800GT. This should show up at Best Buy in a reasonable amount of time or at least force the price of the 6800GT and 6800OC down. If you think you can survive a month or so without the gift cards burning a hole in your wallet you might be in a much better position.

 

[febuld]

Also remember that the 6600GT can enable it's Purevideo Processor (or whatever it's called) via driver updates. nVidia finally got their onboard processor to do something productive by lowering Processor usage during video encoding and decoding(?). Especially good for by lowering temperatures if you plan on running that Prescott...

 

[mwmorph]

dosent the 6800oc have purevideo also? the 6800oc can be unlocked a 50/50 chance on the GPU pixel pipes and a much higher percentage for the vertex shader, but it'll never be like a gt cause of the slower non DDR3 memory. the max speed with the 6800oc memory for long term is about 800mhz. the 6800gt is clocked at 1000mhz. still a steal if you can find a used one with everything unlocked, but dont spend above 250.
the ATI x800xl is supposed to come out this month(mid janurary).

 

[McArra]

X800XL is ONLY PCI-E :roll:

 

[mwmorph]

oh yeah... hmm forgot about that. oh well, i guess its intel for me then until i can get my hands on a affordable nf4.

 

[Zardnok]

*and also another thing, hwne i card my card, i was thinkign of using the omega drivers, which do you guys recomend?

Just to throw some numbers at you...

Stock speed using Omega 66.71 drivers
3dmark03 8591
3dmark05 2576

Stock speed using Nvidia 66.93 drivers
3dmark03 8770
3dmark05 3313

Overclocked @ 400core/850 memory using 66.93 drivers
3dmark03 10377
3dmark05 4052

I have not tried the latest drivers yet, but I will later today perhaps and update this thread then.

As for spending the extra $100 for the 6800, I was presented with the same scenario basically. I had been saving up for a 6600gt agp, but got frustrated and pi$$ed off when the price on them was so high. I waited and watched pricing on the 6800s and when I caught one on sale, I pulled the trigger.

 

[imported_alex007]

the lowering of procesor use is not a issue here because i have added a Zalman cpu heatsink fan,Zalman 7000A al/cu , very good, with some artic silver 5 it keeps my cpu at a cool temp of 37C at idle.
pretty good for a prescott dont ya think?
ok back to the video card

just to make sure, omega drivers are not overclocking right?
can u give me the site were i can get the latest drivers

with what programs can i use to unlock the extra pixel pipelines (im not planing to do this until later, i dont want to void my warranty so soon.) will these programs tell me if its succesfull.


is the cooling system in this card good enough for overcloking?
with what programs can i check the temp of my gpu?


My System

Intel/Presscott 3.0ghz, 1mb L2 cache, 800mhz FSB
120gb Sata, Maxtor
1 gb Kingston dual channel, 400ddr/pc3200
MSI 865PE NEO2-PFISR (AGP 8x!!!!! ok)
Gainward Geforce FX 5200

 

[alexXx]

i was in the EXACT same situation.. odd coincidence concidering our names.. anyway
i went with the bfg 6800OC because it was $366 CDN and had a 10% off discount. Let me tell you, out of the box, i had a score of ~8000-8500 with my 3000+ and 6800OC. I overclocked teh comp to ~3500+ speed and unlocked the pipes and vertex shader and over clocked the card, i now get ~12000 3dmarks.. This is 3dmark2k3.
hope this helps

EDIT: some info
my comp, a64 3000+ @ 2205mhz
1024mb crucial value ram
BFG 6800OC 16/6 @ 900mhz ram 390mhz gpu

and 3dmark 2k5 i get about 4500 points

 

[imported_alex007]

what programs didi u use to make your 6800 so fast!



you to make things straight this is he card im talking about


the BFG6800OC

 

[alexXx]

rivatuner is all you need.
see, the 6800 is essentially the same core as a 6800Gt /ultra except that the manufacturer disabled 4 pipes and 1 vertex shader. Riva tuner allows you to unlock those and also allows you to overclock the card.
works great, BUT nto all 6800cards are as lucky as mine, some cant be unlocked, or can only be unlocked partially. also, some dont overclock too well(some overclock a lot better than mine also )
hope that helps

EDIT: just by unlocking the vertex shader/pipes i gained 2000 3dmarks..

 

[imported_alex007]

yea i really need a new card, i ran 3dmark03 for the first time and i got a score of 900!!!!


thats low score was because of my videocard right?
my cpu did fine in the test.