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the better deal? 6600GT or 6800NU

K

kamaboko

Senior member
i've read a lot of chatter about how much better the 6800nu is if one can unlock it, but what if one gets a dud? which then is the better deal?
 
Unlocking a 6800 does not make a HUGE difference. You'll get a higher score while benchmarking, but otherwise, you won't even notice a difference. You can pick up a 6800 for about 250 now, making them a really good bargain. For 30-50 bucks more, you get a 256 bit card as opposed to 128 bit, which does make a noticable difference if you play at higher resolutions with more eye candy turned on.
 
go for the 6800 if you can get it at 250 or less, otherwise, go with the 6600gt, also, depends on what resolutions you want to play at, AA or AF on? imo.
 
Don't forget clockspeeds; the 1000 memory on the 6600GT almost makes up for the narrower bus, and it has a good core speed as well. Still, the 6800 sounds better, esp. with unlocked pipes and VS.
 
I have the 6600GT a friend has the 6800. I have PCI-E they have AGP, but obviously no difference there. He gets about 2 or 3fps more then I do, both running stock, well they are both BFG so OC out of the box.
 
if someone were giving me either for free, I'd take the 6800. However, if I were paying for them, I'd go for the 6600GT. Considering they perform so closely, the $100 premium for the 6800 is a bad investment. 6600GTs can be found for $180.

As for the differences:
6800NU ->
Pixel Fillrate = 12 pixel pipes x 325MHz = 3900
Vertex Fillrate = 5 vertex pipes x 325MHz = 1625 or 4 vertex pipes x 325MHz = 1300 (i forget which it is)
Memory Bandwidth = 256-bit x 700MHz = 179200

6600GT ->
Pixel Fillrate = 8 pixel pipes x 500MHz = 4000
Vertex Fillrate = 3 vertex pipes x 500MHz = 1500
Memory Bandwidth = 128-bit x 1000MHz = 128000

As you can see, the only advantage the 6800 has is in eye candy mode, where its memory bandwidth helps. Other than that, it's actual GPU power is less than the 6600GT. Throw in the fact that the 6600GT is $100 cheaper and overclocks better, and I think the decision is pretty easy.
 
if you are comparing agp 6600 gt to 6800 its $50 price difference for agp parts.

i'd get the 6800. it sonly real drawback is it uses more power, and you always have a shot at 16 pipes. plus you get 2 more vertex shaders, and its much more likely you have headroom to o/c than with a 6600gt that is already running 475-500mhz

also agp 6600gts only run 475/950. not 500/1000 like the pci-e version
 
Originally posted by: Machine350
Unlocking a 6800 does not make a HUGE difference. You'll get a higher score while benchmarking, but otherwise, you won't even notice a difference. You can pick up a 6800 for about 250 now, making them a really good bargain. For 30-50 bucks more, you get a 256 bit card as opposed to 128 bit, which does make a noticable difference if you play at higher resolutions with more eye candy turned on.
Click to expand...

Wrong.
First, making a comparison by bus width alone is a rather hollow comparison.
You have to look at the total memory bandwidth and fillrate of the card.
Second, unlocking a 6800 DOES make a noticeable difference.
I just ran some benchmarks with mine locked and unlocked in HL2.

The level is d2_prison_05.
Game details set to maximum, with 4xAA and 8xAF set in the control panel, vsync disabled.

Locked
10x7 - 70.9fps
12x9 - 51.9fps
16x12 - 22.6fps

Unlocked
10x7 - 84.6fps
12x9 - 70.7fps
16x12 - 37.8fps

16x12 unlocked is still fairly playable, as you'll kindly note, whereas 16x12 locked absolutely is not. Also, if you're one of those people who can feel differences at higher framerates, you'll also appreciate 71fps in 12x9 as opposed to 52fps. That's a pretty big difference to me.
 
Originally posted by: Avalon
Originally posted by: Machine350
Unlocking a 6800 does not make a HUGE difference. You'll get a higher score while benchmarking, but otherwise, you won't even notice a difference. You can pick up a 6800 for about 250 now, making them a really good bargain. For 30-50 bucks more, you get a 256 bit card as opposed to 128 bit, which does make a noticable difference if you play at higher resolutions with more eye candy turned on.
Click to expand...

Wrong.
First, making a comparison by bus width alone is a rather hollow comparison.
You have to look at the total memory bandwidth and fillrate of the card.
Second, unlocking a 6800 DOES make a noticeable difference.
I just ran some benchmarks with mine locked and unlocked in HL2.

The level is d2_prison_05.
Game details set to maximum, with 4xAA and 8xAF set in the control panel, vsync disabled.

Locked
10x7 - 70.9fps
12x9 - 51.9fps
16x12 - 22.6fps

Unlocked
10x7 - 84.6fps
12x9 - 70.7fps
16x12 - 37.8fps

16x12 unlocked is still fairly playable, as you'll kindly note, whereas 16x12 locked absolutely is not. Also, if you're one of those people who can feel differences at higher framerates, you'll also appreciate 71fps in 12x9 as opposed to 52fps. That's a pretty big difference to me.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected.
 
Originally posted by: gobucks
As for the differences:
6800NU ->
Pixel Fillrate = 12 pixel pipes x 325MHz = 3900
Vertex Fillrate = 5 vertex pipes x 325MHz = 1625 or 4 vertex pipes x 325MHz = 1300 (i forget which it is)
Memory Bandwidth = 256-bit x 700MHz = 179200

6600GT ->
Pixel Fillrate = 8 pixel pipes x 500MHz = 4000
Vertex Fillrate = 3 vertex pipes x 500MHz = 1500
Memory Bandwidth = 128-bit x 1000MHz = 128000

As you can see, the only advantage the 6800 has is in eye candy mode, where its memory bandwidth helps. Other than that, it's actual GPU power is less than the 6600GT. Throw in the fact that the 6600GT is $100 cheaper and overclocks better, and I think the decision is pretty easy.
Click to expand...

I think it is more important to look at in-game benchmarks than theoretical fillrates/bandwidth. If I were the OP, I would check out this great roundup. Look at the games that you like to play, cross reference with the resolutions and eye-candy you want, and then figure out if the 6800 or 6600GT is better for you. The 6800 is ahead frequently, particularly with more eye candy (as gobucks said)...but not all the time. And, sometimes it might be 70fps vs. 60fps -- you may never see the difference. This doesn't take into account future-proofing, so you'll want to think about that as well.

 
Originally posted by: HeatMiser
I think it is more important to look at in-game benchmarks than theoretical fillrates/bandwidth. If I were the OP, I would check out this great roundup. Look at the games that you like to play, cross reference with the resolutions and eye-candy you want, and then figure out if the 6800 or 6600GT is better for you. The 6800 is ahead frequently, particularly with more eye candy (as gobucks said)...but not all the time. And, sometimes it might be 70fps vs. 60fps -- you may never see the difference. This doesn't take into account future-proofing, so you'll want to think about that as well.
Click to expand...

I agree. It all depends on what is the best for you. If you like playing at 1600x1200 with 4x AA and 8x AF and all the details cranked, then the 6800 will be the best suited for you, while the 6600 will choke at these settings. However, if you only play at say, 1024x768 with no AA or AF, then the 6600 should suit you fine. It is all relative to what you want to do and how good you want it to look. Also, as some have said, consider the games you play. If you only play games such as WarCraft III and UT2003 or thereabouts, then the 6600 should be plenty for you. If you want to play games such as HL2 and Quake 4 (when its released) or even a UE3-based game, then you would be well served with the 6800, as the 6600 may not be sufficient for your needs. Just my 2.1 cents 😉
 
I bought my Leadtek 6800 mostly for this - the nearly silent and very effective cooling solution. It seems to me the reference cooler that every 6600GT seems to use is loud and runs hot (70+ under load). Even though I couldn't unlock pipes, it oc'ed well (395/875). Bandwith & fill rate changes quite a bit there:

P:4740
M:256*875/8= 28 MB per sec
Non OC Mem = 22.4 MB

6600GT (oc'ed to 575/1100, typical oc for that card it seems)
P:4600
M:17600 MB per sec
Non OC Mem = 16 MB per sec

Gotta remember to change to Bytes, gobucks 😉

Anyway, you can see that a 6800, especially when overclocked, has much more memory bandwidth available. A 6600GT, no matter the overclock, will be able to approach it in that regard. Even if you contend that my core oc's well, my core has 4 pipes actually bad on it, where many seem to be unlockable, which will really increase your fill rate at an incredible pace.

That said, a 6600GT provides good bang for your buck, but a more discerning gamer that likes their AA&AF and might be interested in softmodding will probably go for the 6800.

Nat
 
don't forget about the working vp in the 6600gt which actually can prove very useful if your card is not purely for gaming
 
Originally posted by: Reiniku
don't forget about the working vp in the 6600gt which actually can prove very useful if your card is not purely for gaming
Click to expand...

If he's talking PCIE, the 6800NU has a "working" VP and 256MB of RAM to boot?
 
don't forget about the working vp in the 6600gt which actually can prove very useful if your card is not purely for gaming
Click to expand...

Its at the virtually same level of functionality of the "broken" 6800 cards currently. It suprises me that folks still pimp the VP before they actually see it work considering the recent past.

Until the features themselves are enabled and working, it has no more of a "working" VP than any of the 6xxx cards.
 
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