Video Card in the $200 Range

[airrob]

I'm looking to get a new video card to match my AMD64 3000+ and gig of RAM. I'm thinking either a 9800 Pro or an NVidia 6800. Some questions...

1. The 9800 Pro is around $195. The 6800 is around $285. Is it worth the extra $90? I'd like to run games at 1024x768 with most features on.

2. If I get the 9800 Pro, should I get the Sapphire ( http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-268&depa=0 ) or the MSI ( http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=14-127-127&depa=0 ) ?

3. If I want to flash the Pro to an XT, is an extra cooler necessary? Has anybody used the Arctic Silencer? ( http://www.arctic-cooling.com/en/products/vga_silencer/ ) Is it difficult to take the standard fan off and install this one? Does it come with thermal grease like Arctic Silver or a thermal pad?

 

[usernamemax20charact]

1. if you play a lot of games, especially (future) games based on the doom 3 engine, then go with the 6800.

2. MSI

3. if you flash to an xt/have it overclocked, it'd be better to use something other than the stock heat sink and fan. the arctic silencer works great. it is definitely quieter than stock and a much better cooler too. it comes with a regular tube of thermal paste. easy to install. just follow instructions and most importantly *take your time*

if you can wait and don't want to spend $300 for a 6800, you might want to wait for the 6600GT. It's suppose to retail for ~ $200 as well and i've heard it gives a ~ 20% improvement over the 9800 pro. though if you flash the 9800 pro to an xt and slap on the arctic silencer, it'd be pointless to wait.

 

[ku]

I'm in the same situation... but I'm waiting for the 6600GT's. They should be coming out in a month (2 for AGP). Estimated price range is between $200-230 and its performance/price ratio is supposed to be really good.

For me personally, since I play CS and HL engine based games, I'd go for the 9800 Pro if I were you and needed a video card desperately. As for DOOM3 and stuff like that, the 6800 is definately the way to go.

 

[amheck]

I'm waiting to see how it plays out, too. I GF2 Ultra just died, and a member was nice enough on the FS board to let me use a video card until I can get one of the new ones. My budget it $200, too, and I'm curious to see how the 6600GT and the 6800LE compare to the 9800pro's and XT's.

Aaron

 

[cmv]

I'm waiting too. If the 6600 GT doesn't work out, then at least the 6800 regular and 6800 GT may have come down in price. My AMD 64 3200+ is burning a hole through my table but I just can't buy a card with the 6600 GT on the horizon.

If I were buying right now, I'd go with the 6800 just because it's the next generation from the 9800 and it's only $85 more. I would think that the 6800 would be worth more than the 9800 when the 6600s come out.

 

[stardust]

He just wants a new graphics card upgrade, so the 6800 is a great choice if your willing to spend almost $300. If not, try the saphire 9800 pro 256mb with r360 core for $250.

I have the same cpu configuration as you do and I'm thinking about getting a 6800 and then waiting for an SLI capable motherboard to run 2 6600GT's.

 

[Schadenfroh]

in doom3, the 6800 will EAT THE 9800 PRO ALIVE
but in other games, it is pretty much even
other game benchmarks

but yes, i would pay extra $50 for the 6800, its worth it, it will last a good bit longer.

 

[Insomniak]

I'm waiting on the 6600GT and PCIE. That thing, to me, looks even better than the 6800GT.


Nvidia has real winners on its hands with the GT cards this time through.

 

[Childs]

I vote wait for 6600GT.

And the Artic Silencer isn't difficult to install. Took about five minutes. If you can put heatsink and fan on a CPU, you can install the Silencer.

 

[unipidity]

Good, non-fanboy advice, imo.

The 6800 does get shafted at high res AA. Drops maybe 10 frames on a 9800XT, which is a lot at 40 fps. Personally, Id save for a 6x00 GT- although I have no idea which one.

 

[DarkKnight]

I think you should just go for the 6800. The 6600GT looks nice, but it has 8 pipes vs 12 and a 128 bit memory interface vs 256 bit. For just a bit more $$ you can get a card that will last longer than the 6600 GT plus you can get the 6800 and enjoy playing games NOW. Time = $$

 

[Pete]

1. The 9800 Pro is around $195. The 6800 is around $285. Is it worth the extra $90? I'd like to run games at 1024x768 with most features on.

If you want Far Cry, that brings the 6800 down to ~$250. It's pretty attractive at that price, as I think it's 20% faster than a 9800P in newer (slower) games like Halo and Far Cry and Doom 3. I may be giving the 6800 too much credit, though--I'd double check the latest Xbit benchmarks to be sure the 6800 indeed justifies its higher price.

Otherwise, consider hunting for a 9700P or 9800 for ~$125 used to hold you over until the good cards like the X800P and 6800 start sliding closer to or well below $300.

I'm waiting on the 6600GT and PCIE. That thing, to me, looks even better than the 6800GT.

Really? It has half the pipes, half the bandwidth, and--most importantly--supposedly only 1/4 the ROPs of NV40 (so says Tridam, IIRC, a very knowledgable and thus credible source, IMO). It looks great for $200, but it may not be as great as we all expected (me included) beyond Doom 3. Plus, it seems it'll be PCIe-only for a while at intro, due to limited early supplies (thus tying you to Intel). Reviews are supposed to be out next week, though, so we'll soon see if the 1/4 ROP and AGP delay rumors are right.

The 6800 does get shafted at high res AA. Drops maybe 10 frames on a 9800XT, which is a lot at 40 fps. Personally, Id save for a 6x00 GT- although I have no idea which one.

Well, the 6600GT won't fare any better than the 6800 with high res and AA, as it has less bandwidth. I guess you're talking about price/performance, though, and a $200 6600GT looks promising for a 10x7 AA+AF card. The rumor of 1/4 the ROPs is worrying, though.

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: Pete

I'm waiting on the 6600GT and PCIE. That thing, to me, looks even better than the 6800GT.

Really? It has half the pipes, half the bandwidth, and--most importantly--supposedly only 1/4 the ROPs of NV40 (so says Tridam, IIRC, a very knowledgable and thus credible source, IMO). It looks great for $200, but it may not be as great as we all expected (me included) beyond Doom 3. Plus, it seems it'll be PCIe-only for a while at intro, due to limited early supplies (thus tying you to Intel). Reviews are supposed to be out next week, though, so we'll soon see if the 1/4 ROP and AGP delay rumors are right.

AFAIK, it has about the performance of a 9800 Pro for $200, but additionally, the SLI option. The SLI is what makes the win.

 

[Zirconium]

I was just in your shoes (AMD64 3000+, MSI K8N Neo Platinum, and 1Gig Kingston HyperX). I went with the MSI 9800 Pro. I run all the games I play at 1280x1024 and then turn stuff off - I've been able to leave everything at medium to high settings.

The MSI you don't have to flash to an XT. It is already recognized as an XT within the Catalyst Drivers. Just OC it, and you are set. I've gotten 440/440 with stock cooling, and I wasn't even pushing it.

I got the MSI for $190, which is what I'm willing to part with. The $285 for a 6800 seems a little rich for my blood, but it is your call.

 

[Brackus2]

if you wanna spend around $200 and the 9800pro is 195 thats a perfect match, or maybe you can just get a 9800xt or 9800 for less as they say, but i wouldnt pay another 50% of a product price for negligible performance gains in the vast majority of things.

 

[Cawchy87]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
in doom3, the 6800 will EAT THE 9800 PRO ALIVE
but in other games, it is pretty much even
other game benchmarks

but yes, i would pay extra $50 for the 6800, its worth it, it will last a good bit longer.

Yes, on higher resolutions. If you will be playing at 1024x768 a 9800 pro will be more than enough.

 

[GeneralGrievous]

Where are people finding these 6600 GT benchmarks? Are they actual tested numbers by a site or Nvidia PR figures?

 

[djeddy]

i wonder

 

[Marsumane]

Originally posted by: GeneralGrievous
Where are people finding these 6600 GT benchmarks? Are they actual tested numbers by a site or Nvidia PR figures?

They are actually numbers that are given by nv on doom 3 as well as this one foreign site that had 8k for 3dmark'03. Personally, I see this card winning at lower settings and getting beat by a 9800p at higher settings.
I would personally either get the 6800nu, or get a 9800p (msi). I have a 9800p and i can play doom 3 at 11x8 on high quality and get around 40fps avg on my AXP@ ~3300+ speeds. I went through the entire game, and found the framerate to not hinder my reactions one bit. The 9800p looks to be atleast as good as the 6600GT in the majority of games (based on specs and my judgment). On the other hand, the 6800nu is definately faster than the 6600GT and is available now. It wont have the same weaknesses of the 6600GT, and will always be faster in any test u run it on (once again based on the specs). I'd get either the 9800p or the 6800nu due to them not having the weaknesses of the other chioces, as well as being in stock TODAY and not having to rely on NV's release dates.... we all know about their multiple month long paperlaunches of the 5800 and 6800...