What's the best 6800GT package?

[shuttleboi]

I'm looking to buy a new 6800gt videocard. Now that Newegg.com and other retailers actually have several brands in stock (but not the BFG, drat), can someone suggest what's the best deal (price, included package, etc) on the 6800gt?

 

[jdogg707]

I got the eVGA because:

1. It seems to overclock fairly well, at least to Ultra levels
2. It comes with Far Cry which is a pretty easy way to either get a great game or sell it for $20 if you already have it.
3. eVGA has a step up program which allows you to upgrade to the higher level card above yours within 90 days of purchase, and they'll give you a credit for the retail price of the card you just bought.

Overall I am happy considering I paid $394.00 shipped for it at GameVE.

 

[Kobra]

BFG without a doubt.

Unlimited Lifetime Warranty, best tech support on the planet - 24/7 voice support, with low hold times and TOLL FREE..

Who cares about packin gamesFarcry is like a $20 game, and wasn't even a very good game to me. So basing a judgement on what to buy based on the packin games is just lame... Any company only willing to offer a 1 year warranty on their graphic cards, is a company that doesn't have confidence in that card.

 

[shuttleboi]

Where did you find the BFG 6800gt? Newegg.com and other retailers don't seem to have it even listed.

 

[Acanthus]

BFG or leadtek.

 

[Bateluer]

Gainward is pretty good too.

 

[shuttleboi]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Gainward is pretty good too.

I read in a review of the Gainward 6800gt at gamepc.com that the card is extremely loud. Do you think it's loud?

 

[Rage187]

BFG from BestBuy

 

[jdogg707]

Originally posted by: Kobra
BFG without a doubt.

Unlimited Lifetime Warranty, best tech support on the planet - 24/7 voice support, with low hold times and TOLL FREE..

Who cares about packin gamesFarcry is like a $20 game, and wasn't even a very good game to me. So basing a judgement on what to buy based on the packin games is just lame... Any company only willing to offer a 1 year warranty on their graphic cards, is a company that doesn't have confidence in that card.

Isn't BFG's Lifetime Warranty only good for the retail life of the card itself? Meaning once the card is replaced the lifetime warranty no longer applies? The 6800GT's are almost all the same in performance, so when it comes to purchasing, it seems logical to see which card has the best feature set and add-in's included with the package. Motherboard manufacturers have been including one year warranties with their products for years, but does that show a lack of confidence in their product? Will you not buy one because of it? Same thing can be said about hard drives, they actually reduced their warranty from 3 to one year and people still buy them. I really like the BFG card, and the fact that they warranty the overclock put on them, but I don't know whether it's worth it.

 

[shuttleboi]

Originally posted by: Rage187
BFG from BestBuy

The BFG 6800GT OC is VAPOURWARE at BestBuy.com!! They have never had it in stock, believe me. At two of my local Best Buys, they don't even have shelf space in the store for it.

 

[shuttleboi]

Originally posted by: jdogg707

Isn't BFG's Lifetime Warranty only good for the retail life of the card itself? Meaning once the card is replaced the lifetime warranty no longer applies? The 6800GT's are almost all the same in performance, so when it comes to purchasing, it seems logical to see which card has the best feature set and add-in's included with the package. Motherboard manufacturers have been including one year warranties with their products for years, but does that show a lack of confidence in their product? Will you not buy one because of it? Same thing can be said about hard drives, they actually reduced their warranty from 3 to one year and people still buy them. I really like the BFG card, and the fact that they warranty the overclock put on them, but I don't know whether it's worth it.

From my understanding, BFG's warranty is for the whole lifetime, even beyond the retail life (the length of time that BFG manufactures and supports the card). Other companies like PNY warranty only the retail life.

When buying a videocard that is produced by multiple brands, I look for a variety of things:

-- cooling
-- noise level
-- added hardware features (e.g. two DVI ports like Gainward's)
-- added peripherals (e.g. analog-to-dvi connectors) and software
-- OC'ing ability
-- warranty

That is why I'm asking if anyone can suggest a 6800GT from all these brands. Help!

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I got my bfg GT fromm compuplus when they had it close to the 400 price (don't know what it's at now). BFG has a true lifetime warrenty; it's pny that only has a life of the cards production warrenty. I've heard many people needed to get the BB people to look in the back for them (and the workers not even knowing they were back there).

 

[Chronoshock]

Originally posted by: shuttleboi

Originally posted by: Rage187
BFG from BestBuy

The BFG 6800GT OC is VAPOURWARE at BestBuy.com!! They have never had it in stock, believe me. At two of my local Best Buys, they don't even have shelf space in the store for it.

Nah they've been in some stores. The local BB had one in stock (and one on display) but I decided to buy the BFG Ultra from the Best Buy site (yes it was available for purchase...for like 6 hours ) so that I would be warrantied at ultra speeds instead of being slimey and OCing a gt to ultra and still using the warranty.

 

[theslug]

Originally posted by: Chronoshock

Originally posted by: shuttleboi

Originally posted by: Rage187
BFG from BestBuy

The BFG 6800GT OC is VAPOURWARE at BestBuy.com!! They have never had it in stock, believe me. At two of my local Best Buys, they don't even have shelf space in the store for it.

Nah they've been in some stores. The local BB had one in stock (and one on display) but I decided to buy the BFG Ultra from the Best Buy site (yes it was available for purchase...for like 6 hours ) so that I would be warrantied at ultra speeds instead of being slimey and OCing a gt to ultra and still using the warranty.

I got mine from BB. Sure I had to go there four times, and speak to two different managers, but I finally got it.

 

[darXoul]

Leadtek.

I'm from Poland and I must admit we don't have BFG cards around here (are they even available in Europe?) so Leadtek seems like the best choice.

I don't want a card with reference design (not too quiet + boring IMO) so I don't even look at PNY, Club3D, PoV, etc. The same applies to eVGA, XFX and the first edition BFG which I haven't seen in my country.

Asus plays some stupid games producing weird crossbreeds of vanilla 6800s and GTs, making them nice-looking but loud. MSI has pretty quiet copper cooling but it only seems to be efficient with 6800 NUs and/or stock speeds, quickly succumbing to heat (and noise) at high rpm/MHz rates. Gainward is loud. Second edition BFG has nice cooling but I have no idea how loud it is, plus it doesn't seem to be available in Europe anyway.

Therefore, Leadtek. Quiet, with good cooling. Brand known for good IQ. Price is attractive as well. Available pretty much everywhere in Poland. I don't care about the blocked PCI slot. Looks like a no-brainer.

Update: XFX now available in Polish stores. Still, it doesn't change my choice and recommendation.

 

[Rage187]

Originally posted by: shuttleboi

Originally posted by: Rage187
BFG from BestBuy

The BFG 6800GT OC is VAPOURWARE at BestBuy.com!! They have never had it in stock, believe me. At two of my local Best Buys, they don't even have shelf space in the store for it.

I got mine at BestBuy


2 of the local stores around me have them in stock.

 

[theslug]

Originally posted by: Rage187

Originally posted by: shuttleboi

Originally posted by: Rage187
BFG from BestBuy

The BFG 6800GT OC is VAPOURWARE at BestBuy.com!! They have never had it in stock, believe me. At two of my local Best Buys, they don't even have shelf space in the store for it.

I got mine at BestBuy


2 of the local stores around me have them in stock.

It's just that you may need to ask specifically if they have it, there might not actually be a spot on the shelf for it. The SKU is #6684652, have someone there look it up.

 

[Kishan]

i got myBFG 6800NU OC from best buy. I love it.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Kobra
BFG without a doubt.

Unlimited Lifetime Warranty, best tech support on the planet - 24/7 voice support, with low hold times and TOLL FREE..

Who cares about packin gamesFarcry is like a $20 game, and wasn't even a very good game to me. So basing a judgement on what to buy based on the packin games is just lame... Any company only willing to offer a 1 year warranty on their graphic cards, is a company that doesn't have confidence in that card.

It's good to get Far Cry cause it's an AWESOME game, and even if you don't want it, you can sell it.

pfft, who cares about tech support and life time warranty, it means YOU don't have confidence in the card, let alone the company who made it

I would buy whatever is cheapest because to me, they are all 6800GT cards. you heard good and bad from any brand of card. meh.

 

[Actaeon]

I got my BFG6800GT from BestBuy. Only one on the shelf when I arrived.

Just talk to the manager, and get him to check stock in the store (including the back), and if there are any other stores in the area which carry the card in stock.

 

[Goi]

XFX coz it's the cheapest. PNY is the next cheapest I believe. I wouldn't get the BFG though, its custom dual fan copper heatpipe cooler doesn't seem to cool as well as the reference cooler. eVga isn't too bad due to its step-up program. Leadtek's cooler is supposedly very good but of course it costs a bit more.

 

[oldfartjc]

I bought my BFG 6800 GT OC at Best Buy almost 3 weeks ago. It has been working great and the dual fan custom copper cooler works just fine. Now the only way to measure the temps and compare with the original BFG 6800 GT reference design would be to install it in my machine and test it. That is the only way a comparison could be made. I haven't seen anybody do that yet, and since I don't know anyone with one I guess I won't be doing that either. There is no better warranty out there or support than BFG's.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: shuttleboi

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Gainward is pretty good too.

I read in a review of the Gainward 6800gt at gamepc.com that the card is extremely loud. Do you think it's loud?

I do not actually own one, however, three people at my work place own them. From the raving they are doing about it, I think I'm going to sell my V9999GE for a Gainward.

As for the noise level, its never been a factor in my hardware purchases. My friends that own them do say there is a fairly high noise level, but they're all enthusiasts with high speed CPU coolers, case fans, etc. It all just becomes background noise.

 

[kparis]

I'd personally go for the MSI variant,

since i dont live in the states i dont know how the tech support stack with that of BFG but at work ( we are MSI disti for malta) so far we return so few MSI cards especially when compared to sapphire, chaintech and other brands . Also MSI has 3 yr warranty and a fairly decent game bundle.

The fan has its own fan controller and is quiet. Sotck temps are around 45 degrees idle and according to the coolbits autodetect the card is capable of 423/1120 (core/mem) At that speed 3dmark 2003 and 2001 complete 5 times each with no problems or artefacts. it might go higher but i never tried - its fast enough at stock speed anyway.

i am really satisfied with this card so i can reccomend it