Need some prof. help on this VGA card issue

Marcus_X

Marcus_X

Expert N00b
I just bought a new card for my computer, the XFX 6800GT 256 and a couple of days later my brother came over and mentioned a new card from ASUS, the ASUS N6600GT TOP Limited Edition

After seeing its specifications I'm in doubt about my 6800GT, the ASUS card has a higher core and clock frequency. The only downside I see is that it has only 128Mb memory. It's even about a 170 Euro's cheaper than the 6800GT!

...............Core F................Mem F............Memory

6600GT.....520...................1100...............128

6800GT.....350...................1000...............256

I have 9 more days to return it to the store from where I bought my 6800GT, should I bring it back and trade it for the ASUS or should I just keep the 6800GT?

I was so happy until my brother showed up........ :smash:

Please help me with this.
 
I thnk you'll be happier with the 256mb. Games are having more lighting, textures, and all that junk. You can overclock your 6800GT if you want, you can slowly bump it up until it's at where you want it or where the temps don't get too high. 128mb video ram will be hurtin' you in future days.
 
Well, yes, if you compare the clock speeds of the cards (and the Asus 6600GT is OC'ed from the stock 6600GT speeds of 500/1000), BUT there's one key that has the 6800GT stomping over the 6600GT. This is the number of pipelines. The 6600GT has 8 pixel pipelines vs the 16 on the 6800GT. It's like the number of lanes on a highway: the more you have, the more traffic can go through. Even if a 2-lane highway has a speed limit of 80mph, an 8 lane highway can have a limit of 50mph and still allow for much more traffic than the 2 lane.

Would I return the 6800GT? No, not unless it's defective or more than you want to spend. The 6600GT isn't a slouch, but the 6800GT is much better...or you need to believe that every review of these cards was done by liars.
 
oops =X blast. Blurry recently waking eyes thought I saw 6800GT's on both sides. Big B's totally right.
 
You will definately want to keep your 6800GT, that is an excellent card, close to the 6800 Ultra actually. Not to say that the 6600Gt is bad by any means but for one, like ninja said, the lack of memory will hurt for modern games like Doom3 and what not, as they'll eat up that memory with all the effect they throw at you (as ninja also pointed out :good:), and then the game will have to tap into your virtual memory which is super slow in comparison. Also the 6600 series is has only a 128-bit memory interface, while as you showed the 6800GT has a 256-bit interface, along with 16 pixle pipelines compaired to the 6600GT's 8, anyway you slice it the clock speed wont make up for these downfalls on the 6600GT's part. And remember, the 6800GT is AGP 8x, the 6600 series was origionally PCI-Express (APG 8x cards are a little more rare and pricer, your friends suggestion is nice, but it's PCI-Express). Hope this helps bud.
 
Thanks for the help all you guys. I was in doubt but now I realize that I shouldn't have any regrets buying this card. :eek:

I've only got a P4 2,0 Ghz and 1 G of RAM, but yesterday I discovered I can play Doom III on Ultra settings with no lag at all, except when there's lot's of enemys on screen.

My card rocks! :good:
 
Ultra w/ no lag, sweet dude. Wish I had a gig of ram, damn 6800 probably couldn't handle Ultra mode unless I had 2 gigs of ram probably.
 
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