Nvidia 6600GT vs 6800 Ultra

o_voipme · 05-25-2005, 02:47 PM

I've got a reasonably high end system right now. 3.2GHz P4, 1GB DDR2, etc., but lately I've been considering replacing the 6600GT I have right now with a 6800 Ultra. Would I get much of a benefit from this? Or is there some other product out there (or about to be out there) that I should get instead (or wait for)?

o_binarylife · 05-25-2005, 03:11 PM

I wouldn't replace it at this point in the game. Cutting edge is all good and fun, but expensive to stay on. The pay off you'd get in return probobly wouldn't justify the switch.

You could use alienware's technology to join two PCIE 6800 ultras. That would make a difference.

Also, a new pentium processor is coming out this holiday season (christmas and such). If you were interested in that, you may want to hold off as the motherboard that supports it may not be compatable with what you have.

Actualy, it may already be out... all I know is that I can't buy it until december. I'm saving money

It's pentium 4 dual core, 64 bit, hyperthreading. Don't know what it's base speed is, over 3.0 ghz naturally. But I'm unaware of how much.

o_voipme · 05-25-2005, 03:23 PM

I see on Intel's site a PentiumXE.

3.2GHz, LGA775 chipset (which my mobo supports, w00t!), Dual core, 64-bit supported, 800 MHz front side bus.

I'm very tempted...hmmm.....

o_jinx · 05-25-2005, 04:04 PM

That card is more than adequate at the moment. I would wait till this fall to upgrade, or until you get a game where the performance isn't what you would like.

o_travis dane · 05-25-2005, 04:19 PM

You certainly won't have to upgrade your graphics card if it's just for HL2. Only if you really want to experience the latest media on the highest possible settings, I'd recommend getting a new card. Your CPU would turn out to be a bit of a bottleneck as well in combination with a 6800Ultra.

o_someoldguy · 05-25-2005, 04:24 PM

Unless you have more $$$$ than you know what to do with and have this uncontrollable "must ... have ... bleeding ... edge" syndrome, going dual core for gaming is actually a step back (based on all the numbers I've seen).

Until games are written that use multiple threads, you derive no benefit from dual core (whether AMD or Intel) and actually, since in order to maintain heat tolerances both cores run at speeds less than the existing top ends, you will see a decrease in FPS.

As to the vid card upgrade, you're looking (from what I understand) at about a 5%-10% increase at most. As already mentioned, you're much better off either a) going with a new mobo with SLI, or b) wait until the next gen of vid cards come out. Games currently do not push the latest card's limits (with the possible exception of Doom3 and things that use that engine when you turn on all the bells and whistles). Given that the biggest reasons for not seeing "major speed increases" are due to software/games/drivers not being written to take advantage of dual cores, PCI express, 64-bit, and all these new-fangled technical advances... well, you're likely not to see major improvements until the software catches up to the hardware.

Just my $.00000000000000000000000002

o_pizzahut · 05-25-2005, 05:39 PM

In two years games will benefit from these hardware goodies.

==> UT 2k7 interview

o_ivaqual · 05-25-2005, 05:42 PM

..and in two years the goodies of today will cost less than half as much and you will get better goodies than what you can get now for the same price.

as others said, unless you are some "always at the edge" maniac you have no real use for another CG

o_pizzahut · 05-25-2005, 05:49 PM

Actually make that one year. The title "Unreal Tournament 2007" is a bit misleading. The game will be out 2nd half of next year.

o_|404|innoc-tpf- · 05-25-2005, 07:06 PM

Anyone else see new Unreal Tournament Releases to be a bit like the release of new vehicle model years?

o_osiris · 05-25-2005, 07:15 PM

Orgasmic? Yes, yes I do.

But back on topic! I'd say hold off on getting the 6800Ultra... for now, wait until the release of the next generation of videocards to come out (shouldn't be too long) the release of the R520 and GF70 cores should be enough to heavily drive down the prices of the current top cards, and if you REALLY want to be able to play the new games, wait and save for either of the top new cards when they are released. The R520, even with being supposedly the weaker of the next gen cards is more powerful than the current 6800Ultra in SLI (2x6800Ultra). You wont regret the wait, and these new cards are capable or running the Unreal3 Engine at it's maximum settings!

PS: 6600GT isn't a bad card, dont go and blow your money just yet!

o_thedarkone · 05-26-2005, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomeOldGuy

Until games are written that use multiple threads, you derive no benefit from dual core (whether AMD or Intel) and actually, since in order to maintain heat tolerances both cores run at speeds less than the existing top ends, you will see a decrease in FPS.

Actually, AMD's dual-core chips run up to 2.4GHz- only the single-core FX-55 (2.6GHz) clocks faster. But yeah, there's no point in getting one of them for a gaming machine- a single-core chip still gets you the same level of performance for a much lower price.

o_sp0rk · 05-26-2005, 11:21 AM

I'd say buy one now. I've bought several graphics cards right after they came out and it's a really bad move. My Radeon 9800XT was $500 when it came out, and quickly dropped down to like $250 the following month. I guess it was okay because I got HL2 out of the deal and the chance to play CS:S before it was released, but the price drop was really a kick in the balls.

o_rebo · 05-26-2005, 01:26 PM

No real need for dual core for at least another year.

o_voipme · 05-26-2005, 01:39 PM

Yeah...I think I might hold off on upgrading. The reason I thought I needed to was because of garry's mod. I think I loaded up version 8 and it was chugging along at a not-so-steady 30 fps. It made me concerned. 8.2 seemed to have fixed that problem though.

05-25-2005, 02:47 PM	#1
o_voipme Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Work Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Nvidia 6600GT vs 6800 Ultra I've got a reasonably high end system right now. 3.2GHz P4, 1GB DDR2, etc., but lately I've been considering replacing the 6600GT I have right now with a 6800 Ultra. Would I get much of a benefit from this? Or is there some other product out there (or about to be out there) that I should get instead (or wait for)?

05-25-2005, 03:11 PM	#2
o_binarylife Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	I wouldn't replace it at this point in the game. Cutting edge is all good and fun, but expensive to stay on. The pay off you'd get in return probobly wouldn't justify the switch. You could use alienware's technology to join two PCIE 6800 ultras. That would make a difference. Also, a new pentium processor is coming out this holiday season (christmas and such). If you were interested in that, you may want to hold off as the motherboard that supports it may not be compatable with what you have. Actualy, it may already be out... all I know is that I can't buy it until december. I'm saving money It's pentium 4 dual core, 64 bit, hyperthreading. Don't know what it's base speed is, over 3.0 ghz naturally. But I'm unaware of how much.

05-25-2005, 03:23 PM	#3
o_voipme Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Work Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	I see on Intel's site a PentiumXE. 3.2GHz, LGA775 chipset (which my mobo supports, w00t!), Dual core, 64-bit supported, 800 MHz front side bus. I'm very tempted...hmmm.....

05-25-2005, 04:04 PM	#4
o_jinx Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ohio Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	That card is more than adequate at the moment. I would wait till this fall to upgrade, or until you get a game where the performance isn't what you would like.

05-25-2005, 04:19 PM	#5
o_travis dane Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Down here Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	You certainly won't have to upgrade your graphics card if it's just for HL2. Only if you really want to experience the latest media on the highest possible settings, I'd recommend getting a new card. Your CPU would turn out to be a bit of a bottleneck as well in combination with a 6800Ultra.

05-25-2005, 04:24 PM	#6
o_someoldguy Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Just east of the jug handle Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Unless you have more $$$$ than you know what to do with and have this uncontrollable "must ... have ... bleeding ... edge" syndrome, going dual core for gaming is actually a step back (based on all the numbers I've seen). Until games are written that use multiple threads, you derive no benefit from dual core (whether AMD or Intel) and actually, since in order to maintain heat tolerances both cores run at speeds less than the existing top ends, you will see a decrease in FPS. As to the vid card upgrade, you're looking (from what I understand) at about a 5%-10% increase at most. As already mentioned, you're much better off either a) going with a new mobo with SLI, or b) wait until the next gen of vid cards come out. Games currently do not push the latest card's limits (with the possible exception of Doom3 and things that use that engine when you turn on all the bells and whistles). Given that the biggest reasons for not seeing "major speed increases" are due to software/games/drivers not being written to take advantage of dual cores, PCI express, 64-bit, and all these new-fangled technical advances... well, you're likely not to see major improvements until the software catches up to the hardware. Just my $.00000000000000000000000002

05-25-2005, 05:39 PM	#7
o_pizzahut Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Germany Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	In two years games will benefit from these hardware goodies. ==> UT 2k7 interview

05-25-2005, 05:42 PM	#8
o_ivaqual Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Europe, Front Yard Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	..and in two years the goodies of today will cost less than half as much and you will get better goodies than what you can get now for the same price. as others said, unless you are some "always at the edge" maniac you have no real use for another CG

05-25-2005, 05:49 PM	#9
o_pizzahut Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Germany Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Actually make that one year. The title "Unreal Tournament 2007" is a bit misleading. The game will be out 2nd half of next year.

05-25-2005, 07:06 PM	#10
o_\|404\|innoc-tpf- Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Midtown Express Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Anyone else see new Unreal Tournament Releases to be a bit like the release of new vehicle model years?

05-25-2005, 07:15 PM	#11
o_osiris Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: In your pants. Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Orgasmic? Yes, yes I do. But back on topic! I'd say hold off on getting the 6800Ultra... for now, wait until the release of the next generation of videocards to come out (shouldn't be too long) the release of the R520 and GF70 cores should be enough to heavily drive down the prices of the current top cards, and if you REALLY want to be able to play the new games, wait and save for either of the top new cards when they are released. The R520, even with being supposedly the weaker of the next gen cards is more powerful than the current 6800Ultra in SLI (2x6800Ultra). You wont regret the wait, and these new cards are capable or running the Unreal3 Engine at it's maximum settings! PS: 6600GT isn't a bad card, dont go and blow your money just yet!

05-26-2005, 11:21 AM	#13
o_sp0rk Join Date: May 2005 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	I'd say buy one now. I've bought several graphics cards right after they came out and it's a really bad move. My Radeon 9800XT was $500 when it came out, and quickly dropped down to like $250 the following month. I guess it was okay because I got HL2 out of the deal and the chance to play CS:S before it was released, but the price drop was really a kick in the balls.

05-26-2005, 01:26 PM	#14
o_rebo Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	No real need for dual core for at least another year.

05-26-2005, 01:39 PM	#15
o_voipme Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Work Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Yeah...I think I might hold off on upgrading. The reason I thought I needed to was because of garry's mod. I think I loaded up version 8 and it was chugging along at a not-so-steady 30 fps. It made me concerned. 8.2 seemed to have fixed that problem though.

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