nVidia 6200 or 6800?

by djRobbieF on 08/10/2006 17:40, 30 messages, last message: 08/17/2006 16:40, 7821 views, last view: 05/05/2024 09:28

Hey gang.
I need a little advice, because I am on a low budget for a new video card, and really don't know much about them.

I have a chance to get either of the following:

512MB nVidia 6200
or
256MB nVidia 6800

SO - my question is, do I go for the higher chipset, or the higher RAM? The issue is, they're both the same prices... so to me, because I don't know the advantages of the newer chipset, I want to believe that the higher RAM would be the better card for the low budget; but anyone's knowledge is VERY much appreciated.

I'm thinking specific for Sauerbraten. I use Linux only, so I really want the OpenGL support that either nVidia card will provide. Either card is supposed to support the shadowing technologies, so WHAT is my best option, and why?

Thank you so much in advance for your help in choosing a video card...

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#11: Re: ..

by Passa on 08/12/2006 03:49, refers to #10

toms hardware is the crappest site ever.

They benchmark gpus with like Athlon 5000+ x2 systems, with 8gb of ram in 64bit mode, how is that a real-world benchmark?

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#12: ..

by djRobbieF on 08/12/2006 15:28

Thanks everyone!! You've helped me a LOT. Both cards have the same grade of RAM (Dual 400 MHz GDDR3).

I also just got access to another card... a 7600 GS.

RAM specs for this are:
Video Memory: 256MB
Memory Type: 256-bit GDDR2
Core Clock: 400 MHz
Memory Clock: 800 MHz
Memory Bandwidth 12.8GB/sec.

Also has 12 pixel pipelines (Whatever that means; but I realize the bigger the number, the better, right?) :)

So the 6200 is DEFINITELY *out* based on all you've told me. If I can come up with an extra ~$40 I will get the 7600 and if not, I'll get the 6800... But I'm thinking it might be a good idea to just save up the extra $40 and go all out... ?

Thanks again!! It's all starting to make sense to me now LOL

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#13: ..

by makkE on 08/12/2006 15:35

If you want a gfx card specifically to make sauer run nice, the 6800 will fully satisfy you. The 7600 might be intresting if you want to play other current and next gen games. But current gen should run fine on the 6800 as well.

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#14: Re: ..

by Passa on 08/12/2006 16:13, refers to #12

If you go for the 7600GS, dont bother, just get the 7600GT, its only a little more ($60 aus dollars more here, so around $35 US dollars or so)

The 7600GT will satisfy any gaming needs of yours.

After a bit of research of my own, the 6800 vanilla is $15 cheaper than the 7600GT. thats like $9 us dollars!! And the 7600GT is WAAAY better.

Get the 7600GT.

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#15: Re: ..

by pushplay on 08/13/2006 01:09, refers to #11

Obviously the idea is to make the component you're benchmarking the bottleneck in the system.

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#16: Re: ..

by djRobbieF on 08/13/2006 01:50, refers to #14

Passa, well, I didn't want to spend that much ($60 more than the GS) - so is the GS no good? Why would I have to go with the GT if I went with a 7600 chipset? Or shall I still just stick to the 6800?

Thanks!!

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#17: Re: ..

by djRobbieF on 08/13/2006 01:52, refers to #14

Passa - continued.. just had a look at my suppliers, and it looks to me that the GT model is PCI Express only... because I'm AGP, the GS would be my only solution based on this... so what is the problem with the GS that you would say not to go with it?

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#18: Re: ..

by Passa on 08/13/2006 02:02, refers to #16

Well the price difference between the 6800 and the 7600GT is soo small.

This is because the 6800 series is no longer manufactured, so its more expensive than it should be. The 7600GT whips the 6800. You are ripping yourself off if you dont get the 7600GT. It even plays next gen games.

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#19: Re: ..

by Passa on 08/13/2006 02:05, refers to #17

6800GS then ($8 aus dollars more than a 6800).

OR try find a cheap second hand 6600GT.

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#20: Re: ..

by djRobbieF on 08/13/2006 02:13, refers to #18

your prices must be very different there. The 6800 is about $150 cheaper than a 7600GT here. However, I can get the 7600GS for only $40 more than the 6800...

Thanks for all the advice. It's such a major purchase but it does sound to me that the 6800 is going to do for me... my big thing is I just want to be able to support 1) OpenGL (I get so sick of ATI when I try to run my good screensavers and games) and 2) be able to see and experience all the bumpmaps and advanced shadowing in sauer... right now everything is pretty flat... ;)

Only games I play really are stuff like NFS, UT, FEAR, which all run fine on my ATI, so I'm sure they'll do even better (more effects!!) on the 6800...

So I guess the question really is now... do I get the 7600 GS for only an additional $40 (GT is out of the question; it's both not in my price range nor is it compatible with my system), or do I stick to the 6800 and save myself the $40 ??

:) Thanks again!!

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#21: Re: ..

by Passa on 08/13/2006 04:40, refers to #20

noOOoooOOOo

Best value is the 7600GS
DO AS I SAY ;-)

It will last you much longer than a 6800. (and for only $40 extra, just go without something for a month, its worth it).

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#22: Re: ..

by shadow,516 on 08/13/2006 05:29, refers to #21

>>(and for only $40 extra, just go without something for a month, its worth it).

I suggest going without food. You'll never have to buy another video card again ;)

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#23: Re: ..

by Passa on 08/13/2006 05:37, refers to #22

"I suggest going without food."

Is anyone wondering how I afforded my 7800GT?

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#24: Re: ..

by shadow,516 on 08/13/2006 05:59, refers to #23

not particularly

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#25: Re: ..

by Passa on 08/13/2006 11:55, refers to #24

Good. Because you really don't want to know.

But whatever it was, it was worth it.

PS, my 6600GT fried and they replaced it with a 7800GT free of charge :P

PPS, the bad news is I am saving up for a Conroe/new mobo upgrade :)

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#26: ..

by Max of S2D [Fr] on 08/13/2006 16:58

7600 is, sure, one of the latest and the better graphic cards.

6600 is a _bit_ obsolete.

(and my 5200 ? xD)

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#27: ..

by Passa on 08/14/2006 06:17

"6600 is a _bit_ obsolete."

Completely obsolete. You should not really consider purchasing a 6 series GPU at all. 7 series or nothing. And avoid ATI at all costs.

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#28: Re: ..

by Passa on 08/14/2006 06:18, refers to #27

Let me also add, the 6600 was obsolete upon release, the 6600GT was a fraction more in price, and a whole generation faster. But even now the 6600GT is not good value unless its a second hand bargain one.. the 6 series is dead.

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#29: ..

by djRobbieF on 08/15/2006 22:38

This is all great - thanks gang. I guess I'll go with the 7600GS afterall!

Cheers. I'll let you know what I think of the card once I get it (it will take me a few days of starving myself, but I'm sure it'll come about) :)

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#30: Re: ..

by CCmachine_firefox2 on 08/17/2006 16:40, refers to #28

yeah passa, my 256mb 6600 is really beginning to get on my nerves now lol....

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