SuAsDu

Hi,

I need to get a new video card. I of course would love to get a 6800 or x800, but money seems to always prevent me from getting them.

So the only thing in my budget would be a 256MB 9800Pro.

Now I've heard that the newer 9800Pro 256 are really XT w/ 9800Pro bios. in other words the 9800Pro has the same r360 core and temp prob. Is this correct?

Also.. if I was to get a 9800Pro 256MB. Which one should I get? Is there a manf that has better success rate then others?

Any tips or advice would greatly be appreciated. Also, can you buy a XT heatsink? I think they look cooler then the 9800Pro heatsink.

SAD

SPECIALBLEND218

For the price would get a 6800 and blow the other cards out of the water.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...150-068&depa=1

SuAsDu

Hmm.. good suggestion.

6800 is faster then 9800XT? Sorry.. I don't follow nVidia much.

Would 6800 = x800 Pro?

SAD

ion

The 6800 non ultra is a good deal faster than the 9800 XT, but nowhere near the preformance of a 6800 ultra or a X800 PRO.
Benchmarks http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2113&p=7

If you are looking for a good highend card, I would recoment the 6800 GT. Though 400 USD is a bit steep, it can be overclocked to Ultra speeds.

mot19

a 6800gt is about the same as a x800 pro, a 6800 ultra is on par with the x800xt, and the regular 6800 is faster then the 9800s and the geforce 5950s by a long way

SuAsDu

Thanks for all the quick reply.

Bascially I have a 9800Pro r350 128MB right now. I want to kick up to an XT, but too damn expensive. That is why I was considering a newer 9800Pro 256MB w/ the r360 core that can be flashed to XT. (saves me about $100).

Since I can only afford $250'ish, that puts any x800 out of my budget, along w/ the 6800Ultra and GT.

The main contenders are the 9800Pro 256 (Flashed to XT) or the 6800.

If I get the 9800Pro, the max I can do with it is get an XT (not shabby).

But w/ the 6800.. is there anyway to get a GT or Ultra?

I'm sorry.. not familar w/ nVidia. but is there way to unlock pipes or flash up the bios?

Is the 6800 just a handicaped GT? Or is is a tottaly different video card?

Sorry for all the lame questions.. but I who better to look for guidance other then PIMPS!!

SAD

Chrome_Rust

Quote: Originally Posted by SuAsDu Thanks for all the quick reply. Bascially I have a 9800Pro r350 128MB right now. I want to kick up to an XT, but too damn expensive. That is why I was considering a newer 9800Pro 256MB w/ the r360 core that can be flashed to XT. (saves me about $100). Since I can only afford $250'ish, that puts any x800 out of my budget, along w/ the 6800Ultra and GT. The main contenders are the 9800Pro 256 (Flashed to XT) or the 6800. If I get the 9800Pro, the max I can do with it is get an XT (not shabby). But w/ the 6800.. is there anyway to get a GT or Ultra? I'm sorry.. not familar w/ nVidia. but is there way to unlock pipes or flash up the bios? Is the 6800 just a handicaped GT? Or is is a tottaly different video card? Sorry for all the lame questions.. but I who better to look for guidance other then PIMPS!! SAD

you have PM

SuAsDu

Quote: Originally Posted by Chrome_Rust you have PM

LOL.. am i so off par that CR has to PM me to get me straight?

Chrome_Rust

Quote: Originally Posted by SuAsDu LOL.. am i so off par that CR has to PM me to get me straight?

no just making you an offer........

mot19

as far as i know u cant unlock the pipes on the 6800....YET And even with 8 pipes it smacks around 9800pros and XTs. Id get the 6800, cuz its faster, very overclable, and most likly someone will figure out a way to get the 4 pipeslines open

SuAsDu

Quote: Originally Posted by mot19 as far as i know u cant unlock the pipes on the 6800....YET And even with 8 pipes it smacks around 9800pros and XTs. Id get the 6800, cuz its faster, very overclable, and most likly someone will figure out a way to get the 4 pipeslines open

guess what..

i was looking up the 6800 and seems that unlocking the pipes will be coming be shortly from 12 to 16 via RivaTuner:

http://www.digit-life.com/news.html?107374#107374

This will hopefully make the GPU perform as well at the GT, but the biggest draw back will be the mem. Since the 6800 is DDR while the GT and Ultra is GDDR3. Hmm..

I guess this take the save caveat as unlocking the pipes w/ the ATI. Wow.. this is getting interesting.

If this pans out, the 6800 will be a killer deal. Kinda like the ATI 9500NP oc'ing to 9700Pro Speeds .

SAD

mot19

yup go with the 6800 regular