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What's the BEST Nvidia 6800 based card??

post #1 of 18
9/14/04 at 10:02pm
Thread Starter 
I need to know what the very best 6800 based card is. I'll be buying one in the next week, and want the best. I've read tons of reviews, but I value this forums members for their opinions. Let me know what everyone thinks.
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post #2 of 18
9/14/04 at 10:50pm
The BFG 6800 cards have gotten the highest praise. I did a lot of research before buying mine, too. Here's BFG's website: www.bfgtech.com. You can read several reviews there.
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post #3 of 18
9/15/04 at 12:57am
yeah I say BFG...but then again I'm biased...there tech support is very helpful and knowledgeable...plus it comes OC stock...I've pushed mine to ultra extreme speeds w/ no problems at all
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post #4 of 18
9/15/04 at 1:06am
Thread Starter 
I'm assuming Ultra is better than GT? I think I've narrowed it down to the BFG or the Evga. I've read some reviews that the Evga is the fastest available. Now I just have to find somewhere that sells one of these two cards in the Ultra flavor.
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post #5 of 18
9/15/04 at 2:16am
Thread Starter 
Well, haven't found anywhere that has the BFG Ultra or the EVGA Ultra card. Anyone hear anything about when those cards will be back in stock?
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post #6 of 18
9/15/04 at 2:26am
http://www.rowcal.com/ they seem to have the evga

http://www.wallapc.com/ for the BFG

I would call the places 1st and see if they have anything in stock, check resellerratings...also call your local best buy b/c they carry BFG...I believe Craig aka AW forum moderator found some ultras at a local compusa, but they are pny

best of luck

-looks like the the 6800 cards went up a lot in price due to demand...kinda makes me happy about buying mine early =P
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post #7 of 18
9/20/04 at 12:48am
Thread Starter 
I've been doing some more research, and hanging around some other forums, and it's seems the consensus is to get a 6800 GT card and simply overclock it a little to Ultra speeds. You get the same power as an Ultra card, for a lot less money. Guess I'll go ahead and do this, since it doesn't make since to spend an extra $200+ just to have the word "Ultra" on my card. I read a 30+ page thread were everyone was overclocking the BFG GT card and actually beating the Ultra card in benchmarks and stuff. Pretty sweet.
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post #8 of 18
9/20/04 at 12:06pm
Good choice! As for actually finding a BFG 6800 GT, it's almost impossible to find online. Everyone is out of stock, or so it seems. I spent over a month on BFG's waiting list and would still be waiting, but I decided to check out some local stores. I found a BFG 6800 GT OC at a Best Buy on my first try. I know that Monarch Computer stocks the EVGA 6800 GT, if you want the EVGA version.
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post #9 of 18
9/20/04 at 12:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jswriter
Good choice! As for actually finding a BFG 6800 GT, it's almost impossible to find online. Everyone is out of stock, or so it seems. I spent over a month on BFG's waiting list and would still be waiting, but I decided to check out some local stores. I found a BFG 6800 GT OC at a Best Buy on my first try. I know that Monarch Computer stocks the EVGA 6800 GT, if you want the EVGA version.

I have the EVGA... It's a PURDY card! (of course my case doesnt have a window so who the hell cares... )

Look at my Sig... my EVGA OC's WELL over Ultra Speeds, AIR COOLED...
I'm happy with it...
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post #10 of 18
9/26/04 at 6:15pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, I went out and picked up a BFG 6800GT OC from Best Buy. I ran 3DMark03, and it would freeze for like 5 seconds then work, then freeze again, etc... Then I tried the CS:Source stress test. It would freeze for like 30 seconds. I did a search, and found a couple of possible fixes. In the bios, is set the vido ram to 256mb and I turned off fast writes. Now it works fine. Scored around a 12,000 in 3Dmark03.

BUT, I'm having no luck getting ultra speeds out of this thing. I can't even get 400/1100 out of it without artifacting. I'm thinking it's the drivers. I'm using the 61.77s from Nvidia's website. I just downloaded the 66.31s, and will be trying with those. I think the skimpy fans may be a problem, so I'll probably return this card and get an Ultra or an X800xt PE. We shall see...
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post #11 of 18
9/26/04 at 6:29pm
Thread Starter 
Definitely returning it. Artifacts at 400/1100. After doing some reading, it seems the 6800 cards are plagued with bugs and problems. Not all, but a lot of them. I think I'm going to go with the ATI X800XT Platinum Edition. The 6800 only beats it in Doom 3, which I don't even like nor play.
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post #12 of 18
9/26/04 at 7:42pm
Sorry to see you've had such a tough time with your 6800. I was having a few freeze/hitch problems, at first, but a few tweaks made the difference in my system. I'm not into overclocking, so I can't offer any comments on that aspect. Hope the X800XT works out better for you.
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post #13 of 18
9/26/04 at 8:49pm
Drawmonster,
The reason the GT's are cheaper and clocked lower is because they are simply lower-quality chips. As you may know, chip manufacturers test at high clock speeds, and then lower until it's stable. The lower-clock ones get put in cheaper cards. This is the difference between a 9600XT and a 9600SE. So if you overclock the card up to Ultra speeds, you sacrifice performance. If you are going to be overclocking anyway, why not do it on the Ultra with more headroom? If I was buying for a desktop i would get the x800xt, because it only takes up one slot and requires less power. If a 6800 needs a huge fan to stay cool, but the x800xt only needs a small one, what would happen if you put a huge one on the x800? Answer: massive OC.
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post #14 of 18
9/27/04 at 12:28am
Hey Yang - Just noticed:
Aquamark: 66998
3dmark03: 12800
3dmark01: 22925





Specs in my sig, no OC of my graphics card (Geforce 6800gt 350/1000) I was 13341 in 3dMark03 ....



I have an Evga 6800GT... I love it... Good Solid Card, Keeps the Heat Down, and OC's VERY well... (no artifacting at around 440 / 1190)
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post #15 of 18
9/27/04 at 2:28am
hmmm, we need to talk haha...well I didn't get past 2500mhz on the cpu and the gpu was OCed to 464/1280 so hmm....are systems aren't all that much different
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post #16 of 18
9/27/04 at 2:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Al
I have the EVGA... It's a PURDY card! (of course my case doesnt have a window so who the hell cares... )

Look at my Sig... my EVGA OC's WELL over Ultra Speeds, AIR COOLED...
I'm happy with it...
Ever considering cutting a hole on the side of your case and lining it with glass?
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post #17 of 18
9/27/04 at 5:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mayaman2
Ever considering cutting a hole on the side of your case and lining it with glass?

Why?!

I plan to water cool.... Not really interested in the "COOL" factor.... my computer is like a piece of furniture in my place.... the big blue glowing case I had not oto long ago, wasn't "ideal" for where I'm set up :P
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post #18 of 18
9/27/04 at 12:06pm
sigh cap...puter took a dump on me last night...where did u go? =( well off to see my tech and see if I did any permanent damage...I'll keep ya posted
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