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nVidia GeForce 6800GT 256MB PCI Express Review |
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Written by Phyro
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Saturday, 09 October 2004 |
OCTools has published a review on the nVIDIA GeForce 6800GT 256MB PCI Express. The arrival of PCI Express to the graphics scene has caused quite a stir to the enthusiast community. Here we have a new technology that is destined to replace the long established AGP and PCI. What exactly is PCI Express and what's so promising about it?
 nVIDIA GeForce 6800GT 256MB PCI Express Review
nVidia's Reference GeForce 6800GT PCI Express card has showed some excellent numbers on our tests. Its performance would definitely not disappoint
even the most serious of gamers. It is able to play all of the latest games without any problems and with ease even with Image Quality set on high. IQ tests
still managed to give very impressive numbers.
When compared to its 6800GT AGP counterpart, it showed little or no difference at all even though they are running on different chipsets. At the
moment, the performance advantage of having a PCI-E card matched with DDR2 is not yet realized. Although we can see the PCI-E card ahead at times against the AGP 6800GT, most of the times they both give the same results. Future games
though would obviously take advantage of the huge bandwidth that these systems can deliver.
Although the 6800GT is not aimed at the 6800Ultra and X800XT markets, we can see that it gives both cards a run for their money. There are even times that we can see the 6800GT edging out the X800XT in some games. What
more against its ATI counterpart, the X800Pro? From the looks of it, the 6800GT is obviously the more appealing choice between the two in terms of performance.
Having almost the same price tag, the choice get's even easier.
Overclocked, its performance just tops almost all the competition. This is why this card has a big future ahead of itself. The ability to run over 6800Ultra speeds will be the number one attraction for the 6800GTs be it in
PCI-E or AGP form. Pricewise, this card is currently about $100-200 cheaper than both ATIand nVidia flagship cards. Now that’s a lot of money in terms of future upgrade options. This alone would be the biggest selling point of this card.
As for the PCI-Express technology, even though we have seen very little difference when compared to AGP parts, I would definitely recommended PCI-E now to serious
gamers who are on the upgrade path anyway. I don’t see any reason why you have to buy old technology when you have a newer technology in front of you that promises so much more. I have to say though that if you're only planning of
upgrading the graphics card and not the whole system, then you're better of with an AGP. One thing that can be said about the getting a 6800GT PCI-E is that it
will futureproof your investment.
And with SLI just peeping at the corner, it is more than enough reason for you to get this card. That is if SLI is playing in your mind. I know mine
is.
With all that said, the 6800GT PCI-E is not for everyone. Mainstream and casual gamers need not apply. This card is for the serious and the extreme gamer out there. Bottomline, gaming experience with this card is currently one of the best dollar for dollar.
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