x800 vs 6600gt vs 6800nu

[Mike]

What do you guys think the best card under $200 is right now? I'm working on putting up the superlatives page and I'm not sure which should win at the $200 price point for AGP and PCI-E.

[Skrying]

Here we go, its between the 6800nu, and the X800. I simply dont like the 6600GT, havent since day one. Though it introduced a new design idea (spliting ROPs and pipelines, which we have seen go further in 7800GTX) I dont think its price point was a good idea with the 6800nu and X800 dropping so quickly.

Anyway, at stock speeds the X800 is slightly faster in more games, very close though overall. X800 is generally cheaper than the 6800nu in PCIe, but the 6800nu is generally cheaper in AGP than the X800.

The PCIe version of the 6800nu, can NOT be unlocked at all. The AGP version runs a chance, remember, chance of being unlocked. The X800 can not be unlocked in either format.

What it comes down to is this: How much do you value SM3.0? I personally dont care to much right now, though depending on how long you plan to keep the card it could be important to you.

I look at it this way: Short term: X800, slightly longer and long term: 6800nu. Or you might just want to wait a bit and see what Nvidia brings out for the Geforce 7 series of cards mid range, and maybe even ATi's mid range.

[Mike]

I was a little torn...I agree the 6800nu and x800 are a little faster...but the 6600gt can be picked up for almost $50 less than either of them, and it has 90% of the performance...

Anyone else have an opinion?

This is going on the superlatives page...in the future that page will be completely controlled by forum polls....:)

[Steve]

I agree with Skrying's points.

So I say X800 for PCI-E under $200.00 and 6800nu for AGP becuase of the possible unlockability and it is a little cheaper.

[phranq]

pci-e x800

agp 6800nu

[Mike]

Changed. Thanks for the input guys.

[Jason]

... you could buy a bunch of Mum's ;)

-Jason

[Steve]

The superlative section looks really nice!
Good job Mike! :)