PNY 6800 GS or Powercolor X800GTO

[ashrym]

I'm trying to choose between these two: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131010

or

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=190288

Alright, I was hoping to opt for an EVGA, BFG, or XFX 6800 GS, but they're impossible to find now (due to short supply), let alone find them at a sub 200 price. I don't really know if PNY is a reputable company. Perhaps someone here might know. Powercolor seems to have recently enacted a lifetime warranty for cards after January 24th. Though, I don't know if it applies to their older cards, too.

Moving on. I was comparing these two X800 GTOs on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102608

and

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131010

As you can see, the Powercolor model has a 475 mhz core clock and 900 mhz memory clock and the Sapphire has 400/980. Now, I'm wanting to know if the Powercolor model is running on the superior RV420 (or was it RV430?) core as opposed to the typical RV480 cores used in the X800 GTOs, such as the Sapphire I listed.

If it does happen to be the RV420 core, that'll really make it a hard decision between the Powercolor X800 GTO and the PNY 6800 GS. If it does happen to be the RV420 core, how much of an overclock do you think I can get out of it (core and memory-wise). I've already recieved the instructions on how to flash the bios of even the RV430 core GTOs (apparently it can be done now; I've seen someone on this board do it).

I know that's alot of questions, though, I'll take any answers I can get at the moment.

 

[1Tanker]

Just a reminder. You can unlock the 6800GS if you're lucky. I got an

eVGA 6800GS AGP about 3 weeks ago, and i unlocked mine to 16/6

no prob. and its oc'd to 436/1160 with stock cooling. I'm getting ~14,200

in 3D Mark '03. The 6800 also has SM 3.0 if that matters to you.

 

[ashrym]

Yeah, I know about unlocking the 4 pipelines and 2 vertex shaders with Riva Tuner. I'm still wondering whether or not the Powercolor X800 GTO I showed was an RV430 core instead of the RV480 usually used in AGP X800 GTOs. If so, I need to know which one I should go with.

 

[GeneticWeapon]

I'm wanting to know if the Powercolor model is running on the superior RV420 (or was it RV430?) core as opposed to the typical RV480 cores used in the X800 GTOs,

You have it backwards. The R480 core was the one found on the X850XTPE, and is the highest overclocker out of the available GTO cores. R420 comes in second in overclockablilty, and R430 comes in third. As you mentioned, the R430 models are being flashed by some people to 16pp, but they're still slower than the R480/R420's even after being flashed.

And I can prove that.

Just my oppinion, but I would take any 6800GS over any of the AGP GTO's available right now, and I had a very fast R480 core GTO myself.

 

[ashrym]

Ah, sorry for the confusion. Well, is it possible that the Powercolor I listed is a RV430 or RV480 core? It doesn't have the same specs as the rest of the AGP X800 GTOs I've seen.

 

[GeneticWeapon]

If the Powercolour card does indeed have a 475Mhz clock rate, then it isnt a puky R430, R430 cores will barely(mostly not) reach 475Mhz in an overclock, much less coming factory clocked at that speed.

Cheers.