Thoughts on these video cards for a upgrade?

[xbanzai89]

I have a friend on a old Athlon XP 2800 processor and a ATI 9550 card.

He isn't ready to let the system die yet. He wants a new computer but can't yet. He has a new born on the way can't dump 700+ dollars a new one.

He is looking for a new AGP card to hold him over. Hes looking to spend 75 dollars at most. He also has a 300-350 watt power supply.

I've been thinking about several different cards he could get off ebay:

6800 GT
6800 Ultra
x800 XT (PE)
x850 XT (PE)
Or some other version of those cards.

What I'm confused about is are these all single slot designed cards or do you need to have a six pin connector for these? He'd rather not upgrade his PSU is all.

On top of this he has a 22 inch wide screen LCD monitor. I would think a card with 512 ram would help him out with that resolution. I think some 6800 ULTRAs have that. Would this help him out? This isn't my specialty area really.

 

[bjmarler]

Either of the 6800's will be fine. Just DO NOT get the x800's. Why? Because they do not support shader model 3.0 (S.M. 3.0)

So, while the raw speed of the x800's was GREAT, the lack of support for shader model 3 makes them unable to play some newer games at all.

Now, you can get the 6800XT on newegg.com for that same price. Woot!!!

 

[xbanzai89]

Ok thanks for the insight. So that difference between 9.0B and 9.0C is SM 2.0 and SM 3.0?

The 6800 is a great card imo. I had for 2 years I loved it.

Was the 6800 GS just an underclocked 6800 GT? If so my friend could just overclock it to a gt rigfht?

 

[maverick7]

i dont think the psu is powerful enough because the 6800 needs a minimum 350W power supply (with 12V current rating of 18A or more)

 

[xbanzai89]

My brother is running my old 6800 GT on a 300 watt with a intel Pentium D on top of that.

 

[maverick7]

well it probably isnt running properly then..

 

[smokedyou911]

Also consider the 7600 gs/gt. If you can get a 6800 ultra for cheap then go with that... 2nd choice would be the 7600gt.

 

[bob360]

if theres not much price diffrence go for the 6800ultra. Also consider a 7600gt i think they should be about the same price...and do not get a 6800xt as they arnt that great .alot slower than a ultra