Most people seem to be saying the X800 XL is the best price/performance card right now and are recommending this card even to overclockers. However, the 6800N sells for $241 versus $285 for the X800 XL and by all accounts the 6800 is a guarenteed bet to unlock 16 pipes and 6 vertex shaders using riva tuner. In effect, anyone who spends a few minutes with a 6800N can have a much faster card then the X800 XL, equivalent to a 6800 GT. Plus many people seem to be able to overclock the 6800N with the stock fan to 6800U speeds. Worst case senario seems that you may require a $25 extra cooling solution to get the 6800N clocked to close to stock 6800U speeds.
I relaize the 6800GT and U will be faster if they are also OCed compared to the 6800N, but comparing a modded 6800N to a X800 XL that is also OCed to max potential safely and quickly, the 6800 wins hands down and is quite a bit cheaper.
Plus the 6800N OCed can be later used in SLI with another modded 6800N for even further possible future utility. Am I missing something?
I relaize the 6800GT and U will be faster if they are also OCed compared to the 6800N, but comparing a modded 6800N to a X800 XL that is also OCed to max potential safely and quickly, the 6800 wins hands down and is quite a bit cheaper.
Plus the 6800N OCed can be later used in SLI with another modded 6800N for even further possible future utility. Am I missing something?