Nvidia 6800 Ultra - Reviews

by **Major SONAR** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 8:29 am

http://www.headliner.nl/headliner.php?c=us&id=7497&abbr=anandtech

Looks like this is going to be one AWESOME card!

(but then again so will the price!)

by **Major SONAR** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 8:39 am

What NVIDIA has achieved with the GeForce 6800 Ultra makes even experienced graphics cards editors shake their head in amazement and wonder. The performance this card offers will sweep graphics cards enthusiasts (the author included) off their feet and carry them off into a state of ecstasy in which they can only gape in awe at the sight of these simply amazing benchmark results - Freezinassin! Compared to the GeForce 6800 Ultra, the former high-end models Radeon 9800XT and FX 5950 Ultra often seem like nothing more than cheap mainstream cards...

This card is X2 (and sometimes almost X3) times faster than the ATI 9800XT!!

This card is a quantum leap for gamers!!

by **Buliwyf** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 10:34 am

To those of you ready to camp out in front of your store to get your hands on one of these cards - be warned! The first barrier on your way to graphics ecstasy is the power requirement calling for a PSU with at least 480Watts. In effect, its not so much the power rating that may prove problematic - it may turn out harder to find a power supply with enough ATX power cables for use with the graphics card! Of course, true enthusiasts won't be deterred, and case modders will welcome the new challenge.

http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20040414/index.html

by **Murgatroyd** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 10:36 am

Wow. That's one spicy card!

by **Irish** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 11:35 am

heh

Just hold tight until PCI express comes out later this year.

I do agree this card has some ass to it. But I have to say whats up with the timing. Every tech show says AGP won't even be included on many of the new MOBO's. Is this a last ditch effort to get some more AGP sales with current MOBO's?

Just make a software title able to utilize this card. Seems like bringing a stripper to a kids birthday party--A little over the top.

by **Major SONAR** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 12:24 pm

By Buli

it may turn out harder to find a power supply with enough ATX power cables for use with the graphics card

Assuming you can get a power supply larger than 480w (Pretty easy these days), why couldn't you just purchase a power "Y" splitter and volia... power cables are no longer a problem.

by Irish:

Just hold tight until PCI express comes out later this year.

IMHO, marketing hype. Sure MB's will soon support PCIx, but AGP will still be around for a while. As I understand it, we are not even using the full potential of AGP. In the future (1.5 - 2 years, IMHO), PCIx will be well supported. I would think standard PCI and probably AGP will be gone by then, with PCIx available as every slot. From what I have read, PCIx slots will have differnet speeds. They won't all need to be 16x.

That's my opinion anyway... but it still doesn't detract from the fact that this card is now top dog. (by a substantial margin)

by **Major SONAR** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 12:25 pm

Anyway...

I was mainly posting this in case people were interested.

by **deathBOB** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 12:33 pm

Yay... IMO, I would never buy one of those, but the current generation will be cheap soon!!! YAY!

by **Agent-Commando** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:51 pm

Just wait until ATI unleashes their lineups... come on, ATI is not sitting on their ass... we 'll see soon enough what ATI 's up to... and yes, current prices will go down.. if only I can sell off my 9500 Pro..

by **CrazyBri** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:52 pm

My 5900 Ultra still seems new and now I read the 6800 benchmarks and want to toss it out. Ahhhh the joys of videocards.

BTW, I am looking forward to info on ATI's new card. I don't think they're going to disappoint.

by **Murgatroyd** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:56 pm

I'm gonna wait to see what ATI comes out with before I go out and drop a nickel on a video card (even though I just spent $300 less than two months ago on a Radeon 9800

) "Video cards don't grow on trees, ya know!!"

by **Bullhead** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 2:24 pm

1. Sonar, the big problem there is if you keep splitting stuff, you'll start drawing more current than the PSU can take (in the extremes, under load). Also, the nvidia stuff specifically states you cannot use a y-cable for the TWO power connectors required by the beast.

2. PCI-X is replacing agp, this is true. to think that no new mobo's will have AGP is foolish. There's hardly even any products out right now (or coming out) that will support it, let alone even need it. Current cards don't even fill AGP 4x bandwidth, let alone AGP 8x. PCI-x will take over, just like PCI did to ISA, but it will take just as long probably (1-3 yrs.).

I wish ATI had a solid release date for the new stuff....

by **Irish** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 2:37 pm

AGP may take some time to die off but if you watched TechTV the PCI group said that the MOBO companies have signed on and the video cards also. They will make a few AGP products for the "older systems" but in six months when you need a new MOBO (brand name) I am telling you that there will be no AGP slot. Just a few PCI 1x all the way up to 16X for the vid card. ASUS/MSI/ABIT are not going to manufacture two lines of the same MOBO to keep a few 9800pro card holders happy. Even if AGP is your cling to the video games are going to made with PCI express in mind. They are wetting their pants with the PCI technology. They are freed up to do more. The reason that games can't max out AGP now is if a game was designed to do so then anyone with a 9700 and lower would be SOL. To many sub video cards out there. Now with PCI they can create a game to the hilt and it will be able to run on a $100 card or a $500 card. Just the $500 card will give you more eye candy. But you'll be able to play no matter what with the PCI card.

by **Major SONAR** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 4:03 pm

By Bullhead:

Sonar, the big problem there is if you keep splitting stuff, you'll start drawing more current than the PSU can take (in the extremes, under load). Also, the nvidia stuff specifically states you cannot use a y-cable for the TWO power connectors required by the beast.

I agree that if you KEEP splitting the power, you could have a problem, but with PSU up to 550w now... Sheesh, how much power does a person need? :wall:

I missed the part about Nvida stating not to use a Y-cable. I've never run into power supply problems, but then again, I've never had a high-end card. :violin:

I would think that power/cables should not really be an issue these days, but what do I know?

Not that I'm going to get one of these cards anytime soon... Although I am looking forward to the ATI 9800 Pro cards coming down in price.. hehe

by **shockwave203** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 4:17 pm

well, it doesnt look like the 6800ultra is going to require a TON of power like everyone thought. it requires more, but it's not a ridiculous amount.

and the 6800non-ultra will only need one molex connector

Nvidia 6800 Ultra - Reviews

Nvidia 6800 Ultra - Reviews

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