I've done a bit of research, and I have narrowed it down to two choices. I've compared specs to no end, but I still have no idea which one is better. I want to say the larger number is the better card, but I'm not sure. The specs show that each card has it's highs and lows, but I don't know what's important and what's not for a video card. Mostly I'll be playing Oblivion, and I just need something that will get by (I'm taking a computer to college, only for a semester... doesn't need to be a huge upgrade).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150157

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130036

The 7600 has GDDR2 memory while the 6800 has DDR... is that important? Are pixel pipelines really important? How much of a difference between the clock and memory speeds will it make between the two? Those are the kind of things I need to know. Anyway, any advice would be very handy... thanks in advance.

(and yes, I've read all the Newegg reviews, and those didn't help me that much.)

Wow, it's a good thing DJ Yoshi is banned. A topic like this would just drive that kid crazy

Unfortunately, I haven't followed the video card market in like 3 years because I haven't saved the money to buy myself an upgrade so I don't have really anything to say yet.

not sure which i would choose in such a situation... the 7600GS has a higher core clock and more pipes but a pathetic 12.8GB/s memory bandwidth

the 6800XT has fewer pipes and a slower core clock... but it's memory speed and bandwith is higher (1000MHz effective and the bandwith is 22.4GB/s)

as far as features the only thing you'd gain with the 7600 over the 6800 is the ability to use transparency AA

Nah, Yosh wouldn't mind... he understands the situation. Why'd he get banned?

Is it really going to make a difference which one I choose? If they both have their highs and lows, is it going to balance out? I don't really care about transparency AA...

Wait for DX10 cards.

The first one looks kind of cooler.

What he said.

when do they come out anyway? i'm buying a new machine in about 4 or 5 weeks and i dont want it to be out of date within a month.

Direct3D 10 will only be available with Windows Vista, so if you have no desire to upgrade to that when it comes out, then don't worry about it.

DirectX10 cards will run on WindowsXP, you just won't have access to DX10 features. (Obviously)

aye, but WHEN?

DO NOT WAIT FOR DX10 CARDS.

Get the 6800XT. GDDR3 >> GDDR2.

Yeah, this topic totally drove me crazy

Yeah go with the 6800

I'd still say wait, if not for the DX10 technology, then for price drops on current gen cards.

Alright, thanks for the advice. I'm planning on waiting for a DX10 card for my real computer, as I'm running an X800 PCI-e right now. For this temporary computer though, I guess the 6800XT it is then!

There's no price drop in sight, no new technology in sight, and nothing to point towards either one. Seriously, waiting for technology that has no signs of coming out at any point in the close futures is stupid, and a silly habit to get into. Go with what you can now, and if new technology shows up, hurry up and sell your card and get a new one later. You eat a little money, maybe, but at least you know you have something decent for the future.

If you wanted to build a uber SLI rig, I'd say wait a few months for DX 10. At this price range buy the 7600 GT and be done with it. It'll whup the 6800XT into the ground any day of the week.

7600 GS, which does NOT beat the 6800XT.

Also, it will probably be longer than "a few months" for true DX10 cards--at least until about a month before Vista's release, which isn't until next year.

he could hold out for the 7600GT AGP and see how much it sells for