Returning my 6800GT, should i get pci-e instead?

[Afghan_Soulja]

I know this question's been asked before, but i'm in a slight dilemma, in that I have a MSI NX6800GT AGP and lately found out that some of these cards are not actually a GT with 16pipes, 6 vertex shaders, instead they have 12 pipes 5 vertex shaders. which means they are no more powerful than a normal 6800, and i was conned into paying an extra £150.

read more here:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sho...php?t=17365826
or
http://www.techpowerup.com/?2105

I have the option of going the PCI E route since I still haven't bought any of the other pc parts. Is this a good idea? i keep readin and hearing that pci-e is the future of pc's, is future - proof etc etc. I ask this because everything is a little more expensive when it involves SLi or PCIe, and I'm more used to putting together an AGP system.

But anyone can convince me otherwise, so please bring forward your opinion.

[Olly1234]

From your forum link it seems to just be a bad batch of MSI's and they will swap it if you find you have the 12 pip version? Theres nothing to be had from buying PCIe at present with regards to performance, you'll have to buy a whole new MB to use it and it won;t be any quicker than the AGP variant you already have

[nvening]

Get PCIe, if you upgrade you GPU before the mobo then you will def want a pcie card cause its the new standard, the replacement to AGP. And than you can get the awsome nforce4 (well i think so). There is no reason not to get pcie and plently of reasons to get it.

[Olly1234]

Doh..Must learn to read properly before posting

I get it now, you have a card but nothing else! Send it back, get PCIe version and build Nforce 4 as said above

[Afghan_Soulja]

if i get pci-e, do i have to get a specific psu such as the ones that say "SLi ready" on them?, i'm confused by this. And also, does anyone know how long AGP have left in it? should be another 5 years right??

with a bit more research and a desicive phone call to the place that I got the card from, i found out earlier today that only the PCI-E versions of the MSI 6800GT's were effected, not the AGP versions. which means i can't return the card, as it's not faulty or anything, and my e-tailer does not accept back products if there's nothing wrong with them, instead they will even charge me for the post and packaging when they send it back to me!!

oh well i'll stick with AGP for one more round. thanks for your help dudes!

[exAndrzej]

...how long AGP have left...

Just to give you an idea (and I am sure someone will correct me if my memory is not accurate !), but nVidia's most popular retail card last year (i.e. sold in a shop with a box etc) was a PCI version of the 5200 !

Most HEXites will barely remember the last time that they used AGP 4x - let alone 2X, 1X or PCI

You will find cards that support AGP for a long time to come

Also, bear in mind that Serial ATA came out years ago - but there are still a lot of driver (hard and ROM) that use a parallel connection

Don't panic - I am sure you did not make a bad choice - but if you have concerns about how many pipes etc are working - then I am sure that one of the experts on this forum will be able to tell you the best way to test what exactly is going on with the internals on that product (it will - no doubt - involve arcane rituals and secret tools )...

...anyone ?

[Olly1234]

Simplest way to check the amount of pipes is to download Riva Tuner http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=163

Your 6800GT will be really quick anyway so I wouldn't worry too much and as for PSU's for an SLi system, higher seems to be better these days but anything over 480w decent brand PSU will keep you going I think, although if your buying new then may as well get a 550 or so now to be a bit future proof..As for the Sli ready, that mostly just marketing I think, Sli Mboards have a standard molex cconnector on the MB next to the PEG slots, my Asus does anyway, and I think Ultra cards have additional molex connectors on them so it's just standard plugs in truth