Head to Head: ATI Radeon X800 Pro vs. NVIDIA GeForce 6800GT

Priced at $400 our next head to head comparison is between the 12-pip Radeon X800 Pro and the 16-pipe GeForce 6800GT.

In our first demo, the 6800GT pulls ahead in all of the resolutions:

Half Life 2 AT_canals_08.dem
 
ATI Radeon X800 Pro
NVIDIA GeForce 6800GT
Performance Advantage
1024 x 768
125.6
133.3
6.1%
1280 x 1024
101
110.8
9.7%
1600 x 1200
82.3
88
6.9%
1024 x 768 - 4X AA
106.8
113.2
6.0%
1280 x 1024 - 4X AA
75.4
77.1
2.3%
Winner
-
-
6800GT

Our second demo shows a much closer competition, with the X800 Pro pulling ahead in the highest resolution AA test:

Half Life 2 AT_coast_05.dem
 
ATI Radeon X800 Pro
NVIDIA GeForce 6800GT
Performance Advantage
1024 x 768
133.1
131.3
1.4%
1280 x 1024
124.8
123.8
0.8%
1600 x 1200
110.7
109.1
1.5%
1024 x 768 - 4X AA
130.5
129.5
0.8%
1280 x 1024 - 4X AA
113.4
107.7
5.3%
Winner
-
-
X800 Pro

The balance shifts over to NVIDIA once again, but the two perform very similarly here as well:

Half Life 2 AT_coast_12.dem
 
ATI Radeon X800 Pro
NVIDIA GeForce 6800GT
Performance Advantage
1024 x 768
119
123.3
3.6%
1280 x 1024
105.1
107.8
2.6%
1600 x 1200
86.2
90.5
5.0%
1024 x 768 - 4X AA
111.4
112.2
0.7%
1280 x 1024 - 4X AA
84.5
86
1.8%
Winner
-
-
6800GT

The 6800GT takes it once again in our fourth demo:

Half Life 2 AT_prison_05.dem
 
ATI Radeon X800 Pro
NVIDIA GeForce 6800GT
Performance Advantage
1024 x 768
135.7
147.4
8.6%
1280 x 1024
106
112
5.7%
1600 x 1200
80.8
83.2
3.0%
1024 x 768 - 4X AA
111.3
118
6.0%
1280 x 1024 - 4X AA
82.5
79.8
3.4%
Winner
-
-
6800GT

And in our final demo the X800 Pro comes away with the win.

Half Life 2 AT_c17_12.dem
 
ATI Radeon X800 Pro
NVIDIA GeForce 6800GT
Performance Advantage
1024 x 768
88.1
84.6
4.1%
1280 x 1024
84.6
84
0.7%
1600 x 1200
79.2
77
2.9%
1024 x 768 - 4X AA
84.8
82.8
2.4%
1280 x 1024 - 4X AA
77.1
72.6
6.2%
Winner
-
-
X800 Pro

Averaging all of the scores together tells us that the 6800GT and the X800 Pro basically perform identically to one another, regardless of resolution:

Summary
 
Average Performance Advantage (6800GT over X800 Pro)
1024 x 768
2.6%
1280 x 1024
3.3%
1600 x 1200
2.1%
1024 x 768 - 4X AA
1.9%
1280 x 1024 - 4X AA
-0.8%
Head to Head: ATI Radeon X800 XT vs. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra Head to Head: ATI Radeon X700 XT vs. NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT
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  • Kovie - Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - link

    Mis-type, meant to say 6600GT being gouged.
  • Kovie - Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - link

    "Recently a number of users have asked that we compare the $300 GeForce 6800 to the $200 GeForce 6600GT to see if the added cost is truly worth it."

    Actually we asked to compare the currently $245 6600GT (newegg) against the currently $250 6800 (outpost). Once the 6800GT stops being gouged and goes down to its supposed price then it will be a better buy. Right now the $5 difference between them and the ability to potentially unlock the extra pipes on the 6800 make it a better buy.
  • Le Québécois - Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - link

    For my part I'm more curious about Slower CPU, to see how much it affect the FPS.
  • mikecel79 - Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - link

    Where's the ATI 9600 and 9500 series cards in this? The are DX9 cards also.
  • LocutusX - Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - link

    So... I wonder how all the poor souls who went with GF59xx's are feeling now... ;)


    But yes, both manufacturers' "current-gen" parts are doing very well.
  • ciwell - Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - link

    I find the 6800 vs the 6600GT results to be intriguing as the 6600GT stacks up very nicely. I wonder how the comparison is in other games though.
  • Akira1224 - Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - link

    I know the flames are going to start soon. I would like to say great job to both Nvidia and ATI. Both cards are spectacular this round and we should all be impressed with the tech being shown in this roundup. To anyone who is gonna start with the ATI RULZ NVIDIA SUXORZ or vice versa lets all just save it. The performance is so close either way you can't lose. For the record I have a 6800GT.
  • Jalf - Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - link

    Well, I can give you the results with my hardware. :)

    I'm running an ancient Geforce 2 GTS (32mb) and Athlon TBird 1400 MHz.

    I haven't noted down actual FPS values, but in 800x600, with medium-ish settings, it runs perfectly smoothly. That's impressive, if you ask me. :P

    So I doubt you'll have a problem. :)
  • ksherman - Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - link

    i wonder how old, old hardware will be... mabye theyll go as far back as the 8500 and Ti400's.... (cuz thats what i have ;)

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