Which Geforce 6800 Ultra should I buy?

[paintbox]

So, I've decided to get myself a new 6800 Ultra. Please let's not start an ATI vs. Nvidia war here. I've been with ATI for awhile and if the x800 xt's were readily available anywhere, I might consider one, but they aren't. Besides, it seems to me that the bottom line is that the 6800 is better for Doom III (i.e. open GL) and the x800 is better for HL2 (Direct 3D). But since the Doom III scores are like 60fps for Nvidia vs. 50fps for ATI, and the HL2 scores are like 100fps for Nvidia vs. 110fps for ATI, I'd rather have the extra 10fps in the lower range.

In other words, 10fps makes a bigger difference when you're talking 50-60 fps and less so when you're talking 100-110fps. So, Doom III (and all games based on the engine) will run better, while HL2 (and all Source games) will run plenty fast as well, if not the absolute fastest out there.

Right then, my question though is which 6800 Ultra should I get? Since I've bought ATI for my last few cards (9200, 9700 pro, 9800 pro, all built by ATI) I don't know Nvidia card makers that well. I'm hearing good things about BFG, and their version of the 6800 Ultra (and all their 6800's, I think) comes OC'd right out of the box, so I'm leaning towards that one. But any tips, or past/current experience will be much appreciated-

EDIT: Some of my brand choices are XFX, MSI, EVGA, Gigabyte, PNY, Albatron, Aopen, Leadtek and of couse, BFG-

[Sepht]

Doesn't matter, see if u can find the XT then see if u can find the 6800 then just go buy a pro if u can't find them

[paintbox]

6800 Ultra's aren't that hard to find, x800 xt's ARE. I'm not going pro in any case. If I were to go down one notch I'd get the 6800 GT as that destroys the x800 pro. And no, I'm not a huge Nvidia fan (or ATI either), I'm just goning by the benches in the many, many reviews I've read.

Anyway, everyone seems to have a preference regarding card manufacturers and that's what I was asking for . . .

[Sepht]

actually in some benchmarks the X800 Pro even beats out teh 6800Ultra, its really which review you look at, its really easy to take sides.(more OpenGL games will show teh 6800 is better, nearly all DirectX Games, X800, Older games, Nvidia, Newer games, ATi, and if they count doom3, and depending on the FarCry version and importantance its really sided, driver versions(i saw a benchmark that used the 61.11 vs the 4.8 Cats, come on, wtf(the HL2 benchmark I posted))

Id really like to work with someone from HW Hell to try and make a balanced, fair, and equal benchmark around christmas for a christmas buyers thing, just because of the drivers being sorted out so much right now.

Its what you find and what you can afford really, in a few months the perforamnce difference will be about 5% either way at most, which in gameplay, is unnoticable.

Its more price and avaiblitiy then it is perforamnce.

[KamisoriX]

LOL, we got a shitload of both cars here....but I see no Platnum Edition anywhere.....and whatever happened to the dual chip ATI? someone has to explain to me why I don't have one of those :rant:

[zoltrix]

considering the main question:its gonna be eVGA 6800 Ultra.

never says no to Ultra Extreme speeds(450,1200) and games run just fine with no problem at UE speeds except Doom3 and thats the case with all the OCed VGA's and DooM3.

[Knut]

Ultra Extreme sounds cool, heard they are limited.
Also consider BFG has a true lifetime warranty and 24/7 customer support.

[Cyborggunner]

If you (i am proberly too late for this post) live in the UK i have got the store for you this is the 6800 GT Overclocker 6800 GT (look at the top card XFX are a good make just bought one myself) and for the 6800 Ultra XFX one again or just the plain 6800 yet again the XFX hope this is not let and it helped