GeForce 6 and 7 series variants ... nuts!

UPDATED 2006Feb26 / 2006Mar10 / 2006Mar19 / 2006Apr21 / 2006Sep04

Okay, I'm starting to get tired of all the endless nVidia GeForce 6 and 7 series variants. Even worse is the fact that no enthusiast site seems to want to take the time to just run a few benchmarks to show the differences between each. Now, to be fair, I must note that Tom's Hardware Guide does periodically run it's "VGA Charts" (VIII from December) and AnandTech has its "Price Guides" (Video Cards for February). But it would be nice if these sites would just keep a running list of benchmarks of various cards at just a few titles at the common 1280x1024 or 1280x720 (720p) resolutions that most people are buying these days in either 19" LCDs or larger LCD TVs used for gaming. Maybe just one with FSAA off and another with 4x4 FSAA (or similiar) on. Something that would target 80-90% of consumers buying interests. Until then, I'm going to do my part.

Here is my list of all the nVidia 6 and 7 series by GPU, memory and their clocks. Hopefully this will show the variances between each, which gives you what performance to expect.

Sub-$100 Comparison

Key notes ... (assume PCIe unless noted)

• GPU for Free: "C51" (chipset integrated NV44) 6100/6150 is basically a "GPU for free" with a new mainboard purchase, but has a dismal 2/1 pixel/vertexpipelines and uses the system's bus. Consider it if you have an older AGP system with a FX5200/5500 series card (see latter comments on AGP). The new crop of "C7x" 7100/7200 chipsets have also been making their debut in notebooks and select desktops.
• 32/64-bit Not Good: The main performance issue with the NV44 (61x0/6200/6500) and G72 (7100-7300) series is its use of either system memory or 32-bit to 64-bit with optional system memory (TurboCache), even before the limited pixel (2-4) and vertex (1-3) pipelines are considered. Even with higher core and [G]DDR2 memory clocks, the G72 GeForce 7100GS/7300GS (much less a crippled "LE" version) isn't really worth $60-70 when $20-30 more buys you so much more. There doesn't even seem to be a dual-DVI G72 option either, so you can't even count on the G72 as a "$50-60 dual-DVI" option.
• 128-bit Better: Unless you go for a new chipset-integrated solution, $20-30 more will buy you at least a wider 128-bit bus as you approach $100. The NV43 GeForce 6600LE with 4/3 pixel/vertex is really too crippled. Select NV43 GeForce 6600 8/3 pixel/vertex are now sub-$80 and a better start, even with lower core and memory clocks.
• Sub-$100 6600 series: The NV43 Geforce 6600 series is now under $100 solidly. You get a 8/3 pixel/vertex with 128-bit memory, DDR/DDR2 with the non-GT flavors, possibly sub-$75, and around 1GHz effective GDDR3 GT versions for under $100. But for not much more than $100, you're basically very close to the G73 GeForce 7600GS and its 12/5 engine and GDDR2 that rivals the GDDR3 on the 6600GT.
• Don't buy an AGP card: If you're stuck on AGP because you don't already have an Athlon 64 or Core 2 PCIe platform, now's the time to change your mind. The NV40 GeForce 6800 series is even rarer and rarer and the AGP options have not come down in price. All the meanwhile there are nVidia chipset mainboard for $50+, even for LGA-775 Core 2. While a "minimalist" option might be the GeForce 6200 128MB AGP true 128-bit memory (which can't be TurboCache) for $50 or less, although there are a lot of 64-bit or even 32-bit memory versions out there and they are much, much slower. AND BEWARE: let alone a new 6200"LE" with the same, crippled 2/1 engine as the nVidia C51/NV44 chipset GPU you get "for free" with that $50+ mainboard!
• Unless you have GeForce 6, do not reuse AGP! There has been a lot of commentary on buying newer AMD or Intel mainboards+CPUs and "reusing" old AGP video cards. Unless you have a GeForce 6 series, forget it! Here's a typical relationship of performance between the nForce410/430-integrated GeForce 6100/6150 and older GeForce4 Ti4000 and FX 5000 series cards, using the GeForce 6200 TC (TurboCache PCIe) as a 100% basis at typical 1024x768 resolutions:
  
  • Newer DirectX 9 / OpenGL applications (with or without AA, morememory for AA):
  • 130% ~ GeForce 6200 (non-TurboCache, AGP or PCIe 128-bit 128MB)
  • 110% ~ GeForce FX 5900/5950 "Ultra"
  • 100% ~ GeForce 6200 TC (TurboCache,64-bit PCIe 64MB, "256MB TC")
  • 95% ~ GeForce FX 5900 or 5800 "Ultra"
  • 75% ~ GeForce FX 5800
  • 65% ~ GeForce 6100/6150 (nForce410/430 chipset integrated)
  • 60% ~ GeForce FX 5700 "Ultra"
  • 50% ~ GeForce FX 5600 "Ultra"
  • 40% ~ GeForce FX 5700 (non-LE)
  • 35% ~ GeForce FX 5600
  • 30% ~ GeForce FX 5200 "Ultra" or GeForce4 Ti4600
  • 25% ~ GeForce FX 5700 "LE", GeForce FX 5500 or GeForce4 Ti4200
  • 20% ~ GeForce FX 5200
  • Older DirectX 7 / OpenGL applications in AA modes, higher image quality ("pretty"):
    
    • 130% ~ GeForce 6200 (non-TurboCache, AGP or PCIe 128-bit 128MB)
    • 120% ~ GeForce FX 5900/5950 "Ultra"
    • 100% ~ GeForce 6200 TC (TurboCache, 64-bit PCIe 64MB, "256MB TC")
    • 95% ~ GeForce FX 5900 or 5800 "Ultra"
    • 80% ~ GeForce FX 5800
    • 70% ~ GeForce FX 5700 "Ultra"
    • 65% ~ GeForce 6100/6150 (nForce410/430 chipset integrated)
    • 50% ~ GeForce FX 5700 (non-LE) or GeForce FX 5600 "Ultra"
    • 40% ~ GeForce FX 5600
    • 35% ~ GeForce FX 5200 "Ultra" or GeForce4 Ti4600
    • 30% ~ GeForce FX 5700 "LE", GeForce FX 5500 or GeForce4 Ti4200
    • 25% ~ GeForce FX 5200
  • Older DirectX 7 / OpenGL applications in non-AA modes, lower image quality ( "ugly")
  • 100+% ~ Any GeForce 6 series or FX 5800+ model (or 5700 "Ultra")
    
  • 75% ~ GeForce4 Ti4600
  • 70% ~ GeForce FX 5700 or GeForce4 Ti4200
  • 65% ~ GeForce FX 5600 "Ultra"
  • 50% ~ GeForce FX 5600
  • 40% ~ GeForce FX 5700 "LE", GeForce FX 5200 "Ultra" or GeForce FX 5500
  • 30% ~ GeForce FX 5200
  • Serious Framerate Issues on FX/Ti: Most people have bought GeForce FX 5200, FX 5500 or the FX 5700 "LE" (which is clocked only to 60% of what the "full" FX 5700 is) AGP cards. Putting these cards in the crappiest quality on 3-4 year old DX7/OpenGL titles they are still under 40fps (at least the GeForce4 Ti is a lot better). Flip on a few image quality settings and you'll drop below 20fps (including bombing the GeForce4 Ti too)! And forget running newer titles -- sub 10fps for anything pre-GeForce 6 (except for "costly" GeForce FX 5800+ cards most didn't buy because the Superstores still want an arm and a leg for them)!!! Buying a new NV44 in a C51 chipset integrated video mainboard -- which runs about $50 for Socket-754 or $60 for Socket-939 (and new Socket-AM2/940 should be close) gives you another 50-250% the performance as a FX5200/5500/5700LE, as well as gives you a PCIe upgrade
    path.

$100-200 ComparisonKey notes ... (assume PCIe unless noted)

• G73 7600GS Now $100+ Value: With the introduction of the GeForce 7600GS, the G73 is now a value option just over $100. The 7600GS has the same 12/5 pixel/texel as its original, older 7600GT brother, with 100MHz shaved off the GPU clock (450MHz), and a little over half in the GS' GDDR2 speed of the GT's GDDR3NV42 6800GS v. G73 7600GT: The G73 and NV40/41/42 are nearly identical in their 12/5 pixel/texel core. But the older NV40/41/42 is still a 256-bit memory bus, whereas the G73 is only a 128-bit. That almost makes up for the slower clocks in the 6800GS than the $20-30 more expensive 7600GT (although a few AnandTech benchmarks show the 7600GT does gets a few more frames -- thanx to Damien McKenna for pointing that out). But the 6800GS clearly does best the $20-30 cheaper 7600GS (not GT) handily.
• Best Buy -- OEM 7900GS: If you were lucky, you got in on the Woot deal for $139, as the OEM 7900GS is finally reaching the commodity to go retail at around $200. The 7900GS is basically a crippled OEM -- most undoubtably a "reject" 7900GT -- which, prior, had been limited to OEM lots -- with 4 pixel and 1 vertex shut-off. The resulting 20/7 engine 7900GS typically still has up to the full 450MHz clock and anywhere up to the full 1320MHz effective GDDR3 256-bit memory of the 7900GT. This makes it much, much faster than the 12-16/5-6 engine 6800GS/GT or 7600GT, and more competitive with the 7800GTX and 7900GT, assuming the clocks are closer to 450/1320 than 375/1000. Now these are cheap OEM cards, often white boxed with minimal cooling (although the 90ns die of the 7900 helps), so virtually no overclocking and don't expect them to last as long as a full retail card (after all, they were probably 7900GT/GTX GPUs that failed testing). Don't pay over $200 for the card though, as it's better to just pay $30+ more for a full, retail-tested/quality 7900GT.
• AGP $100+ NV40 now rare: The NV40, the last major, native AGP design by nVidia, still rules the AGP world. Without bridging or other costs (unlike NV43/44), and a full 256-bit memory bus (regardless of only GDDR1 in some cases), it's still viable for AGP. But it's now rare, and if you're buying new, get a PCIe mainboard. If you haven't moved because of CPU costs, that's no longer an excuse as AMD Athlon/Sempron 64 and Intel Pentium/Celeron D processors start at $50, and there are even mainboards/chipsets with DDR support.

$200+ ComparisonKey notes ... (assume PCIe unless noted)

• Forget G70 7800: The $200+ G70 7800GT is now bested by the 7900GS and $300+ G70 7800GTX has been a non-consideration because ...
• 7900GT Rules, New 7950GT Option: The G71 7900GT can be had for sub-$250 after rebate (typically around $230). Anoter, newer option is the 7950GT which now makes 512MB standard, while adding another 100MHz GPU clock (and a tad more on the memory as well). Unless you really need another 100MHz more GPU and 300MHz more memory in the 7900GTX, the 7950GT is probably the far better buy.
  
• Dual/Quad 7950GX2: Basically two 7900GT units on a single card, this removes the need for SLI to get dual-GPU. Or if you have SLI, you can go quad-GPU, although the point of diminishing returns is really a factor.

The tables ...

NV44 (GeForce 6100/6200/6500)

		6100		6200		6500
Variant		"	6150	"	Turbo Cache	"
Interface(s)	AGP	-		NV44A	-
	PCIe	NV44 (C51)		-	NV44
	PCIe SLI	-				Y
GPU	Pixel Pipelines	2		4
	Vertex Pipelines	1		3
	Core Clock	425	475	350		450
Memory	Width	sys		64b	32-64b +sys	64b
	Type			GDDR1	GDDR1 /GDDR2	GDDR2
	Clock (Effective)			400 -500	400 -500 /500 -800	500 -700

NV43 (GeForce 6600)

		6600
Variant		GT	"	LE
Interface(s)	AGP	NV43 (+bdg)		NV43-V (+bdg)
	PCIe	NV43		NV43-V
	PCIe SLI	Y	-
GPU	Pixel Pipelines	8		4
	Vertex Pipelines	3
	Core Clock	500	300
Memory	Width	128b
	Type	GDDR3	GDDR1 /GDDR2	DDR
	Clock (Effective)	900 -1000	500 /800	400 -500

NV40/41/42/45 (GeForce 6800)

		6800
Variant		Ultra Extreme	Ultra	GT	GS	"	LE /XT
Interface(s)	AGP	NV40
	PCIe	-	NV40 (+bdg) /NV45		NV42	NV40 (+bdg) /NV41 /NV42	NV41 /NV42
	PCIe SLI	Y					-
GPU	Pixel Pipelines	16			12		8
	Vertex Pipelines	6			5		4
	Core Clock	450	400	350	350 A 425 Pe	325	300 -325
Memory	Width	256b
	Type	GDDR3				DDR -GDDR1
	Clock (Effective)	1200	1050 -1100	1000		450 -700

G72 (GeForce 7100/7300)

		7100	7300
Variant		GS	GS	LE
Interface(s)	AGP	-
	PCIe	G72
	PCIe SLI	-
GPU	Pixel Pipelines	4
	Vertex Pipelines	3
	Core Clock	350	550	450
Memory	Width	64b +sys
	Type	DDR2	GDDR2	DDR -DDR2
	Clock (Effective)	700?	800	500 -700

G73 (GeForce 7600)

		7600
Variant		GT	GS
Interface(s)	AGP	?
	PCIe	G73
	PCIe SLI	Y
GPU	Pixel Pipelines	12
	Vertex Pipelines	5
	Core Clock	560 -580	400
Memory	Width	128b
	Type	GDDR3	GDDR2
	Clock (Effective)	1400 -1500	700 -900

G70 (GeForce 7800)

		7800
Variant		GTX 512	GTX	GT	GS
Interface(s)	AGP	-			G70 (+bdg)
	PCIe	G70			-
	PCIe SLI	Y			-
GPU	Pixel Pipelines	24		20	16
	Vertex Pipelines	8		7	6
	Core Clock	550	430	400	375
Memory	Width	256b
	Type	GDDR3
	Clock (Effective)	1700	1200	1000	1200

G71 (GeForce 7900/7950)

		7950		7900
Variant		GX2	GT	GTX	GT	GS
Interface(s)	AGP	-
	PCIe	G71
	PCIe SLI	(2) Y	Y			Y
GPU	Pixel Pipelines	(2) 24	24			20
	Vertex Pipelines	(2) 8	8			7
	Core Clock	500	550	650	450 -470	375 -450
Memory	Width	(2) 256b	256b
	Type	GDDR3
	Clock (Effective)	1200 -1320	1400	1600	1200 -1320	1000 -1320