NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XE
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GeForce 6800 XE Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XE GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
6800 XE Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GeForce 6800 XE's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The GeForce 6800 XE by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GeForce 6800 XE Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GeForce 6800 XE's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
6800 XE Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XE against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
Curie Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XE is built on NVIDIA's Curie architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the 6800 XE will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XE determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the GeForce 6800 XE to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GeForce 6800 XE by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XE are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
NVIDIA API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XE. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
GeForce 6800 XE Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XE is manufactured by NVIDIA as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the GeForce 6800 XE by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
About NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XE
The NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XE is an end-of-life AGP 8x graphics card built on the Curie architecture, using the NV40 chip fabricated by TSMC on a 130 nm process. It packs 222 million transistors on a 287 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 773.5K per mm². The card is single-slot, draws no auxiliary power connectors, and carries a suggested power supply of 200 W. It was released on September 29, 2005, succeeding the GeForce FX line and preceding the GeForce 7 AGP series. With an average benchmark score of zero in the database and a percentile rank of 50 against all GPUs, the data places it squarely at the median of the tracked performance distribution — though the absence of individual benchmark entries means this ranking reflects its position rather than any measured workload results.
Memory Subsystem
The 6800 XE ships with 256 MB of DDR2 memory on a 128-bit bus. The memory clock runs at 266 MHz, which translates to 532 Mbps effective data rate. That configuration yields a total bandwidth of 8.512 GB/s. This is a modest memory setup even for its era. The 128-bit bus width halves the memory path compared to higher-tier cards of the same generation, and the DDR2 type at this effective speed does not compensate for the narrow interface. The result is a bandwidth ceiling that will constrain texture-heavy workloads and high-resolution rendering.
At high resolutions, the combination of 256 MB capacity and 8.512 GB/s bandwidth becomes the primary bottleneck. Large frame buffers exceed the available VRAM quickly, forcing the card to spill into system memory over the AGP 8x bus, which is far slower than local VRAM. Bandwidth of 8.512 GB/s is sufficient for 1024x768-class gaming with moderate settings, but pushing beyond that — into 1600x1200 or widescreen resolutions — will expose stuttering and texture thrashing. The pixel rate of 2.200 GPixel/s and texture rate of 2.200 GTexel/s are evenly matched, indicating a balanced fill-rate design, but both are low by modern standards. For users targeting high resolutions, the memory subsystem is the clear limiting factor; the card is better suited to lower resolutions where the 256 MB frame buffer and 8.512 GB/s bandwidth can keep pace.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
There are no ray tracing cores and no tensor cores on this GPU. The 6800 XE predates hardware-accelerated ray tracing entirely; the architecture is built around the DirectX 9.0c feature set, specifically shader model 9_3. The API support list confirms this: DirectX 9.0c (9_3) is the peak graphics API, with OpenGL 2.0.3 supported in full and OpenGL 2.1 only partially. Vulkan is not supported at all. This means the card cannot run modern ray-traced titles, and it lacks any dedicated AI acceleration hardware for features like DLSS or neural rendering.
The feature set is firmly rooted in the early 2000s. The 8 TMUs and 8 ROPs handle traditional rasterization, and the 2.200 GTexel/s texture rate and 2.200 GPixel/s pixel rate define the raw throughput. There is no support for hardware tessellation, mesh shaders, or variable-rate shading — none of those exist in the DirectX 9.0c era. For a user evaluating this card today, the practical takeaway is that it is limited to legacy DirectX 9 games and older OpenGL titles. Any modern game requiring DirectX 11 or 12, Vulkan, or ray tracing will not run. The partial OpenGL 2.1 support adds a small degree of compatibility for older GL applications, but the full 2.0.3 profile is the reliable baseline.
Benchmark Performance
The database lists no benchmark entries for the 6800 XE, and its average benchmark score is recorded as zero. The percentile rank against all GPUs is 50, which places it exactly at the midpoint of the distribution — meaning half of all tracked GPUs score higher and half score lower. Without individual benchmark numbers, the percentile is the only quantitative performance signal available, and it must be read with caution: a zero average score alongside a 50th percentile suggests the card is positioned as a median performer in the database's historical GPU hierarchy, but the lack of measured workloads means there are no exact deltas to cite against any rival.
What the data does show is a hardware profile consistent with a mid-range or entry-level part of its generation. The 8 TMUs and 8 ROPs, the 2.200 GPixel/s pixel rate, and the 2.200 GTexel/s texture rate all point to a card designed for 32-bit color at moderate resolutions rather than for high-end gaming. The 50th percentile rank corroborates this: it is neither a standout performer nor a bottom-tier part. In the absence of rival scores, the most defensible statement is that the 6800 XE occupies a middle position in the overall GPU landscape, with its memory bandwidth and fill rates acting as the practical ceilings on real-world performance. Users should expect playable frame rates in older, less demanding titles, but the card will struggle with anything that pushes beyond the DirectX 9 feature set or requires more than 256 MB of VRAM.
FAQ
Q: How much video memory does the 6800 XE have?
A: It has 256 MB of DDR2 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding 8.512 GB/s of bandwidth.
Q: What is the memory clock speed?
A: The memory runs at 266 MHz, which is 532 Mbps effective data rate.
Q: Does the card support ray tracing?
A: No. There are no ray tracing cores or tensor cores, and the API support tops out at DirectX 9.0c (9_3) with partial OpenGL 2.1.
Q: What is the process node and transistor count?
A: It is fabricated on a 130 nm process by TSMC, with 222 million transistors on a 287 mm² die.
Q: What power connector does it require?
A: None. The card has no power connectors and lists a suggested power supply of 200 W.
Q: What display outputs are available?
A: It offers 1x DVI, 1x VGA, and 1x S-Video output.
How It Compares
The database lists no nearest rivals for the 6800 XE, so there are no direct score comparisons or percentage deltas to report. The only positional references available are its predecessor and successor in the product line. The GeForce FX series precedes this card, and the GeForce 7 AGP line follows it. Within that generational context, the 6800 XE represents the transition from the DirectX 9-era FX architecture to the later GeForce 7 family, but without benchmark data on either side, any performance relationship must remain qualitative. The 50th percentile rank against all GPUs is the sole comparative metric, indicating a median standing in the broader database. Buyers looking for a direct head-to-head against specific rivals will not find that information in the data set; the card's position is defined more by its own specifications — 256 MB VRAM, 128-bit bus, 8.512 GB/s bandwidth — than by any measured competition.
Who Should Consider It
The 6800 XE is a card for users who need AGP 8x compatibility and can live within the DirectX 9.0c feature set. Its 256 MB frame buffer and 8.512 GB/s bandwidth make it viable for older games at lower resolutions and reduced detail settings. The 50th percentile rank suggests it is a middle-of-the-road part, not a high-end option, so expectations should be set accordingly. Users running legacy titles that fit within the DirectX 9.0c (9_3) profile will find the card workable, particularly at resolutions where the 2.200 GPixel/s pixel rate and 2.200 GTexel/s texture rate can keep up. The single-slot design and lack of power connectors make it easy to install in older systems with modest power supplies — the 200 W suggested PSU is a low bar. However, anyone hoping to play modern games, use ray tracing, or push high resolutions should look elsewhere; the card's memory capacity and bandwidth are simply too limited for those workloads. This is a niche product for retro builds, AGP-based systems, or testing legacy software — not a general-purpose gaming GPU.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XE are below.
Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
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