NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XT

The NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XT is a desktop graphics card from the GeForce 6 PCIe generation, built on the NV41 chip using the Curie architecture. Fabricated by TSMC on a 130 nm process, it integrates 190 million transistors across a 225 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 844.4K per square millimeter. The database records no benchmark scores for this part, and its average benchmark score is zero, so its only positional metric is a 50th-percentile ranking among all GPUs in the database. This places it at the median of the database, a position consistent with a mid-range card from its 2005 release window. The card is end-of-life, and its product lineage runs from the GeForce PCX predecessor to the GeForce 7 PCIe successor. The memory clock is 500 MHz, with an effective data rate of 1000 Mbps, and the card is single-slot with a single 6-pin power connector and a suggested PSU of 200 W. Its bus interface is PCIe 1.0 x16, reflecting the early PCIe transition period in which it was released.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals entry for this GPU is empty, so there are no rival names, scores, or deltaPct values to cite. The only comparative datum is the 50th-percentile ranking, which places the card at the exact midpoint of all GPUs in the database. In product-line terms, the card sits between the GeForce PCX and the GeForce 7 PCIe, marking it as part of NVIDIA's transition to PCIe during the GeForce 6 generation. The 50th percentile is a neutral position: half of the database population ranks above it and half below, which is what one would expect from a mid-range part. Because no rival entries exist, any performance comparison must rely on the specification sheet rather than measured scores. The card's specifications — 8 texture mapping units, 8 render output units, and a 256-bit memory bus — describe a balanced mid-range design rather than a performance leader. The pixel rate of 3.400 GPixel/s and texture rate of 3.400 GTexel/s are identical, reinforcing the impression of a symmetric design. The transistor density of 844.4K per square millimeter, derived from 190 million transistors on a 225 mm² die, is a measure of the manufacturing process maturity at 130 nm. Without rival data, the 50th percentile is the only external reference point, and it suggests the card is neither an outlier at the top nor a straggler at the bottom of the database.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The rtCores and tensorCores fields are both null, meaning the card has no dedicated ray tracing cores and no tensor cores. The Curie architecture predates hardware ray tracing acceleration, so any ray-traced workload would have to run on the general-purpose shading hardware, which is not present in the specification sheet either (shadingUnits is null). The feature set is defined by its API support: DirectX 9.0c at the 9_3 feature level, OpenGL 2.0 in full with partial OpenGL 2.1 support, and no Vulkan support. This places the card firmly in the DirectX 9 era of graphics APIs. The display outputs are 1x DVI, 1x VGA, and 1x S-Video, which covers the analog and early digital display connections common in 2005. The card is single-slot with a single 6-pin power connector, and the suggested PSU is 200 W. The absence of RT and tensor cores means the card relies entirely on fixed-function and early programmable pipeline features for its rendering. The DirectX 9.0c (9_3) feature level is the highest DirectX version supported, covering the API standard for games of its release period. OpenGL 2.0 full support with partial 2.1 means some later OpenGL extensions are unavailable, limiting compatibility with software that requires the full 2.1 specification. Vulkan support is null, so no Vulkan workloads can be run. The 1x DVI output allows digital display connection, while the 1x VGA and 1x S-Video outputs cover analog monitors and television output, respectively.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmarks array is empty, and the average benchmark score is 0. This means the database contains no measured performance data for this card, so no exact percentage deltas can be computed against any rival. The only positional metric is the 50th-percentile ranking, which is a relative placement rather than a score. An average score of zero indicates an absence of recorded results, not a literal zero-performance outcome. In the absence of scores, the specification sheet provides the only performance indicators: a pixel rate of 3.400 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 3.400 GTexel/s. These two figures are identical, indicating a balanced design where pixel and texture throughput are matched. The memory bandwidth of 32.00 GB/s, combined with the 256-bit bus, suggests that fill-rate-bound workloads would be the card's strength. Without benchmark entries, however, these specifications cannot be validated against real-world performance. The 50th percentile remains the sole comparative statement available. The card's 8 render output units cap the pixel throughput at 3.400 GPixel/s, while the 8 texture mapping units cap the texture throughput at 3.400 GTexel/s. The fact that both rates are equal suggests that neither unit count is a bottleneck relative to the other. The memory clock of 500 MHz, with an effective rate of 1000 Mbps, drives the 32.00 GB/s bandwidth across the 256-bit bus. This bandwidth is sufficient to feed the pixel and texture rates without a mismatch, as all three figures are in the same range. However, without actual benchmark scores, the practical impact of these specifications cannot be quantified.

Who Should Consider It

Given its 256 MB of GDDR3 memory, 32.00 GB/s bandwidth, and DirectX 9.0c support, this card is suited to software from its 2005 era. The 256 MB frame buffer is adequate for the texture loads of mid-2000s games at the display resolutions common at that time, but it would be strained by high-resolution texture packs or modern game assets. The 3.400 GPixel/s pixel rate and 3.400 GTexel/s texture rate indicate balanced fill-rate capabilities, which benefit games that rely on straightforward rasterization. The single-slot design and 200 W suggested PSU make it an easy fit for desktop systems of its generation. Because the card is end-of-life, it is primarily of interest to collectors or users building period-correct systems. Users seeking to run contemporary software should look elsewhere, as the API support tops out at DirectX 9.0c and partial OpenGL 2.1. The absence of RT and tensor cores further limits its relevance to modern rendering workloads. The 256-bit memory bus and 32.00 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the texture throughput of 3.400 GTexel/s, meaning the card will not be bandwidth-starved in its intended use case. The 1x DVI output supports digital monitors, while the 1x VGA and 1x S-Video outputs provide legacy connectivity. The 200 W suggested PSU is modest, and the single 6-pin power connector is a simple requirement. For users running games released around 2005, the card's DirectX 9.0c (9_3) support covers the dominant API of that period.

FAQ

Q: What architecture does the GeForce 6800 XT use?

A: It uses the Curie architecture, implemented on the NV41 chip, fabricated by TSMC on a 130 nm process with 190 million transistors on a 225 mm² die.

Q: How much memory does the card have, and what type is it?

A: It has 256 MB of GDDR3 memory on a 256-bit bus, with 32.00 GB/s of bandwidth and a memory clock of 500 MHz (1000 Mbps effective).

Q: Does the card support ray tracing or tensor cores?

A: No. The rtCores and tensorCores fields are both null, and the Curie architecture predates hardware ray tracing.

Q: What is the power connector requirement?

A: The card uses a single 6-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 200 W.

Q: What is the release date and production status?

A: The release date is 2005-09-29, and the production status is end-of-life.

Q: What APIs does the card support?

A: It supports DirectX 9.0c (9_3), OpenGL 2.0 in full, partial OpenGL 2.1, and no Vulkan.

Memory Subsystem

The memory subsystem consists of 256 MB of GDDR3 on a 256-bit bus, with a memory clock of 500 MHz and an effective data rate of 1000 Mbps. The resulting bandwidth is 32.00 GB/s. The 256-bit bus is a wide path for the era, but the 32.00 GB/s bandwidth is moderate by the standards of later GPUs. For high resolutions, the limiting factor is the 256 MB capacity rather than the bandwidth. A 256 MB frame buffer can hold a single frame at the resolutions common in 2005, but it cannot accommodate the large texture sets and multi-buffering required by higher-resolution rendering. The effective data rate of 1000 Mbps is typical of GDDR3 modules of the period. The pixel rate of 3.400 GPixel/s and texture rate of 3.400 GTexel/s are both matched to the memory bandwidth, indicating a balanced subsystem. In practice, this means the card is best suited to lower-resolution rendering where the 256 MB capacity is less likely to be exceeded. The 8 render output units and 8 texture mapping units are consistent with a mid-range memory subsystem, and the 256-bit bus provides enough width to feed them without obvious bottlenecks. The memory clock of 500 MHz is the base frequency, and the effective rate of 1000 Mbps is the doubled data rate of GDDR3. The 32.00 GB/s bandwidth is the product of the 256-bit bus width and the effective memory rate. For a card with 8 ROPs and 8 TMUs, this bandwidth is proportionate, avoiding a situation where the memory subsystem starves the rendering units. The 256 MB capacity, however, is the hard ceiling for high-resolution work, as texture data must fit within that limit.