GeForce 6800 vs GeForce 6600

Speed and memory

In our performance index the GeForce 6800 scores 0.2 and the GeForce 6600 scores 0.15, which makes the GeForce 6800 about 33% faster. That is a gap you will notice: roughly one step up in quality setting, or the difference between 60 and 80 fps.

Both cards have shared GB of video memory, so memory will not separate them.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in VALORANT (10 against 8 fps), and the smallest is in Minecraft: Java Edition (5 against 4 fps). Games that are light enough to run above 200 fps on both cards show little difference at all.

Power and value

The GeForce 6800 is rated at 80 W and the GeForce 6600 at 50 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 450 W for the first and 450 W for the second. The power draw is close enough that cooling and noise will be similar.

At launch the GeForce 6800 cost $299 and the GeForce 6600 $149. Per dollar, the GeForce 6600 gave more performance (0.1 points per $100 against 0.1). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce 6800 if you want the faster card, and it also has at least as much memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the GeForce 6600 if the price gap matters more than the 33% speed difference, or if you want lower power draw and a quieter PC. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.