GeForce 6800 vs Radeon X1300

Speed and memory

In our performance index the GeForce 6800 scores 0.2 and the Radeon X1300 scores 0.1, which makes the GeForce 6800 about 100% 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 Cyberpunk 2077 (1 against 0 fps), and the smallest is in Fortnite (3 against 2 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 Radeon X1300 at 20 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 450 W for the first and 450 W for the second. A gap of 60 W shows up in heat and fan noise, and in your electricity use over a few years.

At launch the GeForce 6800 cost $299 and the Radeon X1300 $99. Per dollar, the Radeon X1300 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 Radeon X1300 if the price gap matters more than the 100% 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.