We could overlook the shocking $800 price tag on XFX’s 512MB GeForce 6800 Ultra board if it delivered performance to match; unfortunately, buyers will get more of an adrenaline rush from writing the check than they will from playing current-generation games on this beast. Current games just don’t take advantage of such large frame buffers.

The fault certainly doesn’t lie with the hardware: The 6800 Ultra boasts 16 pixel pipelines and a 256-bit memory interface. XFX has even clocked the graphics core at 430MHz (memory is clocked at 525MHz).

There are two DVI ports, as well as a VIVO (video in/video out) port for video-editing projects. Of course, 256MB 6800 Ultra boards also sport these features, which makes the $300 price increase more than a little hard to swallow.

Well-heeled gamers can connect two of these boards together for SLI fun. Keep in mind, however, that with nVidia about to announce its next-gen GPUs, the Ultra’s days as king of the GPU hill are numbered.
--Michael Brown

GODZILLA: The only videocard faster than this is two of these boards in SLI mode.

LITTLEFOOT: It's silly to spend this much money on the eve of a new generation of GPUs.

Month Reviewed: August 2005
Verdict: 5
URL: www.xfxforce.com