256MB 8X AGP Battle: GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL vs. Radeon 9600 Pro

[Buzz]

GeForce takes up two slots...
Radeon only one.

GeForce supports 2 dual link DVI monitors...
Radeon supports only one dual link, plus one 1920 X 1200.

Both have two DVI ports.

Desired use includes dual monitor setup, neither being dual link.
Leaning towards keeping Radeon and selling off GeForce, as gaining PCI slot back does have an advantage, plus Radeon runs cooler and uses less power. Pretty sure GeForce is faster card, but doubt it will make any real world difference. Any compelling reason(s) to keep GeForce and sell Radeon? I'm assuming GeForce would have better resale value because of its greater speed and dual, dual link ports?

Thanks,
Buzz
==

[Filliam H. Muffman]

Better resale as in worth $23 versus $20? They are both really old cards or do they have some special feature like G5 support?

[hal]

no, better resale as in $200 - I think. Haven't priced the 6800s for a while, but they are still the best G5 card.

IT's a much better card - you will likely see the difference in just about everything you do.

BUT it's loud and runs hot.

edit: just did a quick check - recent high price $250, low $100 (BIN)

[Filliam H. Muffman]

Okay, I thought it might be a product with a special application. $250 is almost half the price of a new mini refurb with a faster card, and I think the hard drive in the current mini would be faster than what came in a G5 too.

My laptop has a 256 MB 6800 GT so I know it used to be considered a good product... 5 years ago.

[hal]

"$250 is almost half the price of a new mini refurb with a faster card, and I think the hard drive in the current mini would be faster than what came in a G5 too."

while this may be true (screw it - it IS true), it has nothing to do with the topic at hand...

[Filliam H. Muffman]

I guess I should be less subtle.

Unless you have a specific long term need for the G5 (like it is making you money, but not enough to buy a new set of the software you use)...

Part-out/sell the G5 and buy a mini!!!. G5's are dying at a frightening rate. A mini can use the latest and most secure OS/browser/etc., will be faster, and use less electricity. If you are in love with a tower where you can swap components, build a hackintosh instead.

[Buzz]

Fill-
appreciate the sentiments, and we do have a couple of under-used Minis already, and Baby Buzz is itching to build a hackintosh, but the G5's are friendly w/ expandability and already owned software. This is a relatively short term solution; inasmuch as I don't envision the need for super high end graphics performance, my gut is to sell off the GeForce card because of its likely higher resale value. The Radeon will drive the two monitors most adequately, and allow and the use of an extra PCI card. Again, I was just wondering if I was missing something by wanting to ditch the GeForce... if we had a 30" dual link monitor that needed driving, it would be another story. As hal says, the GeForce is hot, noisy and eats more juice, all reason in favor the Radeon, given the intended usage. We have the Mini's, we'll likely build a hackintosh at some point, I just want to make an informed decision as to which video card to get rid of first.