The Graphics Chips Compared : DirectX 10 Shootout: Geforce 8x00 vs. Radeon 2x00

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The Graphics Chips Compared

10:17 - Monday 8 October 2007 by Tino Kreiss
Source: Tom's hardware UK – Keywords: DirectX10, Geforce, Radeon
Categories: Graphics

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The Graphics Chips Compared

Turbo Cache (Nvidia) and Hyper Memory (ATI) are features that allow the graphics cards to borrow some RAM from system memory. This minimizes the performance impact of enabling FSAA at higher resolutions on cards with less on-board memory. Under XP, video memory can be expanded from 128 MB or 256 MB to 512 MB. Vista always displays an augmented video memory of 1022 MB.

Nvidia Graphics Cards
Graphics Chip	Code Name	Memory	HDR-R	Vertexshader/Pixelshader	GPU Frequency	Memory Frequency
Geforce 8800 Ultra OC	G80	768 MB GDDR3	yes	4.0	660 MHz	2300 MHz
Geforce 8800 Ultra	G80	768 MB GDDR3	yes	4.0	612 MHz	2160 MHz
Geforce 8800 GTX	G80	768 MB GDDR3	yes	4.0	576 MHz	1800 MHz
Geforce 8800 GTS	G80	640 MB GDDR3	yes	4.0	500 MHz	1600 MHz
Geforce 8800 GTS OC	G80	320 MB GDDR3	yes	4.0	575 MHz	1700 MHz
Geforce 8800 GTS	G80	320 MB GDDR3	yes	4.0	500 MHz	1600 MHz
Geforce 8600 GTS	G84	512 MB GDDR3	yes	4.0	675 MHz	2016 MHz
Geforce 8600 GTS	G84	256 MB GDDR3	yes	4.0	675 MHz	2016 MHz
Geforce 8600 GT OC	G84	256 MB GDDR3	yes	4.0	580 MHz	1600 MHz
Geforce 8500 GT TC	G86	256/1022 MB DDR2	yes	4.0	459 MHz	800 MHz
Geforce 8400 GS TC	G86	256/1022 MB DDR2	yes	4.0	459 MHz	800 MHz

ATI Graphics Cards
Graphics Chip	Code Name	Memory	HDR-R	Vertexshader/Pixelshader	GPU Frequency	Memory Frequency
Radeon HD2900 XT	R600	512 MB GDDR3	yes	4.0	743 MHz	1656 MHz
Radeon HD2600 XT	RV630	512 MB GDDR3	yes	4.0	800 MHz	1400 MHz
Radeon HD2600 XT	RV630	256 MB GDDR4	yes	4.0	800 MHz	2200 MHz
Radeon HD2600 Pro	RV630	256 MB DDR3	yes	4.0	600 MHz	1400 MHz
Radeon HD2400 XT HM	RV610	128/1022 MB DDR2	yes	4.0	700 MHz	800 MHz
Radeon HD2400 Pro HM	RV610	256/1022 MB DDR2	yes	4.0	525 MHz	800 MHz

HDR-R=High Dynamic Range Rendering
SM=Shader Model
Memory Frequency=physical frequency is half of DDR
TC=Turbo Cache
HM=Hyper Memory
OC=Overclocked

Test Setup

Nvidia Single Graphics Cards, ATI Single and Crossfire Graphics Cards
CPU	Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800, 2.93 GHz
FSB	1066 MHz
Motherboard	Intel D975XBX2
Chipset	Intel 975X
Memory	2x1 GByte, Vitesta DDR2 800 4-4-4-12 533 MHz
Hard Drive	Hitachi 2 x 120 GByte S-ATA, 8 MB Cache
DVD	Gigabyte GO-D1600C
LAN	Intel 1000 Pro
Audio	Intel High Definition Audio
Power Supply	Seasonic M12 600 Watt

Drivers & Configuration
Graphics	ATI Catalyst 7.9 Nvidia Forceware 162.22
Opeating System	Windows Vista Enterprise
DirectX Version	10
Chipset Driver Intel	Intel 8.2.0.1014

Test Matrix
Application	Benchmark	Anti Aliasing (AA)	Anisotropic Filtering (AF)	Possible Problems and Settings
Bioshock	Fraps/Rapture-Intro, Plasmid-Intro	No AA	Graphics Driver Decides	AF, AA not offered in Game Menu
Company of Heroes v1.70	Game Benchmark	Application Decides	Graphics Driver Decides	AF not offered in Game Menu, -novsync
Lost Planet	Fraps/Mission 1	Application Decides	Application Decides
World in Conflict	Game Benchmark, Fraps/Tutorial	Application Decides	Application Decides

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dobby 08/10/2007 06:59

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totally surpised witht the 2400 & 2600 results, seems as if the only real gaming GPU from ATI is the 2900 which is not wroth getting

dev1se 08/10/2007 10:51

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Gutted about these results really. My HD2900 Pro's arriving tomorrow and I really wish I'd of seen this before making that order. As I'd of gone with the 320MB 8800GTS.

But.... in ATi's favour, Ive just gone from a HD2600XT DDR4 rig in Crossfire... and that BLEW GAMES AWAY at max settings at 1680x1050 resolution... OK a few games didnt perform over 25fps... but if that crossfire setup was anything to go by, 2 X HD2900 Pros in Crossfire might be a very good and cheap alternative to the 8800GTX. Just a thought anyway
3DMARK06 Scores with 2 X HD2600XT 256MB DDR4 on 5000+ X2 CPU = 9742... My friends 8800GTX on 2.13ghz C2D Scored 10700.

leexgx 09/10/2007 12:59

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if your going to get sli crossfire better going for fast single card (8800gts 640mb or even GTX before considering SLI)

dev1se 09/10/2007 02:26

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Well luckily I managed to make back £220 on the sale of both of my HD2600XT's (some people pay anything!), which has paid for my HD2900 PRO and left me with £45 left over. I need to hurry up and buy my next HD2900 PRO before stocks run out. I think for £350 in total they'll do a good job. Two GPU's surely has the edge over one!

tstebbens 09/10/2007 04:21

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Soooo glad I got an 8800GTS 320MB. It overclocks superbly: 500MHz core to 719MHz and 1600MHz DDR memory up to 1850MHz. Gives a standard 8800GTX a good run for it's money.

tstebbens 09/10/2007 04:41

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Just had a closer look at some of the screenshots. No FSAA sucks. Damn that PS3!

tstebbens 09/10/2007 04:41

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Just had a closer look at some of the screenshots. No FSAA sucks. Damn that PS3!

GodClassy 15/10/2007 01:53

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I think it would be worth while re-doing the test wit the new Catalyst Driver 7.10. They made a big difference with Battlefield 2142 and now I can play Bioshock as it just crashed my system before. I am using an HD2600 Pro AGP and finally feel I got what I paid for (cheap)!!

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The Graphics Chips Compared

The Graphics Chips Compared

HDR-R=High Dynamic Range RenderingSM=Shader ModelMemory Frequency=physical frequency is half of DDRTC=Turbo CacheHM=Hyper MemoryOC=Overclocked

Test Setup

HDR-R=High Dynamic Range Rendering
SM=Shader Model
Memory Frequency=physical frequency is half of DDR
TC=Turbo Cache
HM=Hyper Memory
OC=Overclocked