The Graphics Cards Compared – ATI vs. Nvidia
Unfortunately, we couldn’t include scores for the Geforce 8800 GTS 640, since neither Nvidia nor one of its board partners were able to supply a card. We also decided to exclude models based on the Geforce 8400 and 8500 as well as the Radeon 2400 and2600 Pro from this comparison, since none of these cards offers performance sufficient for more than the Low quality setting. Indeed, the Geforce 8600 GT and the Radeon 2600 XT mark the absolute bottom end for the combination of Windows Vista, DirectX 10 and the Crysis SP demo.
Several of our models are so-called OC versions that come factory-overclocked. We test all models at their default clock speed, the way they are provided by the manufacturers. The Geforce 8600 GTS is the sole exception, as we increased its shader, GPU and memory frequencies by 10 percent in the graphics card’s BIOS. This modification is meant to show where the midrange chips fall within this field and to what point Crysis remains smoothly playable. GPU-Z reads the shader clock of MSI’s Geforce 8800 GT OC edition as 1650 MHz.
| Card Name | GPU Frequency | Memory Frequency | Memory Type | Memory Interface | Stream Processors | Shader Clock Speed |
| 8800 Ultra (768 MB) OC | 660 MHz | 1150 MHz | GDDR3 | 384 Bit | 128 | 1512 MHz |
| 8800 GTX (768 MB) | 576 MHz | 900 MHz | GDDR3 | 384 Bit | 128 | 1350 MHz |
| 8800 GT (512 MB) OC | 660 MHz | 950 MHz | GDDR3 | 256 Bit | 112 | > 1500 MHz |
| 8800 GTS (320 MB) OC | 575 MHz | 850 MHz | GDDR3 | 320 Bit | 96 | 1350 MHz |
| 8600 GTS (512 MB) OC | 743 MHz | 1109 MHz | GDDR3 | 128 Bit | 32 | 1595 MHz |
| 8600 GTS (512 MB) | 675 MHz | 1008 MHz | GDDR3 | 128 Bit | 32 | 1450 MHz |
| 8600 GT (256 MB) OC | 580 MHz | 800 MHz | GDDR3 | 128 Bit | 32 | 1276 MHz |
| 2900 XT (512 MB) | 743 MHz | 828 | GDDR3 | 512 Bit | 320 | 743 MHz |
| 2600 XT (512 MB) | 800 MHz | 700 MHz | GDDR3 | 128 Bit | 120 | 800 MHz |
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 (2.93 GHz) |
| FSB | 1066 MHz |
| Motherboard | Intel D975XBX2 |
| Chipset | Intel 975X |
| Memory | 2 x 1 GByte, Vitesta DDR2-800 CL 4-4-4-12 533 MHz |
| Hard Drive | Hitachi 2 x 120 GB S-ATA (8 MB Cache) |
| DVD Drive | Gigabyte GO-D1600C |
| NIC | Intel 1000 Pro |
| Audio | Intel High Definition Audio |
| Power Supply | Seasonic M12 600 Watt |
| Graphics | ATI Catalyst 7.10 Nvidia Forceware 169.01 |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Enterprise |
| DirectX | 10 |
| Chipset Driver | Intel 8.2.0.1014 (Vista x86) |
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- Graphics_Cards ,
- Geforce_8800GT ,
- Crysis ,
- DX10
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Surely 40fps and above is required for any decent level of gameplay - most arcade games run towards 60fps and that is also a level that Xbox 360 / PS3 games aim at.
Also since when is HD 1920x1200? Surely its 1920x1080 (hence 1080p).
I would say 24fps should be playable, TV looks pretty smooth at 24
lol u rekon ps3 or xbox gets 60 fps in anything. around 30 fps is playable in most crysis playes very very well at lower fps's though. and 1920x1200 if full hd on a monitor due to 16:10 aspect ratio
lol u rekon ps3 or xbox gets 60 fps in anything. around 30 fps is playable in most crysis playes very very well at lower fps's though. and 1920x1200 if full hd on a monitor due to 16:10 aspect ratio
Hi all fraggers,
Very useful breakdown of the game. Nice to finally see minimum framerates. Ideally would prefer to see to see graphs of framerate and less of those pointless low res. videos (they all look the same as they are such low res. and highly compressed)!!
So clearly I need a 1TB 9900 GPU... Perhaps I will wait to get the game till one exists!!
Thanks for a great review!!
Bob
I doubt it'll be the nine series with a TB of memory.....
Hi spud,
You're right I think (unless there is a big memory breakthrough in the next 3-6 months!!) I meant the Nvidia 19x10^3 GTX Ultra with real-time 3D HDR ray tracing support :-) :-)
I might settle for a 1+Gb card though (heh, heh).
I would lauf if Nvidia releases a 9800 model!!
Bob
I have a widescreen TV/monitor max res 1360 by 768, a resolution not included here. Can anyone tell me what is the max quality I could probably play at this res keeping the frame rate above 25 fps, basing it on the test settings in the article?
Hi joneb,
1024 x 768 = 786,432 pixels
1360 x 768 = 1,044,480 pixels
1280 x 1024 = 1,310,720 pixels
So roughly you will get half way between the 1024 x 768 FPS and 1280 x 1024 FPS for your GPU I guess...
Although the relationship is not linear I suppose... You will certainly get at least the 1280 x 1024 FPS for your GPU
Bob
Tom im dissappointed. Very thorough, but why benchamrk with 4xAA? Only the gtx and ultra seem to be able to deal with it. Most gamers wont have any on as they dont have the super cards to cope with it! This is one game where AA is out of the question for 95% of people at pretty much any resolution, so why benchmark with it?
Exhaustive test, but testing with aa instantly chops 30% of performance, and nothing but the ultra has power to spare at this time.
I too am dissapointed with the review benchmarking above 1024x768 with 4xAA and 8xAF.
I am now trying to work out what I will get using an 8800GT 512MB at 1366x768 with no AA, no AF by working out the middle ground between 1024x768 with no AA AF and 1280x1024 with 4xAA, 8xAF.
Thanks BobWya but the difference between both settings is massive theres no way I can work it out and if I have to go with the 1280x1024 setting Im getting a PS3 or an X-Box for gaming I think no matter how I love rpgs/mmorpgs.
I totally agree with spoonboy: why include 4xAA in the tests if only the Ultra comes near to being able to run it!? Pointless. If you want a great guide to getting the most quality and FPS out of Crysis with the least hardware then check this out: http://www.tweakguides.com/Crysis_1.html
Also, where are the SLI benchmarks? Don't tell me you can't enable SLI in the demo because you can. Two 8800GTS 320MB cards in SLI work VERY well with Crysis
joneb
You would interpolate between the 1024 x 768 and 1280 x 1200 figures (both without AA and AF). Why would use figures with AA and AF if you aren't using them!!
As for consoles can they push out more than 30 FPS at HDR? I bet not!! The GPU in the consoles aren't that powerful right (X1900XTX equivalent in the XBox 360 - isn't it?)
Don't forget that Crysis is falling in lull between PC GPU generations!! You know like the 8800GTX was last big card release and that was like November 2006!! Its about time therefore for Nvidia to release a new series!! Hows about a shiny new 9900 Series in time for Santa's Christmas stockings in 2008!!
While ATI sit with their finger up their ass. Since they haven't done anything big since the X1900XT(X) series (when they last had the performance crown). Heck I'm still using a X1950 Pro (512Mb) - it's still an OK card (can play the Crysis demo at 1600x1200 @ medium settings)
Bob
I used the 1280X1024 benchmark info with 4xAA and 8XAF because they dont give any benchmark info at that resolution without the AA and AF. So its all I have to work with.
I am with spoonboy on this article...
As I have played the demo and know I can just about get 30 FPS on medium @1600x1200 I didn't really look at the charts in detail. Just noted that the FPS numbers were mostly completely unplayable or just barely - how does that help anyone??
What the hell!! Why are THG putting on high AA AND high AF settings on the higher resolutions... Have you guys lost the plot or what?? Most people like joneb will want to know whether they can play the game at all never mind putting the eye candy on!!
You are looking at the next gen. Nvidia card before you can pull a stunt like that!!
I can't even put on any AA on in Doom 3 yet (1600x1200 @Ultra) without my framerate dropping below 60!! I have upgraded to a W/C 512Mb X1950 Pro OC @607/708!! So for a game like Crysis which is a GPU killer AA & AF won't be an option!! With the 8800 Ultra folks will want the native resolution (TFT's), then the FPS, then the quality and the AA/AF eye candy last!! I know I would!!
Bob
lmao...full HD is 1920x1080 (16:9), not 1920x1200 (16:10). i run Crysis with amd64x2 4800+ (939) 2x7600gt(256mb)SLI and it's very playable on my 32" hdtv @ 1280x720.
Wakey, wakey Frazy
This thread has been dead for over a month and the article refers to the Crysis demo!! All the stuff about 1920x1080 being HD has already been said...
Go back to sleep...
Bob