Tom's Hardware > All Reviews > Components > Graphics Cards > The Fastest 3D Cards Go Head-To-Head

Comparing The GPUs And Test Setup

10:50 - Thursday 4 September 2008 by Tino Kreiss

The test includes the 3800- and 4800-series models from AMD, as well as the GeForce 8-, 9-, and GTX 200-series boards from Nvidia. The lower limits are bound by the Radeon HD 3650 and GeForce 8600 GT.

Nvidia graphics cards
Chip	Code name	Memory	GPU rate	Shader	Memory rate	SPs
GeForce GTX 280 SLI	GT200	1024 GDDR3	602 MHz	4.0, 1296 MHz	2214 MHz	240
GeForce GTX 280	GT200	1024 GDDR3	602 MHz	4.0, 1296 MHz	2214 MHz	240
GeForce GTX 260 SLI	GT200	896 GDDR3	576 MHz	4.0, 1242 MHz	1998 MHz	192
GeForce GTX 260	GT200	896 GDDR3	576 MHz	4.0, 1242 MHz	1998 MHz	192
GeForce 9800 GX2	2xG92	2x512 MB GDDR3	600 MHz	4.0, 1500 MHz	2000 MHz	2x128
GeForce 9800 GTX SLI	G92	512 MB GDDR3	675 MHz	4.0, 1688 MHz	2200 MHz	128
GeForce 9800 GTX	G92	512 MB GDDR3	675 MHz	4.0, 1688 MHz	2200 MHz	128
GeForce 9600 GT SLI	G94	1024 MB GDDR3	650 MHz	4.0, 1625 MHz	1800 MHz	64
GeForce 9600 GT	G94	1024 MB GDDR3	650 MHz	4.0, 1625 MHz	1800 MHz	64
GeForce 8800 GTS OC	G92	512 MB GDDR3	730 MHz	4.0, 1825 MHz	1944 MHz	128
GeForce 8800 GTS SLI	G92	512 MB GDDR3	650 MHz	4.0, 1625 MHz	1944 MHz	128
GeForce 8800 GTS	G92	512 MB GDDR3	650 MHz	4.0, 1625 MHz	1944 MHz	128
GeForce 8800 GT SLI	G92	1024 MB GDDR3	600 MHz	4.0, 1500 MHz	1800 MHz	112
GeForce 8800 GT	G92	1024 MB GDDR3	600 MHz	4.0, 1500 MHz	1800 MHz	112
GeForce 8800 GT SLI	G92	512 MB GDDR3	600 MHz	4.0, 1500 MHz	1800 MHz	112
GeForce 8800 GT	G92	512 MB GDDR3	600 MHz	4.0, 1500 MHz	1800 MHz	112
GeForce 8800 Ultra SLI	G80	768 MB GDDR3	612 MHz	4.0, 1512 MHz	2160 MHz	128
GeForce 8800 Ultra	G80	768 MB GDDR3	612 MHz	4.0, 1512 MHz	2160 MHz	128
GeForce 8800 GTX	G80	768 MB GDDR3	576 MHz	4.0, 1350 MHz	1800 MHz	128
GeForce 8800 GTS	G80	640 MB GDDR3	500 MHz	4.0, 1188 MHz	1600 MHz	96
GeForce 8800 GTS SLI	G80	320 MB GDDR3	500 MHz	4.0, 1188 MHz	1600 MHz	96
GeForce 8800 GTS	G80	320 MB GDDR3	500 MHz	4.0, 1188 MHz	1600 MHz	96
GeForce 8600 GTS	G84	512 MB GDDR3	675 MHz	4.0, 1450 MHz	2016 MHz	32
GeForce 8600 GTS SLI	G84	256 MB GDDR3	675 MHz	4.0, 1450 MHz	2016 MHz	32
GeForce 8600 GTS	G84	256 MB GDDR3	675 MHz	4.0, 1450 MHz	2016 MHz	32
GeForce 8600 GT SLI	G84	256 MB GDDR3	540 MHz	4.0, 1180 MHz	1400 MHz	32
GeForce 8600 GT	G84	256 MB GDDR3	540 MHz	4.0, 1180 MHz	1400 MHz	32

Chip	Memory bus	Manufacturing process	Transistors	Interface
GeForce GTX 280 SLI	512 Bit	65 nm	1400 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce GTX 280	512 Bit	65 nm	1400 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce GTX 260 SLI	448 Bit	65 nm	1400 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce GTX 260	448 Bit	65 nm	1400 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce 9800 GX2	2x256 Bit	65 nm	2x754 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce 9800 GTX SLI	256 Bit	65 nm	754 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce 9800 GTX	256 Bit	65 nm	754 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce 9600 GT SLI	256 Bit	65 nm	505 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce 9600 GT	256 Bit	65 nm	505 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce 8800 GTS OC	256 Bit	65 nm	754 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce 8800 GTS SLI	256 Bit	65 nm	754 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce 8800 GTS	256 Bit	65 nm	754 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce 8800 GT SLI	256 Bit	65 nm	754 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce 8800 GT	256 Bit	65 nm	754 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce 8800 GT SLI	256 Bit	65 nm	754 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce 8800 GT	256 Bit	65 nm	754 MB	PCIe 2.0
GeForce 8800 Ultra SLI	384 Bit	90 nm	681 MB	PCIe 1
GeForce 8800 Ultra	384 Bit	90 nm	681 MB	PCIe 1
GeForce 8800 GTX	384 Bit	90 nm	681 MB	PCIe 1
GeForce 8800 GTS	320 Bit	90 nm	681 MB	PCIe 1
GeForce 8800 GTS SLI	320 Bit	90 nm	681 MB	PCIe 1
GeForce 8800 GTS	320 Bit	90 nm	681 MB	PCIe 1
GeForce 8600 GTS	128 Bit	80 nm	289 MB	PCIe 1
GeForce 8600 GTS SLI	128 Bit	80 nm	289 MB	PCIe 1
GeForce 8600 GTS	128 Bit	80 nm	289 MB	PCIe 1
GeForce 8600 GT SLI	128 Bit	80 nm	289 MB	PCIe 1
GeForce 8600 GT	128 Bit	80 nm	289 MB	PCIe 1

AMD graphics cards
Chip	Code name	Memory	GPU rate	Shader	Memory rate	SPs
Radeon HD 4870 CF	RV770	512 MB GDDR5	750 MHz	4.1	3600 MHz	800
Radeon HD 4870	RV770	512 MB GDDR5	750 MHz	4.1	3600 MHz	800
Radeon HD 4850 CF	RV770	512 MB GDDR3	625 MHz	4.1	1986 MHz	800
Radeon HD 4850	RV770	512 MB GDDR3	625 MHz	4.1	1986 MHz	800
Radeon HD 3870 X2	R680	2x512 MB GDDR3	825 MHz	4.1	1802 MHz	2x320
Radeon HD 3870 CF	RV670	512 MB GDDR4	775 MHz	4.1	2252 MHz	320
Radeon HD 3870	RV670	512 MB GDDR4	775 MHz	4.1	2252 MHz	320
Radeon HD 3850 CF	RV670	256 MB GDDR3	670 MHz	4.1	1658 MHz	320
Radeon HD 3850	RV670	256 MB GDDR3	670 MHz	4.1	1658 MHz	320
Radeon HD 3650 CF	RV635	512 MB GDDR3	725 MHz	4.1	1602 MHz	120
Radeon HD 3650	RV635	512 MB GDDR3	725 MHz	4.1	1602 MHz	120

Chip	Memory bus	Manufacturing process	Transistors	Interface
Radeon HD 4870 CF	256 Bit	55 nm	965 MB	PCIe 2.0
Radeon HD 4870	256 Bit	55 nm	965 MB	PCIe 2.0
Radeon HD 4850 CF	256 Bit	55 nm	965 MB	PCIe 2.0
Radeon HD 4850	256 Bit	55 nm	965 MB	PCIe 2.0
Radeon HD 3870 X2	2x256 Bit	55 nm	2x666 MB	PCIe 2.0
Radeon HD 3870 CF	256 Bit	55 nm	666 MB	PCIe 2.0
Radeon HD 3870	256 Bit	55 nm	666 MB	PCIe 2.0
Radeon HD 3850 CF	256 Bit	55 nm	666 MB	PCIe 2.0
Radeon HD 3850	256 Bit	55 nm	666 MB	PCIe 2.0
Radeon HD 3650 CF	128 Bit	55 nm	378 MB	PCIe 2.0
Radeon HD 3650	128 Bit	55 nm	378 MB	PCIe 2.0

^{Memory rate = DDR clock rate doubled; physical rate is half
DDR5 clock rate quadrupled, physical rate is one quarter
SPs = stream processors; P and V = Pixel shader and Vertex shader
TC = Turbo Cache
HM = Hyper Memory
OC = Overclocked (clock rate higher than default)
SLI = Parallel operation with 2 Nvidia cards
3 SLI = Parallel operation with 3 Nvidia graphics chips
4 SLI = Parallel operation with 4 Nvidia graphics chips
CF = CrossFire parallel operation with 2 AMD cards
3 CF = CrossFire parallel operation with 3 ATI graphics chips
4 CF = CrossFire parallel operation with 4 ATI graphics chips
R680 = 2x RV670
Shader 2.0 = DirectX 9.0; 3.0 = DirectX 9.0c; 4.0 = DirectX 10; Shader 4.1 = DirectX 10.1}

Nvidia single graphics cards, AMD single and CrossFire graphics cards
CPU	Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 @ 2.93 GHz (11x 266 MHz), Socket 775, 1.28 V, 65 nm, L2 cache 4096 KB
FSB	1066 MHz (4x 266 MHz)
Motherboard	Asus P5E3 Deluxe, PCIe 2.0 2x16, ICH9R
Chipset	Intel X38
Memory	2x 1 GB, Ballistix (Crucial Technology) 1.5 V, DDR3 1066 7-7-7-20 (2x 533 MHz)
Audio	Intel High Definition Audio
LAN	Intel 1000 Pro
Drives	Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500 GB, SATA, 16 MB Cache, Hitachi 120 GB, SATA, 8 MB Cache
DVD	Gigabyte GO-D1600C
Power Supply	CoolerMaster RS-850-EMBA 850 W

Nvidia SLI graphics cards
Motherboard	Asus P5N-T Deluxe, PCIe 2.0 2x16
Chip set	Nvidia nForce 780i SLI
Memory	2x 1 GB, A-Data Technology 1.8 V, DDR2 800 5-5-5-18 (2x 400 MHz)
Audio	ADI 1988B SoundMax
LAN	Marvell 88E1116 Gigabit

Drivers & Configuration
Graphics	AMD Catalyst 8.6 Nvidia ForceWare 175.16, GTX 260 and GTX 280 Forceware 177.39
Operating system	Windows Vista Enterprise SP1
DirectX	10 and 10.1
Chipset driver	X38 Intel 8.3.1.1009 780i Nvidia nForce 9.64

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mightybaz 30/08/2008 02:08

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Yet again, loads of this review is missing - get your fingers out people!

Silverwolf 30/08/2008 08:50

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yeh what the?? Someone isn't uploading these articles properly, only 7 pages showing, and no scroll bar on the drop down, or even a "next page" link. Only uploaded half the article?

sanderhoudini 30/08/2008 11:33

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rofl, i don't mean to be picky... but i'm missing something ^_^

bobwya 30/08/2008 11:43

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To be continued next month folks....

(Or pop over to the USA website for spoilers!!) :lol:

Bob

bobwya 30/08/2008 11:45

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Quote :Page 7 (final page in the UK/ middle in the USA)
Under 3D full load, the GeForce GTX 260 consumes 336 watts. A solid power supply with 280 to 320 watts of overall power and 23 to 27 A on the 12 volt rail should be sufficient here.

Uhhmmm isn't 336 Watts > 280-320 Watts ??

bobwya 30/08/2008 20:52

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I've been over to the US site.. The article isn't worth reading guys as the Catalyst driver (v 8.6) is totally out-of-date (current: v 8.8). Just a heads up!! :crazy:

Bob

Millohh 31/08/2008 23:42

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well - wouldn't it be obvious to review HD 4870 X2 2GB DDR5 Dual GPU ??? it's the best card from radeon right?

Anonymous 01/09/2008 10:26

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So once again we only have half of the article? WTF?

Could THG get any worse?

MagicWok 01/09/2008 12:35

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Once again Toms UK screws up royally.

Another copy and paste from the US site - and a half-arsed effort at that.

Utter bollocks - just read the US Toms site. All the pages are from there anyway (UK 'staff' can't even bother to change $ to £ in articles) and they're complete.

MagicWok 01/09/2008 12:36

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iJacks :
So once again we only have half of the article? WTF?Could THG get any worse?

Has been going on for a long time iJacks...

marshallman 01/09/2008 16:16

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BobWya :
I've been over to the US site.. The article isn't worth reading guys as the Catalyst driver (v 8.6) is totally out-of-date (current: v 8.8). Just a heads up!! Bob

+1

Yeh the review is pretty much pointless cos drivers are several months out of date.

paradigital 01/09/2008 17:54

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Surely if you are comparing "the fastest 3D cards", the 4870X2 should be here

Yet another TomsHardFail.

sonofhendrix 02/09/2008 10:43

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4870X2??? and i can't see any benchmarks here.

Anonymous 04/09/2008 12:56

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Be nice to have the 9800gx2 in SLI
as also the 280 in TRI SLI
and as others have mention the GDDR5 4870
Maybe these other top dogs will appear in another review.

mi1ez 04/09/2008 12:57

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Haven't I read this already?

Why is it back at the top of the list? Because we have the missing 29 pages?

Anonymous 06/09/2008 16:49

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witch is faster : HD3850 512mb or 8800GT 256mb ? ant how many %? thx

bobwya 06/09/2008 22:34

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dnx :
witch is faster : HD3850 512mb or 8800GT 256mb ? ant how many %? thx

8800GT

Anonymous 08/09/2008 11:18

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How can I check the us page? if I write www.tomshardware.com in my firefox browser I am redirected automatically to www.tomshardware.co.uk. I want to see the .com, not the .co.uk

bobwya 08/09/2008 11:27

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Dirich :
How can I check the us page? if I write www.tomshardware.com in my firefox browser I am redirected automatically to www.tomshardware.co.uk. I want to see the .com, not the .co.uk

Use:

We can see the whole GPU article on the UK website now anyway... Yippie!! :crazy:

Bob

bobwya 08/09/2008 11:28

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Sorry (stupid THG comments not working, mutter, mutter)...

Use:
http://www.tomshardware.com/us/

Bob