Swapping Old Chips for New
Swapping a GeForce 9800 GX2 for a GTX 280 provides slight benefits in Crysis and in World in Conflict (at high resolution with anti-aliasing), but the dual-chip card had minor optimization problems in the test. In the other games, the increases are beyond 60, 80 or 100 fps.
Taking an older GeForce 8800 GTS 512 and putting in a new GTX 260 will actually only show visible improvements in World in Conflict. In Mass Effect, the new GTX 260 brings slight benefits with anti-aliasing at high resolutions—you actually feel the effects of the faster memory. In Crysis the increases are good, but the frame rates remain under 25 fps.
If you add the Radeon HD 4850 to this comparison, the results don’t get much better. The AMD chip provides benefits in World in Conflict and leaves the competition way behind.
A change from the Radeon HD 3850 to the Radeon HD 4850 brings visibly more power. The UT3 Engine (Mass Effect) responds particularly well to the new graphics chip. Assassin’s Creed and World in Conflict reach smooth playing ranges, with excellent optimization of DirectX 10 and anti-aliasing.
The change from the Radeon HD 3870 to the HD 4870 is similar to that going from the 3850 to the 4850—the UT3 Engine of Mass Effect runs better, and Assassin’s Creed and World in Conflict can be played more smoothly with full graphics quality and high resolutions.
Changing from the dual-chip card with the Radeon HD 3870 X2 to the new HD 4870 isn’t very sensible. The difference in performance in the lower regions is too low. But for a new purchase, you should take advantage of the additional performance and go straight for the Radeon HD 4870.
- radeon ,
- geforce ,
- comparison
- 1 / 2
- Next
-
Yet again, loads of this review is missing - get your fingers out people!
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?
rofl, i don't mean to be picky... but i'm missing something ^_^
To be continued next month folks....
(Or pop over to the USA website for spoilers!!)
Bob
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 ??
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 The article isn't worth reading guys as the Catalyst driver (v 8.6) is totally out-of-date (current: v 8.8).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
well - wouldn't it be obvious to review HD 4870 X2 2GB DDR5 Dual GPU ??? it's the best card from radeon right?
So once again we only have half of the article? WTF?
Could THG get any worse?
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.
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...
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.
Surely if you are comparing "the fastest 3D cards", the 4870X2 should be here
Yet another TomsHardFail.
4870X2??? and i can't see any benchmarks here.
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.
Haven't I read this already?
Why is it back at the top of the list? Because we have the missing 29 pages?
witch is faster : HD3850 512mb or 8800GT 256mb ? ant how many %? thx
witch is faster : HD3850 512mb or 8800GT 256mb ? ant how many %? thx
8800GT
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
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!!
Bob
Sorry (stupid THG comments not working, mutter, mutter)...
Use:
http://www.tomshardware.com/us/
Bob