[H] Revisits SLI with the new7x.xx drivers

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

An interesting read, a little more accomodating/approving of SLI than last time;

<A HREF="http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NzQ3" target="_new">http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NzQ3</A>

They still have reservations, especially about games that still don't (and may never) see a performance boost like M$ FS, but they do seem far more enthusiastic this time around.

Interesting to see SplinterCell Chaos Theory getting a boost considering Pauldh's results, it'll be interesting to see the results.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[Action_Man]

Why don't they run both of them with the same settings?

Some people are like slinkies....
Not really good for anything but you cant help smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

 

[KCjoker]

Wow, HL2 got a huge boost. They still have some work to do though but Nvidia has a leg up on ATI as they'll have work out the bugs too.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

[H] shows what they believe to maximum playable settings, they also do Apples to Apples comparisons later in the review.

This gives you a different, and IMO beter perspective of the overall gameplay with the histograms. Would I like to see more settings, sure, but that would endd up with alot of webspace to show all the different settings, having both max playable and apples to apples helps without requiring too much additional time/space/effort.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[pauldh]

Definatelty a more positive outlook compared to their first SLI review, yet the "screams infancy" conclusion still doesn't sound like a raving review. The list of supported games made a big jump anyway.

I'm bummed they didn't performance test the Splinter cell CT demo. I'm looking forward to performance numbers in that one as a real test of whether even 2 6800U's in SLI have what it takes to use PS3.0, HDR, and Soft Shadows without sacrificing resolution too much. If not, they do seem to be checkbox features like you put it. I'd especially like to see [H] review on this so we can see all the framerates not just an near useless average.


I wish more GF6xxx owners would try the Splinter Cell CT Demo and comment on it. Good looking game. Boy was I in shock with res set to 1280 and my new top-o-d-line NV card was in the teens thanks to default PS3 with HDR on. I;d like to know if a 6600GT or 6800 could manage playable framerates at 800x600. And do they still default to HDR being on? I guess because unlike farcry, HDR is on by default, I see this as the first true test for the NV 6xxx series cards and their supported features. Hey, but at least I have the option of playing around with it even if I don't end up gaming with it.


<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=658042" target="_new">3DMark05</A> <A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=3781954" target="_new">3DMark03</A>
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Pauldh on 03/24/05 06:53 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Xeon]

The last 2 sucked, personal thoughts on the matter was it was like all ubi soft games poor level design and missions. So I can't tell you I will play it on my 6800gt but I will surely look at the screen shots and let you know what I think of it.

-Jeremy Dach

 

[pauldh]

Chaos Theory demo is worth seeing, especially with your video card. It does look amazing. But if you try fraps you'll see the huge difference between default PS3 with HDR and PS1.1. The lighting is great, but the performance hit still pretty huge.

Not exactly my type game though. I doubt I'd buy it until it hits the bargain bin. But definatelty try the demo if you have broadband.



<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=658042" target="_new">3DMark05</A> <A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=3781954" target="_new">3DMark03</A>

 

[pauldh]

Rumors are SLI gives no gain/doesn't work with HDR on, but gives a good boost to PS3 with HDR off.


<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=658042" target="_new">3DMark05</A> <A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=3781954" target="_new">3DMark03</A>

 

[eden]

Are you sure there is no PS2.0 mode?

The game didn't look at all like it was using the very first DX8 technology shaders when I saw it. More like PS 1.4 or 2.0.

--
The <b><A HREF="http://snipurl.com/blsb" target="_new"><font color=red>THGC Photo Album</font color=red></A></b>, send in your pics, get your own webpage and view other members' sites.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Yeah that's what I've heard too, but others (including game/k [so check the source, eh?!? ]) mentioned it working.

I haven't seen any reviewers getting it to work though, so I'm wondering if it's like people who are willing to accept some artifacts to mod their R9500->R9700, because they are more interested in overall power than any (to them) minor drawbacks.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

In the Demo there's no PS2.0 mode, not sure about the game itself.

It wouldn't surprise me though since it's a TWIMTBP game, and thus there's 3 markets to consider, Xbox = PS1.1, Current nV cards = PS/SM3.0, and legacy nV cards = PS1.1-1.3(FX being PS1.4 in practice). Therefore there is no added benifit to UBIs two paid for target market to have support for any other path.

Even if there was PS2.0 support either they'd have to spend a ton of time optimizing for the FX or it'd fallback to PS1.1 anyways, so why bother if you're not concerned about the overall market?
Also since it is the most 'lighting' dependant game I'd also say that this title offer alot of areas for HDR to shine (no pun intended), so for that marchitecture SM3.0 would be necessary to pull it off, since the ATi method kills even GF6 series cards. Once again when you have a choice between the people who pay you and those who simply buy from you you're going to go with the upfront money, especially if the average gamer wouldn't know the difference.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[eden]

Wait a minute, there is an ATi mode HDR?

What of the nV one? Does it allow better performance for GF 6 cards?

If so, why did Paul or Kinney report poor performance in SC3 whilst enabling HDR?

Finally, is HDR truly limited to the GF6? I could've sworn such a feature was easy to reproduce on the ATi, especially considering HL2.

--
The <b><A HREF="http://snipurl.com/blsb" target="_new"><font color=red>THGC Photo Album</font color=red></A></b>, send in your pics, get your own webpage and view other members' sites.