Test Settings

Perfect. Thank you. I only wished that you could have thrown in a 4870 1GB and a GTX 260+ into the mix, since you had what I'm guessing are new beta drivers. Still, I guess you have to sleep sometime

I would have liked to see the over clocking that could be done to all cards and see how they compare then.

It's so good to see competition!

I would like to see a benchmark between SLI 260 Core 216, SLI 280, SLI 285, GTX 295, and 4870X2

Thanks for the article.

Overclocking would be nice to see what the hardware can really do; but I generally don't dabble into overclock video cards. Never seems to work out, either the card is already running hot or the slightest increase in frequency produces artifacts.
Also driver updates seem to wreak havoc with oc settings.

Personally, I'm hoping for a non-crippled GTX 295 using the GTX 285's full specs(^Core Clock, ^Shader Clock, ^Memory Data Rate, ^Frame Buffer, ^Memory Bus Width, and ^ROPs)My & $$$ will be waiting.

I went for the GTX 285. I figure it will run cooler, allow higher overclocks, and maybe save energy compared to a GTX 280. I was able to pick mine up for about $350 while most GTX 280 cards are still selling for above $325 without mail in rebates counted. Thus far, over the last three years I have had exactly 0 out of 12 mail in rebates for computer compenents honored.

I just replaced a 8800 GTS 640MB card with the GTX 285. Base clocks for the GTS are 500 GPU and 800 memory. I foget the shaders, but it is over 1000. I had mine running with 0 glitches for the life of the card at 600 GPU and 1000 memory. Before the overclock the highest temperature at load was about 88C, after the overclock the highest temperature was 94C, both of which were well within manufaturer specifications of 115C. I would not be too scared of overclocking your hardware, unless your warranty is voided because of it.

I have not overclocked the GTX 285 yet, I am waiting for NiBiToR v4.9 to be released so once I overclock it, I can set it permantly to the final stable clock. I am expecting to be able to hit about 730 GPU, but it could be less.

In other words, no matter how well ATI's strategy of using two smaller, cheaper GPUs in tandem instead of one huge GPU works, you will still be able to say that Nvidia is the best.

Also, why would most people who are spending $400-$450 on video cards not want a dual-card setup. Most people I know see it as a kind of bragging right, just like water-cooling your rig.

One last thing, why is it so hard to find reviews of the 4850x2?

because multi-gpu cards come with their own bag of headaches Daeros. you are better off going CF or SLI then to participate it that pay to play experiment.

I for one am interested in ONLY single GPU solutions. Most of the games I play are not your quintuple platinum selling games, thus the people who make those games are not likely to be doing massive frequent updates to the game so it works on the random rare platform. They may get around to it, but with smaller budgets come longer development times.

I actually think that both companies are twiddling their thumbs about this multi-GPU issue. The question I have is if they make a GPU with 800 processing units, why is it so hard for them to develope into the GPU direct link between two GPUs? They can connect 800 processing units, but cannot connect two dies? Seriously?

Toms,

OC those cards!!! I'm looking at buying a gtx 280 or a gtx 285. This article didn't tell me anything I didn't already expect. The OC'ability of these cards will determine what I buy. OC! OC! OC! Does the new 55nm tech make the GTX 285 an OC'ing beast? Any nerd worth his salt should by trying to OC those babies within 30 minutes of taking them out of the box!

Yeah, I wish you would have included the 4850x2. Ever since seeing it in your mid-range system I've wondered how viable the card is. Especially with all the recent problems with drivers. Since it's about the same price as the gtx 285 I relaly want to know how they play in comparison to one another. Right now I know I'm certainly leaning NVIDIAs way when it comes to the card. Of course, since I think only the high end MOBOs are supporting the SLI this also leaves me in a crux since I wasn't necessary planning on the I-platform for my processor.

I agree with Billiardicus, b4 ive read this article, it was pretty obvious that the GTX 285 would perform just slighlty better than the GTX 280,since it was only a new manufacturing process, like the 9800GTX+ was to the 9800GTX. The only thing i was expecting to know here is how well the 285 overclocks compared to the 280. That's all i have to know if the extra 30-50 bucks of the 285 gtx really worth.

Put me down as another who is only interested in the best single GPU setup. Microstuttering and less than linear gains for SLI/CF in all games are my reasons.

obviously you don't understand that every piece of hardware needs a good piece of software to unleash it's maximum energy.
i don't really understand or appreciate your way of analyzing the data you get from this bench.
so can you explain why 4870x2 wins in crysis with AA and AF at all resolutions and loses in COD5 although COD5 is little DX9 game compared to CRYSIS, isn't it strange that a GPU wins in the most demanding game and loses in some DX9 games.

Take a look at this bench of STALKER CLEAR SKY using the DX10.1 patch for ATI CARDS..

+1 I'd rather have single GPU. I'll consider multi-gpu's, but not when there's beasts out like the GTX 280/285.

It's good that there are different cards for multible needs. I by my self am interested in what card gives me best bang for the buck. If it is a single GPU system I am fine, if it's a multi GPU system that's fine as well.
And you are very right that it is easier to make drivers for single GPU systems, but if the prise is right and there is some real prosessing power in multicore system even better.
ATI with their multi GPU system did bring the prices down and they still are relative competative for their prize even now. It all depends on what games you like to play. Like i said before, competition is good and these new Nvidias are really good indeed. (Until the next innovation arrives ofcource ;-)

I dunno if I skipped it or not, but they should've mentioned that the 285 GTX is also a monster overclocker compared to the 280 GTX which can barely overclock all together...my 280 GTX (which will be sold soon) can't make it from 615-650 with out breaking into artifacts...while the 285 GTX has been known to go 700 mhz + and 3 GHZ of memory!!!!