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2D Performance Benchmarks

AMD Radeon HD 7970: Promising Performance, Paper-Launched
By , Igor Wallossek

2D Performance Via GDI and GDI+

While it may not be as sexy as 3D performance, 2D rendering is still important. While there is a clear trend towards rendering 2D content using Microsoft’s more modern Direct2D API, it’s a safe bet that more than 90 percent of all applications in use today still rely on the drawing functionality provided by the older GDI (Graphics Device Interface) and GDI+. Most user interface elements, such as frames, buttons, and toolbars, are rendered using these components, though. Meanwhile, older programs created for very specific purposes rely completely on this rendering method for all of their 2D objects. That’s why we decided to test 2D performance as well.

Hardware Accelerated, or Not?

To start with, let’s take a look at actions that aren’t accelerated. Windows 7 reserves a special part of system memory (non-local memory, also referred to as aperture space), to which the graphics card has direct access. This area serves as a buffer for anything that can’t be accelerated in hardware. If the content of this buffer changes because a window has been moved or added on top or its content has been altered, for example, its elements are copied directly into the video card’s memory.

Unfortunately, only very few GDI and GDI+ operations actually enjoy GPU support under Windows 7. Among them are text rendering, color filling, copying and stretching of images (BitBlt using the standard ROPs, StretchBlt), and transparencies (AlphaBlend, TransparentBlt). While drawing of geometric shapes is no longer accelerated in hardware at all, copying and color fills can actually be output directly, circumventing the aperture space. Since graphics cards haven’t actually contained dedicated 2D units for a while now, a card’s 2D performance completely depends on the quality of its driver.

Text Output

AMD’s Radeon HD 7970 is the only card to do badly here, at least if we’re talking about direct (hardware-accelerated) output to the display and not buffered and unaccelerated output in the form of a DIB (device-independent bitmap). While that shouldn’t result in any serious disadvantages in daily use, a look at the older Radeons shows that the driver could still use a lot of optimizing. Our guess is that hardware acceleration for direct text rendering is still faulty, since that result is even slower than the non-accelerated software solution using a DIB.

Image Manipulation

Looking at stretching performance, we see a similar result. The newest Radeon trails the rest of the field in direct output mode. Interestingly, performance in software mode using the buffer is actually significantly higher in stretching operations than in direct output mode.

Meanwhile, simple copy operations (blitting) don’t show much variation between cards, and of our four cards, only the GeForce GTX 580 is faster taking the direct route than taking the detour through the buffer (a clear sign that hardware acceleration is being used more efficiently here).

Geometry Performance

The Radeon HD 7970 only falls behind by a small margin when drawing lines. Meanwhile, the rest of the benchmarks show all of our contenders performing quite similarly. It is interesting to note that both splines and rectangles are apparently accelerated quite well when they are rendered sequentially, as the direct output path is faster than the software version in either case. This delta is especially pronounced in the triangles test. The exact opposite applies when it comes to drawing polygons, where buffered output is much higher.

Impressions

AMD has certainly improved its drivers since the first time we took a closer look at 2D performance. The Radeon HD 7970 only falls behind its predecessors when it has to handle hardware-accelerated text output, achieving half the performance of older cards. While it is unlikely that this would translate into any visible slow-downs in everyday tasks, you’re bound to notice it when moving around longer texts (floating) in certain programs. The situation is much better than what we saw right after the launch of the Radeon HD 5870.

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Top Comments
  • 42 Hide
    danraies , December 22, 2011 3:49 AM
    cangeliniStart treating your SO super-nice and ask for one for Valentine's Day!


    If I ever find someone that will buy me a $500 graphics card for Valentine's Day I'll be proposing on the spot.
  • 30 Hide
    thepieguy , December 22, 2011 3:32 AM
    If Santa is real, there will be one of these under my Christmas tree in a few more days.
  • 25 Hide
    cangelini , December 22, 2011 4:01 AM
    ZombeeSlayer143WOW!!! I love the conslusion; all of it, which basically is interpretted as "I'm biased towards Nvidia," and trys [desperately] to say don't buy this card! Has the nerve to mention Kepler as an alternative; right, Kepler, as in 1 year away. The GTX580 just got "Radeon-ed" in it's rear. I'm not biased towards either manufacturer, just love to see and give credit to a team of people with passion, vision, and hardwork come together and put their company back on the map, as is shown here today with AMD's launch of the 7970. It's AMD's version of "Tebow Time!!"


    Not at all, actually. It offers great gaming performance, and for everything else...we have to wait, because it's not fully baked yet. They say fools rush in. This thing launched today. We were given less than a week with it. It won't be available to even *buy* for another three weeks. Are you telling me you're ready to crown a paper winner, and you're not biased? Please...
Other Comments
  • 30 Hide
    thepieguy , December 22, 2011 3:32 AM
    If Santa is real, there will be one of these under my Christmas tree in a few more days.
  • 12 Hide
    mi1ez , December 22, 2011 3:40 AM
    Damn, that's a good looking GPU!
  • 11 Hide
    cangelini , December 22, 2011 3:40 AM
    a4mulaFrom a gaming standpoint I fail to see where this card finds a home. For 1920x1080 pretty much any card will work, meanwhile at Eyefinity resolutions it's obvious that a single gpu still isn't viable. Perhaps this will be something that people would consider over 2x 6950, but that isn't exactly an ideal setup either. While much of the article was over my head from a technical standpoint, I hope the 7 series addresses microstuttering in crossfire. If so than perhaps 2x 7950 (Assuming a 449$) becomes a viable alternative to 3x 6950 2GB. I was really hoping we'd see the 7970 in at 449, with the 7950 in at 349. Right now I'm failing to see the value in this card.


    I'll be trolling Newegg for the next couple weeks on the off-chance they pop up before the 9th. A couple in CrossFire could be pretty phenomenal, but it remains to be seen if they maintain the 6900-series scalability.
  • 7 Hide
    cangelini , December 22, 2011 3:41 AM
    thepieguyIf Santa is real, there will be one of these under my Christmas tree in a few more days.


    Hate to break it to you, but there won't be, unless you celebrate Christmas in mid-January.

    Start treating your SO super-nice and ask for one for Valentine's Day!
  • 16 Hide
    Darkerson , December 22, 2011 3:48 AM
    Well I know what I want at tax time :D 
  • 42 Hide
    danraies , December 22, 2011 3:49 AM
    cangeliniStart treating your SO super-nice and ask for one for Valentine's Day!


    If I ever find someone that will buy me a $500 graphics card for Valentine's Day I'll be proposing on the spot.
  • -3 Hide
    Zombeeslayer143 , December 22, 2011 3:56 AM
    No hard feelings to the author...thanks for the review nonethless..
  • 25 Hide
    cangelini , December 22, 2011 4:01 AM
    ZombeeSlayer143WOW!!! I love the conslusion; all of it, which basically is interpretted as "I'm biased towards Nvidia," and trys [desperately] to say don't buy this card! Has the nerve to mention Kepler as an alternative; right, Kepler, as in 1 year away. The GTX580 just got "Radeon-ed" in it's rear. I'm not biased towards either manufacturer, just love to see and give credit to a team of people with passion, vision, and hardwork come together and put their company back on the map, as is shown here today with AMD's launch of the 7970. It's AMD's version of "Tebow Time!!"


    Not at all, actually. It offers great gaming performance, and for everything else...we have to wait, because it's not fully baked yet. They say fools rush in. This thing launched today. We were given less than a week with it. It won't be available to even *buy* for another three weeks. Are you telling me you're ready to crown a paper winner, and you're not biased? Please...
  • 10 Hide
    Zombeeslayer143 , December 22, 2011 4:04 AM
    cangeliniHate to break it to you, but there won't be, unless you celebrate Christmas in mid-January.Start treating your SO super-nice and ask for one for Valentine's Day!


    Dude!!! I'm will be glued to NewEgg via my PDA and PC...I'm sooooo ooohhhh getting two of these!! If they sell for $549, I still think they provide the best value based on current high-end single GPU solutions (e.g., GTX 580, 6970, etc). Nvidia may want to consider a 20%-30% price reduction on the 580's once the 7970's are out.
  • -8 Hide
    Zombeeslayer143 , December 22, 2011 4:15 AM
    ZombeeSlayer143Dude!!! I'm will be glued to NewEgg via my PDA and PC...I'm sooooo ooohhhh getting two of these!! If they sell for $549, I still think they provide the best value based on current high-end single GPU solutions (e.g., GTX 580, 6970, etc). Nvidia may want to consider a 20%-30% price reduction on the 580's once the 7970's are out.


    You have a valid argument there. However, it's not like we need to wait for Windows 8 to see what this GPU is made of, as was the case with Bulldozer. What you see is what we will get give or take 5%?????? Heck, I don't even care for the overclocking potential. If the performance was capped at what is shown here today, I'm certain everyone will be happy. But, of course thats not the case, which brings me back to your point; it's too early, don't get excited, it's just on paper right? LOL...sure buddy...I'm so glad NewEgg was sold out of the GTX580 Classified's the past few weeks; would have regretted that purchase.
  • 6 Hide
    masterofevil22 , December 22, 2011 4:15 AM
    Ahhh....I'll be on the EGG myself and on E of Bay with my 6950 (unlocked) the day this beast this arrives!!!!!!! :D 

    WOW...Go ATI!!!!
  • 15 Hide
    jdwii , December 22, 2011 4:18 AM
    Well Amd you did it, Wow it's been a while since i was able to say that, I'm so impressed with these results everything you guys used to fail on you fixed at your GPU division. I'm not going to lie i did not think Amd would pay it off but they did. All i can say is Nice and well done. You guys beat Nvidia with a 28nnm gpu. I just wonder what's going on at nvidia and why their behind on the 28nm die, And their is rumors that Nvidia wont get their new card out until 2Q of 2012!!


    To bad these cards wont be out this year they would make a lot of money. Oh well parents usually buy them self stuff after christmas i guess.
  • 23 Hide
    aznshinobi , December 22, 2011 4:23 AM
    OMG DAT OVERCLOCKING!
    I can't wait to get the 7850 or 7870 and OC the crap out of it!
  • 10 Hide
    Zero_ , December 22, 2011 4:28 AM
    Overclocking like a baws! It DOES beat a GTX590!
  • 13 Hide
    bavman , December 22, 2011 4:42 AM
    Damn, I didn't see this coming from AMD. This card is a beast...it takes on multi-gpu cards...price is a little high, but compared to the performance it looks like an amazing value.
  • 19 Hide
    hardcore_gamer , December 22, 2011 4:48 AM
    I'm getting one of these for my <30nm build (28 nm GPU and 22nm CPU). I'm callin it the "MOORE'S AR$E"
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