Roundup: Mainstream Graphics Cards From ATI And Nvidia

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Power Consumption, Noise Levels, And Temperature Readings

Power consumption is measured in watts for the whole test platform. The 2D idle value comes from the normal Windows user interface without any load and (and with Aero turned off). The 3D value is measured when the CPU and graphics card are operating under heavy load (peak value). Measurements took place at the wall socket. PSU efficiency averaged around 82.4% (according to manufacturer measurements).

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Power Consumption 2D Watts 3D Watts
GeForce GTX 275 (896 MB) 156 351
GeForce GTX 260 216 SPs (896 MB) 150 295
GeForce GTX 260 (896 MB) 154 330
GeForce GTS 250 (1,024 MB) 156 265
GeForce 9800 GTX+ (512 MB) 182.46 165 277
GeForce 9800 GTX (512 MB) 170 278
Zotac GeForce 9800 GT (512 MB) (9800 GT 512 MB) 173 292
GeForce 9800 GT (512 MB) 172 282
GeForce 9600 GT (1,024 MB) 145 195
GeForce 9600 GT (512 MB) 146 206
GeForce 8800 GTS (512 MB) 171 282
GeForce 8800 GT (1,024 MB) 148 210
GeForce 8800 GT (512 MB) 160 254
GeForce 8800 Ultra (768 MB) 203 328
GeForce 8800 GTX (768 MB) 186 298
GeForce 8800 GTS (640 MB) 178 261
GeForce 8800 GTS (320 MB) 170 248
GeForce 8600 GTS (512 MB) 147 192
Radeon HD 4890 (1,024 MB) 182 312
Radeon HD 4870 (512 MB) 191 288
Radeon HD 4850 (512 MB) 166 270
Sapphire HD 4830 (512 MB) (HD 4830 512 MB) 140 234
Radeon HD 4830 (512 MB) 140 234
Sapphire HD 4770 512 MB (HD 4770 512 MB) 153 203
Radeon HD 4770 (512 MB) 152 199
HIS H467QT512P (HD 4670 2x512 MB) CF 143 258
Radeon HD 4670 (2x512 MB) CF 143 256
HIS H467QT512P (HD 4670 512 MB) 129 187
HIS H467PS1GP (HD 4670 1,024 MB) 134 176
Radeon HD 4670 (512 MB) 125 178
Radeon HD 3870 (512 MB) 139 223
Radeon HD 3850 (256 MB) 134 197
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Noise Levels 2D dB(A) 3D dB(A)
GeForce GTX 275 (896 MB) 36.8 44.2
GeForce GTX 260 (896 MB) 37.5 41.2
GeForce GTX 260 (896 MB) 37.8 53.8
GeForce GTS 250 (1,024 MB) 39.6 50.2
GeForce 9800 GTX+ (512 MB) 36.6 41.4
GeForce 9800 GTX (512 MB) 37.2 44.8
Zotac GeForce 9800 GT (512 MB) (9800 GT 512 MB) 36.3 46.8
GeForce 9800 GT (512 MB) 36.3 46.2
GeForce 9600 GT (1,024 MB) 36.9 42.3
GeForce 9600 GT (512 MB) 0.0 0.0
GeForce 8800 GTS (512 MB) 36.4 39.5
GeForce 8800 GT (1,024 MB) 36.6 40.8
GeForce 8800 GT (512 MB) 36.5 40.8
GeForce 8800 Ultra (768 MB) 37.1 44.6
GeForce 8800 GTX (768 MB) 37.5 40.5
GeForce 8800 GTS (640 MB) 37.1 37.4
GeForce 8800 GTS (320 MB) 36.2 37.0
GeForce 8600 GTS (512 MB) 46.6 47.2
Radeon HD 4890 (1024 MB) 36.7 48.4
Radeon HD 4870 (512 MB) 38.0 49.4
Radeon HD 4850 (512 MB) 36.2 47.9
Sapphire HD 4830 (512 MB) (HD 4830 512 MB) 40.5 41.2
Radeon HD 4830 (512 MB) 40.5 41.2
Sapphire HD 4770 (512 MB) (HD 4770 512 MB) 36.6 37.4
Radeon HD 4770 (512 MB) 36.3 38.5
HIS H467QT512P (HD 4670 2x512 MB) CF 37.3 37.3
Radeon HD 4670 (2x512 MB) CF 37.3 37.3
HIS H467QT512P (HD 4670 512 MB) 36.5 36.5
HIS H467PS1GP (HD 4670 1024 MB) 0.0 0.0
Radeon HD 4670 (512 MB) 36.2 36.2
Radeon HD 3870 (512 MB) 35.9 38.7
Radeon HD 3850 (256 MB) 36.4 36.5
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Temperatures (degrees Celsius) 2D Mode 3D Mode
GeForce GTX 275 (896 MB) 47 92
GeForce GTX 260 (896 MB) 45 81
GeForce GTX 260 (896 MB) 48 90
GeForce GTS 250 (1,024 MB) 44 77
GeForce 9800 GTX+ (512 MB) 182.46 48 81
GeForce 9800 GTX (512 MB) 55 74
Zotac GeForce 9800 GT 512 MB (9800 GT 512 MB) 58 87
GeForce 9800 GT (512 MB) 56 84
GeForce 9600 GT (1,024 MB) 43 70
GeForce 9600 GT (512 MB) 48 88
GeForce 8800 GTS (512 MB) 62 88
GeForce 8800 GT (1,024 MB) 44 62
GeForce 8800 GT (512 MB) 60 98
GeForce 8800 Ultra (768 MB) 56 95
GeForce 8800 GTX (768 MB) 58 83
GeForce 8800 GTS (640 MB) 55 80
GeForce 8800 GTS (320 MB) 52 77
GeForce 8600 GTS (512 MB) 41 57
Radeon HD 4890 (1024 MB) 60 80
Radeon HD 4870 (512 MB) 60 74
Radeon HD 4850 (512 MB) 79 94
Sapphire HD4830 (512 MB) (HD 4830 512 MB) 34 61
Radeon HD 4830 (512 MB) 34 61
Sapphire HD 4770 (512 MB) (HD 4770 512 MB) 44 71
Radeon HD 4770 (512 MB) 52 72
HIS H467QT512P (HD 4670 2x512 MB) CF 39/34 79
Radeon HD 4670 (2x512 MB) CF 38/34 75
HIS H467QT512P (HD 4670 512 MB) 37 71
HIS H467PS1GP (HD 4670 1,024 MB) 41 70
Radeon HD 4670 (512 MB) 44 83
Radeon HD 3870 (512 MB) 51 92
Radeon HD 3850 (256 MB) 52 90
74 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Bloodblender
    All I can say is that Tom's recent articles have been an excellent read, and this exactly the stuff I (as well as many others) require for their research purposes. Keep up the great work!
    Reply
  • dirtmountain
    Nice article,very well done, but you need to show the 4670 in CF as costing $162, not $81 as shown in the final chart.
    Reply
  • rambo117
    the iceQ concept is amazing. keeps my 3870s nice and chilly (70C) while hardcore gaming
    and not to mention they both look intimidating in my case ;)
    Reply
  • pij
    Quick question -

    4770 in crossfire or single 4890 best bet???..
    Reply
  • to me the gaming benches are most important but energy efficiency and heat dissipation run a close 2nd. thanks for providing it all!
    Reply
  • Julianbreaker
    Newegg has quite a few 4850s that retail for $100 and it appears to be getting consistently better benchmarks than the 4770. I am confused as to why you would not recommend it over the 4770. Perhaps you are confused by simple maths.
    Reply
  • radiowars
    PijQuick question - 4770 in crossfire or single 4890 best bet???..They already did a whole article on that...
    Reply
  • bucifer
    I don't understand why you still won't use the 1GB version of the Radeon 4870. It's clear to me that the card is limited by it's amount of video memory when using hi-res, AA and AF.
    Searching for prices in US and Europe it retails cheaper than the GTX260(192 or 216).
    The point is: the card should be included in the test just as the GTX260-216. It's clearly a better option than the 512 mb version and it's good for comparison!
    Reply
  • masterjaw
    Nice article here. Most importantly, no unnecessary bias included.
    Reply
  • holodust
    Nice article, but I don't see how testing these cards on i7 920@3.8 fits into mainstream.
    Reply