Roundup: Mainstream Graphics Cards From ATI And Nvidia

Features
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published

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 Consumption2D Watts3D Watts
GeForce GTX 275 (896 MB)156351
GeForce GTX 260 216 SPs (896 MB)150295
GeForce GTX 260 (896 MB)154330
GeForce GTS 250 (1,024 MB)156265
GeForce 9800 GTX+ (512 MB) 182.46165277
GeForce 9800 GTX (512 MB)170278
Zotac GeForce 9800 GT (512 MB) (9800 GT 512 MB)173292
GeForce 9800 GT (512 MB)172282
GeForce 9600 GT (1,024 MB)145195
GeForce 9600 GT (512 MB)146206
GeForce 8800 GTS (512 MB)171282
GeForce 8800 GT (1,024 MB)148210
GeForce 8800 GT (512 MB)160254
GeForce 8800 Ultra (768 MB)203328
GeForce 8800 GTX (768 MB)186298
GeForce 8800 GTS (640 MB)178261
GeForce 8800 GTS (320 MB)170248
GeForce 8600 GTS (512 MB)147192
Radeon HD 4890 (1,024 MB)182312
Radeon HD 4870 (512 MB)191288
Radeon HD 4850 (512 MB)166270
Sapphire HD 4830 (512 MB) (HD 4830 512 MB)140234
Radeon HD 4830 (512 MB)140234
Sapphire HD 4770 512 MB (HD 4770 512 MB)153203
Radeon HD 4770 (512 MB)152199
HIS H467QT512P (HD 4670 2x512 MB) CF143258
Radeon HD 4670 (2x512 MB) CF143256
HIS H467QT512P (HD 4670 512 MB)129187
HIS H467PS1GP (HD 4670 1,024 MB)134176
Radeon HD 4670 (512 MB)125178
Radeon HD 3870 (512 MB)139223
Radeon HD 3850 (256 MB)134197
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Noise Levels2D dB(A)3D dB(A)
GeForce GTX 275 (896 MB)36.844.2
GeForce GTX 260 (896 MB)37.541.2
GeForce GTX 260 (896 MB)37.853.8
GeForce GTS 250 (1,024 MB)39.650.2
GeForce 9800 GTX+ (512 MB)36.641.4
GeForce 9800 GTX (512 MB)37.244.8
Zotac GeForce 9800 GT (512 MB) (9800 GT 512 MB)36.346.8
GeForce 9800 GT (512 MB)36.346.2
GeForce 9600 GT (1,024 MB)36.942.3
GeForce 9600 GT (512 MB)0.00.0
GeForce 8800 GTS (512 MB)36.439.5
GeForce 8800 GT (1,024 MB)36.640.8
GeForce 8800 GT (512 MB)36.540.8
GeForce 8800 Ultra (768 MB)37.144.6
GeForce 8800 GTX (768 MB)37.540.5
GeForce 8800 GTS (640 MB)37.137.4
GeForce 8800 GTS (320 MB)36.237.0
GeForce 8600 GTS (512 MB)46.647.2
Radeon HD 4890 (1024 MB)36.748.4
Radeon HD 4870 (512 MB)38.049.4
Radeon HD 4850 (512 MB)36.247.9
Sapphire HD 4830 (512 MB) (HD 4830 512 MB)40.541.2
Radeon HD 4830 (512 MB)40.541.2
Sapphire HD 4770 (512 MB) (HD 4770 512 MB)36.637.4
Radeon HD 4770 (512 MB)36.338.5
HIS H467QT512P (HD 4670 2x512 MB) CF37.337.3
Radeon HD 4670 (2x512 MB) CF37.337.3
HIS H467QT512P (HD 4670 512 MB)36.536.5
HIS H467PS1GP (HD 4670 1024 MB)0.00.0
Radeon HD 4670 (512 MB)36.236.2
Radeon HD 3870 (512 MB)35.938.7
Radeon HD 3850 (256 MB)36.436.5
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Temperatures (degrees Celsius)2D Mode3D Mode
GeForce GTX 275 (896 MB)4792
GeForce GTX 260 (896 MB)4581
GeForce GTX 260 (896 MB)4890
GeForce GTS 250 (1,024 MB)4477
GeForce 9800 GTX+ (512 MB) 182.464881
GeForce 9800 GTX (512 MB)5574
Zotac GeForce 9800 GT 512 MB (9800 GT 512 MB)5887
GeForce 9800 GT (512 MB)5684
GeForce 9600 GT (1,024 MB)4370
GeForce 9600 GT (512 MB)4888
GeForce 8800 GTS (512 MB)6288
GeForce 8800 GT (1,024 MB)4462
GeForce 8800 GT (512 MB)6098
GeForce 8800 Ultra (768 MB)5695
GeForce 8800 GTX (768 MB)5883
GeForce 8800 GTS (640 MB)5580
GeForce 8800 GTS (320 MB)5277
GeForce 8600 GTS (512 MB)4157
Radeon HD 4890 (1024 MB)6080
Radeon HD 4870 (512 MB)6074
Radeon HD 4850 (512 MB)7994
Sapphire HD4830 (512 MB) (HD 4830 512 MB)3461
Radeon HD 4830 (512 MB)3461
Sapphire HD 4770 (512 MB) (HD 4770 512 MB)4471
Radeon HD 4770 (512 MB)5272
HIS H467QT512P (HD 4670 2x512 MB) CF39/3479
Radeon HD 4670 (2x512 MB) CF38/3475
HIS H467QT512P (HD 4670 512 MB)3771
HIS H467PS1GP (HD 4670 1,024 MB)4170
Radeon HD 4670 (512 MB)4483
Radeon HD 3870 (512 MB)5192
Radeon HD 3850 (256 MB)5290
Tino Kreiss
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