Don't Throw Out Your ATI Radeon X800 Yet

Test Setup

Below is the system configuration, as well as a list of the drivers used to generate the results.

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System Hardware
Processor(s)AMD Athlon 64 FX-572.8 GHz, 1.0 GHz Bus, 1 MB L2 cache
PlatformAsus AN8-SLI PremiumNVIDIA nForce4 SLI, BIOS 1003 - BIOS version 1005
RAMCorsair CMX1024-4400Pro2x 1024 MB @ DDR400 (CL3.0-4-4-8)
Hard DriveWestern Digital Raptor, WD740GD74 GB, 10,000 rpm, 8 MB cache, SATA150
NetworkingOn-Board nForce4 Gigabit Ethernet
Graphics CardsPowerColor Radeon X800 GT 256 MB GDDR3 475 MHz Core 490 MHz MemoryConnect 3D Radeon X800 GTO 256 MB GDDR3 400 MHz Core 490 MHz MemoryATI Radeon X800 XL 256 MB GDDR3 400 MHz Core 490 MHz Memory
Power SupplyEnermax EG851AX 660W SLI Certified
System Software & Drivers
OSMicrosoft Windows XP Professional 5.10.2600, Service Pack 2
DirectX Version9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Platform DriverNVIDIA nForce 6.65
Graphics Driver(s)ATI Catalyst 5.10

Benchmark Results

3DMark 2003

3DMark is called the "Gamer’s Benchmark," and THG has been using its different versions for years. The mark is set using a reference system ; the higher the score, the better the performance of that system versus the reference one. With each new version of 3DMark, scores are scaled down so they do not become astronomically high. These third-party benchmarks are widely used across the industry.

In both sets of tests, the cards align themselves about 1,000 Marks apart. The newer Radeon X800 XL sets the pace, but the performance differential between the GTO and XL is not that great.