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Test Settings
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test System Configuration
CPU
Intel Core i7 920 (2.66 GHz, 8.0 MB Cache)
Overclocked to 4.00 GHz (BCLK 200)
CPU Cooler
Swiftech Liquid Cooling: Apogee GTZ water block
MCP-655b pump, and 3x120 mm radiator
Motherboard
Gigabyte EX58-Extreme
Intel X58/ICH10R Chipset, LGA-1366
RAM
6.0 GB Crucial DDR3-1600 Triple-Channel Kit
Overclocked to CAS 8-8-8-16
GTX 285 Graphics
XFX GeForce GTX 285 XXX Edition
670 MHz GPU, GDDR3-2500
GTX 280 Graphics
EVGA GeForce GTX 280 PN: 01G-P3-1280-AR
602 MHz GPU, GDDR3-2214
GTX 295 Graphics
GeForce GTX 295
2x 576 MHz GPU, GDDR3-1998
Radeon HD 4870 X2 Graphics
Sapphire HD 4870 X2 PN: 100251SR
2x 750 MHz GPU, GDDR5-3600
Hard Drives
Seagate Barracuda ST3500641AS
0.5 TB, 7,200 RPM, 16 MB Cache
Sound
Integrated HD Audio
Network
Integrated Gigabit Networking
Power
Cooler Master RS-850-EMBA
ATX12V v2.2. EPS12V, 850W, 64A combined +12 V
Optical
LG GGC-H20LK 6X Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM, 16X DVD±R
Software
OS
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate x64 SP1
Graphics
NVidia Forceware 181.20 Beta
AMD 8.561.3.0000 Beta
Chipset
Intel INF 8.3.0.1016
Pooling the hardware from our previous GeForce GTX 295 quad-SLI comparison allows curious readers to compare today’s results to those of more elaborate, multi-card configurations. Highlights of our system include an Intel Core i7 920 processor overclocked to 4.00 GHz, a Swiftech Apogee-GTZ based liquid cooling kit for overclocking stability, and 6 GB of Crucial DDR3-1600 at moderately-tight CAS 8 timings.
Image 1 of 2
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Benchmark Configuration
Call of Duty: World at War
Patch 1.1, FRAPS/saved game Highest Quality Settings, No AA/No AF, vsync off Highest Quality Settings, 4x AA/Max AF, vsync off
Crysis
Patch 1.2.1, DirectX 10, 64-bit executable, benchmark tool Very-High Quality Settings, No AA/No AF (Forced) Very-High Quality Settings, 4x AA/8x AF (Forced)
Far Cry 2
DirectX 10, Steam Version, in-game benchmark Very-High Quality Settings, No AA, No AF (Forced) Very-High Quality Settings, 4x AA, 8x AF (Forced)
Left 4 Dead
Very-High Details, No AA/No AF, vsync off Very-High Details, 4xAA/8x AF, vysnc off
World in Conflict
Patch 1009, DirectX 10, timedemo Very-High Quality Settings, No AA/No AF, vsync off Very-High Quality Settings, 4x AA/16x AF, vsync off
3D Mark Vantage
Version 1.02: 3DMark, GPU, CPU scores Performance, High, Extreme Presets
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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 :p
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.
ravenwareThanks 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.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.
Because most single-GPU graphics cards buyers would not even consider a more expensive dual-GPU solution, we’ve taken the unprecedented step of arranging today’s charts by performance-per-GPU, rather than absolute performance.
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.