GeForce GTX 295 Vs. GTX 275 SLI: When Two Are Better Than One

Features
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Test Setup And Benchmarks

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Test Hardware
ProcessorIntel Core i7 920 (Bloomfield) 2.66 GHz, 4.8 GT/s, 8 MB L3 Cache, power-saving settings disabled
MotherboardAsus P6T (LGA 1366) X58/ICH10, BIOS 0403
MemoryCorsair Dominator 6 GB (3 x 2 GB) DDR3-1600 8-8-8-24 @ 1,333 MHz
Hard DriveWestern Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300 GB 10,000 RPM SATA 3 Gb/s HDD
NetworkingRealtek RTC8111C, 1 Gbps
Graphics CardsNvidia GeForce GTX 295 1,792 MB (Reference)
Row 6 - Cell 0 Nvidia GeForce GTX 275 896 MB (Reference)
Row 7 - Cell 0 Zotac GeForce GTX 275 896 MB
Power SupplyCooler Master UCP 1100 W
CPU CoolerThermalright Ultra 120 Extreme
System Software And Drivers
Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows Vista Ultimate Edition x64 Service Pack 1
DirectXDirectX 10
Platform DriverIntel INF Chipset Update Utility 9.1.0.1012
Graphics DriverNvidia GeForce 182.81
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Benchmark Configuration
BenchmarkSettings
World in ConflictVery High Quality Settings, No AA / No AF, vsync off, 1680x1050/1920x1200/2560x1600, Patch 1009, DirectX 10
Row 2 - Cell 0 Very High Quality Settings, 4x AA / 16x AF, vsync off, 1680x1050/1920x1200/2560x1600, Patch 1009, DirectX 10
Far Cry 2High Quality Settings, No AA / No AF, vsync off, 1680x1050/1920x1200/2560x1600, Steam Version
Row 4 - Cell 0 High Quality Settings, 4x AA / No AF, vsync off, 1680x1050/1920x1200/2560x1600, Steam Version
CrysisHigh Quality Settings, No AA / No AF, vsync off, 1680x1050/1900x1200/2560x1600, Patch 1.2.1, DirectX 10, 64-bit Executable
Row 6 - Cell 0 High Quality Settings, 4x AA / No AF, vsync off, 1680x1050/1900x1200/2560x1600, Patch 1.2.1, DirectX 10, 64-bit Executable
Left 4 DeadHighest Quality Settings, No AA / No AF, vsync off, 1680x1050/1920x1200/2560x1600, DirectX 10, Steam Version
Row 8 - Cell 0 Highest Quality Settings, 4x AA / 8x AF, vsync off, 1680x1050/1920x1200/2560x1600, DirectX 10, Steam Version
Grand Theft Auto IVHighest Quality Settings, No AA / "High" AF, vsync off, 1680x1050/1920x1200/2560x1600, Patch #3
Stalker: Clear SkyHigh Quality Setting, No AA / No AF, vsync off, 1680x1050/1920x1200/2560x1600, DirectX 10 lighting
Row 11 - Cell 0 High Quality Setting, 4x MSAA / No AF, vsync off, 1680x1050/1920x1200/2560x1600, DirectX 10 lighting
3DMark VantagePerformance Default, High Quality, Extreme Quality
H.A.W.XHigh Quality Setting, No AA / No AF, vsync off, 1680x1050/1920x1200/2560x1600, DirectX 10, Patch 1.2
Row 14 - Cell 0 High Quality Setting, 4x AA / No AF, vsync off, 1680x1050/1920x1200/2560x1600, DirectX 10, Patch 1.2
Chris Angelini
Chris Angelini
Chris Angelini is an Editor Emeritus at Tom's Hardware US. He edits hardware reviews and covers high-profile CPU and GPU launches.
51 Comments Comment from the forums
  • been waiting for more on the 295...
    Reply
  • dragonfang18
    I already ordered 2 295's... $504 each.
    Reply
  • imrul
    "Intel Core i7 920 Extreme (Bloomfield)" (page 3)

    there's no extreme version of i7 920, nor is it bloomfield...
    Reply
  • dragonfang18
    i7 IS Bloomfield imrul...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_i7
    Reply
  • reasonablevoice
    What the hell is up with the underclocked cards out performing the others in that H.A.W.X.

    Can the author of the article comment with what they think is going on there?
    Reply
  • cangelini
    reasonablevoiceWhat the hell is up with the underclocked cards out performing the others in that H.A.W.X.Can the author of the article comment with what they think is going on there?
    Happened in WiC w/o AA as well. Difficult to say went on there, but the results are repeatable. Probably more important, though, is that when more of an emphasis is put on the graphics subsystem, you see those stock-clocked boards take the lead, as we'd expect.
    Reply
  • avatar_raq
    1.Very good article, unlike some other author's articles in this site, this article is solid (starting from the test system down to the conclusion) and interesting, this is what I always expect from Chris.
    2.As for the strange issue in L4D, HAWX and WIC where the slower 275s beat the faster ones....Odd indeed. Is there any chance the normally clocked cards automatically clocked down to 2D mode or somthing in-game? In other words the GPUs usage dropped due to the CPU bottleneck or whatever, and the cards' driver decided to clockdown to save energy! I've seen nvidia and ati cards do that. The monitoring utility of rivatuner could have revealed such things since it shows real-time clocks..BTW what software did you use to downclock?
    It would be funny to consider downclocking our cards to 'gain' performance!!
    3.I hope the new (single PCB) 295 will drop in larger quantities, perhaps it will be more practical than the current one, and will tip the balnce here in its favor.
    http://www.techpowerup.com/img/09-05-12/13c.jpg
    Reply
  • Can you put the "online shop" section underneath the "Next" button for the next page...its really annoying and inconvenient to have it positioned within the article as it seems to be.
    Thanks
    Reply
  • rags_20
    Please benchmark in Very High.
    Reply
  • JeanLuc
    rags_20Please benchmark in Very High.
    I noticed that to, if I owned that kind of hardware I would be playing every game at the highest settings even if it is Crysis.
    Reply