Best Of The Best: High-End Graphics Card Roundup
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Page 1:High-End Graphics With Specialized Cooling
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Page 2:Graphics Chips And Test Configuration
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Page 3:BFG GTX 275 (896 MB)
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Page 4:EVGA GTX 295 Hydro Copper (2x896 MB)
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Page 5:MSI N280GTX OC HydroGen (1,024 MB)
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Page 6:MSI N285GTX SuperPipe OC (1,024 MB)
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Page 7:Palit Revolution 700 Deluxe (Radeon HD 4870 X2, 2 x 1,024 MB)
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Page 8:Zotac GTX285 AMP Edition (GeForce GTX 285, 1,024 MB)
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Page 9:Benchmark Results: Fallout 3
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Page 10:Benchmark Results: Far Cry 2
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Page 11:Benchmark Results: F.E.A.R. 2
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Page 12:Benchmark Results: Left 4 Dead
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Page 13:Benchmark Results: The Last Remnant
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Page 14:Benchmark Results: Tom Clancy’s Endwar
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Page 15:Benchmark Results: Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X
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Page 16:Benchmark Results: 3DMark06 1280x1024 Default
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Page 17:Summary Of Overall Performance
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Page 18:Power Consumption, Noise Levels, And Temperature Readings
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Page 19:3D Performance Sorted By Resolution And AA
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Page 20:Conclusion: Fast Cards Need Water
Benchmark Results: 3DMark06 1280x1024 Default
On our test system, with its overclocked Core i7 920 (3.8 GHz) and its X58 chipset, the CPU score ranged between 6317 and 6680.
Summary
- High-End Graphics With Specialized Cooling
- Graphics Chips And Test Configuration
- BFG GTX 275 (896 MB)
- EVGA GTX 295 Hydro Copper (2x896 MB)
- MSI N280GTX OC HydroGen (1,024 MB)
- MSI N285GTX SuperPipe OC (1,024 MB)
- Palit Revolution 700 Deluxe (Radeon HD 4870 X2, 2 x 1,024 MB)
- Zotac GTX285 AMP Edition (GeForce GTX 285, 1,024 MB)
- Benchmark Results: Fallout 3
- Benchmark Results: Far Cry 2
- Benchmark Results: F.E.A.R. 2
- Benchmark Results: Left 4 Dead
- Benchmark Results: The Last Remnant
- Benchmark Results: Tom Clancy’s Endwar
- Benchmark Results: Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X
- Benchmark Results: 3DMark06 1280x1024 Default
- Summary Of Overall Performance
- Power Consumption, Noise Levels, And Temperature Readings
- 3D Performance Sorted By Resolution And AA
- Conclusion: Fast Cards Need Water
1) Where are the overclocking results?
2) Bad choice for benchmarks: Too many old DX9 based graphic engines (FEAR 2, Fallout 3, Left4Dead with >100FPS) or Endwar which is limited to 30FPS. Where is Crysis?
3) 1900x1200 as highest resolution for high-end cards?
And I'm not exactly sure why the writer decided to bench on Endwar instead of World In Conflict. Why is that exactly?
And despite Quarz2's apparent fanboism, I think HAWX would have been better benched under 10.1 for the ATI cards, and used the highest stable settings instead of dropping off to DX9.
These are the same boards that were included in the recent charts update, and are largely contingent on what vendors submit for evaluation. We have a review upcoming comparing Sapphire's new 1 GHz Radeon HD 4890 versus the stock 4890. It'll be up in the next couple of weeks, though.
And I'm not exactly sure why the writer decided to bench on Endwar instead of World In Conflict. Why is that exactly?
And despite Quarz2's apparent fanboism, I think HAWX would have been better benched under 10.1 for the ATI cards, and used the highest stable settings instead of dropping off to DX9.
I would love that card. I would have to replace my whole system to work it properly however.
I want $1500 now... i7 920 (why get better? They all seem to be godly overclockers) and EVGA 295.
How about a test suit of the EVGA GTX 295 in crossfire for a quad-gpu configuration? I know there's driver issues, but it would be fun to see what it could do regardless. Along with seeing how far Toms can OC the EVGA GTX 295.
Actually... Toms just needs to do a new system building recommendation roundup. I find them useful personally, and would have used it myself had my cash source had not lost his job...
1) Where are the overclocking results?
2) Bad choice for benchmarks: Too many old DX9 based graphic engines (FEAR 2, Fallout 3, Left4Dead with >100FPS) or Endwar which is limited to 30FPS. Where is Crysis?
3) 1900x1200 as highest resolution for high-end cards?
Ok, there aren't many games using DX10, but some very good ones do !.
Thats the reason i've switched to vista.
And with me enough people to justify a proper DX10 benchmark.
This review however is terrible. the benchmark selection is dated if nothing else. even toms other reviews of recent have used better benchmarks than this.
Although I'm not very satisfied (coz lack of ATI card in your possession), I thank you for the review with Fallout, Left 4 Dead and Last Remnant with DX9. Yup I'm still using XP coz the bog-down symptom with Vista is too noticeable for my rig.
1920x1200 as minimum threshold? Cool, as my 23" is limted to 1920x1080 anyway :P
I am curious though, HAWX is a game sponsored by ATI so why is the HD4890 getting it's backside tanned by the GTX275? It's not just a few FPS behind either the difference is quite remarkable and yes I do realise the BFG GTX275 is overclocked but it's not overclocked by a lot.
Perhaps you'll hire me as a copy editor for your posts instead? ;-)
In all seriousness, Tino has been with Tom's German office for a long time. I've asked the staff responsible for testing there to drop in and provide some feedback on the products and benchmarks used here.
Best,
Chris
Shame for TH!