3Digest: October/November 2006
Monthly drivers report and popular 3D accelerators comparison
Monthy 3Digest is the project of iXBT.com and Digit-Life.com dedicated to informing you about the performance of a large number of graphics cards under Windows XP in the past month. This issue is dedicated to drivers released from the 15th of October 2006 to the 15th of November 2006. Traditionally our 3Digest informs you about the best price/performance ratios available in the market. Another very important part of any issue is cards' 3D graphics quality shown on the example of a wide selection of games.
It's our 77/78th issue of 3Digest.
October-November 2006
Added benchmarking results for GeForce 8800 GTX, 8800 GTS, RADEON X1650 XT and overclocked X1950 PRO. Upgraded the testbed.
PLEASE NOTE! This issue contains only PCI-E cards benchmarks! The final AGP benchmarks were made in March 2006 (see this page)!
CONTENTS
- Testbed configurations and test software
- Tested videocards list
- What's new in 3Digest
- Test summary diagrams and digest bottom line
- 3D accelerator rating calculations for the end of the month
- Screenshot gallery
- Game Quality Section
- Game Quality Control Section
1. Testbed configuration
- Intel Core2 Duo (775 Socket) based computer
- Intel Core2 Duo Extreme X6800 (2930 MHz) (L2=4096K) CPU;
- EVGA nForce 680i SLI motherboard on NVIDIA nForce 680i;
- 2GB DDR2 SDRAM Corsair 1142MHz (CAS (tCL)=5; RAS to CAS delay (tRCD)=5; Row Precharge (tRP)=5; tRAS=15);
- WD Caviar SE WD1600JD 160GB SATA HDD.
The testbed has Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2, DirectX 9.0c installed. Dell 3007WFP (30") monitor was used.
The list of benchmarks is here.
2. Graphics card list
Below is a list of graphics cards that we tested linked to respective 3Digest feature-description pages. You can see the quality of 3D produced by tested cards in our monthly updated Screenshot gallery. Card list:
- PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1300 256MB DDR 2.8ns (450/550 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1300 512MB DDR2 3.0ns (450/500 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1300 PRO 256MB DDR 2.5ns (600/800 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1300 XT 256MB DDR2 2.0ns (500/900 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1650 PRO 256MB DDR 1.4ns (590/1380 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1650 XT 256MB DDR 1.4ns (600/1400 MHz)
PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1650 XT 256MB DDR 1.2ns (625/1530 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1800 GTO 256MB GDDR3 2.0ns (500/1000 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1950 PRO 256MB GDDR3 1.4ns (585/1400 MHz)
PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1950 PRO 256MB GDDR3 1.2ns (635/1480 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1900 XT 256MB GDDR3 1.2ns (625/1450 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1900 GT 256MB GDDR3 1.4ns (575/1200 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1900 XT 512MB GDDR3 1.2ns (625/1450 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1900 XTX 512MB GDDR3 1.1ns (650/1550 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI RADEON X1950 XTX 512MB GDDR4 0.9ns (650/2000 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 6600 256MB DDR2 2.5ns (350/800 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7300GT 256MB GDDR2 2.8ns (350/666 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7300GT 256MB GDDR3 1.4ns (500/1400 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 1.4ns (560/1400 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7600GS 256MB GDDR3 2.5ns (400/800 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7600GS 512MB GDDR2 2.0ns (550/950 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XT 256MB GDDR3 2.0ns (425/1000 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GS 256MB GDDR3 2.0ns (425/1000 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX 256MB GDDR3 1.6ns (430/1200 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT 256MB GDDR3 1.4ns (450/1320 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS 256MB GDDR3 1.4ns (450/1320 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS 256MB GDDR3 1.4ns (480/1400 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS 256MB GDDR3 1.4ns (540/1500 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GT 512MB GDDR3 1.4ns (550/1400 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GTX 512MB GDDR3 1.1ns (650/1600 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GX2 2x512MB GDDR3 1.4ns (500/1200 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GX2 SLI 2x2x512MB GDDR3 1.4ns (4x500/1200 MHz)
PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB GDDR3 1.2ns (512/1600 MHz)
PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB GDDR3 1.1ns (575/1800 MHz)
PCI-E-NVIDIA
GeForce 8800 GTX SLI 2x768MB GDDR3 1.1ns (2x575/1800 MHz)
Archive
(videocards, which info is no longer updated)
3. October/November 2006 news and the current business
Added a number of new graphics cards (marked "NEW").
Added a number of benchmarks using HDR. Also, replaced 2048x1536 resolution with 2560x1600 in several tests. Resolution in F.E.A.R. remains the same, since the game doesn't support any higher-res modes.
- 3.1. The following drivers were released from October 15, 2006 to November 15, 2006:
- NVIDIA ForceWare for all NVIDIA-based cards:
- ATI Catalyst for all ATI-based cards:
- 3.2. This month we used 96.94 drivers for NVIDIA-based card summaries; 6.11 drivers for ATI-based card summaries.
4. Summary diagrams of graphics cards performance with the latest drivers for October/November 2006
All willing to see the complete results in Excel 2003 format can download this RAR 3.0 or this ZIP archive.
- 4.1. Far Cry, Research (No HDR)
- 4.2. Far Cry, Research (HDR)
- 4.3. Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (No HDR)
- 4.4. Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (HDR)
- 4.5. Half Life2, ixbt01
- 4.6. DOOM III
- 4.7. 3DMark05 MARKS
- 4.8. Chronicles of Riddick, demo 44
- 4.9. F.E.A.R.
- 4.10. Call Of Duty 2 DEMO
- 4.11. 3DMark 06, Shader Model 2.0 MARKS
- 4.12. 3DMark 06, Shader Model 3.0 MARKS
- 4.13.
Archive (information from the previous 3Digests absent in this issue)
- 4.14. Notes on graphics cards performance with the latest drivers:
- If a particular card is not in the summary, i.e. its results are either 0, or 1, it means the given benchmark hasn't worked or has worked incorrectly with this card.
5. 3D accelerator ratings calculations for the end of the month
Calculations were based on gaming benchmark results as well as the results from 3DMark06 new tests (ATI CATALYST 6.11, NVIDIA ForceWare 96.94).
All willing to conduct their own rating calculations with own values are invited to download this Excel XP table in RAR 3.0 or ZIP format.
The method of rating calculation is described here.
Calculations were conducted considering the following assumptions:
- Percentage of performance and quality demand ratio:
- performance priority - 60%
- quality priority - 40%
- Only the HIGHEST resolution available in games was used to calculate prospect ratings.
- The usability rating indicates performance and features of a card (numerator) related to its price (denominator).
According to your wishes, we separated ratings into two groups: the first gathers all benchmarks, and the second contains only the gaming tests without m3DMark05/06. Disbelieving the synthetic tests, many think the second group is of higher importance.
Core2 Duo X6800 platform:
Usability rating (rating from the previous 3Digest is in parentheses):
GAMING ONLY usability rating
| # |
Card Name |
Usability Rating |
Prospect Rating |
Price |
Old # |
| 01. |
X1950 PRO 256MB, 580/1400 |
2768
|
787
|
235
|
(07)
|
| 02. |
X1950 PRO 256MB, 635/1485 |
2520
|
806
|
270
|
(--)
|
| 03. |
X1900 GT 256MB 575/1200 |
2513
|
757
|
240
|
(12)
|
| 04. |
X1650 PRO 256MB 590/1380 |
2479
|
499
|
115
|
(20)
|
| 05. |
X1300 XT 256MB 500/800 |
2435
|
416
|
85
|
(17)
|
| 06. |
8800 GTX 768MB, 575/1800 |
2416
|
1470
|
780
|
(--)
|
| 07. |
X1900 XT 256MB, 625/1450 |
2377
|
883
|
328
|
(27)
|
| 08. |
8800 GTS 640MB, 512/1600 |
2275
|
1251
|
645
|
(--)
|
| 09. |
X1800 GTO 256MB 500/1000 |
2047
|
639
|
224
|
(16)
|
| 10. |
X1900 XT 512MB, 625/1450 |
1945
|
920
|
429
|
(19)
|
| 11. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 600/1400 |
1881
|
603
|
218
|
(15)
|
| 12. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 625/1540 |
1852
|
629
|
240
|
(--)
|
| 13. |
X1900 XTX 512MB, 650/1550 |
1832
|
950
|
480
|
(23)
|
| 14. |
X1300 PRO 256MB, 600/800 |
1779
|
346
|
84
|
(22)
|
| 15. |
X1950 XTX 512MB, 650/2000 |
1713
|
984
|
540
|
(28)
|
| 16. |
8800 GTX SLI 2x768MB, 575/1800 |
1627
|
1809
|
1560
|
(--)
|
| 17. |
X1300 256MB, 450/550 |
1410
|
277
|
70
|
(25)
|
| 18. |
7300 GT 256MB, 500/1400 |
1408
|
367
|
106
|
(01)
|
| 19. |
7600 GS 256MB, 400/800 |
1228
|
341
|
102
|
(03)
|
| 20. |
7900 GS 256MB, 480/1400 |
1217
|
524
|
228
|
(04)
|
| 21. |
7900 GS 256MB, 540/1500 |
1216
|
545
|
245
|
(08)
|
| 22. |
7900 GS 256MB, 450/1320 |
1198
|
504
|
216
|
(02)
|
| 23. |
7600 GT 256MB, 560/1400 |
1197
|
426
|
161
|
(06)
|
| 24. |
6800 GS 256MB 425/1000 |
1135
|
369
|
134
|
(13)
|
| 25. |
X1300 512MB, 450/500 |
1130
|
297
|
98
|
(29)
|
| 26. |
7600 GS 512MB, 550/950 |
1061
|
379
|
146
|
(10)
|
| 27. |
7300 GT 256MB, 350/666 |
1033
|
271
|
85
|
(05)
|
| 28. |
6800 XT 256MB 425/1000 |
1021
|
330
|
120
|
(11)
|
| 29. |
6600 DDR2 256MB 350/800 |
926
|
264
|
86
|
(09)
|
| 30. |
7950 GT 512MB 550/1400 |
899
|
569
|
355
|
(18)
|
| 31. |
7900 GT 256MB, 450/1320 |
883
|
525
|
315
|
(14)
|
| 32. |
7900 GTX 512MB, 650/1600 |
858
|
606
|
417
|
(21)
|
| 33. |
7800 GTX 256MB, 430/1200 |
749
|
519
|
361
|
(24)
|
| 34. |
BFG 7950GX2 2x512MB, 500/1200 |
686
|
700
|
645
|
(26)
|
| 35. |
7950GX2 SLI 2x2x512MB, 500/1200 |
458
|
859
|
1290
|
(30)
|
GENERAL usability rating
| # |
Card Name |
Usability Rating |
Prospect Rating |
Price |
Old # |
| 01. |
X1950 PRO 256MB, 580/1400 |
3273
|
1174
|
235
|
01.
|
| 02. |
8800 GTX 768MB, 575/1800 |
3119
|
2295
|
780
|
(--)
|
| 03. |
X1900 GT 256MB 575/1200 |
3000
|
1135
|
240
|
03.
|
| 04. |
X1650 PRO 256MB 590/1380 |
2999
|
749
|
115
|
07.
|
| 05. |
X1950 PRO 256MB, 635/1485 |
2990
|
1204
|
270
|
(--)
|
| 06. |
X1300 XT 256MB 500/800 |
2906
|
621
|
85
|
06.
|
| 07. |
8800 GTS 640MB, 512/1600 |
2889
|
1927
|
645
|
(--)
|
| 08. |
X1900 XT 256MB, 625/1450 |
2781
|
1314
|
328
|
27.
|
| 09. |
X1800 GTO 256MB 500/1000 |
2285
|
923
|
224
|
09.
|
| 10. |
X1900 XT 512MB, 625/1450 |
2284
|
1372
|
429
|
02.
|
| 11. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 600/1400 |
2203
|
889
|
218
|
04.
|
| 12. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 625/1540 |
2199
|
940
|
240
|
(--)
|
| 13. |
8800 GTX SLI 2x768MB, 575/1800 |
2161
|
2882
|
1560
|
(--)
|
| 14. |
X1900 XTX 512MB, 650/1550 |
2154
|
1416
|
480
|
05.
|
| 15. |
X1300 PRO 256MB, 600/800 |
2054
|
507
|
84
|
10.
|
| 16. |
X1950 XTX 512MB, 650/2000 |
2011
|
1464
|
540
|
14.
|
| 17. |
X1300 256MB, 450/550 |
1632
|
412
|
70
|
19.
|
| 18. |
7300 GT 256MB, 500/1400 |
1562
|
528
|
106
|
08.
|
| 19. |
7600 GS 256MB, 400/800 |
1406
|
501
|
102
|
12.
|
| 20. |
7900 GS 256MB, 540/1500 |
1367
|
787
|
245
|
17.
|
| 21. |
7600 GT 256MB, 560/1400 |
1366
|
623
|
161
|
15.
|
| 22. |
7900 GS 256MB, 480/1400 |
1362
|
756
|
228
|
18.
|
| 23. |
X1300 512MB, 450/500 |
1355
|
449
|
98
|
24.
|
| 24. |
6800 GS 256MB 425/1000 |
1354
|
548
|
134
|
23.
|
| 25. |
7900 GS 256MB, 450/1320 |
1341
|
729
|
216
|
13.
|
| 26. |
7600 GS 512MB, 550/950 |
1245
|
564
|
146
|
16.
|
| 27. |
7300 GT 256MB, 350/666 |
1191
|
402
|
85
|
11.
|
| 28. |
6800 XT 256MB 425/1000 |
1188
|
477
|
120
|
20.
|
| 29. |
7950 GT 512MB 550/1400 |
1024
|
828
|
355
|
26.
|
| 30. |
6600 DDR2 256MB 350/800 |
1013
|
358
|
86
|
25.
|
| 31. |
7900 GT 256MB, 450/1320 |
990
|
760
|
315
|
21.
|
| 32. |
7900 GTX 512MB, 650/1600 |
986
|
885
|
417
|
22.
|
| 33. |
7800 GTX 256MB, 430/1200 |
845
|
754
|
361
|
29.
|
| 34. |
BFG 7950GX2 2x512MB, 500/1200 |
828
|
1046
|
645
|
28.
|
| 35. |
7950GX2 SLI 2x2x512MB, 500/1200 |
581
|
1313
|
1290
|
30.
|
Prospect rating (the previous rating is in parenthesis):
GAMING ONLY prospect rating
| # |
Card Name |
Usability Rating |
Prospect Rating |
Price |
Old # |
| 01. |
8800 GTX SLI 2x768MB, 575/1800 |
1627
|
1809
|
1560
|
(--)
|
| 02. |
8800 GTX 768MB, 575/1800 |
2416
|
1470
|
780
|
(--)
|
| 03. |
8800 GTS 640MB, 512/1600 |
2275
|
1251
|
645
|
(--)
|
| 04. |
X1950 XTX 512MB, 650/2000 |
1713
|
984
|
540
|
(03)
|
| 05. |
X1900 XTX 512MB, 650/1550 |
1832
|
950
|
480
|
(04)
|
| 06. |
X1900 XT 512MB, 625/1450 |
1945
|
920
|
429
|
(06)
|
| 07. |
X1900 XT 256MB, 625/1450 |
2377
|
883
|
328
|
(15)
|
| 08. |
7950GX2 SLI 2x2x512MB, 500/1200 |
458
|
859
|
1290
|
(01)
|
| 09. |
X1950 PRO 256MB, 635/1485 |
2520
|
806
|
270
|
(--)
|
| 10. |
X1950 PRO 256MB, 580/1400 |
2768
|
787
|
235
|
(10)
|
| 11. |
X1900 GT 256MB 575/1200 |
2513
|
757
|
240
|
(14)
|
| 12. |
BFG 7950GX2 2x512MB, 500/1200 |
686
|
700
|
645
|
(02)
|
| 13. |
X1800 GTO 256MB 500/1000 |
2047
|
639
|
224
|
(17)
|
| 14. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 625/1540 |
1852
|
629
|
240
|
(--)
|
| 15. |
7900 GTX 512MB, 650/1600 |
858
|
606
|
417
|
(05)
|
| 16. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 600/1400 |
1881
|
603
|
218
|
(18)
|
| 17. |
7950 GT 512MB 550/1400 |
899
|
569
|
355
|
(07)
|
| 18. |
7900 GS 256MB, 540/1500 |
1216
|
545
|
245
|
(08)
|
| 19. |
7900 GT 256MB, 450/1320 |
883
|
525
|
315
|
(09)
|
| 20. |
7900 GS 256MB, 480/1400 |
1217
|
524
|
228
|
(11)
|
| 21. |
7800 GTX 256MB, 430/1200 |
749
|
519
|
361
|
(12)
|
| 22. |
7900 GS 256MB, 450/1320 |
1198
|
504
|
216
|
(13)
|
| 23. |
X1650 PRO 256MB 590/1380 |
2479
|
499
|
115
|
(24)
|
| 24. |
7600 GT 256MB, 560/1400 |
1197
|
426
|
161
|
(16)
|
| 25. |
X1300 XT 256MB 500/800 |
2435
|
416
|
85
|
(26)
|
| 26. |
7600 GS 512MB, 550/950 |
1061
|
379
|
146
|
(20)
|
| 27. |
6800 GS 256MB 425/1000 |
1135
|
369
|
134
|
(19)
|
| 28. |
7300 GT 256MB, 500/1400 |
1408
|
367
|
106
|
(21)
|
| 29. |
X1300 PRO 256MB, 600/800 |
1779
|
346
|
84
|
(28)
|
| 30. |
7600 GS 256MB, 400/800 |
1228
|
341
|
102
|
(22)
|
| 31. |
6800 XT 256MB 425/1000 |
1021
|
330
|
120
|
(23)
|
| 32. |
X1300 512MB, 450/500 |
1130
|
297
|
98
|
(29)
|
| 33. |
X1300 256MB, 450/550 |
1410
|
277
|
70
|
(30)
|
| 34. |
7300 GT 256MB, 350/666 |
1033
|
271
|
85
|
(25)
|
| 35. |
6600 DDR2 256MB 350/800 |
926
|
264
|
86
|
(27)
|
GENERAL prospect rating
| # |
Card Name |
Usability Rating |
Prospect Rating |
Price |
Old # |
| 01. |
8800 GTX SLI 2x768MB, 575/1800 |
2161
|
2882
|
1560
|
(--)
|
| 02. |
8800 GTX 768MB, 575/1800 |
3119
|
2295
|
780
|
(--)
|
| 03. |
8800 GTS 640MB, 512/1600 |
2889
|
1927
|
645
|
(--)
|
| 04. |
X1950 XTX 512MB, 650/2000 |
2011
|
1464
|
540
|
(01)
|
| 05. |
X1900 XTX 512MB, 650/1550 |
2154
|
1416
|
480
|
(02)
|
| 06. |
X1900 XT 512MB, 625/1450 |
2284
|
1372
|
429
|
(03)
|
| 07. |
X1900 XT 256MB, 625/1450 |
2781
|
1314
|
328
|
(09)
|
| 08. |
7950GX2 SLI 2x2x512MB, 500/1200 |
581
|
1313
|
1290
|
(04)
|
| 09. |
X1950 PRO 256MB, 635/1485 |
2990
|
1204
|
270
|
(--)
|
| 10. |
X1950 PRO 256MB, 580/1400 |
3273
|
1174
|
235
|
(06)
|
| 11. |
X1900 GT 256MB 575/1200 |
3000
|
1135
|
240
|
(08)
|
| 12. |
BFG 7950GX2 2x512MB, 500/1200 |
828
|
1046
|
645
|
(05)
|
| 13. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 625/1540 |
2199
|
940
|
240
|
(--)
|
| 14. |
X1800 GTO 256MB 500/1000 |
2285
|
923
|
224
|
(12)
|
| 15. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 600/1400 |
2203
|
889
|
218
|
(14)
|
| 16. |
7900 GTX 512MB, 650/1600 |
986
|
885
|
417
|
(07)
|
| 17. |
7950 GT 512MB 550/1400 |
1024
|
828
|
355
|
(10)
|
| 18. |
7900 GS 256MB, 540/1500 |
1367
|
787
|
245
|
(11)
|
| 19. |
7900 GT 256MB, 450/1320 |
990
|
760
|
315
|
(13)
|
| 20. |
7900 GS 256MB, 480/1400 |
1362
|
756
|
228
|
(17)
|
| 21. |
7800 GTX 256MB, 430/1200 |
845
|
754
|
361
|
(15)
|
| 22. |
X1650 PRO 256MB 590/1380 |
2999
|
749
|
115
|
(19)
|
| 23. |
7900 GS 256MB, 450/1320 |
1341
|
729
|
216
|
(16)
|
| 24. |
7600 GT 256MB, 560/1400 |
1366
|
623
|
161
|
(18)
|
| 25. |
X1300 XT 256MB 500/800 |
2906
|
621
|
85
|
(23)
|
| 26. |
7600 GS 512MB, 550/950 |
1245
|
564
|
146
|
(20)
|
| 27. |
6800 GS 256MB 425/1000 |
1354
|
548
|
134
|
(21)
|
| 28. |
7300 GT 256MB, 500/1400 |
1562
|
528
|
106
|
(22)
|
| 29. |
X1300 PRO 256MB, 600/800 |
2054
|
507
|
84
|
(26)
|
| 30. |
7600 GS 256MB, 400/800 |
1406
|
501
|
102
|
(24)
|
| 31. |
6800 XT 256MB 425/1000 |
1188
|
477
|
120
|
(25)
|
| 32. |
X1300 512MB, 450/500 |
1355
|
449
|
98
|
(28)
|
| 33. |
X1300 256MB, 450/550 |
1632
|
412
|
70
|
(30)
|
| 34. |
7300 GT 256MB, 350/666 |
1191
|
402
|
85
|
(27)
|
| 35. |
6600 DDR2 256MB 350/800 |
1013
|
358
|
86
|
(29)
|
Ingame quality
6. Games screenshot gallery
All test screenshots are compiled into a gallery where you can qualify the work of a chosen videocard and compare it to the reference images taken on ATI Radeon 9500. All shots were taken at the same 1024x768 resolution at the maximum quality. Screenshot gallery
7. Game Artefacts Gallery
Game Quality Section
8. Game Quality Control Section
Game Quality Control Section
We thank all the companies that provided us with graphics cards and other equipment for our 3Digest, including: Foxconn Russia, MSI Russia, Gainward, HIS (and personally Peter Yueng) NVIDIA Russia, ATI Technologies Russia, Sapphire Technology Russia, ASUStek Russia, Gigabyte Russia, AOpen Russia, Bench'emAll! (and personally Alexander Kondratyuk AKA Render for helping us optimize bechmarking).
The PSU for the testbed was kindly provided by HIPER

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The Dell 3007WFP monitor was kindly provided by NVIDIA

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