3Digest: July 2007
Monthly drivers report and popular 3D
accelerators comparison
Monthly 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 June 2007 to the 15th of July 2007. Traditionally our 3Digest informs you about the best price/performance ratios available in the market. Another very important part of any 3Digest is cards' 3D graphics quality shown on the example of a wide selection of games.
It's our 86th issue of 3Digest.
July 2007
We stopped benchmarking games with Far Cry (say good bye to the most beautiful jungle graphics), but added S.T.A.L.K.E.R tests instead.
Attention! This digest contains benchmarking results for PCI-E cards only.
The final AGP
benchmarking was conducted in March 2006.
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 machine
- 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 features Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2, DirectX 9.0c, Dell 3007WFP monitor. (30").
The list of benchmarks is here
2. Graphics card list
Below is a list of graphics cards that we tested linked to the respective
3Digest feature description pages.
You can see the quality of 3D produced by tested cards
in our monthly updated Screenshot gallery.
Cards list:
- PCI-E-ATI
RADEON X1300 256MB DDR 2.8ns (450/550 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 X1950 PRO 256MB GDDR3 1.4ns (580/1400 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI
RADEON X1950 PRO 512MB GDDR3 1.4ns (573/1360 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI
RADEON X1900 XT 256MB GDDR3 1.2ns (625/1450 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI
RADEON X1950 XTX 512MB GDDR4 0.9ns (650/2000 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI
RADEON X1950 XT 512MB GDDR4 0.9ns (625/1800 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI
RADEON HD 2400 XT 256MB GDDR3 1.2ns (700/1600 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI
RADEON HD 2600 PRO 256MB GDDR2 2.5ns (600/800 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI
RADEON HD 2600 PRO 256MB GDDR3 1.2ns (700/1400 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI
RADEON HD 2600 XT 256MB GDDR4 0.9ns (800/2200 MHz)
- PCI-E-ATI
RADEON HD 2900 XT 512MB GDDR3 1.0ns (743/1660 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA
GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 1.4ns (560/1400 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA
GeForce 7600GS 256MB GDDR2 2.5ns (400/800 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA
GeForce 7600GS 512MB GDDR2 2.0ns (550/950 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA
GeForce 8500 GT 256MB GDDR2 2.5ns (450/800 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA
GeForce 8500 GT 256MB GDDR3 1.2ns (600/1200 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA
GeForce 8600 GT 256MB GDDR3 1.2ns (560/1560 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA
GeForce 8600 GTS 256MB GDDR3 1.0ns (675/2000 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA
GeForce 8600 GTS 256MB GDDR3 1.0ns (720/2200 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA
GeForce 7900 GS 256MB GDDR3 1.4ns (450/1320 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA
GeForce 7950 GT 512MB GDDR3 1.4ns (550/1400 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA
GeForce 7950 GT 256MB GDDR3 1.4ns (600/1430 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 320MB GDDR3 1.2ns (512/1600 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 768MB GDDR3 1.1ns (625/2000 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA
GeForce 8800 Ultra 768MB GDDR3 0.8ns (612/2160 MHz)
- PCI-E-NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra SLI 2x768MB GDDR3 0.8ns
(2x612/2160 MHz)
Archive
(graphics cards, information on which is no longer updated)
3. July 2007 news and the current business
Added a number of new graphics cards (marked "NEW").
- 3.1. The following drivers were released from June 15, 2007 to
July 15, 2007:
- NVIDIA ForceWare for all NVIDIA cards:
- ATI Catalyst for all ATI cards:
- 3.2. This month we used 162.18 drivers for NVIDIA-based card summaries,
7.7 drivers for ATI-based card summaries.
4. Summary diagrams of graphics cards performance with the latest
drivers for July 2007
All willing to see the complete results in Excel 2003 format can
download this RAR
3.0 or ZIP
archive.
If you are familiar with 3D graphics, you will be able to draw all
the conclusions yourself after looking at the charts provided. Those
interested in our judgement of test results should see reviews dedicated
to specific GPUs (see our 3D
graphics section). And for newbies and those who has just started
choosing a graphics card we'll provide some more detailed explanations.
First of all, you should take a look at our brief references of
modern graphics card series and their respective GPUs. Note clock
rates, shader support and pipeline architecture.
Secondly, in our 3D graphics
section all newbies can read about the basics of 3D (this knowledge
will be required anyway, because you'll surely try to adjust some
game settings: textures, lighting, etc.) Besides, newbies should read
separate reviews dedicated to new products. There are just two GPU
vendors: ATI (recently merged with AMD under its brand) and NVIDIA.
Thus, all information is generally separated in two parts.
Thirdly, let's see the charts and make conclusions.
- 4.1. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
- 4.2. Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (No HDR)
- 4.3. Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (HDR)
- 4.4. Call Of Juarez
- 4.5. Prey
- 4.6. 3DMark05 MARKS
- 4.7. Company Of Heroes
- 4.8. F.E.A.R.
- 4.9. Serious Sam II (No HDR)
- 4.10. Serious Sam II (HDR)
- 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 work
or has worked incorrectly with this card.
- If you imagine a line connecting ends of columns representing
test results on a chart, you can judge if a game is critical
to a card or a CPU. If this curve is "convex" and
many cards perform similarly, it means at this resolution and
under this load performance is bottlenecked by system resources,
not graphics card potential. If, vice versa, the curve is "concave"
and performance drops quickly as card potential reduces, it
means the game puts heavy load on graphics cards and depends
exclusively on their potential.
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 7.7, NVIDIA
ForceWare 162.18).
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 based testbed:
"Usability" Rating:
GAMING ONLY usability rating
| # |
Card |
Usability rating
|
Prospect rating
|
Approx. price
|
| 01. |
8600 GT 256MB, 560/1560 |
703
|
630
|
134
|
| 02. |
8800 GTS 320MB, 512/1600 |
636
|
966
|
334
|
| 03. |
X1950 PRO 256MB, 580/1400 |
626
|
618
|
148
|
| 04. |
8500 GT 256MB, 600/1200 |
603
|
498
|
100
|
| 05. |
X1950 PRO 512MB, 575/1370 |
567
|
669
|
180
|
| 06. |
HD 2900 XT 512MB, 750/1660 |
560
|
1114
|
463
|
| 07. |
8600 GTS 256MB, 720/2200 |
558
|
717
|
220
|
| 08. |
X1900 XT 256MB, 625/1450 |
553
|
703
|
204
|
| 09. |
8800 GTS 640MB, 512/1600 |
530
|
1057
|
452
|
| 10. |
X1950 XT 512MB, 625/1800 |
525
|
786
|
257
|
| 11. |
HD 2600 PRO 256MB, 700/1400 |
511
|
575
|
150
|
| 12. |
8600 GTS 256MB, 675/2000 |
504
|
705
|
235
|
| 13. |
EVGA 8800 GTX 768MB, 625/2000 |
502
|
1302
|
680
|
| 14. |
X1650 PRO 256MB 590/1380 |
492
|
392
|
80
|
| 15. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 625/1540 |
486
|
505
|
134
|
| 16. |
8800 GTX 768MB, 575/1800 |
482
|
1237
|
653
|
| 17. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 600/1400 |
479
|
483
|
125
|
| 18. |
HD 2400 XT 256MB, 700/1600 |
468
|
390
|
80
|
| 19. |
8500 GT 256MB, 450/800 |
464
|
426
|
96
|
| 20. |
HD 2600 XT 256MB, 800/2200 |
453
|
631
|
200
|
| 21. |
8800 Ultra 768MB, 612/2160 |
452
|
1332
|
783
|
| 22. |
HD 2600 PRO 256MB, 600/828 |
420
|
484
|
130
|
| 23. |
X1300 XT 256MB 500/800 |
417
|
333
|
70
|
| 24. |
X1950 XTX 512MB, 650/2000 |
378
|
802
|
371
|
| 25. |
X1300 PRO 256MB, 600/800 |
337
|
277
|
60
|
| 26. |
7600 GT 256MB, 560/1400 |
319
|
391
|
117
|
| 27. |
7900 GS 256MB, 450/1320 |
293
|
455
|
169
|
| 28. |
7600 GS 256MB, 400/800 |
293
|
320
|
85
|
| 29. |
7950 GT 256MB 600/1430 |
275
|
521
|
232
|
| 30. |
7600 GS 512MB, 550/950 |
258
|
361
|
124
|
| 31. |
7950 GT 512MB 550/1400 |
254
|
519
|
249
|
| 32. |
8800 Ultra SLI 2x768MB, 612/2160 |
245
|
1477
|
1566
|
| 33. |
X1300 256MB, 450/550 |
213
|
224
|
65
|
| 34. |
BFG 7950GX2 2x512MB, 500/1200 |
170
|
633
|
519
|
| 35. |
7950GX2 SLI 2x2x512MB, 500/1200 |
97
|
706
|
1038
|
GENERAL usability rating
| # |
Card |
Usability rating |
Prospect rating |
Approx. price |
| 01. |
8600 GT 256MB, 560/1560 |
1937
|
1052
|
134
|
| 02. |
8800 GTS 320MB, 512/1600 |
1787
|
1636
|
334
|
| 03. |
8500 GT 256MB, 600/1200 |
1733
|
855
|
100
|
| 04. |
X1950 PRO 256MB, 580/1400 |
1708
|
1032
|
148
|
| 05. |
8600 GTS 256MB, 720/2200 |
1598
|
1231
|
220
|
| 06. |
HD 2900 XT 512MB, 750/1660 |
1589
|
1898
|
463
|
| 07. |
X1950 PRO 512MB, 575/1370 |
1542
|
1117
|
180
|
| 08. |
HD 2600 PRO 256MB, 700/1400 |
1518
|
1005
|
150
|
| 09. |
X1900 XT 256MB, 625/1450 |
1494
|
1168
|
204
|
| 10. |
8800 GTS 640MB, 512/1600 |
1466
|
1775
|
452
|
| 11. |
8600 GTS 256MB, 675/2000 |
1451
|
1212
|
235
|
| 12. |
X1950 XT 512MB, 625/1800 |
1416
|
1311
|
257
|
| 13. |
EVGA 8800 GTX 768MB, 625/2000 |
1390
|
2192
|
680
|
| 14. |
HD 2400 XT 256MB, 700/1600 |
1385
|
680
|
80
|
| 15. |
X1650 PRO 256MB 590/1380 |
1368
|
657
|
80
|
| 16. |
8800 GTX 768MB, 575/1800 |
1334
|
2075
|
653
|
| 17. |
8500 GT 256MB, 450/800 |
1332
|
732
|
96
|
| 18. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 625/1540 |
1316
|
839
|
134
|
| 19. |
HD 2600 XT 256MB, 800/2200 |
1293
|
1080
|
200
|
| 20. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 600/1400 |
1289
|
797
|
125
|
| 21. |
8800 Ultra 768MB, 612/2160 |
1236
|
2221
|
783
|
| 22. |
HD 2600 PRO 256MB, 600/828 |
1229
|
839
|
130
|
| 23. |
X1300 XT 256MB 500/800 |
1144
|
553
|
70
|
| 24. |
X1950 XTX 512MB, 650/2000 |
1013
|
1327
|
371
|
| 25. |
X1300 PRO 256MB, 600/800 |
918
|
455
|
60
|
| 26. |
7600 GT 256MB, 560/1400 |
762
|
607
|
117
|
| 27. |
8800 Ultra SLI 2x768MB, 612/2160 |
706
|
2548
|
1566
|
| 28. |
7600 GS 256MB, 400/800 |
699
|
495
|
85
|
| 29. |
7900 GS 256MB, 450/1320 |
693
|
704
|
169
|
| 30. |
7950 GT 256MB 600/1430 |
653
|
810
|
232
|
| 31. |
7600 GS 512MB, 550/950 |
616
|
561
|
124
|
| 32. |
7950 GT 512MB 550/1400 |
600
|
804
|
249
|
| 33. |
X1300 256MB, 450/550 |
577
|
371
|
65
|
| 34. |
BFG 7950GX2 2x512MB, 500/1200 |
414
|
995
|
519
|
| 35. |
7950GX2 SLI 2x2x512MB, 500/1200 |
254
|
1152
|
1038
|
"Prospect" Rating:
GAMING ONLY prospect rating
| # |
Card |
Usability rating |
Prospect rating |
Approx. price |
| 01. |
8800 Ultra SLI 2x768MB, 612/2160 |
245
|
1477
|
1566
|
| 02. |
8800 Ultra 768MB, 612/2160 |
452
|
1332
|
783
|
| 03. |
EVGA 8800 GTX 768MB, 625/2000 |
502
|
1302
|
680
|
| 04. |
8800 GTX 768MB, 575/1800 |
482
|
1237
|
653
|
| 05. |
HD 2900 XT 512MB, 750/1660 |
560
|
1114
|
463
|
| 06. |
8800 GTS 640MB, 512/1600 |
530
|
1057
|
452
|
| 07. |
8800 GTS 320MB, 512/1600 |
636
|
966
|
334
|
| 08. |
X1950 XTX 512MB, 650/2000 |
378
|
802
|
371
|
| 09. |
X1950 XT 512MB, 625/1800 |
525
|
786
|
257
|
| 10. |
8600 GTS 256MB, 720/2200 |
558
|
717
|
220
|
| 11. |
7950GX2 SLI 2x2x512MB, 500/1200 |
97
|
706
|
1038
|
| 12. |
8600 GTS 256MB, 675/2000 |
504
|
705
|
235
|
| 13. |
X1900 XT 256MB, 625/1450 |
553
|
703
|
204
|
| 14. |
X1950 PRO 512MB, 575/1370 |
567
|
669
|
180
|
| 15. |
BFG 7950GX2 2x512MB, 500/1200 |
170
|
633
|
519
|
| 16. |
HD 2600 XT 256MB, 800/2200 |
453
|
631
|
200
|
| 17. |
8600 GT 256MB, 560/1560 |
703
|
630
|
134
|
| 18. |
X1950 PRO 256MB, 580/1400 |
626
|
618
|
148
|
| 19. |
HD 2600 PRO 256MB, 700/1400 |
511
|
575
|
150
|
| 20. |
7950 GT 256MB 600/1430 |
275
|
521
|
232
|
| 21. |
7950 GT 512MB 550/1400 |
254
|
519
|
249
|
| 22. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 625/1540 |
486
|
505
|
134
|
| 23. |
8500 GT 256MB, 600/1200 |
603
|
498
|
100
|
| 24. |
HD 2600 PRO 256MB, 600/828 |
420
|
484
|
130
|
| 25. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 600/1400 |
479
|
483
|
125
|
| 26. |
7900 GS 256MB, 450/1320 |
293
|
455
|
169
|
| 27. |
8500 GT 256MB, 450/800 |
464
|
426
|
96
|
| 28. |
X1650 PRO 256MB 590/1380 |
492
|
392
|
80
|
| 29. |
7600 GT 256MB, 560/1400 |
319
|
391
|
117
|
| 30. |
HD 2400 XT 256MB, 700/1600 |
468
|
390
|
80
|
| 31. |
7600 GS 512MB, 550/950 |
258
|
361
|
124
|
| 32. |
X1300 XT 256MB 500/800 |
417
|
333
|
70
|
| 33. |
7600 GS 256MB, 400/800 |
293
|
320
|
85
|
| 34. |
X1300 PRO 256MB, 600/800 |
337
|
277
|
60
|
| 35. |
X1300 256MB, 450/550 |
213
|
224
|
65
|
GENERAL prospect rating
| # |
Card |
Usability rating |
Prospect rating |
Approx. price |
| 01. |
8800 Ultra SLI 2x768MB, 612/2160 |
706
|
2548
|
1566
|
| 02. |
8800 Ultra 768MB, 612/2160 |
1236
|
2221
|
783
|
| 03. |
EVGA 8800 GTX 768MB, 625/2000 |
1390
|
2192
|
680
|
| 04. |
8800 GTX 768MB, 575/1800 |
1334
|
2075
|
653
|
| 05. |
HD 2900 XT 512MB, 750/1660 |
1589
|
1898
|
463
|
| 06. |
8800 GTS 640MB, 512/1600 |
1466
|
1775
|
452
|
| 07. |
8800 GTS 320MB, 512/1600 |
1787
|
1636
|
334
|
| 08. |
X1950 XTX 512MB, 650/2000 |
1013
|
1327
|
371
|
| 09. |
X1950 XT 512MB, 625/1800 |
1416
|
1311
|
257
|
| 10. |
8600 GTS 256MB, 720/2200 |
1598
|
1231
|
220
|
| 11. |
8600 GTS 256MB, 675/2000 |
1451
|
1212
|
235
|
| 12. |
X1900 XT 256MB, 625/1450 |
1494
|
1168
|
204
|
| 13. |
7950GX2 SLI 2x2x512MB, 500/1200 |
254
|
1152
|
1038
|
| 14. |
X1950 PRO 512MB, 575/1370 |
1542
|
1117
|
180
|
| 15. |
HD 2600 XT 256MB, 800/2200 |
1293
|
1080
|
200
|
| 16. |
8600 GT 256MB, 560/1560 |
1937
|
1052
|
134
|
| 17. |
X1950 PRO 256MB, 580/1400 |
1708
|
1032
|
148
|
| 18. |
HD 2600 PRO 256MB, 700/1400 |
1518
|
1005
|
150
|
| 19. |
BFG 7950GX2 2x512MB, 500/1200 |
414
|
995
|
519
|
| 20. |
8500 GT 256MB, 600/1200 |
1733
|
855
|
100
|
| 21. |
HD 2600 PRO 256MB, 600/828 |
1229
|
839
|
130
|
| 22. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 625/1540 |
1316
|
839
|
134
|
| 23. |
7950 GT 256MB 600/1430 |
653
|
810
|
232
|
| 24. |
7950 GT 512MB 550/1400 |
600
|
804
|
249
|
| 25. |
X1650 XT 256MB, 600/1400 |
1289
|
797
|
125
|
| 26. |
8500 GT 256MB, 450/800 |
1332
|
732
|
96
|
| 27. |
7900 GS 256MB, 450/1320 |
693
|
704
|
169
|
| 28. |
HD 2400 XT 256MB, 700/1600 |
1385
|
680
|
80
|
| 29. |
X1650 PRO 256MB 590/1380 |
1368
|
657
|
80
|
| 30. |
7600 GT 256MB, 560/1400 |
762
|
607
|
117
|
| 31. |
7600 GS 512MB, 550/950 |
616
|
561
|
124
|
| 32. |
X1300 XT 256MB 500/800 |
1144
|
553
|
70
|
| 33. |
7600 GS 256MB, 400/800 |
699
|
495
|
85
|
| 34. |
X1300 PRO 256MB, 600/800 |
918
|
455
|
60
|
| 35. |
X1300 256MB, 450/550 |
577
|
371
|
65
|
Ingame quality
6. Games screenshot gallery
All test screenshots are compiled into a gallery where you can
qualify the work of a chosen videocard. 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:
Chaintech Russia
and personally Alexander Petrushin,
Zotac,
BFG Russia
and personally Mikhail Proshletsov,
EVGA Russia
and personally Victoria Nikolaeva,
Foxconn Russia,
MSI Russia,
Gainward,
HIS (and
personally Peter Yueng)
NVIDIA Russia,
AMD Russia,
Sapphire Technology
Russia,
ASUStek Russia,
The PSU for the testbed was kindly provided by HIPER
|
|
The Dell 3007WFP monitor was kindly provided by NVIDIA
|
|
