Monthly drivers report and popular 3D
accelerators comparison

Monthly 3D Digest is the project of iXBT.com devoted to releases of new Windows XP (monthly) and Windows 9x/ME (once in 4 months) drivers for popular videocards (released from the 10th of October 2003 to the 10thof November 2003).As usual, there are many diagrams containing the information on changes in operation of videocards at change to last version drivers, and also summary diagrams of popular modern videocards performance. Traditionally we provide the best price/performance information for our 3Digest. Quality aspects are reviewed in the section dedicated to Windows XP.

November 2003

The echo of October announcements of ATI's and NVIDIA's high-end solutions hasn't died down yet, and both companies bring us more new products already. This time they turned to the low-end and middle-end markets. Following the slowed down GeForce FX 5900 called GeForce FX 5900SE (also LX or CP) NVIDIA introduced a significantly slow GeForce FX 5600 model called GeForce FX 5600XT. Meanwhile ATI unveiled its RADEON 9600SE that is actually the same RADEON 9600, but with a twice narrower 64bit memory interface.

And what about XGI? Pity, but nothing fundamental for the reporting period. Just the first tests in which company's high-end XGI Volari V8 Duo loses to both GeForce FX 5950 Ultra, and RADEON 9800XT and resides on the third place. Of course, it's affected by the raw drivers or the raw chip itself. We hope XGI will finally release its long-anticipated and actually promising Volari series until the next 3Digest.

Well, only the time will tell if ATI and NVIDIA get a new worthy rival in the person of XGI. And we now get back to the current business.

It's our 42th issue of 3Digest.

CONTENTS

1. Testbed configurations and test software
2. Tested videocards list
3. What's new in 3Digest
4. Test summary diagrams and digest bottom line
5. 3D accelerator rating calculations for the end of the month
6. Anisotropic filtering examination
7. Examination of different antialiasing modes
8. Screenshot gallery
9. Games quality section

1. Testbed configuration

1.1. Pentium 4 3.2GHz-based system:

• Intel Pentium 4 3.2 GHz (L2=512K) CPU, Hyper-Threading enabled;
• DFI LANParty Pro875 motherboard on i875P chipset
• 1 GB DDR SDRAM PC3200;
• Seagate Barracuda IV 40GB HDD.
• Quantum FB AS 20GB HDD.

The testbed also features Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1, DirectX 9.0b, and is coupled with ViewSonic P810 (21"), ViewSonic P817-E (21") monitors.

The list of testing software is here

2. Videocard list

Below is the list of graphics cards that we tested. Each corresponding page contains the brief card description. Besides, some pages are dedicated to the latest drivers for cards on given GPUs. In the summary diagrams you can also see the performance results obtained on overclocked graphics cards.

Drivers released by videocard manufacturers are not taken into account (unless written by GPU manufacturers) because there are very many of them and it's impossible to test them all.

You can find comments about reviewed drivers in the corresponding sections:

• NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra 128MB DDR 2.8ns (325/650 MHz)
• NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB DDR2 2.2ns (475/900 MHz)
• NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB DDR 2.0ns (475/950 MHz)

3D graphics quality screenshots are provided in our monthly updated Screenshot Gallery.

Cards list:

1. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR 64bit 6ns (250/333 MHz)
2. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR 6ns (250/300 MHz)
3. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR 5ns (250/400 MHz)
4. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR 4ns (275/500 MHz)
5. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra 128MB DDR 2.8ns (325/650 MHz)
6. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB DDR 3.6ns (325/550 MHz)
7. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB DDR 3.3ns (325/600 MHz)
8. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT 128MB 128bit DDR 4ns (235/400 MHz)
9. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR 2.8ns (350/700 MHz)
10. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR 2.2ns (400/800 MHz)
11. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR 5ns (325/400 MHz)
12. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR 3.6ns (325/500 MHz)
13. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR 3.3ns (350/600 MHz)
14. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 128MB DDR 3.6ns (425/550 MHz)
15. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB DDR2 2.2ns (475/900 MHz)
16. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900SE 128MB DDR 2.8ns (400/700 MHz)
17. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900EPV 128MB DDR 2.5ns (405/810 MHz)
18. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 128MB DDR 2.2ns (400/850 MHz)
19. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Turbo 256MB DDR 2.2ns (410/850 MHz)
20. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Ultra 256MB DDR 2.2ns (450/850 MHz)
21. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB DDR 2.0ns (475/950 MHz)
22. ATI RADEON 9000 Pro 128MB DDR 3.6ns (275/550 MHz)
23. ATI RADEON 9200 128MB DDR 4ns (250/400 MHz)
24. ATI RADEON 9200 64MB 64bit DDR 5ns (250/400 MHz)
25. ATI RADEON 9200SE 128MB 64bit DDR 6ns (200/333 MHz)
26. ATI RADEON 9500 128MB 128bit DDR 3.6ns (275/540 MHz)
27. ATI RADEON 9600 128MB DDR 4ns (325/400 MHz)
28. ATI RADEON 9600SE 128MB 64bit DDR 4ns (325/400 MHz)
29. ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB DDR 2.8ns (400/600 MHz)
30. ATI RADEON 9600 256MB DDR 5ns (325/400 MHz)
31. ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 256MB DDR 5ns (400/400 MHz)
32. ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB DDR 3.3ns (500/600 MHz)
33. ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB 128bit DDR 3.3ns (325/540 MHz)
34. ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB DDR 2.8ns (360/680 MHz)
35. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB DDR 3.3ns (325/580 MHz)
36. ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR 2.8ns (380/680 MHz)
37. ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR 3.3ns (400/680 MHz)
38. ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 256MB DDR2 2.2ns (380/700 MHz)
39. ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB DDR 2.5ns (412/730 MHz)

Cards coming in the next 3Digest:

Cards to add:
1. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT 64bit (235/400 MHz)
2. ATI RADEON 9600XT (525/600 MHz)

Cards to archive:
1. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra (350/700 MHz)

Archive (videocards, which info is no longer updated)

3. November 2003 news and the current business

• 3.1. The following drivers were released from October 10, 2003 to November 10, 2003:
  
  
  • NVIDIA ForceWare for all NVIDIA cards:
    
    
    • Windows XP: 52.16; 52.70;

    
    NVIDIA didn't make any new releases. However we examined the intermediate 52.70.
    
    

  • ATI Catalyst for all ATI cards:
    
    
    • Windows XP: 6.396;
      
      

    We examined Catalyst 396 build in the last 3Digest, but it had turned into a full release, Catalyst 3.9, since that time.

  
  These and other drivers are available for download at drivers.ixbt.com, riva.ixbt.com as well as on unofficial support websites: NVWORLD and RADEON2.RU. We've excluded 3DMark from our testing, however as many like these tests, we recommend you to visit 3DMark.ru (now it's Guide3D.ru) that contains much useful information.

• 3.2. In this month we used 52.16 drivers for NVIDIA cards summaries; 6.396 drivers for ATI cards summaries.

• 3.3. In September we tested cards in Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (v.49). It's the first game based completely on DirectX9. It has a built-in benchmark for testing DirectX9 compatible cards. We performed our tests in the maximum available quality with only Depth of Fields (both) and PS20 Shadows disabled. Of course, these settings were the SAME for all cards tested.
  
  
• 3.4. Last time we tested cards in the leaked Half-Life 2 beta at max. detail level, DirectX 9 (of course, DirectX 8 was automatically selected for DirectX 8 cards), best anisotropy available.
  
  
• 3.5. This time we decided to conduct an additional testing in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (v.1.2b) - Direct3D, Vertex/Pixel Shaders 1.1/2.0, Hardware T&L, Very High quality.
  Note that antialiasing didn't work in this game. Therefore we didn't test AA + anisotropy in it.

Overclocked videocards are marked red. Clock rates follow the 'o/c' sign.

• 4.1. Return to Castle Wolfenstein
  • Windows XP
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1280x1024
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1600x1200

  • Windows XP, AntiAliasing+Anisotropy
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768, AntiAliasing+Anisotropy

  
  
  

• 4.2. Unreal Tournament 2003
  • Windows XP
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1280x1024
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1600x1200

  • Windows XP, AntiAliasing+Anisotropy
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768

  
  
  

• 4.3. Codecreatures Benchmark Pro
  • Windows XP
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1280x1024
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1600x1200

  • Windows XP, AntiAliasing+Anisotropy
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768, AntiAliasing+Anisotropy

  
  
  

• 4.4. Unreal 2: The Awakening
  • Windows XP
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1280x1024
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1600x1200

  • Windows XP, AntiAliasing+Anisotropy
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768, AntiAliasing+Anisotropy

  
  
  

• 4.5. Serious Sam: The Second Encounter
  • Windows XP
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1280x1024
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1600x1200

  • Windows XP, AntiAliasing+Anisotropy
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768, AntiAliasing+Anisotropy

  
  
  

• 4.6. RightMark 3D
  • Windows XP
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1280x1024
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1600x1200

  • Windows XP, AntiAliasing+Anisotropy
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768, AntiAliasing+Anisotropy

  
  
  

• 4.7. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
  • Windows XP
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768, demo 1_1_2_Tbilisi
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1280x1024, demo 1_1_2_Tbilisi
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1600x1200, demo 1_1_2_Tbilisi

  
  
  

• 4.8. Archive (information from the previous 3Digests absent in this issue)
  
  
• 4.9. Notes on videocards' performance with the latest drivers:
  
  
  • 6.396 drivers introduced rather bothering quality problems in iXBT Rightmark 3D on R3x0 cards.
    Frankly speaking, the quality of ATI's drivers excites just lots of blames. For example, OpenGL in Catalyst 3.9 simply doesn't work with All-In-Wonder cards. Though this can be solved by editing the inf file, this bothers anyway.
    
  • Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell didn't run on Radeon 9200SE 64MB 64bit, so these results are absent in the summary diagrams.

    If you stumble upon any peculiarities of ATI card or drivers operation, visit RADEON2.RU that sheds light on such situations and offers some help.
    
    

  • ForceWare 52.16 provided some performance boost to almost all cards, but introduced lots of quality problems as well. For example, the entire GeForce FX family suffers from texturing and lighting problems in Return to Castle Wolfenstein (fixed in 52.70). For more details see the game quality section.

    Summing up the information on NVIDIA family I recommend you to visit World NVIDIA website that often provides solutions to your problems caused by drivers bugs, etc. and offers all necessary drivers along with the RivaTuner.

  I guess no more comments needed, readers will easily understand what is what themselves. :)

5. 3D accelerator ratings calculations for the end of the month

Anyone who wants to conduct his own rating calculations with his own values may download this Excel table (Office'3-'0) in RAR 3.0 and ZIP format.

The method of rating calculation is described here.

Calculations were conducted considering the following assumptions:

1. Windows XP is used;
2. Percentage of performance and quality demand ratio:
   • Performance priority - 60%
   • Quality priority - 40%

3. ONLY 1600x1200@32bpp resolution was used for the prospect rating;
4. Usability ratings are separated into the three sections: High-End, Middle-End, and Low-End. Each rating features its own expenses for system upgrade. All this is considered in APG parameter that is 100 for Low-End, 250 for Middle-End, and 151 for High-End. We believe that if a user wants to purchase a very expensive and powerful accelerator, he understands the inanity of installing it into a Low-End PC. So we separated the usability rating for different PC levels.

Usability rating (rating from the previous 3Digest is in parentheses):

Usability rating: card price + $500

ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (380/680 MHz) ( 1)
ATI RADEON 9800 128MB DDR (325/580 MHz) (5)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (400/680 MHz) (2)
ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB DDR (412/730 MHz) (3)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 256MB DDR2 (380/700 MHz) ( 4)
ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB DDR (500/600 MHz) (6)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB DDR (360/680 MHz) (8)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB DDR (400/600 MHz) (7)
ATI RADEON 9600 128MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (9)
ATI RADEON 9600 256MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (10)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 256MB DDR (400/400 MHz) (12)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 128MB DDR (400/850 MHz) (11)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900SE 128MB DDR (400/700 MHz) (16)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Turbo 256MB DDR (410/850 MHz) (15)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900EPV 128MB DDR (405/810 MHz) (14)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB 128bit DDR (325/540 MHz) (19)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Ultra 256MB DDR (450/850 MHz) (17)
ATI RADEON 9500 128MB 128bit DDR (275/540 MHz) (18)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB DDR (475/950 MHz) (13)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (400/800 MHz) (20)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB DDR2 (475/900 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR (350/600 MHz) (22)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (350/700 MHz) (21)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB DDR (325/550 MHz) (23)
ATI RADEON 9600SE 128MB 64bit DDR (325/400 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB DDR (325/600 MHz) (24)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 128MB DDR (425/550 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR (325/500 MHz) (25)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra 128MB DDR (325/650 MHz) (29)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (27)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT 128MB 128bit DDR (235/400 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR (275/500 MHz) (30)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (31)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR (250/300 MHz) (32)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB 64bit DDR (250/333 MHz) (33)
ATI RADEON 9000 Pro 128MB DDR (275/550 MHz) (34)
ATI RADEON 9200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (35)
ATI RADEON 9200 64MB 64bit DDR (250/400 MHz) (37)
ATI RADEON 9200SE 128MB 64bit DDR (200/333 MHz) (38)

Usability rating: card price + $250

ATI RADEON 9800 128MB DDR (325/580 MHz) (4)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (380/680 MHz) ( 1)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (400/680 MHz) (2)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 256MB DDR2 (380/700 MHz) (7)
ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB DDR (500/600 MHz) (3)
ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB DDR (412/730 MHz) (6)
ATI RADEON 9600 128MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (8)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB DDR (400/600 MHz) (5)
ATI RADEON 9600 256MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (9)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB DDR (360/680 MHz) (10)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 256MB DDR (400/400 MHz) (11)
ATI RADEON 9500 128MB 128bit DDR (275/540 MHz) (12)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB 128bit DDR (325/540 MHz) (17)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900SE 128MB DDR (400/700 MHz) (14)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 128MB DDR (400/850 MHz) (13)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900EPV 128MB DDR (405/810 MHz) (15)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Turbo 256MB DDR (410/850 MHz) (16)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Ultra 256MB DDR (450/850 MHz) (19)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR (350/600 MHz) (23)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB DDR (475/950 MHz) (18)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (400/800 MHz) (21)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB DDR (325/550 MHz) (20)
ATI RADEON 9600SE 128MB 64bit DDR (325/400 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (350/700 MHz) (22)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB DDR2 (475/900 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB DDR (325/600 MHz) (25)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 128MB DDR (425/550 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR (325/500 MHz) (24)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra 128MB DDR (325/650 MHz) (29)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR (275/500 MHz) (30)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (27)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT 128MB 128bit DDR (235/400 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (31)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR (250/300 MHz) (32)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB 64bit DDR (250/333 MHz) (33)
ATI RADEON 9000 Pro 128MB DDR (275/550 MHz) (34)
ATI RADEON 9200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (35)
ATI RADEON 9200 64MB 64bit DDR (250/400 MHz) (37)
ATI RADEON 9200SE 128MB 64bit DDR (200/333 MHz) (38)

Usability rating: card price + $100

ATI RADEON 9800 128MB DDR (325/580 MHz) (6)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (380/680 MHz) (3)
ATI RADEON 9600 128MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (4)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (400/680 MHz) (5)
ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB DDR (500/600 MHz) (2)
ATI RADEON 9600 256MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (7)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB DDR (400/600 MHz) (1)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 256MB DDR (400/400 MHz) (9)
ATI RADEON 9500 128MB 128bit DDR (275/540 MHz) (10)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 256MB DDR2 (380/700 MHz) (11)
ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB DDR (412/730 MHz) (8)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB DDR (360/680 MHz) (12)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB 128bit DDR (325/540 MHz) (16)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900SE 128MB DDR (400/700 MHz) (14)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR (350/600 MHz) (19)
ATI RADEON 9600SE 128MB 64bit DDR (325/400 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB DDR (325/550 MHz) (13)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 128MB DDR (400/850 MHz)(15)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900EPV 128MB DDR (405/810 MHz) (17)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR (275/500 MHz) (18)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra 128MB DDR (325/650 MHz)(25)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Turbo 256MB DDR (410/850 MHz) (23)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (400/800 MHz) (21)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (350/700 MHz) (20)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR (325/500 MHz) (22)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB DDR (325/600 MHz) (28)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 128MB DDR (425/550 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Ultra 256MB DDR (450/850 MHz) (29)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB DDR2 (475/900 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (31)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (30)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT 128MB 128bit DDR (235/400 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB DDR (475/950 MHz) (27)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR (250/300 MHz) (32)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB 64bit DDR (250/333 MHz) (33)
ATI RADEON 9000 Pro 128MB DDR (275/550 MHz) (34)
ATI RADEON 9200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (35)
ATI RADEON 9200 64MB 64bit DDR (250/400 MHz) (37)
ATI RADEON 9200SE 128MB 64bit DDR (200/333 MHz) (38)

Prospect rating (previous rating is in parenthesis):

ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB DDR (412/730 MHz) (1)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (400/680 MHz) (2)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 256MB DDR2 (380/700 MHz) (3)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (380/680 MHz) (4)
ATI RADEON 9800 128MB DDR (325/580 MHz) (5)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB DDR (475/950 MHz) (6)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Ultra 256MB DDR (450/850 MHz) (7)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Turbo 256MB DDR (410/850 MHz) (8)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 128MB DDR (400/850 MHz) (9)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900EPV 128MB DDR (405/810 MHz) (10)
ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB DDR (500/600 MHz) (11)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB DDR (360/680 MHz) (12)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900SE 128MB DDR (400/700 MHz) (14)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB DDR (400/600 MHz) (13)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB 128bit DDR (325/540 MHz) (19)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB DDR2 (475/900 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9600 256MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (17)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 256MB DDR (400/400 MHz) (16)
ATI RADEON 9500 128MB 128bit DDR (275/540 MHz) (18)
ATI RADEON 9600 128MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (15)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (400/800 MHz) (20)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (350/700 MHz) (21)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR (350/600 MHz) (22)
ATI RADEON 9600SE 128MB 64bit DDR (325/400 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 128MB DDR (425/550 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB DDR (325/600 MHz) (24)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB DDR (325/550 MHz) (25)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra 128MB DDR (325/650 MHz)(26)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR (325/500 MHz) (27)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 256MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (28)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR (275/500 MHz) (30)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT 128MB 128bit DDR (235/400 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (31)
ATI RADEON 9000 Pro 128MB DDR (275/550 MHz) (32)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR (250/300 MHz) (33)
ATI RADEON 9200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (34)
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR 64bit (250/333 MHz)(36)
ATI RADEON 9200 64MB 64bit DDR (250/400 MHz) (37)
ATI RADEON 9200SE 128MB 64bit DDR (200/333 MHz) (38)

GAME QUALITY SECTION

6. Anisotropic filtering examination

Anisotropic filtering examination on the example of Serious Sam:TSE (OpenGL) and Unreal 2: The Awakening (Direct3D), (Windows XP)

7. Antialiasing examination

Antialiasing examination in Serious Sam:The Second Encounter (OpenGL), and Unreal 2: The Awakening (Direct3D), (Windows XP)

8. 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

9. Games artefacts gallery

Games quality section

10. All authors

Kirill Budankov (budankov@ixbt.com)	Danil Gridasov (degust@ixbt.com)

and Andrew Vorobyev (anvakams@ixbt.com)