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 GeForce4 Ti 4600 128MB DDR 2.8ns (300/650 MHz)
• NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 Ultra 128MB DDR 2.8ns (325/650 MHz)
• NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 Ultra 256MB DDR 2.2ns (450/850 MHz)
• ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR 2.8ns (325/620 MHz)

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

Cards list:

1. NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200 with AGP8x 128MB DDR 4ns (250/513 MHz)
2. NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 128MB DDR 2.8ns (300/650 MHz)
3. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR 64bit 6ns (250/333 MHz)
4. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR 6ns (250/300 MHz)
5. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR 5ns (250/400 MHz)
6. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR 4ns (275/500 MHz)
7. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 Ultra 128MB DDR 2.8ns (325/650 MHz)
8. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 128MB DDR 3.6ns (325/550 MHz)
9. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 128MB DDR 3.3ns (325/600 MHz)
10. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR 2.8ns (350/700 MHz)
11. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR 2.2ns (400/800 MHz)
12. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR 5ns (325/400 MHz)
13. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR 3.6ns (325/500 MHz)
14. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR 3.3ns (350/600 MHz)
15. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900SE 128MB DDR 2.8ns (400/700 MHz)
16. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900EPV 128MB DDR 2.5ns (405/810 MHz)
17. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 128MB DDR 2.2ns (400/850 MHz)
18. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 Turbo 256MB DDR 2.2ns (410/850 MHz)
19. NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 Ultra 256MB DDR 2.2ns (450/850 MHz)
20. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB DDR 2.0ns (475/950 MHz)
21. ATI RADEON 9000 128MB DDR 3.6ns (250/400 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 6ns (200/333 Mhz)
26. ATI RADEON 9500 128MB 128bit 3.6ns (275/540 MHz)
27. ATI RADEON 9600 128MB 4ns (325/400 MHz)
28. ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB 2.8ns (400/600 MHz)
29. ATI RADEON 9600 256MB 5ns (325/400 MHz)
30. ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 256MB DDR 5ns (400/400 MHz)
31. ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB DDR 3.3ns (500/600 MHz)
32. ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB 128bit DDR 3.3ns (325/540 MHz)
33. ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB DDR 2.8ns (360/680 MHz)
34. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB DDR 3.3ns (325/580 MHz)
35. ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR 2.8ns (380/680 MHz)
36. ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR 3.3ns (400/680 MHz)
37. ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 256MB DDR2 2.2ns (380/700 MHz)
38. ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB DDR 2.5ns (412/730 MHz)

Cards coming in the next 3Digest:

Cards to add:
1. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700
2. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra
3. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT

Cards to archive:
1. NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200 with AGP8x
2. NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600

Archive (videocards, which info is no longer updated)

3. October 2003 news and the current business

• 3.1. The following drivers were released from September 10, 2003 to October 10, 2003:
  
  
  • NVIDIA Detonator for all NVIDIA cards:
    
    
    • Windows XP: 52.14; 52.16;

    
    Note that 52.16 drivers are named ForceWare. It seems the Californian company tries to add "force" to all its products :)
    
    

  • ATI Catalyst for all ATI cards:
    
    
    • Windows XP: 6.387; 6.396;

    
    
    

  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 that contains much useful information.

• 3.2. In this month we used 52.16 drivers for NVIDIA cards summaries; 6.387 drivers for ATI cards summaries.

• 3.3. We've patched our version of Serious Sam. Now all tests are performed on v1.07. So there's no sense in comparing tests results of different versions. This version will be used for the monthly digest.
• 3.4. 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.
• 3.5. This time we tested cards in 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.

4. Summary diagrams of graphics cards performance with the latest drivers for October 2003

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. Half-Life 2
  • Windows XP, all demos
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768, ixbt07 demo
    • Testing on Pentium 4 3200 MHz at 1024x768, Coast demo

  
  
  

• 4.8. Archive (information from the previous 3Digests absent in this issue)
  • Expendable, Windows 98SE;
  • Expendable, Windows 2000;
  • FAKK2, Windows 98SE;
  • FAKK2, Windows 2000;
  • Unreal, Windows 98SE;
  • Unreal, Windows 2000;
  • Unreal Tournament, Windows 98SE;
  • TreeMark, Windows 98SE
  • TreeMark, Windows 2000, July 2001
  • TreeMark, Windows ME, December 2001
  • Athlon+KT133A (SDR SDRAM) vs. Athlon+AMD760 (DDR SDRAM), Windows 98SE, July 2001
  • S3TC/FXT1 influence on speed and quality (Windows ME), January 2002
  • Giants, Windows ME, March 2002
  • Giants, Windows XP, March 2002
  • Examination of performance difference between Intel Pentium4: i850 and VIA P4X266 platforms, November 2001.
  • Giants: Examination of minimal and peak performance (Windows ME), March 2002
  • Examination of minimal and peak FPS with Comanche4 DEMO (Windows XP)
  • Examination of performance difference between Intel Pentium4: i850 and i845D platforms.
  • Examination of performance difference between Intel Pentium4: i850e and SIS648 platforms.
  • Examination of performance difference between Intel Pentium4 i850e and iE7205 platforms, Windows XP (January 2003)
    Standard testing in 3DMark2001
    • Windows ME (June 2002)
    • Windows XP (May 2003)
      Software and Hardware T&L comparatives (June 2002)
      • Windows ME
      • Windows XP

  • Standard testing in 3DMark2003 (February 2003)

• 4.9. Notes on videocards' performance with the latest drivers:
  • 6.387 and 6.396 drivers introduced bothering quality problems in iXBT Rightmark 3D for R3x0-based cards. Besides, we noticed slight and seldom quality problems in Half-Life 2 beta with Radeon 9000.
  • Drivers 6.396 supports only Radeon 9800 Pro and Radeon 9800XT. Therefore we couldn't test Radeon 9600 Pro with it.
  • In the latest summary diagrams results of Radeon 9800SE 128MB 128bit are provided for 6.378 drivers for some specific reasons.
  • For some reasons this card wasn't tested in Half-Life 2 beta as well.

    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.
    
    

  • New Detonators aka ForceWare (5x.xx) slightly added to the performance of almost all cards, but introduced a number of quality problems as well. E.g. it caused texturing and light problems for the entire GeForce FX family in Return to Castle Wolfenstain. See the games quality section.
  • Besides, maybe having heard our exclamation about bothering bug in the NVIDIA drivers control panel (related to anisotropic filtering and AA activation), NVIDIA fixed it in 5x.xx versions, but added another one though ;) Now forcing these features you will see a message stating that they'll be forced only if the game can't use them itself. But everything is nicely forced anyway.

    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 famous RivaTuner.

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

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

6. Antialiasing examination in Serious Sam:TSE (OpenGL) and 3DMark2001 SE (Direct3D) (Windows XP)

7. 3D accelerator rating 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.

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.

^*All speed values were obtained from tests conducted on Pentium4 3200 MHz.

7.1. 3D accelerator rating calculations for the end of the month

Usability ratings are calculated by the following formula:

Kuse = ((((W10xp*0.6 + W12xp*0.3 + W16xp*0.1) +
      (UT10xp*0.6 + UT12xp*0.3 + UT16xp*0.1) +
      (C410xp*0.6 + C412xp*0.3 + C416xp*0.1) +
      (G210xp*0.6 + G212xp*0.3 + G216xp*0.1) +
      (SS10xp*0.6 + SS12xp*0.3 + SS16xp*0.1) +
      (RM10xp*0.6 + RM12xp*0.3 + RM16xp*0.1))* 3 ) +
      (Paris54 + Paris1c + Paris2g) +
      (W10aaaxp + UT10aaaxp + C410aaaxp + G210aaaxp + SS10aaaxp + RM10aaaxp) * AAA) * 0.7 +
      (Poss * 0.3)) * 20/ (Price + APG)

The similar calculation (but for 1600x1200 resolution only) indicates the prospect of a videocard. The formula contains the same indexes as those used for usability rating calculations, but accelerator's price isn't considered. So, this rating indicates the capabilities of the current 3D cards in the current applications and future games.

Kpro = ((W16xp +
      UT16xp +
      C416xp +
      G216xp +
      SS16xp +
      RM16xp)* 0.7 +
      (Poss * 0.3)) * 2 / 10

You can also compare two ratings to see the correspondence of product prices to their capabilities and features.

Sergey Gaidukov offered us a method of curvilinear relationship calculation that we use now. It's featured in Excel tables above. Kuse is calculated using the similar formula, but each FPS value is not entered as is, but calculated like shown below:

FPSnew = 50 * (ATAN (FPSold / 30 - 2) - ATAN (-2)) + FPSold / 100

This relation has the following properties:

1. In the 0..20 range FPSnew is much smaller than FPSold ("low performance penalty")
2. In the 20..60 range the following should be true: FPSnew < FPSold
3. In the 60..120 range both values are approximately equal, i.e. the function is almost linear.
4. At x > 120 the function should grow VERY slowly

Legend:

• Kuse - usability rating. The higher it is, the better card's mark is.
• Kpro - prospect rating. The higher it is, the better card's mark is.
• W10xp - speed in Return to Castle Wolfenstein (checkpoint) at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP);
• W10aaaxp - speed in Return to Castle Wolfenstein (checkpoint) at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP) with AA+Aniso;
• W12xp - speed in Return to Castle Wolfenstein (checkpoint) at 1280x1024x32 (Windows XP);
• W16xp - speed in Return to Castle Wolfenstein (checkpoint) at 1600x1200x32 (Windows XP);
• UT10xp - speed in UT2003 at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP) at maximum quality;
• UT10aaaxp - speed in UT2003 at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP) at maximum quality, with AA+Aniso;
• UT12xp - speed in UT2003 at 1280x1024x32 (Windows XP) at maximum quality;
• UT16xp - speed in UT2003 b pacpeoehee 1600x1200x32 (Windows XP) at maximum quality;
• C410xp - speed in Codecreatures Benchmark Pro at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP);
• C410aaaxp - speed in Codecreatures Benchmark Pro at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP) with AA+Aniso;
• C412xp - speed in Codecreatures Benchmark Pro at 1280x1024x32 (Windows XP);
• C416xp - speed in Codecreatures Benchmark Pro at 1600x1200x32 (Windows XP);
• G210xp - speed in Unreal 2, Game2 Low at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP);
• G210aaaxp - speed in Unreal 2, Game2 Low at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP) with AA+Aniso;
• G212xp - speed in Unreal 2, Game2 Low at 1280x1024x32 (Windows XP);
• G216xp - speed in Unreal 2, Game2 Low at 1600x1200x32 (Windows XP);
• SS10xp - speed in Serious Sam at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP);
• SS10aaaxp - speed in Serious Sam at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP) with AA+Aniso;
• SS12xp - speed in Serious Sam at 1280x1024x32 (Windows XP);
• SS16xp - speed in Serious Sam at 1600x1200x32 (Windows XP);
• RM10xp - speed in RightMark at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP);
• RM10aaaxp - speed in RightMark at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP) with AA+Aniso;
• RM12xp - speed in RightMark at 1280x1024x32 (Windows XP);
• RM16xp - speed in RightMark at 1600x1200x32 (Windows XP);
• Paris54 - speed in TR:AoD demo Paris5_4 at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP);
• Paris1c - speed in TR:AoD demo Paris1c at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP);
• Paris2g - speed in TR:AoD demo Paris2g at 1024x768x32 (Windows XP);
• Price - card price for the end of the month taken from price lists of a number of companies (for an average card);
• APG - see above;
• Poss - estimated functional potential and quality of a videocard (see remarks below);

Poss is calculated by the following formula:

Poss = (2D*10 + Driver*70 + AF*6 + TLF + DOT3 + EMBM + CEM + AA*2 + S3TC + Glide + VS + PS + TCL + DH)/2

Where:

• 2D - estimated 2D graphics quality on the 100-mark scale;
• Driver - estimated drivers quality (including installation difficulties, etc.) on the 100-mark scale;
• AF - anisotropic filtering:
  • = 700 - RADEON 9700/9800, GeForceFX;
  • = 600 - GeForce 4;
  • = 500 - RADEON, RADEON 8500/9000;
  • = 400 - GeForce2, Parhelia;
  • = 150 - KYRO, KYRO II;
  • = 0 - n/a;

• TLF - trilinear filtering:
  • = 600 - available;
  • = 200 - potentially available with resource losses;
  • = 150 - approximation;

• DOT3 - Bump Mapping DOT3:
  • = 600 - available;
  • = 0 - n/a;

• EMBM - Bump Mapping EMBM:
  • = 600 - available;
  • = 0 - n/a;

• CEM - Cubic Environment Mapping:
  • = 600 - available;
  • = 0 - n/a;

• AA - antialiasing (on condition of suitable gameplay):
  • = 700 - GeForce4 MSAA, RADEON 9700 MSAA, GeForceFX ;
  • = 400 - SSAA, RADEON 8500 SmoothVision;
  • = 0 - n/a;

• S3TC - texture compression:
  • = 600 - RADEON 9100/9000/9700/9800, GeForce4/FX;
  • = 0 - n/a;

• Glide - Glide for UT-engine games:
  • = 450 - available;
  • = 0 - n/a;

• VS - hardware vertex shaders:
  • = 700 - RADEON 9700/9800, GeForceFX;
  • = 400 - GeForce 4, RADEON 9100;
  • = 0 - n/a;

• PS - hardware pixel shaders:
  • = 800 - version 2.0;
  • = 600 - version 1.4;
  • = 450 - version 1.3;
  • = 400 - version 1.1;
  • = 0 - n/a;

• TCL - estimated Hardware TCL:
  
  
  • = 400 - available;
  • = 0 - n/a;

• DH - additional features: dual-monitor output with the support of DualHead/TwinView/HydraVision technologies, TV-tuner, etc.:
  
  
  • = 700 - RADEON 9100/9000/9500/9700/9800, GeForce4/FX;
  • = 0 - n/a;

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 Pro 128MB DDR (400/680 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB DDR (412/730 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 256MB DDR2 (380/700 MHz) ( 3)
ATI RADEON 9800 128MB DDR (325/580 MHz) ( 4)
ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB DDR (500/600 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB (400/600 MHz) ( 5)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB (360/680 MHz) (6)
ATI RADEON 9600 128MB (325/400 MHz) (7)
ATI RADEON 9600 256MB (325/400 MHz) (8)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 128MB DDR (400/850 MHz)( 9)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 256MB DDR (400/400 MHz) (10)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5950 Ultra 256MB DDR (475/950 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900EPV 128MB DDR (405/810 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 Turbo 256MB DDR (410/850 MHz) (11)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900SE 128MB DDR (400/700 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 Ultra 256MB DDR (450/850 MHz) (13)
ATI RADEON 9500 128MB 128bit(275/540 MHz) (12)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB 128bit (325/540 MHz) (14)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (400/800 MHz) (15)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (350/700 MHz) (17)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR (350/600 MHz) (16)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 128MB DDR (325/550 MHz) (18)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 128MB DDR (325/600 MHz) (19)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR (325/500 MHz) (21)
NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 128MB DDR (300/650 MHz) (20)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (22)
NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200 with AGP8x 128MB DDR (250/513 MHz) (24)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 Ultra 128MB DDR (325/650 MHz)(23)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR (275/500 MHz) (25)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (26)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR (250/300 MHz) (27)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR 64bit (250/333 MHz)(29)
ATI RADEON 9000 Pro 128MB DDR (275/550 MHz) (30)
ATI RADEON 9200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (31)
ATI RADEON 9000 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (32)
ATI RADEON 9200 64MB 64bit DDR (250/400 MHz) (33)
ATI RADEON 9200SE 128MB 64bit (200/333 Mhz) (34)

Usability rating: card price + $250

ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (380/680 MHz) ( 1)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (400/680 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB DDR (500/600 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9800 128MB DDR (325/580 MHz) ( 3)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB (400/600 MHz) ( 4)
ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB DDR (412/730 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 256MB DDR2 (380/700 MHz) (5)
ATI RADEON 9600 128MB (325/400 MHz) ( 6)
ATI RADEON 9600 256MB 5ns (325/400 MHz) (7)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB (360/680 MHz) (8)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 256MB DDR (400/400 MHz) (9)
ATI RADEON 9500 128MB 128bit(275/540 MHz) (10)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 128MB DDR (400/850 MHz)( 11)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900SE 128MB DDR (400/700 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900EPV 128MB DDR (405/810 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 Turbo 256MB DDR (410/850 MHz) (13)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB 128bit (325/540 MHz) (12)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5950 Ultra 256MB DDR (475/950 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 Ultra 256MB DDR (450/850 MHz) (16)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 128MB DDR (325/550 MHz) (17)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (400/800 MHz) (14)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (350/700 MHz) (15)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR (350/600 MHz) (15)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR (325/500 MHz) (21)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 128MB DDR (325/600 MHz) (18)
NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 128MB DDR (300/650 MHz) (19)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (20)
NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200 with AGP8x 128MB DDR (250/513 MHz) (24)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 Ultra 128MB DDR (325/650 MHz)(22)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR (275/500 MHz) (23)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (25)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR (250/300 MHz) (26)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR 64bit (250/333 MHz)(28)
ATI RADEON 9000 Pro 128MB DDR (275/550 MHz) (29)
ATI RADEON 9200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (30)
ATI RADEON 9000 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (31)
ATI RADEON 9200 64MB 64bit DDR (250/400 MHz) (33)
ATI RADEON 9200SE 128MB 64bit (200/333 Mhz) (34)

Usability rating: card price + $100

ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB (400/600 MHz) ( 2)
ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB DDR (500/600 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (380/680 MHz) (1)
ATI RADEON 9600 128MB (325/400 MHz) ( 5)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (400/680 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9800 128MB DDR (325/580 MHz) ( 4)
ATI RADEON 9600 256MB 5ns (325/400 MHz) ( 6)
ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB DDR (412/730 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 256MB DDR (400/400 MHz) (10)
ATI RADEON 9500 128MB 128bit(275/540 MHz) (7)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 256MB DDR2 (380/700 MHz) (9)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB (360/680 MHz) (8)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 128MB DDR (325/550 MHz) (11)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900SE 128MB DDR (400/700 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 128MB DDR (400/850 MHz)(12)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB 128bit (325/540 MHz) (14)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900EPV 128MB DDR (405/810 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR (275/500 MHz) (15)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR (350/600 MHz) (13)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (350/700 MHz) (18)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (400/800 MHz) (17)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR (325/500 MHz) (25)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 Turbo 256MB DDR (410/850 MHz) (22)
NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200 with AGP8x 128MB DDR (250/513 MHz) (21)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 Ultra 128MB DDR (325/650 MHz)(19)
NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 128MB DDR (300/650 MHz) (20)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5950 Ultra 256MB DDR (475/950 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 128MB DDR (325/600 MHz) (16)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 Ultra 256MB DDR (450/850 MHz) (26)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (23)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (24)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR (250/300 MHz) (27)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR 64bit (250/333 MHz)(28)
ATI RADEON 9000 Pro 128MB DDR (275/550 MHz) (30)
ATI RADEON 9200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (31)
ATI RADEON 9000 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (32)
ATI RADEON 9200 64MB 64bit DDR (250/400 MHz) (34)
ATI RADEON 9200SE 128MB 64bit (200/333 Mhz) (35)

Prospect rating (previous rating is in parenthesis):

ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB DDR (412/730 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (400/680 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 256MB DDR2 (380/700 MHz) ( 1)
ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR (380/680 MHz) ( 2)
ATI RADEON 9800 128MB DDR (325/580 MHz) ( 4)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5950 Ultra 256MB DDR (475/950 MHz) (--)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 Ultra 256MB DDR (450/850 MHz) ( 5)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 Turbo 256MB DDR (410/850 MHz) ( 6)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 128MB DDR (400/850 MHz)( 7)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900EPV 128MB DDR (405/810 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB DDR (500/600 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB (360/680 MHz) (8)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB (400/600 MHz) (9)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900SE 128MB DDR (400/700 MHz) (--)
ATI RADEON 9600 128MB (325/400 MHz) (10)
ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 256MB DDR (400/400 MHz) (12)
ATI RADEON 9600 256MB (325/400 MHz) (11)
ATI RADEON 9500 128MB 128bit(275/540 MHz) (13)
ATI RADEON 9800SE 128MB 128bit (325/540 MHz) (14)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (400/800 MHz) (15)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 Ultra 128MB DDR (350/700 MHz) (16)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR (350/600 MHz) (17)
NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 128MB DDR (300/650 MHz) (19)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 128MB DDR (325/600 MHz) (18)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 128MB DDR (325/550 MHz) (20)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 Ultra 128MB DDR (325/650 MHz)(22)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR (325/500 MHz) (21)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5600 256MB DDR (325/400 MHz) (23)
NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200 with AGP8x 128MB DDR (250/513 MHz) (25)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR (275/500 MHz) (24)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (26)
ATI RADEON 9000 Pro 128MB DDR (275/550 MHz) (27)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR (250/300 MHz) (29)
ATI RADEON 9200 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (30)
ATI RADEON 9000 128MB DDR (250/400 MHz) (31)
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 128MB DDR 64bit (250/333 MHz)(32)
ATI RADEON 9200 64MB 64bit DDR (250/400 MHz) (33)
ATI RADEON 9200SE 128MB 64bit (200/333 Mhz) (35)

P.S. We understand that such way of making ratings is not perfect, therefore we await suggestions and comments from our readers to be considered in our next 3Digest.

We also await any remarks and recommendations from readers for improving the 3Digest itself.

8. 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 quality section

Games quality section

All authors: