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December 2004 3Digest



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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 November 2004 to the 10th of December 2004. 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 2004Digest. We also pay much attention to ingame 3D graphics quality.

It's our 55th issue of 3Digest.

December and the Year 2004 Summary

Here's the summary of the most important 3D market events of the Year 2004.

Technologies and trends

ATI 3Dc - a new method of texture compression designed specially for compressing dual-component perpendicular maps. Traditional texture compression methods work fine with usual textures, where visual losses are neglected by our vision. But they are not suitable for perpendicular maps, which are actually vector tables. What's good for RGB images is bad for vectors and vice versa. Therefore a need of special algorithm of perpendicular map compression implemented into TMUs arised long ago. ATI 3Dc is called to fill this niche. However, developers say it's bad NVIDIA doesn't support it.

Actually 3Dc is a kind of conversion made before usual block compression that implies losses; and the reverse conversion supported by hardware (can be emulated by pixel shader, but will reduce it's performance). The technology is now implemented as FOURCC texture code in DirectX and is not licensed by Microsoft for DX as a compression standard. It really speeds up drawing of larke detailed models with pixel surface, but is not transparent for applications and must be specially supported to work.

NVIDIA's SLI - finally the gaming market was offered the potential of dual-GPU configurations provided in several latest generations of NVIDIA and ATI professional cards. PCI Express made two graphics slots possible, so now we can use two cards to form frames - almost like good old days of Voodoo2. However, we should expect economically warrantable solutions (like GeForce 6600 SLI) with two GPUs per PCB. Actually, PCI Express allows this even without additional bridges. ATI is also moving in this direction implying that R5XX will utilize multiple GPUs in consumer products.

NVIDIA Ultra Shadow II - another improvement of a number of technologies speeding up hardware shadows calculations with various methods. It was developed together with id Software, etc. and really helps many games. Doom 3 is an obvious example. It owes much these innovations that make it run faster with NVIDIA cards. Actually this technology pack implies various hardware support of two shadow generation methods, bitmaps and geometrical shadow volumes.

Hardware monitoring - gets more and more important regarding temperature and other information. The latest GPUs from ATI and NVIDIA are often more complex than CPUs and are not only capable of reporting core temperatures or controlling voltages depending on load. They also have lots of internal counters that gather load stats of various accelerator units.

Miniature mobile innovations - this year brought us the first products designed to speed up 3D graphics in PDAs and other portable devices. For now they correspond to DX7, but some units are more advanced already. Such devices are distinguished by low energy consumption, compact bodies, built-in memory and interfaces, including LCD, digital cameras, etc. The low resolution doesn't require high performance, besides, energy and features are more valuable. Speaking of brands, these are ATI Imageon and NVIDIA GoForce 3d.

Mobile replaceable graphics - both NVIDIA and ATI offered their standards to notebook vendors. Now one can replace graphics in his notebook by another, e.g. more powerful. Moreover, mobile GPUs are becoming more and more powerful - the lag between them and desktop solutions reduced twice comparing to 2003, which means similarity of the latest architectures and even performance! It's just another proof that notebooks are pressing classic desktops.

NVIDIA TurboCache - offers the fully-fledged bandwidth of PCI-Express (4 GB/s in both ways) to effectively utilize system memory of value solutions with slow memory for rendering (32/64-bits and 16-64 MB is enough). Depth and frame buffers are intensively and effectively cached, being stored in the system memory and addressed by GPU over PCI Express. This became possible only with the new bus, as AGP was not powerful enough to effectively operate with frame buffer stored in system memory. In value solutions this adds local memory bandwidth to that of PCI Express 16x and generally produces good results and reduces price, because companies use simpler PCBs and fewer inexpensive memory chips. Resources are allocated between local and system memory on the fly by drivers and hardware. For now this technology is implemented only into NV44 GPU, being the most inexpensive solution of the latest generation. But potentially nothing prevents more powerful GPUs from obtaining advantages of buses used in parallel. The first three solutions on NV44 have 32-bit and 64-bit buses and just 16/32/64 MB memory. Surely these cards are called to compete with integrated graphics, introducing shaders 3.0 and other NVIDIA gaming technologies that Intel 915 lacks. ATI is also developing such a technology, but it will see the light only early in Q2 2005.

Hardware

Discrete and integrated graphics announced in 2004:

Codename Developer Process, nm Transistors, millions Max. pixel/clock Memory interface Memory type Shaders
NV44
NVIDIA
110
77
2 / 4
128
(32x4)
DDR, GDDR2, GDDR3
3.0
R480
ATI
130
160
16 / 16
256
(64x4)
DDR, GDDR2, GDDR3
2.0b
R430
ATI
110
160
16 / 16
256
(64x4)
DDR, GDDR2, GDDR3
2.0b
M28
ATI
130
160
12 / 12
256
(64x4)
DDR, GDDR2, GDDR3
2.0b
RS480
ATI
130
Chipset
2 / 2
64
DDR, DDR-II
2.0
NV41
NVIDIA
130
190
12 / 12
256
(64x4)
DDR, GDDR2, GDDR3
3.0
NV41M
NVIDIA
130
190
12 / 12
256
(64x4)
DDR, GDDR2, GDDR3
3.0
RV410
ATI
110
120
8 / 8
128
(64x2)
DDR, GDDR2, GDDR3
2.0b
NV45
NVIDIA
130
222
16 / 16
256
(64x4)
DDR, GDDR2, GDDR3
3.0
NV43
NVIDIA
110
143
4 / 8
128
(64x2)
DDR, GDDR2, GDDR3
3.0
M18
ATI
130
160
8 / 8
256
(64x4)
DDR, GDDR2, GDDR3
2.0b
915G
Intel
-
Chipset
4 / 4
128
(64x2)
DDR, DDR2
2.0
S4
S3/VIA
130
40
4 / 4
128
(64x2)
DDR
2.0
RV380
ATI
130
75
4 / 4
128
(64x2)
DDR, DDR-II
2.0
RV370
ATI
110
75
4 / 4
128
(64x2)
DDR, DDR-II
2.0
R423
ATI
130
160
16 / 16
256
(64x4)
DDR, GDDR2, GDDR3
2.0b
R420
ATI
130
160
16 / 16
256
(64x4)
DDR, GDDR2, GDDR3
2.0b
RS350
ATI
150
Chipset
2 / 2
128
(64x2)
DDR
1.4
NV40
NVIDIA
130
222
16 / 16
256
(64x4)
DDR, GDDR2, GDDR3
3.0
NV34B
NVIDIA
150
47
4 / 4
128
(64x2)
DDR
2.0b
M11
ATI
130
75
4 / 4
128
(64x2)
DDR, DDR-II
2.0

The most important graphics cards based on GPUs introduced in 2004:

Card GPU Pixel/
Vertex 		Memory Bus Fillrate
Mpix. 		Core clock
NVIDIA
6800 U
NV40
16/6
256 (4 x 64)
GDDR3 1100
35.2
6400
400
6800 GT
NV40
16/ 6
256 (4 x 64)
GDDR3 1000
32.0
5600
350
6800
NV40
12/5
256 (4 x 64)
DDR 700
22.4
3900
325
6800 LE
NV40
8/4
256 (4x64)
DDR 700
22.4
2560
325
6600 GT
NV 43
8/3
128 (2x64)
GDDR 3 1000
16
4000
500
6600
NV 43
8/3
128 (2x64)
DDR 500-600-700
<11.2
2400
300
6200 TC family (16/32/64)
NV44
2*2/3
32/64 + Turbocache
2.8, 5.6, 5.6 +PCI-E
700
350
ATI
X850 XT*
R48X
16/6
256 (4 x 64)
GDDR3 1000
34.6
8320
520
X800 XT
R42X
16/6
256 (4 x 64)
GDDR3 1000
32
8000
500
X800 PRO
R42X
12/6
256 (4 x 64)
GDDR3 1100
28.8
5700
475
X800 SE
R42X
8/6
256 (4 x 64)
DDR 700
22.4
3400
425
X700 XT
RV41X
8/6
128 ( 2 x64)
GDDR3 1050
16.8
3800
475
X700 PRO
RV41X
8/6
128 ( 2 x64)
GDDR3 964
13.8
3360
420
X600 XXX
Based on the new versions of previous-generation architecture

X300 XXX

*) Competely identical to X800 series, but has newer revision of R420 GPU (R480) with higher clock rates and better yield; also X800 PRO, XL and just X800 were also released.

Several similar GPUs made using different processes (R430 - R480 couple indicates insufficient 110nm production capacities that make ATI make actually the same GPU revisions using various processes.)

Let's remind you the features of various versions of shaders:

Shader version 2.0 (R3XX) 2. a (NV3X) 3.0 (NV4X)
Instructions per code
256
256
512+
Executable instructions
65535
65535
65535+
Predicates
No
Yes
Yes
Temporary registers
12
13
32
Permanent registers
256+
256+
256+
Static transitions
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dynamic transitions
No
Yes
Yes
Nested dynamic transitions
No
24
24
Texture value selection
No
No
Yes (4)

Pixel shader features:

Shader version 2.0 (R3XX) 2.a (NV3X) 2.b (R4XX) 3.0 (NV4X)
Nested texture prefetch
4
Unlimited
4
Unlimited
Texture prefetches up to
32
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Shader code length
32 + 64
512
512
512+
Executable shader instructions
32 + 64
512
512
65535+
Interpolators
2 + 8
2 + 8
2 + 8
10
Predicates
No
Yes
No
Yes
Temporary registers
12
22
32
32
Permanent registers
32
32
32
224
Random component transposition
No
Yes
No
Yes
Gradient instructions (DDX/DDY)
No
Yes
No
Yes
Nested dynamic transitions
No
No
No
24

Now some comments to these tables above. By the year-end NVIDIA almost completely moved to NV4X series, offering GPUs for all segments, including Low-End with shaders 3.0 support. ATI still has a tail of inexpensive previous-generation solutions, though this is justified, given the very successful architecture of this previous generation that is somewhat similar to the newest one from the angle of shader model. 2.0b is a more quantative evolution then qualitative with rather strict accordance to specs 2.0. Anyway, the mentioned quantity is perfect, so all the modern games perform greatly on both older and newer architectures from ATI and the newer architecture from NVIDIA that finally has all NV3X mistakes fixed and thus price/performance ratio improved. Now it's a kind expectations parity in the market, so it's hard to say who is or will be the leader. The battles for standards ceased, excluding a brawl of Doom 3 and NVIDIA UltraShadow II versus Half-Life 2 and ATI 3Dc. FarCry obtained patches for both and achieved a kind of balance between the two technologies. Another matter is that DirectX is getting optimized. Its latest version, DX9c, has finally made HLSL shaders in games and other software real and even effective. And this means less aggression in brawls between 3.0 and 2.0b as well as older versions, because you can write in HLSL and offload compilation and optimization to drivers and DX. Graphics is going the way from assembler to compilator long ago foretold by CPU evolution. But here the transition is much faster.

Software

Undoubtedly, from the angle of 3D, there were three key events aka game releases: long-anticipated Doom 3 and Half-Life 2 and less anticipated, but no less popular FarCry. Besides, this year brought us 3D Mark05 that is surely the primary benchmark of the new year.

FarCry

In general there's much new. Not just in the gaming, but more in the technological aspect. Vast and beautiful landscapes (we are still waiting for you, S.T.A.L.K.E.R!), shaders 3.0, HDR rendering, etc. FarCry became a kind of a proving ground for new graphics techniques. Though it sometimes introduce newer bugs.

Doom 3

A game long-expected. There's so much written about it, that nothing said would be new. Adrenalin, mysticism, feelings. The new approach to fixed maximum framerate. Shadows that look better with NVIDIA graphics. Bets more on pixel-filled surfaces, lighting and shaders, than on intensive geometry. Cool animations. But still you feel slowdowns on even the most powerful configurations. Maybe only in several years our hardware will be consuming the game completely like it was with Quake. It depends on the CPU too much, so you better have 3 GHz, because 2.0 causes slowdowns sometimes even coupled with GeForce 6800 Ultra. This game is a real test of your hardware. It's clear that its engine will become foundation for many games in 2005, 2006 and even in 2007 in some newer incarnation. Just remember Quake 3.

Half-Life 2

A rival of Doom 3 in the market. No less long-anticipated game released slower than expected. Well, Doom 3 was released later as well. Can't say which is better, Doom 3 or Half-Life 2. They are just different. The first Half-Life had more interesting story and gameplay, but its sequel pleases us with very detailed environment that in many aspects became possible due to graphics innovations. You just have to visit THAT world. This game is also forestalling, so we are to see many games on its engine.

3D Mark05

All its game benchmarks utilize the same engine. Don't expect serious optimizations for particular game types. This application offers a general mechanism of building game scenes. It uses unified source HLSL shaders compiled according to the profile starting with 2.0. The engine itself is rather up-to-date, featuring lighting cube maps, detailed perspective shadow maps (2048x2048), texture compression. It graphs FPS, polygon amount, etc. changes in time.

Return To Proxycon

The first test is adequate to modern FPS in terms of scene balancing. Indoor battles, local dynamic lighting, calculations are at maximum in GPU, at minimum in CPU.

FireFly Forest

A forest at night, much greenery, fireflies illuminating various plants. Much physics modelling - flight, leaves motion. A single directed light source - the moonlight, and a single spotlight - the firefly itself. The test utilizes perspective shadow maps that improve quality of shadows obtained with bitmaps and helps solve the traditional problem of shadows cast by objects at a distance. Generally loads CPU much more.

Canyon Flight

Large open spaces, much ground and sky, complex in terms of shaders. Very close to a high-quality flight sim. The water surface is built using reflection and refraction maps and reflects all the landscape. Intensive subpixel water calculation. This test is very intensive in terms of shader fillrate and calculations.

The formula for the final result is:

Score = (GT1fps*GT2fps*GT3fps)^(1/3) * 250

It speaks for test equality and intention to negate the gap between high-end and mid-end cards. In other words, the formula underlines that the difference between 100 and 200 fps is not that important as the difference between 30 and 60 fps.

Synthetic tests

CPU - CPU performance is measured using two game tests at minimal resolution (640x480) with minimal shaders 2.0.

Fill Rate - Hasn't been changed.

Pixel shaders - A calculation of a part of canyon wall from the third game test.

Vertex shaders - Consists of two parts. The first runs a relatively simple geometry shader on models with huge amounts of vertices. The second test examines rather long and complex shaders, vice versa.

Batch size tests - A test very interesting for game developers, but not much useful for gamers.

The gaming tests are not just up-to-date, but even forestalling, which has been actually required. This benchmark is aimed at the future, so it will be used accordingly.

Conclusions:

  1. NVIDIA and ATI top products provide SUFFICIENT performance and features. Now all the attention is paid to the mid- and low-end segments, which are stirred by product battles. It's interesting that in the low-end part of the market, it's not ATI and NVIDIA, but Intel and its integrated graphics that compete with discrete GPUs. Vendors are looking for ways of reducing the price of value solutions while keeping them attractive in terms of performance and features - because only this might make user purchase a discrete solution instead of adding a very small sum for onboard graphics.
  2. The transition to HLSL in the future game developing is already visible. Shaders 3.0 are not in demand much, the performance and hardware shadow accelearation are of more importance at the moment (Doom 3, etc.). The existing games utilize shaders 2.0, performance (including that of CPU) being the key factor.
  3. There have almost been no innovations in the memory or image I/O technologies. We didn't see anything brand new this year and thus can speak of a calm evolution and convergence of architectures of the two primary rivals.
  4. The features previously related exclusively to CPUs evolve in GPUs as well. These include flexible configuration of good, defective and/or disabled units, monitoring of different kinds and power management. Now CPUs often lose to modern GPUs in terms of innovations and process technologies.
  5. In the nearest future we should expect a peak of game development and technologies made available by HLSL (which can now be seen in technological demos). HLSL will speed up the development and shaders 2.0 made standard de facto will offer developers a greater extent of freedom.
  6. Slowly, but inevitably PCI Express x16 is spreading and becoming the standard. There are more and more technologies and solutions made exclusively for it.



MORE 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. Screenshot gallery
  7. Games quality section



1. Testbed configuration



1.1. System on Athlon 64 3200+:

  • AMD Athlon 64 3200+ (L2=1024K);
  • ASUS K8V SE Deluxe motherboard on VIA K8T800;
  • 1 GB DDR SDRAM PC3200;
  • Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 80GB SATA HDD.

  • 1.2. System on Athlon 64 (939Socket)
    • AMD Athlon 3500+ (overclocked up to 2400MHz) (L2=512K);
    • ASUS A8N SLI Deluxe motherboard on NVIDIA nForce4 SLI;
    • 1 GB DDR SDRAM 400MHz;
    • WD Caviar SE WD1600JD 160GB SATA HDD.

    Testbeds have Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2, DirectX 9.0c installed. ViewSonic P810 (21") and IIYAMA Vision Master Pro 514 (22") monitors were used.

    The list of benchmarks is here

    2. Videocard list

    Below is a list of graphics cards that we tested linked to respective 3Digest feature-description pages.

    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 see the quality of 3D graphics produced by tested cards in our monthly updated Screenshot gallery.

    Cards list:

    1. ATI RADEON 9550 128MB DDR 4ns (250/400 MHz)
    2. ATI RADEON 9550XT 128MB DDR 3.3ns (400/500 MHz)
    3. ATI RADEON 9600 SE 128MB 64bit DDR 4ns (325/400 MHz)
    4. ATI RADEON X300 SE PCX 128MB 64bit DDR 5ns (325/400 MHz)
    5. ATI RADEON X300 PCX 128MB DDR 5ns (325/400 MHz)
    6. ATI RADEON X600 PRO PCX 128MB DDR 3.3ns (400/600 MHz)
    7. ATI RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB DDR 2.8ns (400/600 MHz)
    8. ATI RADEON 9600 256MB DDR 5ns (325/400 MHz)
    9. ATI RADEON 9600 XT 128MB DDR 3.3ns (500/600 MHz)
    10. ATI RADEON X600 XT PCX 128MB DDR 2.5ns (500/760 MHz)
    11. ATI RADEON X600 XT PCX 128MB DDR 2.2ns (540/800 MHz)
    12. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB DDR 3.3ns 128bit (380/600 MHz)
    13. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB DDR 3.3ns (325/580 MHz)
    14. ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB DDR 2.8ns (380/680 MHz)
    15. ATI RADEON 9800 Pro 256MB DDR 2.8ns (380/680 MHz)
    16. ATI RADEON 9800 XT 256MB DDR 2.5ns (412/730 MHz)
    17. ATI RADEON X700 PCX 256MB DDR 2.8ns (400/700 MHz)
    18. ATI RADEON X700 PRO PCX 256MB GDDR3 2.0ns (425/860 MHz)
    19. ATI RADEON X800 XL PCX 256MB DDR3 2.0ns (400/1000 MHz)
    20. ATI RADEON X800 Pro 256MB DDR3 2.0ns (475/900 MHz)
    21. ATI RADEON X800 XT PE 256MB DDR3 1.6ns (520/1120 MHz)
    22. ATI RADEON X800 XT 256MB DDR3 1.6ns (500/1000 MHz)
    23. ATI RADEON X800 XT PCX 256MB DDR3 1.6ns (500/1000 MHz)
    24. ATI RADEON X800 XT PE PCX 256MB DDR3 1.6ns (520/1120 MHz)
    25. ATI RADEON X850 XT PE PCX 256MB DDR3 1.6ns (540/1180 MHz)
    26. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR 64bit 6ns (250/333 MHz)
    27. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR 5ns (250/400 MHz)
    28. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB DDR 3.6ns (325/550 MHz)
    29. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 XT 128MB 128bit DDR 4ns (235/400 MHz)
    30. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 LE 128MB DDR 5ns (250/400 MHz)
    31. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 128MB DDR 3.6ns (425/550 MHz)
    32. NVIDIA GeForce PCX5750 128MB DDR 3.6ns (425/500 MHz)
    33. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB DDR3 2.0ns (475/950 MHz)
    34. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 XT 128MB DDR 2.8ns (390/700 MHz)
    35. NVIDIA GeForce PCX5900 128MB DDR 3.6ns (350/550 MHz)
    36. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB DDR 2.0ns (475/950 MHz)
    37. NVIDIA GeForce 6200 TurboCache 16MB DDR 32bit 2.8ns (350/700 MHz)
    38. NVIDIA GeForce 6200 TurboCache 32MB DDR 64bit 2.8ns (350/700 MHz)
    39. NVIDIA GeForce 6200 128MB DDR 3.6ns (300/550 MHz)
    40. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 128MB DDR 3.6ns (300/550 MHz)
    41. NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 2.0ns (500/1000 MHz)
    42. NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT 128MB AGP GDDR3 2.0ns (500/900 MHz)
    43. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 128MB DDR 2.8ns (325/700 MHz)
    44. NVIDIA GeForce 6800LE 128MB DDR 2.8ns (325/700 MHz)
    45. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 256MB GDDR3 2.0ns (350/1000 MHz)
    46. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 128MB DDR 2.8ns (350/700 MHz)
    47. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 256MB DDR3 2.0ns (350/1000 MHz)
    48. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT PCX 256MB DDR3 2.0ns (350/1000 MHz)
    49. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB DDR3 1.6ns (400/1100 MHz)
    50. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra PCX 256MB DDR3 1.6ns (400/1100 MHz)
    51. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB DDR3 1.6ns (425/1100 MHz)
    52. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra SLI 2x256MB DDR3 1.6ns (2x400/1100 MHz)
    53. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT SLI 2x256MB DDR3 2.0ns (2x350/1000 MHz)
    54. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT SLI 2x128MB DDR3 2.0ns (2x500/1000 MHz)

    Archive (videocards, which info is no longer updated)

    3. December 2004 news and current business

    • 3.1. The following drivers were released from November 10, 2004 to December 10, 2004:

      • NVIDIA ForceWare for all NVIDIA cards:

        • Windows XP: 67.03, 70.90, 71.20;


      • ATI Catalyst for all ATI cards:

        • Windows XP: 6.497 (CATALYST 4.12)




    • 3.2. This month we used 70.90/71.20 drivers for NVIDIA cards summaries; 6.497 drivers for ATI cards summaries.

    4. Summary diagrams of graphics cards performance with the latest drivers for December 2004

    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 XP) in RAR 3.0 or ZIP format.

    Prospect and usability ratings were calculated platformwise, i.e. there are two rating series.

    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. Each rating features its own expenses for system upgrade. All this is considered in the APG parameter that is $100 for Low-End, $250 for Middle-End, and $500 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. The fourth rating implies expenses only for the graphics card itself.

    1. Athlon64 3200+ (VIA K8T800):

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

      Usability rating: card price + $500

      01. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 128MB, 350/700 MHz
      (02)
      02. ATI RADEON X800XT PE 256MB, 525/1150 MHz
      (01)
      03. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (04)
      04. ATI RADEON X800XT 256MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (03)
      05. ATI RADEON X800 PRO 256MB, 475/900 MHz
      (05)
      06. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 128MB, 325/700 MHz
      (08)
      07. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB, 425/1100 MHz
      (06)
      08. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB, 400/1100 MHz
      (07)
      09. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (09)
      10. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT AGP 128MB, 500/900 MHz
      (--)
      11. NVIDIA GeForce 6800LE 128MB, 325/700 MHz
      (10)
      12. ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB, 412/730 MHz
      (11)
      13. ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 256MB, 380/680 MHz
      (12)
      14. ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB, 380/680 MHz
      (13)
      15. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB, 325/590 MHz
      (14)
      16. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB 128bit, 380/600 MHz
      (15)
      17. ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB, 500/600 MHz
      (18)
      18. ATI RADEON 9600 PRO 128MB, 400/600 MHz
      (19)
      19. ATI RADEON 9550XT 128MB 400/500 MHz
      (20)
      20. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB, 475/950 MHz
      (17)
      21. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900XT 128MB, 390/700 MHz
      (16)
      22. ATI RADEON 9600 256MB, 325/400 MHz
      (22)
      23. ATI RADEON 9550 128MB 250/400 MHz
      (24)
      24. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB 475/950 MHz DDR3
      (21)
      25. ATI RADEON 9600SE 128MB 64bit, 325/400 MHz
      (26)
      26. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 128MB, 425/550 MHz
      (23)
      27. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700LE 128MB, 250/400 MHz
      (25)
      28. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB, 325/550 MHz
      (27)
      29. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT 128MB 128bit, 235/400 MHz
      (28)
      30. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB, 250/400 MHz
      (29)
      31. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB, 64bit, 250/333 MHz
      (30)


      Usability rating: card price + $250

      01. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 128MB, 350/700 MHz
      (01)
      02. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 128MB, 325/700 MHz
      (05)
      03. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (04)
      04. ATI RADEON X800XT PE 256MB, 525/1150 MHz
      (02)
      05. ATI RADEON X800 PRO 256MB, 475/900 MHz
      (06)
      06. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT AGP 128MB, 500/900 MHz
      (--)
      07. ATI RADEON X800XT 256MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (03)
      08. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (07)
      09. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB, 400/1100 MHz
      (09)
      10. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB, 425/1100 MHz
      (08)
      11. NVIDIA GeForce 6800LE 128MB, 325/700 MHz
      (10)
      12. ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB, 412/730 MHz
      (11)
      13. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB, 325/590 MHz
      (14)
      14. ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 256MB, 380/680 MHz
      (13)
      15. ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB, 380/680 MHz
      (12)
      16. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB 128bit, 380/600 MHz
      (15)
      17. ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB, 500/600 MHz
      (17)
      18. ATI RADEON 9600 PRO 128MB, 400/600 MHz
      (18)
      19. ATI RADEON 9550XT 128MB 400/500 MHz
      (20)
      20. ATI RADEON 9600 256MB, 325/400 MHz
      (22)
      21. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900XT 128MB, 390/700 MHz
      (16)
      22. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB, 475/950 MHz
      (19)
      23. ATI RADEON 9550 128MB 250/400 MHz
      (23)
      24. ATI RADEON 9600SE 128MB 64bit, 325/400 MHz
      (26)
      25. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB 475/950 MHz DDR3
      (21)
      26. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 128MB, 425/550 MHz
      (24)
      27. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700LE 128MB, 250/400 MHz
      (25)
      28. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB, 325/550 MHz
      (27)
      29. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT 128MB 128bit, 235/400 MHz
      (28)
      30. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB, 250/400 MHz
      (29)
      31. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB, 64bit, 250/333 MHz
      (30)


      Usability rating: card price + $100

      01. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 128MB, 350/700 MHz
      (01)
      02. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT AGP 128MB, 500/900 MHz
      (--)
      03. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 128MB, 325/700 MHz
      (02)
      04. ATI RADEON X800 PRO 256MB, 475/900 MHz
      (03)
      05. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (05)
      06. NVIDIA GeForce 6800LE 128MB, 325/700 MHz
      (06)
      07. ATI RADEON X800XT PE 256MB, 525/1150 MHz
      (04)
      08. ATI RADEON X800XT 256MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (07)
      09. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (08)
      10. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB, 400/1100 MHz
      (10)
      11. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB, 425/1100 MHz
      (09)
      12. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB, 325/590 MHz
      (11)
      13. ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB, 380/680 MHz
      (12)
      14. ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB, 412/730 MHz
      (13)
      15. ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 256MB, 380/680 MHz
      (14)
      16. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB 128bit, 380/600 MHz
      (15)
      17. ATI RADEON 9600 PRO 128MB, 400/600 MHz
      (16)
      18. ATI RADEON 9550XT 128MB 400/500 MHz
      (17)
      19. ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB, 500/600 MHz
      (18)
      20. ATI RADEON 9600 256MB, 325/400 MHz
      (20)
      21. ATI RADEON 9550 128MB 250/400 MHz
      (21)
      22. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900XT 128MB, 390/700 MHz
      (19)
      23. ATI RADEON 9600SE 128MB 64bit, 325/400 MHz
      (25)
      24. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB, 475/950 MHz
      (22)
      25. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB 475/950 MHz DDR3
      (23)
      26. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 128MB, 425/550 MHz
      (24)
      27. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700LE 128MB, 250/400 MHz
      (26)
      28. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB, 325/550 MHz
      (27)
      29. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB, 250/400 MHz
      (28)
      30. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT 128MB 128bit, 235/400 MHz
      (29)
      31. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB, 64bit, 250/333 MHz
      (30)


      Usability rating: just card price

      01. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT AGP 128MB, 500/900 MHz
      (--)
      02. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 128MB, 350/700 MHz
      (01)
      03. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 128MB, 325/700 MHz
      (02)
      04. NVIDIA GeForce 6800LE 128MB, 325/700 MHz
      (03)
      05. ATI RADEON 9550XT 128MB 400/500 MHz
      (06)
      06. ATI RADEON 9600 PRO 128MB, 400/600 MHz
      (08)
      07. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB, 325/590 MHz
      (05)
      08. ATI RADEON X800 PRO 256MB, 475/900 MHz
      (04)
      09. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (07)
      10. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (11)
      11. ATI RADEON X800XT PE 256MB, 525/1150 MHz
      (09)
      12. ATI RADEON X800XT 256MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (10)
      13. ATI RADEON 9550 128MB 250/400 MHz
      (12)
      14. ATI RADEON 9600 256MB, 325/400 MHz
      (17)
      15. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB 128bit, 380/600 MHz
      (16)
      16. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB, 400/1100 MHz
      (13)
      17. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB, 425/1100 MHz
      (15)
      18. ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB, 380/680 MHz
      (14)
      19. ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB, 500/600 MHz
      (19)
      20. ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 256MB, 380/680 MHz
      (18)
      21. ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB, 412/730 MHz
      (20)
      22. ATI RADEON 9600SE 128MB 64bit, 325/400 MHz
      (22)
      23. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900XT 128MB, 390/700 MHz
      (21)
      24. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 128MB, 425/550 MHz
      (23)
      25. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB, 325/550 MHz
      (24)
      26. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700LE 128MB, 250/400 MHz
      (26)
      27. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB 475/950 MHz DDR3
      (25)
      28. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB, 475/950 MHz
      (27)
      29. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB, 250/400 MHz
      (28)
      30. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT 128MB 128bit, 235/400 MHz
      (29)
      31. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB, 64bit, 250/333 MHz
      (30)

      Prospect rating (the previous rating is in parenthesis):

      01. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB, 425/1100 MHz
      (02)
      02. ATI RADEON X800XT PE 256MB, 525/1150 MHz
      (01)
      03. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB, 400/1100 MHz
      (04)
      04. ATI RADEON X800XT 256MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (03)
      05. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (05)
      06. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 128MB, 350/700 MHz
      (07)
      07. ATI RADEON X800 PRO 256MB, 475/900 MHz
      (06)
      08. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (08)
      09. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 128MB, 325/700 MHz
      (09)
      10. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT AGP 128MB, 500/900 MHz
      (--)
      11. NVIDIA GeForce 6800LE 128MB, 325/700 MHz
      (10)
      12. ATI RADEON 9800XT 256MB, 412/730 MHz
      (11)
      13. ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 256MB, 380/680 MHz
      (12)
      14. ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB, 380/680 MHz
      (13)
      15. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB, 325/590 MHz
      (14)
      16. ATI RADEON 9800 128MB 128bit, 380/600 MHz
      (16)
      17. ATI RADEON 9600XT 128MB, 500/600 MHz
      (17)
      18. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB, 475/950 MHz
      (15)
      19. ATI RADEON 9600 PRO 128MB, 400/600 MHz
      (19)
      20. ATI RADEON 9550XT 128MB 400/500 MHz
      (20)
      21. ATI RADEON 9600 256MB, 325/400 MHz
      (22)
      22. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900XT 128MB, 390/700 MHz
      (18)
      23. ATI RADEON 9550 128MB 250/400 MHz
      (23)
      24. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB 475/950 MHz DDR3
      (21)
      25. ATI RADEON 9600SE 128MB 64bit, 325/400 MHz
      (25)
      26. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 128MB, 425/550 MHz
      (24)
      27. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700LE 128MB, 250/400 MHz
      (26)
      28. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 128MB, 325/550 MHz
      (27)
      29. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT 128MB 128bit, 235/400 MHz
      (28)
      30. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB, 250/400 MHz
      (29)
      31. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB, 64bit, 250/333 MHz
      (30)


    2. Athlon 64 3800+ platform (NVIDIA nForce4 SLI):

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

      Usability rating: card price + $500

      01. ATI RADEON X800XL 256MB, 400/1000 MHz
      (--)
      02. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT SLI 2x128MB, 2x500/1000
      (--)
      03. ATI RADEON X800XT PCI-E 256MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (03)
      04. ATI RADEON X800XT PE PCI-E 256MB, 520/1120 MHz
      (04)
      05. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT PCX 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (02)
      06. ATI RADEON X850XT PE 256MB, 540/1180 MHz
      (01)
      07. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT 128MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (06)
      08. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra PCX 256MB, 400/1100 MHz
      (05)
      09. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT SLI 2x256MB, 2x350/1000
      (--)
      10. ATI RADEON X700PRO 256MB, 425/860 MHz
      (07)
      11. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra SLI 2x256MB, 2x400/1100
      (--)
      12. ATI RADEON X700 256MB (400/700 MHz
      (08)
      13. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 128MB, 300/550 MHz
      (09)
      14. NVIDIA GeForce 6200 128MB, 300/550 MHz
      (12)
      15. ATI RADEON X600XT 128MB, 540/800 MHz
      (10)
      16. ATI RADEON X600XT 128MB, 500/760 MHz
      (11)
      17. ATI RADEON X600 PRO 128MB, 400/600 MHz
      (13)
      18. NVIDIA GeForce PCX5900 128MB, 350/550 MHz
      (14)
      19. ATI RADEON X300 128MB 325/400 MHz
      (15)
      20. NVIDIA GeForce 6200TC 32MB 64bit, 350/700 MHz
      (--)
      21. ATI RADEON X300SE 128MB 64bit 325/400 MHz
      (17)
      22. NVIDIA GeForce PCX5750 128MB, 425/500 MHz
      (16)
      23. NVIDIA GeForce 6200TC 16MB 32bit, 350/700 MHz
      (--)


      Usability rating: card price + $250

      01. ATI RADEON X800XL 256MB, 400/1000 MHz
      (--)
      02. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT 128MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (02)
      03. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT SLI 2x128MB, 2x500/1000
      (--)
      04. ATI RADEON X800XT PCI-E 256MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (03)
      05. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT PCX 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (01)
      06. ATI RADEON X800XT PE PCI-E 256MB, 520/1120 MHz
      (05)
      07. ATI RADEON X850XT PE 256MB, 540/1180 MHz
      (04)
      08. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra PCX 256MB, 400/1100 MHz
      (06)
      09. ATI RADEON X700PRO 256MB, 425/860 MHz
      (07)
      10. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT SLI 2x256MB, 2x350/1000
      (--)
      11. ATI RADEON X700 256MB (400/700 MHz
      (08)
      12. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 128MB, 300/550 MHz
      (09)
      13. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra SLI 2x256MB, 2x400/1100
      (--)
      14. NVIDIA GeForce 6200 128MB, 300/550 MHz
      (10)
      15. ATI RADEON X600XT 128MB, 540/800 MHz
      (11)
      16. ATI RADEON X600XT 128MB, 500/760 MHz
      (12)
      17. ATI RADEON X600 PRO 128MB, 400/600 MHz
      (13)
      18. NVIDIA GeForce PCX5900 128MB, 350/550 MHz
      (14)
      19. ATI RADEON X300 128MB 325/400 MHz
      (15)
      20. NVIDIA GeForce 6200TC 32MB 64bit, 350/700 MHz
      (--)
      21. ATI RADEON X300SE 128MB 64bit 325/400 MHz
      (17)
      22. NVIDIA GeForce PCX5750 128MB, 425/500 MHz
      (16)
      23. NVIDIA GeForce 6200TC 16MB 32bit, 350/700 MHz
      (--)


      Usability rating: card price + $100

      01. ATI RADEON X800XL 256MB, 400/1000 MHz
      (--)
      02. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT 128MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (01)
      03. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT SLI 2x128MB, 2x500/1000
      (--)
      04. ATI RADEON X700PRO 256MB, 425/860 MHz
      (02)
      05. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT PCX 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (03)
      06. ATI RADEON X800XT PCI-E 256MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (04)
      07. ATI RADEON X800XT PE PCI-E 256MB, 520/1120 MHz
      (07)
      08. ATI RADEON X700 256MB (400/700 MHz
      (06)
      09. ATI RADEON X850XT PE 256MB, 540/1180 MHz
      (05)
      10. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra PCX 256MB, 400/1100 MHz
      (08)
      11. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 128MB, 300/550 MHz
      (09)
      12. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT SLI 2x256MB, 2x350/1000
      (--)
      13. NVIDIA GeForce 6200 128MB, 300/550 MHz
      (10)
      14. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra SLI 2x256MB, 2x400/1100
      (--)
      15. ATI RADEON X600XT 128MB, 500/760 MHz
      (11)
      16. ATI RADEON X600XT 128MB, 540/800 MHz
      (12)
      17. ATI RADEON X600 PRO 128MB, 400/600 MHz
      (13)
      18. ATI RADEON X300 128MB 325/400 MHz
      (14)
      19. NVIDIA GeForce PCX5900 128MB, 350/550 MHz
      (15)
      20. NVIDIA GeForce 6200TC 32MB 64bit, 350/700 MHz
      (--)
      21. ATI RADEON X300SE 128MB 64bit 325/400 MHz
      (17)
      22. NVIDIA GeForce PCX5750 128MB, 425/500 MHz
      (16)
      23. NVIDIA GeForce 6200TC 16MB 32bit, 350/700 MHz
      (--)


      Usability rating: just card price

      01. ATI RADEON X800XL 256MB, 400/1000 MHz
      (--)
      02. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT 128MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (01)
      03. ATI RADEON X700PRO 256MB, 425/860 MHz
      (02)
      04. ATI RADEON X700 256MB (400/700 MHz
      (03)
      05. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 128MB, 300/550 MHz
      (04)
      06. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT SLI 2x128MB, 2x500/1000
      (--)
      07. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT PCX 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (05)
      08. ATI RADEON X800XT PCI-E 256MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (06)
      09. ATI RADEON X800XT PE PCI-E 256MB, 520/1120 MHz
      (09)
      10. NVIDIA GeForce 6200 128MB, 300/550 MHz
      (08)
      11. ATI RADEON X850XT PE 256MB, 540/1180 MHz
      (07)
      12. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra PCX 256MB, 400/1100 MHz
      (10)
      13. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT SLI 2x256MB, 2x350/1000
      (--)
      14. ATI RADEON X300 128MB 325/400 MHz
      (11)
      15. ATI RADEON X600 PRO 128MB, 400/600 MHz
      (13)
      16. ATI RADEON X600XT 128MB, 500/760 MHz
      (12)
      17. ATI RADEON X600XT 128MB, 540/800 MHz
      (14)
      18. ATI RADEON X300SE 128MB 64bit 325/400 MHz
      (15)
      19. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra SLI 2x256MB, 2x400/1100
      (--)
      20. NVIDIA GeForce 6200TC 32MB 64bit, 350/700 MHz
      (--)
      21. NVIDIA GeForce 6200TC 16MB 32bit, 350/700 MHz
      (--)
      22. NVIDIA GeForce PCX5900 128MB, 350/550 MHz
      (16)
      23. NVIDIA GeForce PCX5750 128MB, 425/500 MHz
      (17)

      Prospect rating (the previous rating is in parenthesis):

      01. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra SLI 2x256MB, 2x400/1100
      (--)
      02. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT SLI 2x256MB, 2x350/1000
      (--)
      03. ATI RADEON X850XT PE 256MB, 540/1180 MHz
      (01)
      04. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra PCX 256MB, 400/1100 MHz
      (03)
      05. ATI RADEON X800XT PE PCI-E 256MB, 520/1120 MHz
      (02)
      06. ATI RADEON X800XT PCI-E 256MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (04)
      07. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT SLI 2x128MB, 2x500/1000
      (--)
      08. NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT PCX 256MB, 350/1000 MHz
      (05)
      09. ATI RADEON X800XL 256MB, 400/1000 MHz
      (--)
      10. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT 128MB, 500/1000 MHz
      (06)
      11. ATI RADEON X700PRO 256MB, 425/860 MHz
      (07)
      12. ATI RADEON X700 256MB (400/700 MHz
      (08)
      13. NVIDIA GeForce 6600 128MB, 300/550 MHz
      (09)
      14. ATI RADEON X600XT 128MB, 540/800 MHz
      (10)
      15. NVIDIA GeForce 6200 128MB, 300/550 MHz
      (12)
      16. ATI RADEON X600XT 128MB, 500/760 MHz
      (11)
      17. ATI RADEON X600 PRO 128MB, 400/600 MHz
      (13)
      18. ATI RADEON X300 128MB 325/400 MHz
      (15)
      19. NVIDIA GeForce PCX5900 128MB, 350/550 MHz
      (14)
      20. NVIDIA GeForce 6200TC 32MB 64bit, 350/700 MHz
      (--)
      21. ATI RADEON X300SE 128MB 64bit 325/400 MHz
      (17)
      22. NVIDIA GeForce 6200TC 16MB 32bit, 350/700 MHz
      (--)
      23. NVIDIA GeForce PCX5750 128MB, 425/500 MHz
      (16)



    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. Games artefacts gallery

    Games quality section



    We thank all the companies that provided us with graphics cards and other equipment for our 3Digest, including:






    HIS (Peter Yueng personally)






    		•
    Vitaly Milov (vmilov@ixbt.com)
    Danil Gridasov (degust@ixbt.com)








    Andrey Vorobiev (anvakams@ixbt.com)
    Alexander Medvedev (unclesam@ixbt.com)









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