CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Features of the videocards
3. Configurations of testbeds, test tools
4. Synthetic tests in D3D RightMark
5. Test results: Quake3 ARENA
6. Test results: Serious Sam: The Second Encounter
7. Test results: Return to Castle Wolfenstein
8. Test results: Code Creatures DEMO
9. Test results: Unreal Tournament 2003
10. Test results: Unreal II: The Awakening
11. Test results: RightMark 3D
12. Test results: TRAOD
13. Test results: FarCry (performance and quality)
14. Test results: Call Of Duty
15. Test results: HALO: Combat Evolved
16. Test results: Half-Life2(beta)
17. Test results: Splinter Cell
18. Test results: Colin Mcrae Rally04 (performance and quality)
19. Test results: Max Payne-2 (performance and quality)
20. Test results: Painkiller (performance and quality)
21. Test results: Need For Speed: Underground (performance and quality)
22. Test results: Pirates of the Carribean (quality)
23. Test results: Vietcong (quality)
24. Test results: 3DMark03-Game1
25. Test results: 3DMark03-Game2
26. Test results: 3DMark03-Game3
27. Test results: 3DMark03-Game4
28. Test results: 3DMark03-MARKS
29. Test results: AquaMark3
30. Driver NVIDIA version 61.11
31. Conclusions

Max Payne-2

The lightest mode (no AA or anisotropy): a complete parity, just because everything was limited by CPU and system capabilities.

The heaviest mode (both AA and anisotropy): the difference only appeared in 1600x1200 where X800 XT became the leader.

Thus:

• NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 450MHz vs. ATI RADEON X800 XT: conclusions are difficult to make because of CPU limitations, but X800 XT seems to be better.
• NVIDIA 61.11 vs. 60.72: no differences.

It is not the latest game, but at least it's a recent one. Both products showed similar pictures in terms of quality, and in general, the cards are equal too. The load on the accelerators is not so heavy as to make them limit performance.

QUALITY ISSUES
GeForce 6800 Ultra	RADEON X800 XT

Painkiller

The lightest mode (no AA or anisotropy): X800 XT wins

The heaviest mode (both AA and anisotropy): R420 has developed its advantage to a crushing one.

Thus:

• NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 450MHz vs. ATI RADEON X800 XT: the latter wins.
• NVIDIA 61.11 vs. 60.72: virtually no differences.

But this title is a recent one, and I used the game without patch 1.15 that has the benchmark embedded. As you can see, there are no differences in quality.

QUALITY ISSUES
GeForce 6800 Ultra	RADEON X800 XT

Need For Speed: Underground

The lightest mode (no AA or anisotropy): NV40 wins

The heaviest mode (both AA and anisotropy): the same thing.

Thus:

• NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra 450MHz vs. ATI RADEON X800 XT: a solid victory.
• NVIDIA 61.11 vs. 60.72: virtually no differences.

Although it appeared a while ago, this game is still very popular. Note that the title likes the CPU very much and is thus somewhat limited by it. But NV40's victory is stil remarkable. As for the quality, there is no difference between the rivals.

QUALITY ISSUES
GeForce 6800 Ultra	RADEON X800 XT

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