Performance ratings

Calculations are based on gaming, 3DMark and Unigine test results. The calculation method is described here.

You may have noticed our ratings have changed a bit. Now we only have two: capability and usability. The capability rating compares each graphics card with GeForce GT 430 which is considered a baseline, or 100%. The rating is based on both synthetic and gaming results and shows, as the name implies, what a product is capable of.

The usability rating is obtained by dividing each card's capability rating by its price. It basically shows whether a given product is over or underpriced, considering what it can do, and thus how reasonable it is to buy it.

Below are two tables sorted by different ratings.

Sorted by capability (high to low)

Sorted by usability (high to low)

If you plan on buying a GeForce GTX 580 or a Radeon HD 6970, you remember that these cards are very overpriced, as our usability rating shows. But that's actually no surprise, because these products are made for enthusiasts. The top is still occupied by a whole group of mid-end Radeons, meaning that — as of early September 2011 — Radeon HD 6770, HD 6850, HD 6870 and HD 6790 are still the best buy. But note that GeForce GTX 550 Ti begins to catch up.

We express gratitude to KFA2, XFX, Leadtek, TUL (PowerColor), Chaintech, Zotac, EVGA, MSI, Gainward, NVIDIA, HIS, AMD, Sapphire Technology, ASUS.

The PSU has been provided by TAGAN, the monitor has been provided by NVIDIA.

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