Prey Performance
We recently decided to move from Quake 4 to Prey for our graphics testing. With our Prey benchmark, we will be doing things a little bit differently from the way we handled Quake 4. Unlike Quake 4, there is no specific "Ultra" option. It is still possible to set the game up to run as if Ultra mode were enabled by disabling compression manually through the console. In the past, we've tested Prey this way to be consistent with our Quake 4 testing. However, this sort of testing just isn't realistic, as there is no justifiable image quality difference using uncompressed textures in light of the performance impact. This will make a major difference for our 320MB 8800 cards, as we saw huge performance degradation under Quake 4 with Ultra mode.
Under Prey with no AA enabled, our overclocked 8800 GTS 320MB parts perform well. Our ASUS card running at stock speeds comes in just under the stock 640MB card, showing that our differences under Quake 4 were heavily influenced by uncompressed textures. Once again, the EVGA 8800 GTS 320MB ACS3 tops the list. The Sparkle Calibre, MSI, and SuperClocked EVGA card are grouped pretty tightly in performance, while the XFX card gets only a modest boost over our stock ASUS card.
The same trend we saw without AA continues when 4xAA is enabled. Overclocking does have a higher impact with AA enabled, but playing at 2560x1600 isn't something we would suggest.
We recently decided to move from Quake 4 to Prey for our graphics testing. With our Prey benchmark, we will be doing things a little bit differently from the way we handled Quake 4. Unlike Quake 4, there is no specific "Ultra" option. It is still possible to set the game up to run as if Ultra mode were enabled by disabling compression manually through the console. In the past, we've tested Prey this way to be consistent with our Quake 4 testing. However, this sort of testing just isn't realistic, as there is no justifiable image quality difference using uncompressed textures in light of the performance impact. This will make a major difference for our 320MB 8800 cards, as we saw huge performance degradation under Quake 4 with Ultra mode.
Under Prey with no AA enabled, our overclocked 8800 GTS 320MB parts perform well. Our ASUS card running at stock speeds comes in just under the stock 640MB card, showing that our differences under Quake 4 were heavily influenced by uncompressed textures. Once again, the EVGA 8800 GTS 320MB ACS3 tops the list. The Sparkle Calibre, MSI, and SuperClocked EVGA card are grouped pretty tightly in performance, while the XFX card gets only a modest boost over our stock ASUS card.
The same trend we saw without AA continues when 4xAA is enabled. Overclocking does have a higher impact with AA enabled, but playing at 2560x1600 isn't something we would suggest.
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bob4432 - Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - link
obviously they are all using nvidia's reference design for the pcb and most for the cooling setup. now when a company like evga orders their multi-thousand gpu order, do they spec out what exact ram chips they want vs msi, asus or xfx? to me the cards look identical to even the purple on the solid caps we can see coming out the back. is this for the memory ics too?would i be correct in saying that you are basically picking a brand based strictly on customer service and warranty as the cards are all pretty close in performance since they are just using the nvidia design and are not designing the cards in house?
KCjoker - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
I just bought a EVGA 8800GTS 320mb that came at the stock 500/1600 speeds for $260USD. I would've got the 640mb version but since I only game at 1280X1024 I didn't see the need. This card rips through games at stock but I have OC'd(600/1900) it anyway since EVGA's Lifetime warranty covers it so long as you don't physically damage the card. If you're looking for a great mid range card this is it.yyrkoon - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
I dont know if I would consider ANY 8 series cards right_now "mid-range". Mid-range, in my head, that would be a 7 series card, with 6 series cards being botttom feeders.
bigpow - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
do what I did, skip all the PC upgrades and just buy an Xbox 360mkruer - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
I assume that the power is for the whole system. I did not read anything explicitly stating this.SleepyItes - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
On the XFX page, "The XFX GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB Extreme is bundled with Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter just like the MSI card."Should be "...just like the Asus card."
DerekWilson - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
thanksSpacecomber - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
Do stock 8800 GTS cards readily overclock to the same range of speeds that these factory overclocked cards offer? Do these factory overclocked cards have the potential for more overclocking than what you can accomplish with the standard clock speed cards? In particular, didn't you guys want to know whether the Sparkle cooler offers the potential for even more overclocking, beyond what it is set to at the factory?Lonyo - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
Is there any chance of getting a case mounted temp sensor for these reviews?It seems to me that you would have to make a tradeoff with the Sparkle. Sure, you get lower GPU temps, but that heat and the heat from the TEC has to go somewhere, and that somewhere is going to be "somewhere else inside the case", since it doesn't appear to have any kind of exhausting fan setup.
metalfan49 - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
I was thinking about this too. Especially as summer is coming and I won't have the weather to help keep my stuff cool.