Premium/High-End Category

As opposed to Dead Space, the multi-GPU subsystems work correctly in Devil May Cry 4. ATI’s solutions are especially impressive, delivering superb scalability, whereas the performance growth accompanying the transition from one GeForce GTX 280 to two such cards is not so good. The 3-way CrossFire subsystem easily turns out over 140 frames per second even at a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels. The single ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 is far superior to the GeForce GTX 280 SLI tandem then, too.

So, if you need the highest performance possible and don’t care about the price, you should consider buying a 3-way or even a 4-way CrossFire subsystem. Otherwise you should prefer the less expensive Radeon HD 4870 X2. The single GeForce GTX 280 takes last place among premium-class graphics cards here.

Performance-Mainstream Category

It is somewhat different in the lower category: the Radeon HD 4870 and GeForce GTX 260 compete as equals at resolutions up to 1680x1050 but ATI’s solution goes ahead at 1920x1200. The GeForce GTX 260 can only compete with the Radeon HD 4850 at that resolution, delivering the same average speed but losing to the latter in every other parameter. The results of the GeForce 9800 GTX+ are disappointing. It is an outsider among the new-generation GPUs even though allows playing comfortably at resolutions up to 1920x1200.

Summing it up, ATI’s Radeon HD 4870 and 4850 are the optimal choice for playing Devil May Cry 4. The former delivers superb performance and has no rivals in sheer speed while the latter boasts an excellent ratio of price, performance and power consumption.

Mainstream Category

It is all clear in the mainstream category: the ATI Radeon HD 4830 is the unrivaled winner. It can maintain an average frame rate of 50fps and higher at a resolution of 1680x1050 pixels. The GeForce 9800 GT can’t do that. Although games of this genre do not require as high frame rates as first-person shooters to be experienced comfortably by the gamer, we recommend you to limit yourself to 1280x1024 on your GeForce 9800 GT. The same resolution should be preferred for the Radeon HD 3870 and GeForce 9600 GT.

So, the choice is clear. If you want to play at resolutions higher than 1280x1024 and have a limited budget, you should prefer the Radeon HD 4830. The other solutions from this category are roughly equal to each other. If you choose among them, you should just think about your personal preferences concerning the brand, etc.