Well, pixel shaders are the strongest point of any modern VPU from ATI Technologies. This test confirms the point for a millionth time already. However, the GeForce FX 5700 Ultra shows noticeably higher performance over the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra.

When version 1.4 shaders are in use, the performance gap between the RADEON and GeForce FX is only widening.

The NVIDIA processors make up for their shader failure by handling sprites faster. Note also that the performance here doesn’t practically depend on the GPU model: the pairs of graphics cards are running at the same speed.

The next benchmark, 3DMark03, let’s also pay due attention to the results obtained in it:

NVIDIA did have the reason to claim a three times higher vertex processing speed for its new NV36. The graph above proves the point. The GeForce FX 5700 Ultra easily leaves all its competitors behind to nearly hit the RADEON 9800 PRO in the back.

Version 2.0 pixel shaders. The picture is as gloomy for NVIDIA as it has always been. The “crutches” namely the shader code translator, could hardly hide the impotence of NVIDIA’s GPU in this test. Notwithstanding its higher GPU and memory frequencies, the GeForce FX 5700 Ultra is only once ahead of the RADEON 9600 PRO.

We already said in our reviews that the Ragtroll test is a combo-test, which puts both the GPU’s vertex shader unit and the CPU under a high pressure by rendering the trolls falling from a height. The RADEON 9600 XT wins lower resolutions, but the GeForce FX 5700 Ultra gains the upper hand in higher ones. Its fast memory contributes much to the result.