X-bit labs

There Will Be Speed: The Clash of Modern Multi-GPU Technologies (page 15)

Category: Video

by Alexey Stepin , Yaroslav Lyssenko, Anton Shilov

[ 03/24/2008 | 05:01 PM ]

Performance in Third-Person 3D Shooters

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition

The GeForce 9800 GX2 is the leader among single-card solutions, ensuring a comfortable frame rate at 1280x1024 and 1600x1200.

Nvidia’s solutions boast almost linear scalability in this game. For example, the GeForce 9800 GX2 is 115% ahead of the GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB at 1600x1200. When two more GPUs are added, the system’s performance increases by 80% more. The only exception is 2560x1600 resolution where the Quad SLI system feels that its 512MB of graphics memory is not enough.

ATI’s solutions have serious problems, obviously due to the lack of driver optimizations. You have a twofold performance hit when enable CrossFire, including the single ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2.

Tomb Raider: Legend

Interestingly, the single GeForce 9800 GX2 is no better than the GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB but the tandem of two such cards ensures a considerable performance increase, up to 85%.

Unfortunately, the minimum speed worsens when there are more GPUs in the graphics subsystem. It is high enough with the GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB at 1920x1200, but the GeForce 9800 GX2 Quad SLI has a very low minimum speed, which affects your playing comfort. The same goes for 2560x1600 mode: the average frame rate is high but the minimum speed is very low.

ATI’s CrossFireX technology is no good in this test. Its performance lowers with every additional GPU in the system. The best result in the ATI camp comes from the single Radeon HD 3870.