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Hardware

In order to feed these impressive video cards we are testing today, we upgraded our benchmarking system to a Core i7 system. Here are the specifications:

• CPU: Intel Core i7 at 3.0 GHz
• Motherboard:  Asus P6T Deluxe
• Memory: 3 gigabytes of Quimonda DDR3-1066 triple channel
  
• Power Supply: Enermax Galaxy DXX 1000W
• Hard Drive: 250 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 SATA, w/16 MB cache
• CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U 12
• OS: Vista-64,SP1

As for our benchmarking video cards, we used a BFG GTX 285, a VisionTek HD 4870, a Palit HD 4870 X2, an Nvidia GTX 280, Sapphire HD 4850 X2, and a VisionTek HD 3870 X2 (OC).

Software

For the drivers, all the ATI cards used Catalyst 8.12, and all the Nvidia cards all used Forceware 180.43, except for the BFG GTX 285, which used the 180.87 beta drivers.

As we do on a regular basis, we updated our benchmark programs, taking some programs out, and adding others. Here is the current line-up:

3DMark06 and 3DMark Vantage: These popular synthetic benchmarking programs were used at a resolution of 1280x1024. Vantage was run in 'Performance' mode, and only the two GPU tests were used.

Bioshock: For this benchmark, all of the Detail settings were set to 'High'. All of the graphic option switches were set to 'On', with the exception of the following three settings: Vsync, Windowed mode, and Force Global Lighting. We used FRAPS to measure frame rate performance. The FRAPS run was 138 seconds, triggered from pulling the switch in the sub at game's beginning. The sub's dive involves many big models moving around, which should strain the GPUs and be a good measure of the game's engine.

Devil May Cry 4: This Capcom action game runs well on most systems; but at 'Super High' detail settings, even the fastest systems get taxed. This is built-in benchmark.

Enemy Territory: Quake Wars: We use this id FPS benchmark to test out higher resolutions. We used the highest possible detail settings. We tested the resolutions at 4x AA as well as at 8x AA. 16x AF was also used.  

Far Cry 2: This open-world FPS is great looking game that really puts the strain on a gaming rig. We used the built-in benchmarking tool, and the overall 'Very High' quality setting was used.

Furmark: This intensive benchmarking program models fur, and generates a FPS score.

World In Conflict: We used the built-in benchmark of the demo version of this game. We ran the benchmark in DX9 rendering mode, with a 'High' level of quality. For the AA testing, we used a setting of 4x, and a setting of 16x for AF.

Unreal Tournament 3: We tested the game using a fly-through of the vehicle capture-the-flag map 'Suspense.'ShangriLa (map) running for 90 seconds. Details were set to 'High', and a AF setting of 16x was used.

X3: Terran Conflict: This FPS benchmark features massive models and impressive lighting effects. We used the highest detail settings, including an AF setting of 16x.

If you would like any further information about our benchmark settings, feel free to ask us in the forums.