Scaling Test
After looking at F.E.A.R, Quake 4 and Serious Sam II results, we like to discuss how both cards scale - just how much frame rate do we gain when we paired them with a faster processor. Traditionally, scaling test are limited to average fps, but this time, we want to go deeper by looking at the gains on the minimum, average and maximum side of the fps band.Minimum fps gains are an indication that the cards are system limited, while maximum fps gains means the graphics card can still offer higher frame rates if you pair it with an even faster processor. Ideally, a card (or a benchmark) that scales well will have a maximum fps gain higher than it's minimum fps gain. If maximum fps gains are low, that means the card have already hit the fps ceiling - it will go no faster even with a faster processor. If minimum fps gains are low, then our platform is graphics limited - it would be better to choose an even faster graphics card (with a faster processor of course) to achieve a higher fps in that game / benchmark.
The test setup for our scaling test are the same as before, running our usual suite of benchmarks with both the Athlon 64 3000+ and 3500+.However, we used older drivers (Catalyst 5.9 and Forceware 78.01/66.93) on these tests. In some games (Brothers in Arms, SW: KOTOR, Battlefield 2), there will be negative values. While it may seem strange, it's actually quite normal. Variations between runs (since we're not using a replay or a battle record) may cause a lower frame rate, particularly when running without AA and AF, So these games do have a higher margin of error (around 5 - 10 % between each run). Don't look at the precise numbers, but try to spot trends - that's why we've included the difference for all resolutions with and without AA and AF.
Call of Duty
| X800XL | |||||||||
| Athlon 64 3500+ | |||||||||
| 1024 | 1280 | 1600 | 1024 AA AF | 1280 AA AF | 1600 AA AF | ||||
| Min | 85 | 83 | 76 | 87 | 68 | 60 | |||
| Avg | 202.74 | 184.19 | 169.61 | 181.45 | 153.34 | 128.06 | |||
| Max | 443 | 327 | 326 | 364 | 317 | 275 | |||
| Athlon 64 3000+ | |||||||||
| Min | 72 | 74 | 71 | 74 | 64 | 57 | |||
| Avg | 177.25 | 164.26 | 153.12 | 162.64 | 140.82 | 120.99 | |||
| Max | 438 | 295 | 287 | 324 | 280 | 255 | |||
| Difference | Total Difference (Averaged) |
Default Difference (Averaged) |
AA AF Difference (Averaged) |
||||||
| Min | 18.06% | 12.16% | 7.04% | 17.57% | 6.25% | 5.26% | 11.06% | 12.42% | 9.69% |
| Avg | 14.38% | 12.13% | 10.77% | 11.57% | 8.89% | 5.84% | 10.60% | 12.43% | 8.77% |
| Max | 1.14% | 10.85% | 13.59% | 12.35% | 13.21% | 7.84% | 9.83% | 8.53% | 11.13% |
| 6800GT – Quality |
|||||||||
| Athlon 64 3500+ |
|||||||||
| 1024 | 1280 | 1600 | 1024 AA AF | 1280 AA AF | 1600 AA AF | ||||
| Min | 92 | 92 | 83 | 93 | 95 | 70 | |||
| Avg | 228.54 | 210.58 | 184.05 | 181.07 | 132.39 | 96.14 | |||
| Max | 537 | 384 | 313 | 286 | 185 | 128 | |||
| Athlon 64 3000+ |
|||||||||
| Min | 78 | 78 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 69 | |||
| Avg | 198.83 | 188.1 | 169.04 | 168.33 | 128.11 | 95.2 | |||
| Max | 439 | 365 | 288 | 281 | 185 | 128 | |||
| Difference | Total Difference (Averaged) | Default Difference (Averaged) | AA AF Difference (Averaged) | ||||||
| Min | 17.95% | 17.95% | 6.41% | 17.72% | 18.75% | 1.45% | 13.37% | 14.10% | 12.64% |
| Avg | 14.94% | 11.95% | 8.88% | 7.57% | 3.34% | 0.98% | 7.94% | 11.92% | 3.96% |
| Max | 22.32% | 5.21% | 8.68% | 1.78% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 6.33% | 12.07% | 0.59% |
| Call of Duty – High Quality |
|||||||||
| Athlon 3500+ |
|||||||||
| 1024 | 1280 | 1600 | 1024 AA AF | 1280 AA AF | 1600 AA AF | ||||
| Min | 93 | 95 | 94 | 94 | 83 | 61 | |||
| Avg | 227.57 | 207.16 | 180.28 | 155.61 | 112.84 | 87.77 | |||
| Max | 538 | 365 | 310 | 268 | 175 | 122 | |||
| Athlon 3500+ |
|||||||||
| Min | 81 | 77 | 81 | 81 | 80 | 61 | |||
| Avg | 199.6 | 186.98 | 166.37 | 148.01 | 110.76 | 81.59 | |||
| Max | 537 | 416 | 286 | 261 | 175 | 122 | |||
| Difference | Total Difference (Averaged) | Default Difference (Averaged) | AA AF Difference (Averaged) | ||||||
| Min | 14.81% | 23.38% | 16.05% | 16.05% | 3.75% | 0.00% | 12.34% | 18.08% | 6.60% |
| Avg | 14.01% | 10.79% | 8.36% | 5.14% | 1.88% | 7.58% | 7.96% | 11.06% | 4.87% |
| Max | 0.19% | -12.26% | 8.39% | 2.68% | 0.00% | 0.00% | -0.17% | -1.23% | 0.89% |
In default settings (without AA and AF), we gain the most in minimum fps with the GeForce 6800GT under High Quality settings. But it's only under Quality settings we gain additional maximum' fps. So, it's very likely we can achieve higher fps with the GeForce 6800GT under Quality. However, in average fps, we can see the Radeon X800XL actually gain more fps since it's achieve both a higher minimum and maximum fps. So, it's pretty likely we can have a higher fps as well with the X800XL. Even more surprising, we can still gain more fps under AA and AF, while the GeForce 6800GT is definitely has hit the fps ceiling.
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