Benchmarks:

It's simple, we loaded the drivers and left everything default. No D3D tweaking was performed. The only portion of the card and drivers that was manipulated was the overclocking features.

Our test was basically that of installing the drivers, installing the game, loading fraps and then playing the game for several hours sampling frame rates in 60 second intervals to get a very loose average.

The results may vary from system to system but our system benches are whats to be expected using similiar hardware and while most people want to see a card can do at max settings, we decided to do this card at default settings while in game.

In game test's were ran using the Gainward ExperTools "Enhanced Mode" at a overclock of 420MHz/730MHz.

Our Aquamark 3 score will give a an approximate maximum value we could get with coolbits. With a maximum overlock of 440MHz/820MHz.

Featured Games:

Richard Burns Rally is quite possibly the best sim ever created and what way to show off its superb dynamics and the most realistic graphics ever put into a simulator. The PCX5900 plays this smash hit with significant power and details.

Richard Burns Rally BenchMark 1:

• Resolution: 800x600
• Performance & Quality Settings: Quality
• Antialiasing Settings: Application Controlled
• Anisotropic Filtering: Application Controlled
• Frames: 32336
• Time: 60000ms
• Frames Per Second:
  • Avg: 55.610
  • Min: 18
  • Max: 86
    • Benchmark Application: FRAPS 2.3.2

Richard Burns Rally BenchMark 2:

• Resolution: 1024x768
• Performance & Quality Settings: Quality
• Antialiasing Settings: Application Controlled
• Anisotropic Filtering: Application Controlled
• Frames: 2758
• Time: 60000ms
• Frames Per Second:
  • Avg: 45.966
  • Min: 13
  • Max: 80
    • Benchmark Application: FRAPS 2.3.2

Richard Burns Rally BenchMark 3:

• Resolution: 1280x1024
• Performance & Quality Settings: Quality
• Antialiasing Settings: Application Controlled
• Anisotropic Filtering: Application Controlled
• Frames: 2283
• Time: 60000ms
• Frames Per Second:
  • Avg: 38.055
  • Min: 12
  • Max: 72
    • Benchmark Application: FRAPS 2.3.2

The Gainward GS PCX5900 breeezes through Rome: Total War. With 2D - 3D and video, this game is a classic real time strategy title that gamers and enthusiasts will enjoy using the "Golden Sample" Ultra/1800 PCX5900.

Rome Total War BenchMark 1:

• Resolution: 800x600
• Performance & Quality Settings: Quality
• Antialiasing Settings: Application Controlled
• Anisotropic Filtering: Application Controlled
• Frames: 3237
• Time: 60000ms
• Frames Per Second:
  • Avg: 53.950
  • Min: 53
  • Max: 55
    • Benchmark Application: FRAPS 2.3.2

Rome Total War BenchMark 2:

• Resolution: 1024x768
• Performance & Quality Settings: Quality
• Antialiasing Settings: Application Controlled
• Anisotropic Filtering: Application Controlled
• Frames: 2823
• Time: 60000ms
• Frames Per Second:
  • Avg: 47.050
  • Min: 44
  • Max: 57
    • Benchmark Application: FRAPS 2.3.2

Rome Total War BenchMark 3:

• Resolution: 1280x1024
• Performance & Quality Settings: Quality
• Antialiasing Settings: Application Controlled
• Anisotropic Filtering: Application Controlled
• Frames: 1970
• Time: 60000ms
• Frames Per Second:
  • Avg: 32.833
  • Min: 26
  • Max: 44
    • Benchmark Application: FRAPS 2.3.2

Doom 3 is playable and enjoyable using these settings however bigger fight scenes tax the card and bring the game to some frame flicker instances which brought down the FPS averages. While we did get substantial performance, the card struggles to play this title at enthusiasts levels.

Doom 3 BenchMark 1:

• Resolution: 800x600
• Performance & Quality Settings: Quality
• Antialiasing Settings: Application Controlled
• Anisotropic Filtering: Application Controlled
• Frames: 2166
• Time: 60000ms
• Frames Per Second:
  • Avg: 36.100
  • Min: 19
  • Max: 55
    • Benchmark Application: FRAPS 2.3.2

Doom 3 BenchMark 2:

• Resolution: 1024x768
• Performance & Quality Settings: Quality
• Antialiasing Settings: Application Controlled
• Anisotropic Filtering: Application Controlled
• Frames: 1824
• Time: 60000ms
• Frames Per Second:
  • Avg: 30.400
  • Min: 17
  • Max: 56
    • Benchmark Application: FRAPS 2.3.2

Doom 3 BenchMark 3:

• Resolution: 1280x1024
• Performance & Quality Settings: Quality
• Antialiasing Settings: Application Controlled
• Anisotropic Filtering: Application Controlled
• Frames: 1426
• Time: 60000ms
• Frames Per Second:
  • Avg: 23.780
  • Min: 11
  • Max: 44
    • Benchmark Application: FRAPS 2.3.2

     

FarCry being a demanding game on NVIDIA hardware performed well as long as we didnt apply (4x AA, 4x AF) which would bring the card to less than desirable performance levels. However the game is enjoyable at (2x AA, 2x AF, 1024x768) which gave us a average of 30FPS.

For our benchmarks all AA & AF controls are defaulted to Application Controlled from the NVIDIA properties control panel.

FarCry Fraps BenchMark 1:

• Resolution: 800x600
• FarCry Settings: Very High
• Performance & Quality Settings: Quality
• Antialiasing Settings: Application Controlled
• Anisotropic Filtering: Application Controlled
• Frames: 2992
• Time: 60000ms
• Frames Per Second:

  • Avg: 49.866
  • Min: 35
  • Max: 99
    • Benchmark Application: FRAPS 2.3.2

FarCry Fraps BenchMark 2:

• Resolution: 1024x768
• FarCry Settings: Very High
• Performance & Quality Settings: Quality
• Antialiasing Settings: Application Controlled
• Anisotropic Filtering: Application Controlled
• Frames: 2180
• Time: 60000ms 
• Frames Per Second:
  • Avg: 36.340
  • Min: 27
  • Max: 75
    • Benchmark Application: FRAPS 2.3.2

FarCry Fraps BenchMark 3:

• Resolution: 1280x1024
• FarCry Settings: Very High
• Performance & Quality Settings: Quality
• Antialiasing Settings: Application Controlled
• Anisotropic Filtering: Application Controlled
• Frames: 1758
• Time: 60000ms 
• Frames Per Second:
  • Avg: 29.302
  • Min: 27
  • Max: 55
    • Benchmark Application: FRAPS 2.3.2

Aquamark 3:

Drivers	GPU - RAM Clock	Aquamark 3 Score
66.70	350MHz/550MHz	34,282
66.70	420MHz/730MHz	40,670
66.70	440MHz/800MHz	42,404
66.70	440MHz/820MHz	42,602

The Gainward Ultra/1800 "Golden Sample" PCX5900 overclocks pretty well considering. We were able to reach a maximum overlock of 440MHz/820MHz and pulled off some decent AQ3 scores. Granted these are not mind blowing results, but the results speak for themselves. According to Aquamark anything above a score of 20,000 will play most DX8, DX9 and above game titles.

The Ultra/1800 "Golden Sample" PCX5900  come's with the following bundle included with the retail product.

• 1 x Arx Fatalis Video Game by JoWooD Productions
• 1 x WinDVD 4
• 1 x 3D software, VGA Driver, BIOS Flash util, ExperTool
• 1 x DVI to VGA Gender Changer
• 1 x Muvee 3 AutoProducer
• 1 x 12v pass thru power dongle
• 1 x S-Video Connector
• 1 x Quick Start 4.11 Manual

EXPERTool™ Performance Tuning Utility

Gainward recommends this card's Enhanced Mode features be used in conjuction with EXPERTools. This will ensure you retain factory warranty when overclocking.

Engine Clock: 350 MHz (420 MHz Enhanced Mode* )
Memory Clock: 550 MHz (730 MHz Enhanced Mode* )

*  EXPERTools is Gainwards exclusive video card performance tuning utility, using EXPERTools will ensure you overclock your card within Gainwards warranty specifications. The Enhanced Mode settings are covered by Gainwards Factory Warranty when using EXPERTools.

Performance tuning is the most commonly used method among the ultimate power gamers to extract the utmost performance out of a high quality 3D graphics card. Using EXPERTools can achieve factory high performance tuning levels when overclocking to Enhanced Mode.

Final Thoughts:

The PCX5900 runs most our games at a enjoyable frames per second, the card does take some major hits running graphic intense games as Doom 3. While the frames are acceptable at lower resolutions the card simply has trouble with anything above 4x AA, 4x AF, 1024x768 and at higher resolutions with FarCry, Doom 3 and others. However on the other hand games like Richard Burns Rally runs pretty decent at higher settings. Other games we tested which ran at respectable levels -games like Unreal Tournament 2004, The Sims 2, Shark Tales all run this game at higher settings, very significantly detail and is powerful enough to enjoy most of the game titles that are currently out there.

The PCX5900 does meet recommended hardware requirements on most late game titles, with the exception of a few titles recently released this year. Being said if you need a fast PCX solution and cant wait for the mack daddy 6800ultra pcx then this card will fill in that gap.

Ending Note:

Our experience with the Ultra/1800 PCX5900 was fun and exciting. The game play was superb and handled our featured games like a true video card in its class should. But what appeals the most is the fact the Gainward card outclasses the competition and gives a real world 10-15% performance enhancment over the NVIDIA Reference design.

To put its power into perspective this card is only 10% slower than the NV35 AGP 5900Ultra 256MB version. Not bad for a 5900XT core!

It's a keeper, if you need a mid range right now pcx solution!

Retailers:

• ZipZoomFly
• NewEgg

Conclusion:

Pro's:

• Single Slot Design
• Significant frames per second
• No External Power Required
• Red LED's give off a nice glowing effect
• Factory Enhance Mode gives 15% boost in performance
• Gainward Quality and Workmanship
• Decent Overclocking Headroom. 

Con's:

• Weak Game Bundle
• Price

Special Thanks to Charlotte Su

;-)

GAINWARD USA
47881 Fremont Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538 USA
TEL:510-252-1118 FAX:510-252-9889
Copyright © 2004 GAINWARD USA. All Rights Reserved.