Gaming Benchmarks

As we saw the synthetic benchmark results, the next logical step is to dive into the real gaming performance of the PowerColor Radeon X1950 PRO 512MB video card. As reference we will use a NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS card to see the performance differences. Each card is going to run each game at 1280x1024 settings using a variety of AntiAliasing and Anisotropic Filtering 3D effects. So in effect we are stuffing both cards in the same system, using the same settings and spending some time playing games and performing tests on the following game titles, let's check what we got.

Next on our list of favorite games is Doom 3 developed by id Software. Doom 3 is quite possibly the best-looking game ever, thanks to the brand-new 3D graphics engine used to generate its convincingly lifelike, densely atmospheric, and surprisingly expansive environments. At the same time, when you look past the spectacular appearance, you'll find a conventional, derivative shooter. Doom 3 is essentially a remake of the original Doom, though series fans will find reimagined versions of almost every monster from both previous versions in the new sequel.

Doom 3 - 1280x1024 Gaming Results

Gaming Results - 1280x1024 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	Radeon X1950 PRO	GeForce 7900 GS
No AA	109.9 fps	125.7 fps
2x AA	97.8 fps	102.3 fps
4x AA	73.2 fps	72.3 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

When looking at the game play results we noticed that the reported frame rates are a bit in favor of the GeForce 7900 GS. Although the Radeon X1950 PRO delivers quite high frame rates from the start and when applying the AntiAliasing feature the real power of the RV570 chip surfaces. However the NVIDIA based cards do have an advantage when it comes to OpenGL performance. ATI has come a long way, but still the OpenGL support will need some more work and tuning for gaining more gaming performance. In the end the Radeon X1950 PRO does well, but somehow we expected more from it.

Who doesn't know the game Far Cry? You should at least have heard about it... It's the game that came out right before Half-Life 2, Doom 3 and so on and set some new standards in gaming experience. Without a doubt, Far Cry was the most advanced graphics seen in any PC game. Everything in this game looks amazing, and the level of verisimilitude is unprecedented. Far Cry isn't just a stunning technical accomplishment. It's quite possibly the best single-player first-person shooter experience for the PC since Half-Life. Since Half-Life 2 and Doom 3 came out Far Cry had to share the welt on de gaming market.

Far Cry - 1280x1024 Gaming Results

Gaming Results - 1280x1024 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	Radeon X1950 PRO	GeForce 7900 GS
No AA/No AF	118.08 fps	120.14 fps
2x AA/4x AF	101.69 fps	100.96 fps
4x AA/8x AF	88.95 fps	79.78 fps
SM3.0/HDR	89.37 fps	58.27 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

As you might know already, I am quite a fan of Far Cry and it keeps amazing me with the game play. Beside from that it is one excellent game to checkout the performance of a graphics card. Both cards perform somehow on par, although when AntiAliasing comes into the picture the GeForce 7900 GS is trailing a bit behind. Far Cry is also a game where you can enable HDR. This comes in handy as it adds more complexity and processing towards the video accelerator. The PowerColor Radeon X1950 PRO definitely has the edge when HDR is enabled and performs noticeably better.