Extreme Performance & Overclocking

Since we show that there is some potential that can be unlocked by just some easy overclocking, it doesn't stop at that point. One thing is for sure, the G80 chip is quite a performer and has some hidden performance linked with the stream processors which are part of the unified shader technology. So since Sparkle gave us the opportunity and the freedom to play with their pre-overclocked Calibre series we couldn't resist the offer. As we actually found the shader clock as an extra parameter that can be tweaked, as well as the memory timings we figured that it was time to take it to the next performance level. So we will be playing with the BIOS and report the outcome of our actions by some benchmark figures.

Benchmark Results - 1600x1200 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	Calibre 8800 GTX 768MB	3DMark06 Score
4x AA/8x AF	630/1960MHz - 1550MHz (Shader)	7895
4x AA/8x AF	650/2000MHz - 1620MHz (Shader)	8090
4x AA/8x AF	650/2150MHz - 1620MHz (Shader)	8304
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Benchmark Results - 2560x1600 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	Calibre 8800 GTX 768MB	3DMark06 Score
4x AA/8x AF	630/1960MHz - 1550MHz (Shader)	4805
4x AA/8x AF	650/2000MHz - 1620MHz (Shader)	5037
4x AA/8x AF	650/2150MHz - 1620MHz (Shader)	5162
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

What did you think? You didn't believe much more could be gained from the already quite advanced version of Sparkle? We just overclocked the core and memory by upping the clock speeds and that resulted in decent increase in performance. And by taking it one step further and also changing the shader clock speed of the stream processors we opened up Pandora's Box. Well as a matter of speaking so to say. During all our benchmarks the Calibre 8800 GTX kept on humming stable with no hiccups to finally set the top speed at 650/2150MHz with a shader clock of 1620MHz. What Sparkle should have done on this very own Calibre 8800 GTX OC edition was to raise the shader clock next to the core and memory clock speeds. For their 630MHz a shader clock of around 1500MHz would be our advice.

Final Thoughts

When we received the Sparkle card, which was actually one of their Calibre series we got a bit excited being a non standard version with its own cooling solution. And that is exactly what we experienced while playing with the Calibre 8800 GTX OC edition, exciting gaming experience. So we don't have to spend a whole lot of words on it, frankly we are impressed. If we put it all together, there is a major advantage with the Calibre series, it comes pre-overclocked and with excellent silent cooling. No matter how you look at it the G80 graphics processor is a hell of a great piece of hardware. A fully renewed architecture, bringing the performance to the next level, delivering stunning image clarity and quality it is all present with the GeForce 8800 series.

Without a doubt, the Sparkle Calibre 8800 GTX OC edition is the fastest graphics accelerator around, when looking at the wide range of other pre-overclocked GTX versions. While our comparison was only included the GeForce 8800 GTS, it does give a clear view on the performance of the Calibre series. The new architecture build around the unified shader technology has paid off and shows that already with DirectX 9.0 it is faster and better than the competition. And yes NVIDIA has proven once again that it is back, releasing the first DirectX 10 compatible graphics processor with full support of Shader Model 4.0 while the games are still to come. But that is just normal, as the games can only be built of existing hardware and capabilities.

Looking at the warranty it does struck us with some surprise as we are getting used to the lifetime warranty offered other brands, the contrast with the 3 years limited warranty offered by Sparkle isn't much as added value. But their technical support services are quite excellent, with a serious after service guarantee and a reply within 48 hours to any question raised. And that will make up for some part, as assistance is very essential for any interested buyer. On top of that with the Calibre series, upon registration with Sparkle you will benefit of the exclusive membership rights. So a sign up is required but it will give you some extra value on top. A good approach to differentiate their services from the standard Sparkle series, and give some extra attention to the Calibre owners.

The real extra value of the Calibre series resides with the design of the graphics card itself, linked to the cooling and pre-overclocked settings. The TEC cooling works quite well on the Calibre 8800 GTX OC edition with a nice drop of the temperature. On top of that the noise level is even less than the reference cooling design from NVIDIA for the GeForce 8800 series. Next to that the Calibre series are not coming at default clock speeds, but with pre-overclocked settings. That means better gaming performance in the end, but at the same time benefiting of the TEC cooling to lower the temperature and noise level. So no complains on this front, but rather our appraisal for the innovation of Sparkle by thinking out of the box and looking at a partner to build their Calibre series.

What is generally the most exciting part about the graphics card these days is without a doubt the overclocking ability. In that aspect we would remain a bit hungry for more. However taking into account that the Sparkle Calibre 8800 GTX OC edition is actually a highly pre-overclocked version it makes up a lot when comparing to the reference clock settings. The Calibre 8800 GTX OC edition was capable of a minor overclock which gave us a very nice 650/2150MHz clock value. As a reference GeForce 8800 GTX is only set at 575/1800MHz we can't be disappointed with this overclocking potential. In fact the GTX chip is less overclock capable in comparison with the GTS, which is linked to the extra stream processors available, producing more heat during operation.

The Sparkle Calibre 8800 GTX OC edition card is an outstanding graphics card that promises to deliver outstanding performance for any game you throw at it. We showed that the Calibre 8800 GTX OC edition can handle gaming at incredible frame rates even at Extreme HD resolutions. However being a Calibre edition which comes pre-overclocked it costs a bit more than a standard version. However, if you want a silent and cool running card which comes is overclocked out of the box then you certainly will be prepared to pay a little more. To that extend the Calibre series would be your choice to try, at least we can highly recommend it to all looking for ultimate gaming experience and performance!

Pros

• Outstanding Performance
• Excellent Pre-Overclocked Value
• Silent TEC Cooling Technology
• SLI Ready, Multi-GPU Enabled
• Simultaneous HDR & AntiAliasing
• Microsoft DirectX 10 Ready
• Unified Shader Architecture
• Gorgeous Design and Functionality
• Ultra Fast Hynix GDDR3 (1.0ns) Memory
• HDCP Ready & Compliant

Cons

• Hefty Power Consumption
• Limited Overclocking Potential
• Huge Card Design

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