Gaming Benchmarks (Cont.)

Let's continue with the next games we have selected, being X³: Reunion and Quake 4. Both games which are very popular amongst gamers and that will give a good idea on the performance delivered by the Sparkle Calibre 8800 GTX graphics accelerator. Again we have one game using the DirectX and the other using the OpenGL technology. This has some impact on the performance and gaming experience with these games. The goal of each technology is to provide stunning gaming experience with awesome looking visual graphics and physics. So, load em up, and start your 3D engines...

EgoSoft X³: Reunion

Following up on our gaming overview, we use one of the newer games which goes by the name, X³: Reunion. This is a sequel to the award winning X²: The Threat game. Quite some extensive development has gone into the X³ engine, making use of DirectX 9.0 technology, to create dramatic visual effects and stunningly realistic starships. Coupled with the massively enhanced artificial life system, X³: Reunion will present players with an ever changing, evolving universe; where a player's action really can shape the future of the universe. Newcomers will enjoy the additions to the already graphically impressive, almost living X³ Universe, while veterans can expect new construction options and an improved physics model.

Gaming Results - 1280x1024 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB	Calibre 8800 GTX 768MB
No AA/No AF	80.188	89.137
2x AA/4x AF	75.417	84.752
4x AA/8x AF	71.373	82.402
8x AA/16x AF	66.947	80.094
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Gaming Results - 1600x1200 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB	Calibre 8800 GTX 768MB
No AA/No AF	71.327	85.423
2x AA/4x AF	64.675	78.724
4x AA/8x AF	59.128	74.656
8x AA/16x AF	54.502	70.818
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

Looking at the X3: Reunion game, the results are in favor of the GTX config build around the Calibre 8800 GTX OC edition accelerator. The GeForce 8800 GTS shows to be in second position and marks lower frame rate scores consistently. When we go enabling the AntiAliasing functionality, the scores are dropping for both GeForce 8800 series, with the GTX dropping less fast. And the Calibre 8800 GTX OC edition accelerator shows its real potential by showing stunning game play results and performance figures. If we look at the technology behind the game, namely a 3D engine based upon the DirectX 9.0 specifications it is clear that the Calibre 8800 GTX setup takes the lead on this one as it features more processing logic in the form of stream processors.

Gaming Results - 2560x1600 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB	Calibre 8800 GTX 768MB
No AA/No AF	48.625	64.804
2x AA/4x AF	41.726	57.389
4x AA/8x AF	36.837	52.721
8x AA/16x AF	29.512	41.600
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

Also when looking at the HD gaming score, a similar conclusion can be drawn. The GeForce 8800 GTS doesn't do badly at all, but when it is put against a Calibre 8800 GTX OC edition system it can't keep up. Of course when you would start comparing all the aspects it all comes down on the available vertex and pixel shaders. And at this point the G80 GTX power comes out on top as it features more raster operation units to get the job done. Of course the GeForce 8800 GTS is penalized by having 32 stream processors less than the GTX version. The Calibre 8800 GTX delivers awesome frame rates as a single GPU solution and has the edge on visual image quality.

Raven Software Quake 4

As we want to have a good mix of games, we just had to give Quake 4 a spot in the gaming analysis. Quake 4 is based upon id Software's revolutionary Doom 3 technology. Furthermore, Quake 4 wasn't actually developed by id Software itself but instead it outsourced the game development to the capable minds at Raven Software, who have turned in a fantastic looking game with a great single-player campaign. The multiplayer, however, is underwhelming. Quake was among the first PC shooters to let you take your multiplayer matches onto the Internet, and over the years, the series has become synonymous with great technology and exciting multiplayer.

Gaming Results - 1280x1024 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB	Calibre 8800 GTX 768MB
No AA/No AF	191.0	215.3
2x AA/-- AF	169.1	201.9
4x AA/-- AF	143.7	183.0
8x AA/-- AF	97.8	137.4
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Gaming Results - 1600x1200 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB	Calibre 8800 GTX 768MB
No AA/No AF	174.4	207.7
2x AA/-- AF	133.7	181.8
4x AA/-- AF	109.8	156.6
8x AA/-- AF	69.2	98.0
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

When looking at the Quake 4 gaming results we can see that these follow the same logic as we have encountered with Doom 3. Since both games are using the same 3D engine developed by id Software it doesn't come as a surprise. Both games use the OpenGL technology to bring the action alive. The frame rates are showing the same trend between both cards, but clearly showing the Calibre 8800 GTX version as being superior. Also when we up the stakes by enabling the AntiAliasing feature, the Sparkle Calibre 8800 GTX OC edition comes forward as the winner and able to deliver smoother game play and sharper visual sceneries.

Gaming Results - 2560x1600 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB	Calibre 8800 GTX 768MB
No AA/No AF	97.4	141.1
2x AA/-- AF	70.0	101.6
4x AA/-- AF	51.2	80.2
8x AA/-- AF	24.8	39.9
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

Looking upon the figures with the widescreen HD resolution, we can draw the same conclusion. The Sparkle Calibre 8800 GTX OC edition does provide higher frame rate consistently, and can remains doing so when we start increasing the AntiAliasing capabilities. With going for the maximum AntiAliasing it shows even a quite significant difference in frame rates and gaming experience. Again the stunning game play keeps amazing us, and with that said Quake 4 looks impressive with the Calibre 8800 GTX accelerator provided by Sparkle. If you are a looking for the best visual quality available today, and you are into the HD gaming then you just have to set your mind on the GeForce 8800 series.