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 GeForce 8600 GTS 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
	Radeon X1950 PRO	GeForce 8600 GTS
No AA/No AF	79.487 fps	60.021 fps
2x AA/4x AF	70.864 fps	50.414 fps
4x AA/8x AF	66.359 fps	45.587 fps
8x AA/16x AF	N/A	39.181 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

Looking at the X3: Reunion game, the results are in favor of the Radeon X1950 PRO config rather then the Sparkle accelerator. The GeForce 8600 GTS shows to be in second position and marks lower frame rate scores consistently. When we go enabling the anti-aliasing functionality, the scores are dropping for both graphics cards, with the both dropping at a similar rate. 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 GeForce 8600 GTS setup does quite well considering having a bit less processing logic in the form of stream processors in the unified shader technology. However the GeForce 8600 series allow for a greater level of anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering, delivering adequate frame rates and excellent image quality in return.

Gaming Results - 1600x1200 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	Radeon X1950 PRO	GeForce 8600 GTS
4x AA/8x AF	54.421 fps	34.327 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Gaming Results - 2560x1600 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	Radeon X1950 PRO	GeForce 8600 GTS
4x AA/8x AF	27.368 fps	16.153 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

Also when looking at the HD gaming score, a similar conclusion can be drawn. The GeForce 8600 GTS doesn't do badly at all, but when it is put against the Radeon X1950 PRO 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 G84 power is crippled a bit and features as a whole less vertex and shader units next to fewer raster operation units to get the job done. Of course the GeForce 8600 GTS is penalized by this when it comes to the gaming performance and the frame rates it can attain. The Sparkle GeForce 8600 GTS delivers great frame rates as a single GPU solution and surely 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 internally; it instead outsourced 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 function, 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
	Radeon X1950 PRO	GeForce 8600 GTS
No AA/-- AF	131.4 fps	108.2 fps
2x AA/-- AF	119.7 fps	85.4 fps
4x AA/-- AF	97.4 fps	66.8 fps
8x AA/-- AF	N/A	44.1 fps
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 Radeon X1950 PRO version as being superior. Also when we up the stakes by enabling the anti-aliasing feature, the Sparkle GeForce 8600 GTS edition can keep up an is trailing behind but still able to deliver very smooth game play thought sharper visual sceneries. And on top of that it can support a higher level of visual quality due to supporting a higher level of anti-aliasing.

Gaming Results - 1600x1200 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	Radeon X1950 PRO	GeForce 8600 GTS
4x AA/-- AF	68.1 fps	49.0 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Gaming Results - 2560x1600 - E6300 2.80GHz - 2GB RAM
	Radeon X1950 PRO	GeForce 8600 GTS
4x AA/-- AF	20.2 fps	22.1 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

Looking upon the figures with the widescreen HD resolution, we can draw the same conclusion. The PowerColor Radeon X1950 PRO edition does provide higher frame rate consistently, and can remain doing so when we start increasing the anti-aliasing capabilities. With going for the maximum anti-aliasing it shows a less significant difference in frame rates and gaming experience. Once we arrived at the Extreme HD resolution the tables are turning and the Sparkle graphics card comes out on top. Again the stunning game play keeps amazing us, and with that said Quake 4 looks impressive with the GeForce 8600 GTS accelerator provided by Sparkle. If you are a looking for the best visual quality available today, and you are into some HD gaming, but on a not so great budget then we can highly recommend the GeForce 8600 series...