Gaming Benchmarks

As we saw the synthetic benchmark results, the next logical step is to dive into the real gaming performance of the Gainward BLISS 9800 GX2 edition video card. As reference we will use a GeForce 8800 Ultra setup to check the performance differences. Each setup is going to run each selected game at different resolution settings using a variety of anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering 3D effects. And both are featuring the NVIDIA unified shader technology, but somehow on a different optimization approach and technology. So in effect we are stuffing both cards in the same system, running still Windows XP as operating system, using the same settings and spending some time playing games and performing tests on the following game titles.

UbiSoft Far Cry

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. And 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. The game includes thematic elements relating to the dangers of genetic engineering and the genocide of local islanders as can be seen by the deformed creatures created by a mad scientist named Krieger.

Gaming Results - 1280x1024 - E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 8800 Ultra	BLISS 9800 GX2
No AA/No AF	154.62 fps	145.71 fps
2x AA/4x AF	153.47 fps	144.58 fps
4x AA/8x AF	152.78 fps	143.46 fps
SM3.0/HDR	140.90 fps	132.49 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Gaming Results - 1600x1200 - E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 8800 Ultra	BLISS 9800 GX2
No AA/No AF	156.89 fps	147.96 fps
2x AA/4x AF	154.22 fps	145.86 fps
4x AA/8x AF	152.43 fps	143.67 fps
SM3.0/HDR	123.19 fps	132.24 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

Well yeah we still like the hang of it with Far Cry, it just keeps amazing us this game with very nice visual graphics and stunning game play. Besides that it is an excellent game to check out the performance of a graphics card. Both cards perform somehow on par, although when anti-aliasing comes into the picture the Ultra version featuring the G80 GPU has the advantage by a greater margin and dropping only slightly in produced frame rates. Far Cry is also a game where you can enable High Dynamic Range feature. This comes in handy as it adds more complexity and processing towards the video accelerator. Upon enabling High Dynamic Range with Far Cry the BLISS 9800 GX2 edition can finally take over the leading position when the resolution is tuned up. However this isn't really a surprise as the G92 core comes with only a 256-bit memory interface.

Gaming Results - 2560x1600 - E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 8800 Ultra	BLISS 9800 GX2
No AA/No AF	137.07 fps	151.26 fps
2x AA/4x AF	105.69 fps	136.36 fps
4x AA/8x AF	93.58 fps	123.29 fps
SM3.0/HDR	67.96 fps	106.92 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

The game is on and high definition is the newest hype these days around the gaming community. That means we couldn't stay behind neither. And indeed NVIDIA has really done quite some marketing around the high definition gaming experience and in particularly linked with the GeForce 8800 series. Make no mistake the GeForce 8800 Ultra does have all it takes for the enjoying the high definition gaming experience but does come a bit short against the GeForce 9800 GX2 configuration. So the GeForce 8800 Ultra with its 768MB frame buffer does well, but the dual GPU GX2 edition is no match looking at the raw game rendering power. Nonetheless we were quite impressed by the stunning image clarity provided and the fluent game play during the different benchmark runs.

idSoftware Doom 3

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 most 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 is set in the year 2145 in a rather fictional union aerospace corporation research center on Mars. In the game, the player takes control of such an union aerospace security replacement marine as he fights to survive some mysterious invasion of inter-dimensional demons.

Gaming Results - 1280x1024 - E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 8800 Ultra	BLISS 9800 GX2
No AA/-- AF	245.0 fps	246.2 fps
2x AA/-- AF	212.1 fps	239.1 fps
4x AA/-- AF	179.6 fps	218.7 fps
8x AA/-- AF	114.9 fps	150.8 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Gaming Results - 1600x1200 - E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 8800 Ultra	BLISS 9800 GX2
No AA/-- AF	221.2 fps	244.2 fps
2x AA/-- AF	173.1 fps	214.5 fps
4x AA/-- AF	138.8 fps	182.4 fps
8x AA/-- AF	80.7 fps	111.3 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

Another one that is already going a long way but still is considered a very good reference in terms of OpenGL gaming performance. We notice that the reported frame rates are in favor of the newest GeForce 9800 GX2 system. The GeForce 8800 Ultra has a very good basis, though it's no real match to the dual-GPU version coming from Gainward. We must admit that the G92 is very impressive and does allow a decent amount of overclocking. The only point that is critical is the memory bandwidth which is scrutinized by having a 256-bit memory interface compared to the greater 384-bit available for the G80 Ultra version. Having said that, we have to admit that the single G92 based graphics cards are cheaper but the GX2 is actually powered by two of these graphics chips which means of course a bit more expensive.

Gaming Results - 2560x1600 - E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 8800 Ultra	BLISS 9800 GX2
No AA/-- AF	139.5 fps	196.7 fps
2x AA/-- AF	93.6 fps	132.4 fps
4x AA/-- AF	68.0 fps	101.5 fps
8x AA/-- AF	33.9 fps	56.2 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

When looking upon the high definition gaming results for both our graphics cards, these show a similar performance. The GeForce 8800 Ultra edition is less fast at normal operation and with anti-aliasing. The Gainward BLISS 9800 GX2 edition takes the lead on all benchmark runs and when you up the stakes and raise it to the maximum level. If you are in favor of games titles based upon the great 3D engine from id Software, meaning based upon the OpenGL technology then don't think twice and just go for a NVIDIA based graphics card. And a good choice would certainly be this BLISS 9800 GX2 version from Gainward, a default clocked version which shows once again superior images visualization and quality. On top of that the GX2 comes with a huge amount of high-end memory and a quite silent though powerful cooling solution.