Gaming Benchmarks

As we saw the synthetic benchmark results, the next logical step is to dive into the real gaming performance of the Gainward GeForce GTX 260 version video card. As a reference we will be using a GeForce 9800 GX2 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 video 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 9800 GX2	GeForce GTX 260
No AA/No AF	145.71 fps	143.93 fps
2x AA/4x AF	144.58 fps	142.74 fps
4x AA/8x AF	143.46 fps	141.65 fps
SM3.0/HDR	132.49 fps	132.29 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Gaming Results - 1600x1200 - E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 9800 GX2	GeForce GTX 260
No AA/No AF	147.96 fps	144.77 fps
2x AA/4x AF	145.86 fps	144.61 fps
4x AA/8x AF	143.67 fps	144.48 fps
SM3.0/HDR	132.24 fps	132.92 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 GeForce GTX 260 version featuring the GT200 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 difference remains the same, meaning almost none. It does mean that the new GT200 core can easily take on the older multi-GPU technology at these medium resolutions.

Gaming Results - 2560x1600 - E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 9800 GX2	GeForce GTX 260
No AA/No AF	151.26 fps	147.75 fps
2x AA/4x AF	136.36 fps	122.36 fps
4x AA/8x AF	123.29 fps	114.18 fps
SM3.0/HDR	106.92 fps	87.19 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 since their GeForce 8800 series. Make no mistake the GeForce GTX 260 does have all it takes for enjoying the high definition gaming experience but does come a bit short against the GeForce 9800 GX2 configuration. So the GeForce GTX 260 with its 896MB frame buffer does well, but the dual GPU GX2 edition is no match when looking at the raw game rendering power. Needless to say that the GeForce GTX 280 might just swing the mood around and going in favor of the new GT200 based graphics solution.

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 9800 GX2	GeForce GTX 260
No AA/-- AF	246.2 fps	229.2 fps
2x AA/-- AF	239.1 fps	226.4 fps
4x AA/-- AF	218.7 fps	198.9 fps
8x AA/-- AF	150.8 fps	138.1 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Gaming Results - 1600x1200 - E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 9800 GX2	GeForce GTX 260
No AA/-- AF	244.2 fps	223.1 fps
2x AA/-- AF	214.5 fps	190.7 fps
4x AA/-- AF	182.4 fps	161.0 fps
8x AA/-- AF	111.3 fps	102.8 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 previous GeForce 9800 GX2 system. The GeForce GTX 260 edition has a very good basis, though it's no match to the dual-GPU version. We must admit that the G92 is very impressive and does allow a decent amount of overclocking, but so does the GT200 chipset and that might make a nice change. At this point we can say the GeForce GTX 260 is able to show its strength, while coming at a far more attractive price tag it can blow away the older GX2 solution with a better price to performance ratio. And as mentioned before these GT200 chips do have some great overclocking headroom to take advantage of, which we hope to see with the Golden Sample versions.

Gaming Results - 2560x1600 - E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
	GeForce 9800 GX2	GeForce GTX 260
No AA/-- AF	196.7 fps	159.4 fps
2x AA/-- AF	132.4 fps	113.0 fps
4x AA/-- AF	101.5 fps	88.7 fps
8x AA/-- AF	56.2 fps	51.5 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 GTX 260 edition is less fast at normal operation and with anti-aliasing. The GeForce 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. We have to notice that a higher anti-aliasing level brings the performance closer and closer, which is a great plus for the GeForce GTX 260. The GeForce GTX 260 has less power demands and is smaller with quite a few extra features that will be exploited in upcoming games, which makes it an excellent choice.