The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Performance
Oblivion paints a very different picture of performance on the 8800 GTS 320MB. Certainly, this test does have a higher degree of variability than the others, but it is clear that our factory overclocked hardware does boost performance in Oblivion. While BF2 (and by extension BF2142) players may not care to invest in an overclocked 320MB part, those who enjoy Oblivion will benefit.
It is also worth mentioning that we are planning on taking another look at Oblivion, as we've been seeing a lot of interest in the Shivering Isles expansion. We will be looking at Shivering Isles, HDR+AA performance, and performance with various texture mods.
Oblivion paints a very different picture of performance on the 8800 GTS 320MB. Certainly, this test does have a higher degree of variability than the others, but it is clear that our factory overclocked hardware does boost performance in Oblivion. While BF2 (and by extension BF2142) players may not care to invest in an overclocked 320MB part, those who enjoy Oblivion will benefit.
It is also worth mentioning that we are planning on taking another look at Oblivion, as we've been seeing a lot of interest in the Shivering Isles expansion. We will be looking at Shivering Isles, HDR+AA performance, and performance with various texture mods.
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bob4432 - Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - link
obviously they are all using nvidia's reference design for the pcb and most for the cooling setup. now when a company like evga orders their multi-thousand gpu order, do they spec out what exact ram chips they want vs msi, asus or xfx? to me the cards look identical to even the purple on the solid caps we can see coming out the back. is this for the memory ics too?would i be correct in saying that you are basically picking a brand based strictly on customer service and warranty as the cards are all pretty close in performance since they are just using the nvidia design and are not designing the cards in house?
KCjoker - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
I just bought a EVGA 8800GTS 320mb that came at the stock 500/1600 speeds for $260USD. I would've got the 640mb version but since I only game at 1280X1024 I didn't see the need. This card rips through games at stock but I have OC'd(600/1900) it anyway since EVGA's Lifetime warranty covers it so long as you don't physically damage the card. If you're looking for a great mid range card this is it.yyrkoon - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
I dont know if I would consider ANY 8 series cards right_now "mid-range". Mid-range, in my head, that would be a 7 series card, with 6 series cards being botttom feeders.
bigpow - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
do what I did, skip all the PC upgrades and just buy an Xbox 360mkruer - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
I assume that the power is for the whole system. I did not read anything explicitly stating this.SleepyItes - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
On the XFX page, "The XFX GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB Extreme is bundled with Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter just like the MSI card."Should be "...just like the Asus card."
DerekWilson - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
thanksSpacecomber - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
Do stock 8800 GTS cards readily overclock to the same range of speeds that these factory overclocked cards offer? Do these factory overclocked cards have the potential for more overclocking than what you can accomplish with the standard clock speed cards? In particular, didn't you guys want to know whether the Sparkle cooler offers the potential for even more overclocking, beyond what it is set to at the factory?Lonyo - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
Is there any chance of getting a case mounted temp sensor for these reviews?It seems to me that you would have to make a tradeoff with the Sparkle. Sure, you get lower GPU temps, but that heat and the heat from the TEC has to go somewhere, and that somewhere is going to be "somewhere else inside the case", since it doesn't appear to have any kind of exhausting fan setup.
metalfan49 - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - link
I was thinking about this too. Especially as summer is coming and I won't have the weather to help keep my stuff cool.