G80 Reviews thread

[A5]

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Quick question (it will take me a while to hit the reviews): The Unified Shaders need DX10 to work right? So how are the 128/96 shaders being implemented in current DX9 games? I mean, what's their distribution?

I assume that the driver handles it and allocates the units as they're needed.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Quick question (it will take me a while to hit the reviews): The Unified Shaders need DX10 to work right? So how are the 128/96 shaders being implemented in current DX9 games? I mean, what's their distribution?

Unified Shaders have nothing to do with the Direct X 10 API. The shaders are merely the means with which the image is rendered on the screen.

While DX10 is said to require a card (Purely for MS to say that the card is DX10 certified) it has no control over the allocation or deallocation of shaders.

-Kevin

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: A5

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Quick question (it will take me a while to hit the reviews): The Unified Shaders need DX10 to work right? So how are the 128/96 shaders being implemented in current DX9 games? I mean, what's their distribution?

I assume that the driver handles it and allocates the units as they're needed.

Didn't ATI say that it was completely hardware dependent and that the GPU automatically figured out the proper load balance for the shaders??
Not sure about Nvidia though and I guess that the drivers could handle it (but could the CPU do the calculations fast enough and in real time?)

 

[beggerking]

my fav, extreme tech

 

[HigherGround]

still have not read any of the reviews. Waiting for Anand's

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Cool, I thought so too but wasn't sure. I'm currently letting the benchmarks knock my senses cold before attempting to read all the architectural reviews

Just saw bit-tech's review. Quick Synopsis for others (and me to allow to sink in)

At 2560x1600:
Oblivion with 2X TSS (min 20, avg 40)
Company of Heroes with 4X TMS (min 16, avg 32)
BF2142 with 4X TSS (min 37, avg 50)
FEAR:EP with 2X TSS (min 13, avg 60)
GRAW no AA supported (min 30, avg 40)
HL2:E1 with 8X TSS (min 30, avg 44)

Quite frankly, astounding performance at that insane resolution. The card is crazy expensive but the numbers make a great case for 'you do get what you pay for'.

Edit: Gamingphreek and wizboy, thanks for clearing that up. I don't know why but I was under the impression that dynamic allocation of the shaders was going to be a DX10 feature.

 

[TraumaRN]

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Cool, I thought so too but wasn't sure. I'm currently letting to let the benchmarks knock my senses cold before attempting to read all the architectural reviews

Just saw bit-tech's review. Quick Synopsis for others (and me to allow to sink in)

At 2560x1600:
Oblivion with 2X TSS (min 20, avg 40)
Company of Heroes with 4X TMS (min 16, avg 32)
BF2142 with 4X TSS (min 37, avg 50)
FEAR:EP with 2X TSS (min 13, avg 60)
GRAW no AA supported (min 30, avg 40)
HL2:E1 with 8X TSS (min 30, avg 44)

Quite frankly, astounding performance at that insane resolution. The card is crazy expensive but the numbers make a great case for 'you do get what you pay for'.

Goto Guru 3D, goto the very end when they test SLI numbers...that was the point my jaw hit the floor when I saw the SLI 2560x1600 benchs....

Cuz at that point, no more CPU limitations...this card just SCREAMS....

Jesus...it's not even worth me buying one until I can upgrade my whole rig to feed the beast....perhaps I'll just get a cheapo 7900GTO(X) until I can upgrade int he spring months...

EDIT: I'll Post it...

4XAA and 16AF and 2560x1600 for all results

Prey- 101FPS average
GRAW- 85 FPS average
F.E.A.R 61 FPS average
Serious Sam 2(with HDR + AA) 164 FPS
Splinter Cell 3(with HDR + AA) 101 FPS

Thats just insane....

 

[KeithTalent]

Something weird happened on Dark Messiah in the FS review at 2560x1600: http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_8800_preview/page12.asp

Nice to finally be able to see Nvidia benches with HDR & AA though :thumbsup:

 

[aznrice54]

Originally posted by: beggerking
wow.. I guess gts does perform quite well... at least better than 1950xtx..

wonder if we can OC / unlock?

Wow. If these OCing results are to be believed about the 8800GTS...

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_8800_preview/page23.asp

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Something weird happened on Dark Messiah in the FS review at 2560x1600: http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_8800_preview/page12.asp

Nice to finally be able to see Nvidia benches with HDR & AA though :thumbsup:

Great, even at only 620/900 the overclocked GTS is on par or in some cases faster than an 8800GTX at stock (at least in the games they tested). This just sealed it for me.

 

[nib95]

Originally posted by: aznrice54

Originally posted by: beggerking
wow.. I guess gts does perform quite well... at least better than 1950xtx..

wonder if we can OC / unlock?

Wow. If these OCing results are to be believed about the 8800GTS...

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_8800_preview/page23.asp

Jesus!! Faster then a stock 8800 GTX!
I'm glad I got the GTS over the GTX. 3/4 of the GTX's price for the same performance yee haa!!

Oh by the way.

Beyond 3D.

http://www.beyond3d.com/reviews/nvidia/g80-arch/

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: DeathBUA

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Cool, I thought so too but wasn't sure. I'm currently letting to let the benchmarks knock my senses cold before attempting to read all the architectural reviews

Just saw bit-tech's review. Quick Synopsis for others (and me to allow to sink in)

At 2560x1600:
Oblivion with 2X TSS (min 20, avg 40)
Company of Heroes with 4X TMS (min 16, avg 32)
BF2142 with 4X TSS (min 37, avg 50)
FEAR:EP with 2X TSS (min 13, avg 60)
GRAW no AA supported (min 30, avg 40)
HL2:E1 with 8X TSS (min 30, avg 44)

Quite frankly, astounding performance at that insane resolution. The card is crazy expensive but the numbers make a great case for 'you do get what you pay for'.

Goto Guru 3D, goto the very end when they test SLI numbers...that was the point my jaw hit the floor when I saw the SLI 2560x1600 benchs....

Cuz at that point, no more CPU limitations...this card just SCREAMS....

Jesus...it's not even worth me buying one until I can upgrade my whole rig to feed the beast....perhaps I'll just get a cheapo 7900GTO(X) until I can upgrade int he spring months...

EDIT: I'll Post it...

4XAA and 16AF and 2560x1600 for all results

Prey- 101FPS average
GRAW- 85 FPS average
F.E.A.R 61 FPS average
Serious Sam 2(with HDR + AA) 164 FPS
Splinter Cell 3(with HDR + AA) 101 FPS

Thats just insane....

as i've been considering getting a 30" display (once they drop under $1k), the results at that ridiculous resolution are what impressed me the most... i honestly didn't think any video card(s) could pull modern games with 4xAA and 16AF at 2560x1600, and being a gamer, this was a big turnoff from the bigger displays... but this may yet change my mind... assuming, of course, i could ever afford both a 30" LCD and 1 or 2 8800gtx's

 

[Matt2]

This is by far the most impressive launch by any video card since TNT2 me thinks.

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Originally posted by: Matt2
This is by far the most impressive launch by any video card since 9700 PRO me thinks.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Okay, there is a slight variance in reported Power Consumption figures:
(X1950XTX vs. 8800GTX) (These are all full system draws while LOADED)

HardOCP - 330W vs 345W
PC Perspective - 232W vs 292W
The Tech Report - 270W vs 277W
bit-tech.net - 237W vs 315W

And they all have similar high-powered X6800 rigs. Some lead us to believe the difference is nominal (Dailytech, HOCP, TTR) - some display a much larger gap (bit-tech, PCP). Maybe our own JonnyGuru (or Xbitlabs) will give us a definitive power draw for just the GPU

 

[fliguy84]

From HardOCP:

While those numbers are nice and all what you guys really want to hear about is whether or not the anisotropic filtering quality has been fixed. (It can be argued that all current generations GPUs AF is broken.) We are so very happy to tell you that by DEFAULT, NVIDIA is employing a level of AF that is higher in quality to even ATI?s current ?HQ? AF on their flagship GPU.

:shocked:

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Matt2
This is by far the most impressive launch by any video card since TNT2 me thinks.

Have to agree. It is rare when actual results meet or exceed the hype.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Matt2
This is by far the most impressive launch by any video card since TNT2 me thinks.

Have to agree. It is rare when actual results meet or exceed the hype.

this is pathetic how so many reviewers still conduct reviews with LOW@$$ resolutions. 1024x768 should be the minimum, at least turn the eyecandy on. If you're going to do reviews at least leave it on, or do both on and off. Then 1600x1200 along with 1280x1024 are a must. Widescreen resolutions might even be good at this point, but I think 2048x1536 is a must too to see the TRUE potential of GPUs.

Let's not have retarded CPU limited benchmarks again like last time..

 

[fliguy84]

Any review that explains how nvidia manages to get a 384-bit memory interface?

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Matt2
This is by far the most impressive launch by any video card since TNT2 me thinks.

Have to agree. It is rare when actual results meet or exceed the hype.

this is pathetic how so many reviewers still conduct reviews with LOW@$$ resolutions. 1024x768 should be the minimum, at least turn the eyecandy on. If you're going to do reviews at least leave it on, or do both on and off. Then 1600x1200 along with 1280x1024 are a must. Widescreen resolutions might even be good at this point, but I think 2048x1536 is a must too to see the TRUE potential of GPUs.

Let's not have retarded CPU limited benchmarks again like last time..

Read the FiringSquad review, benches go up to 2560x1600 and 8800GTX absolutely OWNS everything by at least 2x in most benches.

 

[Centurin]

The T-Break review is back up.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

OMFG

company of heros 1920x1200 16xQTMS AA 16xAF all details maxed and it still whoops ass. (bit tech review)

just amazing

 

[linkgoron]

Originally posted by: Matt2
This is by far the most impressive launch by any video card since TNT2 me thinks.

r300?

6800U?

 

[Sable]

The techreport review is excellent as always.

"Despite being large enough to scare the cattle"

:laugh:

The GTX looks absolutely incredible, nice work Nvidia. Clearly listened to every criticism of the 7X00 series (which hopefully nv fanbois can now admit WERE problems with it ) and not only sorted them but packed of a massive load of extra performance.

Can;t wait for DX10 benchies.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Anyone who has doubts in these reviews should just go to BFG's website.
Look at the picture in the third column here



And Newegg has them for $660/$500 (GTX/GTS)