8800GT SLI Performance Preview Options

[ChrisRay]

Geforce 8800GT SLI Performance Preview

Introduction: First I want to apologize to everyone for this analysis having limited settings covered. I just got back from CA late Saturday morning so I was unable to have as much time with them as I would have liked. I will be doing some additional updates later as I get more time to test. I really would have liked to of been able to done more but the time available to me was minimal.


Geforce 8800GT Specs.

ROPS: 16
TMUS: 56
Stream Processors: 112 @ 1.5 Ghz
Memory Interface: 256 Bit
Memory Clock: 900/1800
Core Clock: 600
PCI Gen: 2.0


Performance Comparisons: Since this is an SLI comparison I will be focusing on the 16xAA and above modes. All tested resolutions are 1680x1050 unless otherwise stated in the analysis. The drivers I used were the 169.01 drivers.


World of Warcraft 1680x1050



Performance Thoughts: World of Warcraft is a relatively simple title to render. However the game has extended alpha texture usage. When using transparency supersampling can be pretty taxing in areas such as Zangarmarsh and Terrokar Forest. However both of these cards are able to run this title without too much trouble with even 8x transparency SS enabled. The 8800GT SLI configuration just trailing behind the 8800GTX.


Oblivion 1680x1050



Performance Thoughts: With HDR enabled the 8800GT SLI once again comes very close behind the 8800GTX SLI setup. While the 8800GTX SLI setup was faster by a small margin it was not noticable to me in gameplay.


Bioshock 1680x1050



Performance Thoughts: Bioshock does extremely well on the 8800GT with 16xAA enabled. You can definately say that this will be the preferred setting for DirectX 9.0 users. Unfortunately under 16xQ I ran into some framebuffer limitations on the 8800GT SLI configuration which caused some hitching and prevented performance from being as optimal.


Fear 1680x1050



Performance Thoughts: Fear shows a rather unusual performance variance at 16xAA with the 8800GT SLI setup. As the performance evens out at 16xQ by quite a bit I believe this to be a driver bug. I expect future driver revisions will improve base 16xAA performance in this title.

Prey 1600x1200



Performance Thoughts: Just look at those 3 digit numbers. While the 8800GT SLI configuration does fall a bit behind the 8800GTX SLI setup. It would be completely un noticable to anyone who wasnt running fraps. 16xQ is completely usable for each setup.

Neverwinter Nights 2 1680x1050




Performance Thoughts: Neverwinter Nights 2 is an extremely shader limited title. When heavy firefights occur you absolutely must have SLI enabled to keep this title playable at these settings. The 8800GT SLI configuration offers very close performance in this case to the 8800GTX SLI setup.



Conclusion: I always look forward to die shrinks of existing products. They typically bring about performance similar to last gens high end at lower power consumption and smaller coolers. The 8800GT SLI configuration is no exception. The new chip runs cooler, has a single slot cooler, ((albeit a bit noisier than an 8800GTX)) and features the same purevideo features as the 8600 line. All while costing less than half the 8800GTX. I dont typically suggest people to buy dual slot cards over a single slot solution when a faster single slot card exists. The 8800GT SLI setup is an exception to this fact. For the same price as a single 8800GTX you can have up to 60-70% more performance than a single 8800GTX. And to me thats an amazing feat.

While I was a bit let down that there was no new high end hardware revealed at this point in time. I did come the realization that a product like this is very important. As most users do not spend 500-600 dollars per card. This product will bring high end performance to the masses at a reasonable price. Its very hard for me to talk negatively about it. While some may have expected this card to be under the 8800GTS. The card is actually very close to the 8800GTX in most titles.






New Transparency Multisampling for all Geforce Users!

The Geforce 8800GT also employs a new type of transparency multisampling. While I havent had the chance to truly investigate it. Its a very nice implementation and will replace the old transparency multisampling. When I get a chance to look do some comparisons I'll be sure to post them up. And until then. Here's a look at Nvidia's PR examples.

The actual reality of the new mode is Nvidia's transparency multisampling looks very close too their supersampling mode and still employs relatively no performance hit. While only the Geforce 8800 GT currently supports it. ALL Nvidia graphic cards that support transparency AA will recieve this update.

[drifter_SLI]

Almost too good to be true! great performance, price, its a single slot card and needs only one 6pin connector! how does NV expect to keep the prices so high for GTX and Ultra with GT coming so close in performance for half the price!? great review BTW. one more thing however: i read in another review that the card idles at 60C and goes all the way up to 90 load, thats a tad hot.

[Prohibition]

other cards were fine till 130C.

[lycan_warlord]

thanks chris. alot of users have been asking if they should wait for the 8800GT or get a GTS/GTX/Ultra.

I think this speaks for itsself.

-lycan

[ChrisRay]

There are going to be some advantages the 8800GTX will have. Though the 8800GTS is clearly not a good value anymore compared to the 8800GT.

Chris

[Daijo2u]

great review. I know what santa is bringing me!!!!

[Prohibition]

any one wanna buy my GTS 640's?? lol didnt think so.

[StuffedTurkey]

any one wanna buy my GTS 640's?? lol didnt think so.

ill buy it if you put it on clearance for 150

[Prohibition]

well 150 each i just need another 250 for 2 gt's then..haha. curse you nvidia for passing up my 640 gts with a gt.. darn ol technology.

[Soulketcher680iS...]

well 150 each i just need another 250 for 2 gt's then..haha. curse you nvidia for passing up my 640 gts with a gt.. darn ol technology.

Relax Pro, relax, it's ok. See, my GTS's arn't even 6 months old. I have 12 8800GT's (6 of each flavor) coming in tomorrow to my shop. I am going to box up my 8800GTS's and send them back to EVGA as overstock, plop a couple of 8800GT 512's and I am good to go! Another suggestion would be just to take a loss and sell them cheap! Like the previous offer...$300 for the 2 now you only need $250 like you said, not bad, there's always EBAY and you can bet your @$$ someone will buy 2 of those for $300, maybe even $400, but you gotta do it fast before word gets out!


Chris.

[Grandpa_SLI]

Relax Pro, relax, it's ok. See, my GTS's arn't even 6 months old. I have 12 8800GT's (6 of each flavor) coming in tomorrow to my shop. I am going to box up my 8800GTS's and send them back to EVGA as overstock, plop a couple of 8800GT 512's and I am good to go! Another suggestion would be just to take a loss and sell them cheap! Like the previous offer...$300 for the 2 now you only need $250 like you said, not bad, there's always EBAY and you can bet your @$$ someone will buy 2 of those for $300, maybe even $400, but you gotta do it fast before word gets out!
Chris.

At least you have a way to recoupe. Hell my cards are just over 3 months old now and a cheaper card will out preform them. So basicily allot of us just go ****** by nVidia.

[ChrisRay]

Theres always new hardware coming out on the horizon. It's the nature of this business. Your 8800GTS SLI is still a good piece of hardware regardless of what the 8800GT is. Computers are like cars. The moment you drive them off the lot they lose alot of value.

Chris

[Prohibition]

thats kind of how i feel. i dont remember gt's outperforming a gts. should of been a low end 8900 me thinks. at least i would of felt better.

[Daijo2u]

i was just thinking PRO.
people wouldn't feel so bad.


This post has been edited by Daijo2u: Oct 29 2007, 07:23 PM

[Prohibition]

@chrisray. i know there is always new stuff comin out with anything. but it just doesnt seem right a gt will beat a gts. I know it would of seemed more acceptable to keep the monickers inline like gt gts gtx ultra and so on. just saying if they would of made a designation change so the users wouldnt feel that they got the shaft as it is cheaper and a way better card. im just jealous is all

[ChrisRay]

Whats in a name. A rose by any other name will smell just as sweet. Sorry I know lame. ;p

[Daijo2u]

@ anyone - does the GT's even have a lower memory Bandwidth then the GTS?

[chambs1]

It's not that surprising, really. When the 7950 GT came out it two of them were nearly as fast as 7900 GTX SLI at that resolution. So, it's nothing new.

I'm just really, really glad I didn't buy the 8800 GTS 640 like I was originally going to.

This post has been edited by chambs1: Oct 29 2007, 07:49 PM

[Exitios]

@ anyone - does the GT's even have a lower memory Bandwidth then the GTS?

Yes they do because of the narrower memory bus, but it's only by 6.4 GB/s. Hardly enough to make you think twice about it.

[Daijo2u]

@exitios - thx

like i said i am going to convince my daughter to spend my money so that she can get me one for Xmas. HAHA

This post has been edited by Daijo2u: Oct 29 2007, 07:53 PM