Our testing methods
Both the ATI and NVIDIA cards were left at their driver default settings for image quality, with the exception that we turned off vertical refresh sync on all cards.
Our test system was configured like so:
| Processor | Pentium 4 3.4'E'GHz | Pentium 4 550 3.4GHz |
| Front-side bus | 800MHz (200MHz quad-pumped) | 800MHz (200MHz quad-pumped) |
| Motherboard | Abit IC7-G | Abit AA8 |
| BIOS revision | 2.4 | 1.4 |
| North bridge | 82875P MCH | 925X MCH |
| South bridge | ICH5R | ICH6R |
| Chipset drivers | INF Update 6.0.1.1002 | INF Update 6.0.1.1002 |
| Memory size | 1GB (2 DIMMs) | 1GB (2 DIMMs) |
| Memory type | OCZ PC3200 EL DDR SDRAM at 400MHz | OCZ PC2 5300 DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz |
| CAS latency | 2 | 3 |
| Cycle time | 5 | 10 |
| RAS to CAS delay | 2 | 3 |
| RAS precharge | 2 | 3 |
| Hard drive | Maxtor MaXLine III 250GB SATA 150 | |
| Audio | Integrated | |
| Graphics | GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128MB AGP with ForceWare 66.51 beta drivers GeForce FX 5900 XT 128MB AGP with ForceWare 66.51 beta drivers GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB AGP with ForceWare 66.51 beta drivers GeForce 6600 GT 128MB PCI-E with ForceWare 66.51 beta drivers GeForce 6800 128MB with ForceWare 66.51 beta drivers GeForce 6800 GT 256MB with ForceWare 66.51 beta drivers GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB with ForceWare 66.51 beta drivers Radeon 9600 XT 128MB AGP with CATALYST 4.10 (8.07) beta drivers Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB AGP with CATALYST 4.10 (8.07) beta drivers Radeon 9800 XT 256MB AGP with CATALYST 4.10 (8.07) beta drivers Radeon X700 XT 128MB PCI-E with CATALYST 4.10 (8.07) beta drivers Radeon X800 Pro 256MB AGP with CATALYST 4.10 (8.07) beta drivers Radeon X800 XT PE 256MB AGP with CATALYST 4.10 (8.07) beta drivers | |
| OS | Microsoft Windows XP Professional | |
| OS updates | Service Pack 2, DirectX 9.0c | |
The test systems' Windows desktop was set at 1152x864 in 32-bit color at an 85Hz screen refresh rate. Vertical refresh sync (vsync) was disabled for all tests.
If you have questions about our methods, hit our forums to talk with us about them.
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