XFX 9800GX2 Quad SLI

 

Crysis is without doubt one of the most visually stunning and hardware challenging games to date. By using CrysisBench – a tool developed independently of Crysis – we performed a total of 5 timedemo benchmarks using a GPU-Intensive pre-recorded demo. To ensure the most accurate results, the highest and lowest benchmarks scores were then removed and an average calculated from the remaining three.

  

  

Clearly the 9800GX2 has slaughtered the 3870×2 in both single and dual card (quad setup). I was amazed at how well the GX2 handled Crysis but also distraught at the hassles involved in trying to get it to work in Quad SLI. For some odd reason on occassions the benchmark would run at a mere 4 or 5 fps on the GX2 and only a reboot or re-install of the drivers would solve this – something you may want to consider should you have the same problems. When it ran Quad SLI though it was truly awsome as the results show. It wasn’t even phased by the AA/AF at such a high res and showed very little slowdown once the AA/AF was applied. In contrast the 3870×2’s performance was dire. For a high-end setup I expected much more from ATI, With a poor FPS readout at both resolutions. I did a quick run without AA/AF and the fps jumped more inline with the 9800GX2’s so clearly the AA/AF settings were crippling the cards.

 

 

Bioshock is a recent FPS shooter by 2K games. Based on the UT3 engine it has a large amount of advanced DirectX techniques including excellent water rendering and superb lighting and smoke techniques. All results were recorded using F.R.A.P.S with a total of 5 identical runs through the same area of the game. The highest and lowest results were then removed, with an average being calculated from the remaining 3 results.

 

 

A much better showing here from ATI but once more the performance was left wanting in comparison to the 9800GX2. With the Quad fire setup barely beating a single GX2. Therefore it should come as no surprise that the Quad SLI setup once more trounces the CrossfireX. Again I ran a quick test without AA and the ATI did make some ground but if you are spending £500 on a set of GPU’s you expect to be able to add AA/AF and at a high resolution.