Far Cry, Painkiller
Far Cry
Vendor: UBI Soft - (Website)API: DirectX 9.0
Pixel Shader Version Supported: Mix PS1.1, PS1.4, PS2.0 with PS2.0 forced
The driver gives the Gainward its biggest performance boost, rather than the clock increase to 470MHz, indicating some pretty heavy CPU limiting when the card is running that fast. The X800 PRO beats the 6800 Ultra on 60.72 at 1600x1200 with the new driver helping the 6800 Ultra claw that back. The performance increase with default trilinear optimisations on is very impressive.
| 450/1200, 60.72, opts off | 104.35 | 82.79 | 43.58 |
| 450/1200, 61.34, opts off | +7.1% | +11.5% | +14.7% |
| 470/1200, 61.34, opts off | +7.1% | +14.0% | +17.0% |
| ASUS AX800 PRO, 4.5 BETA, opts on | -24.8% | -13.8% | +6.6% |
| 450/1200, 61.34, opts on | +24.6% | +40.6% | +16.5% |
Painkiller
Vendor: People Can Fly - (Website)API: DX9.0
Pixel Shader Version Supported: Mix, unknown versions
The Gainward, even at 470/1200 on the new driver, gets beaten by the X800 PRO initially before pulling away at the median and upper settings. The new driver is again responsible for a large increase in performance, with both cards CPU limited at the lower setting. For reference, 600fps is obtainable with an Athlon FX-51 at 2.8GHz, indicating heavy CPU limitation with these next generation cards, even on high end Athlon 64 Model 3400+. Turn on IQ enhancement at the very least with these new cards, you're mad not to.
The default driver optimisations at the Quality setting in 61.34 are enough to offset the clock boost at 470MHz with the optimisations off. The speed at 470MHz with default optimisations on would be impressive in Painkiller at 1600x1200.
| 450/1200, 60.72, opts off | 330.41 | 215.71 | 121.59 |
| 450/1200, 61.34, opts off | +1.6% | +21.7% | +23.2% |
| 470/1200, 61.34, opts off | +1.7% | +22.3% | +24.3% |
| ASUS AX800 PRO, 4.5 BETA, opts on | +1.9% | 10.1% | -12.8% |
| 450/1200, 61.34, opts on | +2.0% | +27.7% | +27.6% |