Level Analysis: training

This is actually the very first thing that happens in the game. The player wakes up and walks through the cave out onto a beach. In this benchmark, the player walks out to the small dock and looks out over water as the demo concludes.



ATI training screenshot.
Click to enlarge.



NV training screenshot.
Click to enlarge.



NV training screenshot.
Click to enlarge.


The new VS3.0 code that handles grass does a good job of matching up with the VS2.0 implimentation. These shots aren't lined up as well as some of our others, but it is clear that there aren't any differences in rendering quality.

SM2.0 training Performance

SM3.0 Path training Performance

This time, we don't see much performance improvement here.

SM2.0 training Performance

SM3.0 Path training Performance

With AA and AF enabled, we get a little more of a boost in performance.

This NVIDIA supplied level shows smaller improvement than the other (just slightly more impressive than our custom demos). The main factor in this level is grass, which our tests really didn't have. So far, it seems like lighting has the largest impact on performance.

Level Analysis: regulator Level Analysis: volcano
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  • Anemone - Friday, July 2, 2004 - link

    Am one of the increasing numbers of folks who does ues 1600x1200 on everything that supports it, just fyi. Now it's lcd, but before my 19" crt happily did that res too, and that's now many years old.

    Just for note only. :)
  • bearxor - Friday, July 2, 2004 - link

    Yea, when are we even going to be able to buy a Ultra or "Ultra Extreme".

    Heck, I never even heard of "Ultra Extreme" until this preview.

    I guess when ATi releases new drivers, nVidia will have to launch the long-rumored and much-hyped Geforce 6800 Ultra-Extreme Hyper Edition.

    Then, during the ATi refresh,we will all be greeted the the Geforce 6900, 6900 Ultra, 6900 Turbo and 6900 Ultra Hyper Fighting Edition.

    They're getting as bad as Capcom these days...
  • Pete - Friday, July 2, 2004 - link

    Whoa, some huge gains for nV. I honestly didn't expect to see such clear differences this early--props to them.

    ATi's AA hit may be due to an under-performing programmable memory controller, per ATi ppl. We may see them improve memory-intense AA+AF numbers with newer drivers that better utilize the controller. Dunno if that can compensate for nV's huge SM3.0 gains, though.

    I'm still a little baffled by the ever-faster "Ultra Extreme" models, though, considering we haven't seen one for even presale (AFAIK) in the many weeks since the 6800U's launch.
  • TheSnowman - Friday, July 2, 2004 - link

    well Jeff, that explains why ati's peformace tanks, but it does nothing to explain why nvidia's doesn't.
  • Jeff7181 - Friday, July 2, 2004 - link

    Very nice article guys.
    Only thing I'd like to see that I didn't was lower res benchmarks, since I think it's safe to say that most people don't have monitors that support 1600x1200 at a decent refresh rate. Hell... mine can't do 1280x1024 at a decent rate.

    Oh... and gordon151... I wonder if it could be because of the large amounts of objects to be anti-aliased. Grass, trees, etc. ... combine that with the HUGE draw distances and you've got quite a task on your hands. Just my theory anyway :)
  • gordon151 - Friday, July 2, 2004 - link

    I've been wondering lately why performance tanks so much with the x800 series when AA is enabled in Farcry. It almost cuts in half when applying 4xAA, which is something you don't see in other games.

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