The Test

The test system is our high end Core i7 system using the 3-way capable ASUS Rampage II Extreme. This same platform is used in our 3 and 4 GPU tests as well.

Test Setup
CPU Intel Core i7-965 3.2GHz
Motherboard ASUS Rampage II Extreme X58
Video Cards ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB
ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB CrossFire
ATI Radeon HD 4850 CrossFire
ATI Radeon HD 4870 1GB
ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB
ATI Radeon HD 4850
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 SLI
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 SLI
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 SLI
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX+ SLI
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GX2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 core 216
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX+
Video Drivers Catalyst 8.12 hotfix
ForceWare 181.22
Hard Drive Intel X25-M 80GB SSD
RAM 6 x 1GB DDR3-1066 7-7-7-20
Operating System Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit SP1
PSU PC Power & Cooling Turbo Cool 1200W

Calculating Value: Performance per Dollar Age of Conan Analysis
Comments Locked

95 Comments

View All Comments

  • MamiyaOtaru - Tuesday, February 24, 2009 - link

    So we have to be perfect in every way to point out errors? NBA players shouldn't listen to their coaches because their coaches can't play as well as they do? Game reviewers shouldn't trash a game because they couldn't make a better one?
  • ggathagan - Tuesday, February 24, 2009 - link

    When it comes to grammatical errors as insignificant as the ones pointed out, yes.
    If you're going to be that critical, then you best check your own grammar.
  • cptnjarhead - Wednesday, February 25, 2009 - link

    Grammar shmammar, you guys need to move out of your mom’s basement and get laid. :)
  • bigboxes - Wednesday, February 25, 2009 - link

    +1
  • stym - Monday, February 23, 2009 - link

    I am curious to see how a pair of radeon 4830 would perform in this lineup. A single one is quite weak at those resolutions, but I am willing to bet a pair of those would hold its own against a single GTX280.
    Oh, and it would be much cheaper, too ($180 including the bridge).

    Could you possibly include that setup next?
  • DerekWilson - Monday, February 23, 2009 - link

    You are right that a single 4830 won't be enough perform on par with these guys ... but I don't think two of them would really be worth it against the GTX 280 except maybe at lower resolutions. The 1GB 4830 will run you at least $145, so you're looking at $290 for two of them and the 4850 X2 2GB is the same price. The 512MB 4830 will be limited by memory usage at higher resolutions just like the 4850 512MB.

    We might look at the 4830 in CrossFire internally and see if it warrants an update, but so far it isn't in the roadmap for the rest of the series.
  • stym - Monday, February 23, 2009 - link

    I was thinking 512MB 4830s, which are in the $90~$110 price range. That price range is the only reason I mention them, because it puts the price tag of a pair of those in the exact same range as a Radeon 4830 512MB or even a GTX260.

    You said that a 4850 1GB doesn't make sense, and that's even more obvious for a 4830.

  • pmonti80 - Monday, February 23, 2009 - link

    I find too that this would be an interesting match at the $200+ pricetag.
  • wilkinb - Monday, February 23, 2009 - link

    why not just drop AoC, it was bad when it came out, has always had issues and odd results and no one i know played for more then 2 months...

    If you want to have a mmo, why not use one that people play? and maybe even more mature in development...

    I know you will say it adds value, but you dont know its it bad code or showing a different view.
  • ajoyner - Tuesday, February 24, 2009 - link

    Most of the issues with the game are gone. There are currently no other MMO's out there that have the graphics or combat system to tax a gpu like this game. Your comment on testing a game that people play is very subjective. There are many MMO's out there that I would not touch....WOW, cough, cough.....but that doesn't mean other people don't enjoy them. I think having this game as one that is regularly benchmarked adds a great deal of value to the article.

Log in

Don't have an account? Sign up now