NVIDIA GeForce4 - NV17 and NV25 Come to Life

Unreal Performance Test 2002 2X AA - 1024x768x32 NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4400 NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 500 ATI Radeon 8500 NVIDIA GeForce3 NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200 NVIDIA GeForce2 Ti 200 NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 460 ATI Radeon 8500LE NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 78.8 71.8 60.1 46.4 40.5 33.5 27.3 25.2 20.3 18 | 0 | 16 | 32 | 47 | 63 | 79 | 95

This is quite possibly the most impressive part; the GeForce4 Ti 4600 can run the current build of the Unreal Engine, Build 856, through a very stressful benchmark at 1024 x 768 with 2X AA enabled at close to 80 fps. The GeForce4 continues to illustrate why it's truly a card built for the future. At the same time, the GeForce4 MX makes it clear that the mainstream won't be performing nearly as well as the rest of the market.

Unreal Performance Test 2002 Quincunx AA - 1024x768x32 NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4400 NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 500 NVIDIA GeForce3 NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200 NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 460 NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 78.8 71.8 60.1 35.9 33.4 28.3 18 | 0 | 16 | 32 | 47 | 63 | 79 | 95

Obviously the Quincunx AA mode is limited only to NVIDIA cards and thus the results are quite predictable.

Unreal Performance Test 2002 4X AA - 1024x768x32 NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4400 NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 500 NVIDIA GeForce3 NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200 NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 460 ATI Radeon 8500 ATI Radeon 8500LE NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 NVIDIA GeForce2 Ti 200 51.2 45.2 37 27.1 25.6 22.8 22.2 20.3 18 16.2 | 0 | 10 | 20 | 31 | 41 | 51 | 61

Because of NVIDIA's advanced multisampling AA algorithm, the performance hit incurred when going to 4X AA is minimal, resulting in relatively decent frame rates even with 4X enabled. The reality of the matter however is that 4X AA will be pushing it a little too far with some of the next-generation games making 2X AA or simply increasing the resolution much better alternatives.

Unreal Performance Test 2002 4XS AA - 1024x768x32 NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600 NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4400 NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 460 NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 45 39.5 22.8 18 | 0 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 36 | 45 | 54

The new 4XS AA mode is again only for NVIDIA cards and improves image quality at the result of a small performance hit. The option is only present under Direct3D thus limiting its use even more.