NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295: Leading the Pack
by Derek Wilson on January 12, 2009 5:15 PM EST- Posted in
- GPUs
Age of Conan Performance
We've added a bunch of new tests this time around, but we decided to keep a few games around. Age of Conan is one of these, and it's one of the games we've consistently tested that favors AMD hardware. As we can see not much has changed this time around either. The none of the NVIDIA hardware can keep up with the AMD Radeon HD 4870 X2 in this test. As for NVIDIA versus NVIDIA, the GeForce GTX 295 splits the difference between the GTX 260 SLI and GTX 280 SLI setups.
With this game, at 2560x1600 and our quality settings (not even the highest possible), a multi-GPU solution is required for higher than 30fps gameplay. The nature of the game makes it playable at slightly lower framerates, but the safe bet is on lowering settings or getting more than one GPU. We don't expect that the GTX 285 will be able to keep up with the Radeon HD 4870 1GB either.
We're also still waiting for the DirectX 10 version of the game to come out, and we will transition to that version when we are able.
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sam187 - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - link
Does anyone know if the GTX295/285 support hybrid power? It doesn't seem so (nvidia homepage, product dispriction from shops, ...).For me it looks like nvidia is dropping the technology (remember Geforce 9300/9400 chipset?) :-(
Stonedofmoo - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - link
Hey what's happened with this review?Anandtech is my review site of choice because your reviews are usually in depth and informative. There are more decisions to be made with a graphics card now than frame rates.
I for one would very much like to have seen some information on the power consumption of this card.
Let's hope that your GTX 285 review is better and has more information about the 55nm transition and how it affects power consumption, because for some of us this is becoming a big issue.
I just sent back a GTX 280 because the power consumption was rediculous and at idle it uses 35-40w more power with 2 monitors connected than one monitor.
I do agree though, it's the midrange parts I'd far rather see using the new G200 process. The 9xxx series are old hat at should be replaced.
danchen - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - link
How about multiple monitor setups ?If I'm planning to power up 3 x 24" LCD monitors(1920x1200),which card should be best ? (only expecting to use "high"/"very high" settings)?
This card only has 2 DVI outputs right ?
Should I skip this and just get 2 x GTX285 SLI (for the ports) ?
Which brand performs the best for multiscreen setup ?
nubie - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - link
To game on? As far as I know nVidia is not opening up more than one "screen" (can span multiple monitors on a single video card though) for SLI.I don't think they can support 3 active DirectX monitors on the GTX295 (or can they?) If they do then it would be the one to get.
I crammed 3 PCI-e cards into the extra pci-e x1 slots on my old motherboard a couple years back, and was a bit disappointed by the state of multi-monitor gaming. http://picasaweb.google.com/nubie07/PCIeX102#51748...">http://picasaweb.google.com/nubie07/PCIeX102#51748...
Best to buy a triple-head-to-go (or a dual-head to go) http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/th2...">http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/th2... , or use SoftTHTG http://www.kegetys.net/SoftTH/">http://www.kegetys.net/SoftTH/
Sadly multi-displays (and VR/3D setups that depend on multi-displays/outputs) are a feature sorely lacking from DirectX and most game engines (the only one that comes to mind is MS flight simulator)
yacoub - Monday, January 12, 2009 - link
prices seem to be creeping back up again and that's not good (for consumers, especially in this economy). If the GTX 285 can't MSRP around $349 for 1GB models, we're in trouble. And it needs to see a sub-$300 price point before most gamers will give a crap, even though it appears to be the single-GPU card to get.nubie - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - link
It is on a 55nm process, it can get price cut. They just need to move out the rest of the 65nm first.I wish they had some decent mid-range with new tech (like you-know-who), instead of peddling "GTX-100" series, AKA G92 as the mid-range.
Not that it isn't great tech, but at least the other team is actually trying.
SiliconDoc - Thursday, January 15, 2009 - link
What you really should have said is : It's too bad ATI, with it's flagship core, can only match the years old tech of the 9800GT, or the 9800gtx or plus, unless it uses DDDR5 memory, as it does on the 4870.So the REAL TRUTH IS - all this "new tech" from ATI - the "other one that is trying" according to you amounts to (to be overly fair to YOU ) DDR5 memory...
If we just go with the gpucore tech - like I said ATI latest flagship core - in the 4850 and 4870 - in the former- get knocked around by VERY MUCH OLDER NVIDIA "tech".
Like 2 or 3 years older ....
I guess the whole ding dang "new tech" whine is another twisted, repeatable, babbling foools errand promoted by the red amrket managers, and spewed about by the non thinking sheeple with red wool issues.
If NOT - please, pray tell... do correct me...
Unfortunately, that correction won't be forthcoming...
I saw the 4850 just the other day compared in benchmark to a 9600GSO and it was "very close"...
The question is how good is that core really ? How much "new tech" is there - it certainly appears it's all core clockspeed and DDR5... if not - why does the 4850 fall below (or barely above)the 98xxGTXx series all the time ?
Is "new technology" really what you want in the range you claimed you wanted it ? LOL
If NVidia puts out new technology in that region, do you expect several years old ATI cores to match or beat it ? I bet you don't.
Mithan - Monday, January 12, 2009 - link
Don't worry about it, those prices will come down or be heald in check.Hxx - Monday, January 12, 2009 - link
I wish you guys would have discussed about power consumtion, heat, and noise. Other than that, i enjoyed reading it. As for the card, its slightly faster than a 4870 x2 in the majority of the games, but that's about it. Nothing innovative, just another sandwich card designed by Nvidia with a poorly designed cooler letting hot air inside the case... how dissapointing.SiliconDoc - Monday, January 12, 2009 - link
The GTX295 is LOWER in power consumption AND in noise.That's why it wasn't included - you know who really likes a certain team...