OpenGL Tests

    First we will look at the only synthetic test that we use, Spec Viewperf 8.  This program allows one to test professional level applications while not having to buy them.  As such it will tell us how these cards do in a professional situation.

    We can see that for the most part any improvements to the x800 core are not something that the professional user would need at this point.  Overclocking the x800 does make a bit of a difference but only in the ensight-01 test where it makes a 4% difference in the score.  Lets now look at the main reason for buying this card, games, and first we will look at Doom 3.

    Doom 3 is one of the most graphically intense games to come out in the last year, along with Half Life 2 and Far Cry.  The fact that this game uses OpenGL means that unlike all the rest of the games we will look at that are based on DirectX, the quality of the driver team comes into play.  Lets see how ATi did here.

    Looking at this graph we see that the x800XL allows one to stay above 60fps on average, and only dips to the high 30's once.  The one major spike, which all three cards share, is one of the least graphical parts of the demo.  The x700Pro has an average frame rate in the high 40's, and unlike the x800XL lives in the 30fps range, only going below it three times.  Overclocking the x800XL does provide a minor boost in performance of just under 2fps on average but otherwise doesn't change much in the way of the graph, except moving it one second faster.  Now lets see what AA and ansiotropic filtering can do at this resolution.

    Here we see the same type of difference between the x700 and the x800 that we saw in the high quality test.  In this case the x800XL isn't quite up to the challenge of the 60fps average mark.  The stock clock speeds offer a useful 50fps average, with the frame rate only dropping below 30fps on two occasions, while it makes it above 60fps on about 6 occasions.  Overclocking increases the average frame rate by 6% or about 3fps on average.  Other than some slightly higher frame rates in spots overclocking doesn't change the graph all that much.  The x700 is averaging below the 30fps mark with only one or two seconds above 60fps, and many times below 20fps.  What if we just raise the resolution instead of adding the quality enhancements?

    The graphs start to shrink here, as both cards can't quite make it to 60fps on average.  The x800XL doesn't quite make it to playability for most people with an average of 42fps, and 45fps when overclocked.  The card does drop below the 20fps mark for only two seconds, near the beginning of the test, otherwise the frame rate stays in the 30-50fps range.  The x700 however barely reaches over 20fps on average, and spends all of about 4 or 5 seconds over the 40fps mark.  What will we see when we add AA and ansio to the already higher resolution?

    The interesting thing to note is that both cards stay below the 40fps mark at any point in the test.  The only exception is the overclocked card, which makes it over for about four seconds, though after its highest frame rate it drops to zero for a second, more of an equalizer.  The graphs for all three are pretty flat, with the bump in the oc'd test being the only interesting part of this test.  Obviously these cards cannot play Doom 3 at these settings, but don't do badly in most of the other resolution tests in this game, especially the x800XL.  Lets go on to some DirectX based games.

DirectX Tests

    First we will look at the older stealth oriented game Splinter Cell.  This game has a lot that makes it enjoyable, especially the fact you don't need 60fps to make it playable, so lets see what the x800XL can do.

    The x800XL provides a very smooth gameplay in this case.  The lowest point is only in the 50fps area and the highest is just over 90fps, which means there is a fairly small frame rate window for the test.  This translates to smooth gameplay for both the overclocked and unoverclocked settings.  The x700 does well, and is quite playable at this setting, as I went through the game with an average of 30fps or lower.  What happens when we turn on ansiotropic filtering, as AA doesn't work in this game.

    Not much changes here as all the cards lose an average of 4-5fps on average.  However all three cards are playable, with the x800XL's two clock speeds making it a very smooth and enjoyable experience.

    Here we see the x800XL fall below 60fps average frame rate.  The stock and overclocked settings don't really change the graph at all though overclocking does provide about three frames more on average.  The x800XL is definitly playable here as it never really dips below 40fps.  The x700 is right on the edge of playability, as you should be able to get through most of the game without any problems except for some scenes such as this test location.  Now lets look at adding ansio to this resolution.

    We see that again the x800XL provides a very playable experience here.  The average frame rate is just below 50fps and during the entire test reaches just below the 40fps mark a few times.  The x700 is left at a 25fps average, which might play the game as long as you do not mind the occasional slowdown.  Lets look at another DirectX game but this time in the form of UT2004.