GeForce FX At Tom's Hardware

hifi · January 27th, 2003, 06:08 AM

http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030127/index.html

It is finally here folks, *the benchmarks anyways* so let's discuss!

hifi · January 27th, 2003, 06:10 AM

Hard OCP has a review here as well: http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NDIx

So does AnandTech: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1779

JayMan · January 27th, 2003, 07:08 AM

Hey, does anyone have (or know where to get) some eye candy from the geforceFX? I've seen all the stuff on the nvidia website. But since im on dialup (28.8k connection usually), i don't really have the ability to do too much searching for it.....

Thanks!

JayMan

hifi · January 27th, 2003, 07:18 AM

Hey JayMan, at either one of these review sites, they show both the ATI 9700 pro and GeForce FX cranked to the max with FSAA and Aniso enabled. Hard OCP shows the most screen shots though...some nice comparisons.

Later,

hifi

JayMan · January 27th, 2003, 07:39 AM

Thanks, i'll try to struggle with my 28.8k connection and check em out!

JayMan

hifi · January 27th, 2003, 08:06 AM

Hmm....okay folks, here is my honest opinion. After reading all three reviews and writers opinions from the sites listed above, I would have to say that the ATI 9700 Pro definately and without a doubt gives the best bang for your doller spent. I have always been an avid Nvidia fan, never purchased from ATI before (except for their fantastic little Remote Wonder) and have never been supportive of them. I currently run a TI4200 from Gainward, but I have made the decision not to upgrade to the GeForce FX 5800 Ultra.

1) It is noisier than its competition at simular performance levels.
2) It is pricier than its competition at simular performance levels.
3) With AA/AF (especially at high resolutions) there is no argument that the 9700pro walks all over the GeForce FX. You can preach pre-mature drivers, but damn...if Nvidia can gain back the 40FPS avg in UT2003 at 1600X1200 with AA and AF at max with a driver update and still maintain quality? They are gods. This will not happen folks, sorry, there is an apparent disadvatage here and it is totally hardware related.
4) ATI is already prepared to release the next gen chip for their graphics accelarater which judging by the current performance of the same design they will stomp nvidia's new solution right off (but of course this remains to be seen and I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt here).

At any rate, I am certain that there are some hard core Nvidia fan boys here that will disagree. But, the numbers speak for themselves and I for one am not willing to spend $400 (USD) on a card that will not allow me to run at high resolutions with max detail settings and AA/AF cranked up all the way at a performance deficit to its main competitor.

I will wait for the fall when both company's have supreme cards and ideas...this latest offering and product cycle from Nvidia leaves me with a bittersweet approach to the company. They tried their best, but I would say it was TSMC that let these boys down. If TSMC would have had the chip taped out earlier (say around the time ATI released the R300) Nvidia's GeForce FX would have definately been accepted at a greater rate than I imagine it will be now.

On an end note, I still love the competion, but I can't justify the upgrade with these performance #'s. I will just oc' the hell out of my TI4200 and see how well it holds up in the Final Release of DOOM III. That is the point in which I will make my final decision (and hopefully the cards will be much cheaper at that time). But I won't have to worry for awhile as it would appear that DOOM III won't be out until the end of this summer.

Later!

hifi

Shadowhaxor · January 27th, 2003, 08:08 AM

Well, So far, I'm disappointed. I thought the Fx was going to blow away the Radeon 9700 Pro! I was ready to take my back, and put the money down on a pre-order. Sigh

Yes, its leads the 9700 in most tests, but only by a slight margin, thats not enough to justify it, and hell, it got lower than the 9700 on my fav, UT2003.. I was a nvidiot, but I made the switch, and I'm loving it, and Nvidia, needs to get on the ball. They are starting to remind me of the company they bought out, 3DFX anyone?

hifi · January 27th, 2003, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JayMan
Hey, does anyone have (or know where to get) some eye candy from the geforceFX? I've seen all the stuff on the nvidia website. But since im on dialup (28.8k connection usually), i don't really have the ability to do too much searching for it.....

Thanks!

JayMan

Also, I spoke a bit too soon, Anand at Anandtech actually focused on picture quality better than any of the reviews that I have seen thusfar....you may want to check that one out too.

Ntrox · January 27th, 2003, 11:22 AM

Seems to me that nVidia is having to play catchup with ATI. As nVidia are behind in the market, they will have to drop prices to stay in check with ATI. As you all know, this means a huge revenue drop for nVidia, and in this dodgy market could lead to financial problems. I sincerely hope they pull through, for our sake. Competition is healthy, but ATI seem to have cornered the market. I only wish their drivers were as good as their hardware

stamenkd · January 27th, 2003, 11:34 AM

I checked out the link, looks impressive and expensive. When is it actually coming out retail, and can we hope to get discounted prices on the geforce4 range?