Results: DiRT 3
Codemasters has probably the best looking racing games on the planet. They pulled out all stops with DiRT 3. This particular title features plenty of DX11 effects and tessellation (though I think they took a step back with water effects as compared to DiRT 2). The game used the Ultra preset with 4X AA and 16X AF enabled. The built in Aspen benchmark is used.
This is one game where NVIDIA has a big advantage over AMD. The N580 GTX walks all over the HD 7870, and nips at the heels of the R7970. Only at 2560×1600 do we see the HD 7870 make some ground on its older competitor. At that same resolution the HD 7850 is getting a bit choppy.






nice review but i wish there
nice review but i wish there were more benchmarks…
What else would you like to
What else would you like to see?
We need to see: Batman Arkham
We need to see: Batman Arkham City, Civilization V, Crysis 2, Metro 2033, Shogun 2, Unigine Heaven and perhaps Diablo 3 :).
isnt it more relevant to
isnt it more relevant to compare these cards to 670 / 680, then the older generation nvidia cards?
it is just that reading this is like reading a review from 4 months ago.
The Lightning R7970 results
The Lightning R7970 results are essentially dead even with a GTX 680.
What I’d like to see are
What I’d like to see are comparisons to the generic versions of these cards. You price the XFX 7850 at 275$ but is it worth the extra 45$ compared to say XFX’s generic 7850 that they sell for 240$ (free shipping)?
You defiantly hit the nail on the head with the 7870 though. As awesome looking and well performing as it is it’s priced too high.
AMD 990FX Platforms not beat
AMD 990FX Platforms not beat SandyBridge in Skyrim and Dirt 3. But My Test Dirt 3 with HD 6950 stock 1680×1050 Beat HD 7850 FPS: 65avg/57min and OC (940/1375) 75avg/64min beat HD 7870 too with 2500K + Z68 Stock!
Def needs Crysis 2, Metro
Def needs Crysis 2, Metro 2033, and UniEngine added. Also show the new 600 series results along with these, still a good review though.
Heh, I tested Metro 2033 and
Heh, I tested Metro 2033 and even graphed out the results. I just forgot to put them in! I’ll add those here shortly.
I’ll try to get a hold of a GTX 680 or 670 here soon so I can have those results available to me.
Great review Josh, thank you.
Great review Josh, thank you.
AMD has dropped the price on
AMD has dropped the price on these cards. The 7870 DD is now only $279 after rebate. That certainly changes the game, doesn’t it?