GeForce GTS 450 SLI Scaling Performance

Written by Olin Coles

Monday, 13 September 2010

Table of Contents: Page Index
GeForce GTS 450 SLI Scaling Performance
Features and Specifications
Closer Look: GeForce GTS 450
Video Card Testing Methodology
DX10: 3DMark Vantage
DX10: Crysis Warhead
DX10: Far Cry 2
DX10: Resident Evil 5
DX11: Aliens vs Predator
DX11: Battlefield Bad Company 2
DX11: BattleForge
DX11: Metro 2033
DX11: Unigine Heaven 2.1
NVIDIA APEX PhysX Enhancements
NVIDIA 3D-Vision Effects
GeForce GTS 450 Temperatures
VGA Power Consumption
GeForce GTS 450 Overclocking
GeForce GTS 450 SLI Conclusion

Page 5 of 19

DX10: 3DMark Vantage

3DMark Vantage is a PC benchmark suite designed to test the DirectX10 graphics card performance. FutureMark 3DMark Vantage is the latest addition the 3DMark benchmark series built by FutureMark corporation. Although 3DMark Vantage requires NVIDIA PhysX to be installed for program operation, only the CPU/Physics test relies on this technology.

3DMark Vantage offers benchmark tests focusing on GPU, CPU, and Physics performance. Benchmark Reviews uses the two GPU-specific tests for grading video card performance: Jane Nash and New Calico. These tests isolate graphical performance, and remove processor dependence from the benchmark results.

3DMark Vantage v1.02
- Extreme Settings: (Extreme Quality, 8x Multisample Anti-Aliasing, 16x Anisotropic Filtering, 1:2 Scale)

3DMark Vantage GPU Test: Jane Nash

Of the two GPU tests 3DMark Vantage offers, the Jane Nash performance benchmark is slightly less demanding. In a short video scene the special agent escapes a secret lair by water, nearly losing her shirt in the process. Benchmark Reviews tests this DirectX-10 scene at 1680x1050 and 1920x1200 resolutions, and uses Extreme quality settings with 8x anti-aliasing and 16x anisotropic filtering. The 1:2 scale is utilized, and is the highest this test allows. By maximizing the processing levels of this test, the scene creates the highest level of graphical demand possible and sorts the strong from the weak.

Jane Nash Extreme Quality Settings

Cost Analysis: Jane Nash (1680x1050)

$200 Radeon HD 5830 1GB costs $8.48 per FPS

$180 GeForce GTX 460 768MB costs $7.44 per FPS

$270 Radeon HD 5850 1GB costs $9.47 per FPS

$300 GeForce GTX 470 1280MB costs $10.45 per FPS

$260 GeForce GTS 450 SLI costs $8.58 per FPS

$365 Radeon HD 5870 1GB costs $10.20 per FPS

$360 GeForce GTX 460 SLI costs $8.47 per FPS

3DMark Vantage GPU Test: New Calico

New Calico is the second GPU test in the 3DMark Vantage test suite. Of the two GPU tests, New Calico is the most demanding. In a short video scene featuring a galactic battleground, there is a massive display of busy objects across the screen. Benchmark Reviews tests this DirectX-10 scene at 1680x1050 and 1920x1200 resolutions, and uses Extreme quality settings with 8x anti-aliasing and 16x anisotropic filtering. The 1:2 scale is utilized, and is the highest this test allows. Using the highest graphics processing level available allows our test products to separate themselves and stand out (if possible).

New Calico Extreme Quality Settings

Cost Analysis: New Calico (1680x1050)

$200 Radeon HD 5830 1GB costs $11.43 per FPS

$180 GeForce GTX 460 768MB costs $8.70 per FPS

$270 Radeon HD 5850 1GB costs $12.33 per FPS

$300 GeForce GTX 470 1280MB costs $12.35 per FPS

$260 GeForce GTS 450 SLI costs $9.46 per FPS

$365 Radeon HD 5870 1GB costs $13.91 per FPS

$360 GeForce GTX 460 SLI costs $9.97 per FPS

Test Summary: If you examine the price to performance ratio between both tests, the GeForce GTX 460 offers the best value of any single graphics card followed by the GTS 450 SLI set. The closest competition to the SLI sets' $260 price point is a $270 Radeon HD 5850, which performs poorly compared to the less expensive pair. The same can be said for NVIDIA's own GTX 470 video card, which trails the GTS 450 SLI set in every test resolution. In fact, the New Calico tests forces a $365 Radeon HD 5870 to trail behind the GTS 450 SLI set as well. Obviously a $180 GeForce GTX 460 is the way to go for best single-card value, but the $260 GTS 450 SLI set is an excellent value for the performance it delivers.

In regard to SLI scaling, a single GTS 450 produced 16.0 FPS in the 1680x1050 Jane Nash test, compared to 30.3 FPS in SLI. The New Calico test rendered 14.2 FPS on a single GTS 450 while a pair of them produced 27.5 FPS. This is proof evident that NVIDIA's SLI technology has become extremely efficient, and can effectively double the performance of a single card without degradation.

Graphics Card	Radeon HD5770	GeForce GTS450	Radeon HD5830	GeForce GTX460	Radeon HD5850	GeForce GTX470
GPU Cores	800	192	1120	336	1440	448
Core Clock (MHz)	850	783	800	675	725	608
Shader Clock (MHz)	N/A	1566	N/A	1350	N/A	1215
Memory Clock (MHz)	1200	902	1000	900	1000	837
Memory Amount	1024MB GDDR5	1024 MB GDDR5	1024MB GDDR5	768MB GDDR5	1024MB GDDR5	1280MB GDDR5
Memory Interface	128-bit	128-bit	256-bit	192-bit	256-bit	320-bit

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Comments

# RE: GeForce GTS 450 SLI Scaling Performance — Adam 2010-09-14 03:44

Similar results to a 5870 at Â£180 less? Bargain!

It would seem that now the two mid range 400 series cards are finally out Nvidia are beating AMD on nearly every front, even if it took them a rediculous amount of time to do it.

Going to be interesting to see how the 6000 series will respond to these.

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# RE: GeForce GTS 450 SLI Scaling Performance — RealNeil 2010-09-14 16:56

I agree that NVIDIA seems to be thrashing ATI right now. In terms of performance AND capability too. I can't see the 6000 series denting this kind of output with speed performance alone, they'll have to somehow add the extra capabilities that the 400 series cards have them trumped on.
It's a good time to be a consumer.

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# YEAH! — Doug 2010-09-14 21:19

Ohhhhh YEaaaaah! LMAO I was hoping you would do this. Can't wait to read on!

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# Interesting. — Omar 2010-09-15 23:39

Quite an interesting article. Glad to get some good numbers and comparisons with SLI.

Also, on NewEgg at least, the price of the GTX 460 is down to $170, increasing its Price/Performance margin even more. Interestingly, there's also GTX 460 1GB (as opposed to 768mB), quite curious how its price to performance stacks up.

Radeon HD 5830 is currently down to $160 w/Rebate, putting in the same price point range and price to performance range [when the GTX 460 was at $180] as the GTX 460. Though Id go with the 460 simply for PhysX & CUDA.

And those were the only two that had lower prices (or at least, lower by enough to make an decent impact).

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# RE: GeForce GTS 450 SLI Scaling Performance — Doug 2010-10-10 15:46

Looks like 460 SLI is the TICKET!

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# Hmm not a single screeching red rooster ? — SiliconDoc 2010-10-24 12:42

Wow. I don't see the raging (unbiased of course!) red roosters.
Well, that always tells me what cards are so good that even they can't make up a dozen unbelievable lies about them.
Thanks for the review, and the indicative post space.

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# tested card complaint — dr dreaeder 2010-11-27 16:55

the gts 450 you tested is a lower end model

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# Not Low End... — BruceBruce 2010-11-27 18:26

It's the NVIDIA Reference model, and at the time the review was published, it was the only thing available.

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# 2X Cards 3X screens crysis? — quickquestion 2011-01-30 18:57

I have 1 gts 450, and 2 screens (20", 1608X1050). If i add another GTS 450 and a 3rd 1680X1050 screen, will i still be able to play crysis on medium, or higher with over say, 32 FPS? BTW i will NOT be running 3D of any sort whatsoever, so i will only be rendered from 1 angle at a time, not 2. It looks like they can run triple 1080P displays in 3D and still play Mafia II, so i am guessing that I will be able to run 1608X1050 X3 and play Crysis.

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# RE: 2X Cards 3X screens crysis? — Olin Coles 2011-01-30 19:00

Adding a second GTS 450 would be a very good idea, and would certainly improve performance if you extend to a third monitor. If you can play with those settings now on two monitors with one GTS 450, adding a second video card to a three-monitor system will actually yield better performance than you have now.

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# RE: 2X Cards 3X Screens Crysis — quickquestion 2011-01-30 19:10

thanks for the reply as soon as i get the money I'll try to do that. have a good day and keep gaming :)

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# RE: RE: 2X Cards 3X screens crysis? — Quickquestion 2011-01-30 19:54

I guess I failed to mention, I can play at those settings on 1 monitor, as with 2 my crosshairs would be in the bezel. Would I still see a performance increase adding another card and a 3rd monitor, then gaming on all 3? Or would I have to do some insane overclocking and go down to low settings? Thanks for the help man.

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# RE: RE: RE: 2X Cards 3X screens crysis? — Olin Coles 2011-01-30 19:56

That changes everything. If one card on one monitor = 100% performance, than two cards on three monitors would mean 66% performance.

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# RE: RE: RE: RE: 2X Cards 3X screens crysis? — Quickquestion 2011-01-30 20:07

So, then I would probably need to do some insane iverclocking on each card to keep the frame rate that I'm getting, right.

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# RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: 2X Cards 3X screens crysis? — Olin Coles 2011-01-30 20:08

More than insane: impossible. The best you could hope for is getting within 80% of the level you previously played at.

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# RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: 2X Cards 3X screens crysis? — Quickquestion 2011-01-30 20:16

I'll try playing on 2 just to see how it goes but my pc's off right now but I'll try tomorrow and reply again. My worry is that it's barely playable now, and will become unplayable on 2 cards, 3 screens.

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# RE: GeForce GTS 450 SLI Scaling Performance — quickquestion 2011-01-31 13:09

this may not work well as difference in FPS, but if i get a GTX 460 SE and add it to my GTS 450, No SLI because i cant, but ran 2 displays off the 460SE and 1 off the 450, would that work well?

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# RE: RE: GeForce GTS 450 SLI Scaling Performance — Olin Coles 2011-01-31 13:57

You would be better off with SLI GTS 450's.

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# RE: GeForce GTS 450 SLI Scaling Performance — Quickquestion 2011-01-31 16:20

But still probably crysis will not be playable I'm guessing, right?

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# RE: RE: GeForce GTS 450 SLI Scaling Performance — Olin Coles 2011-01-31 16:24

No, it won't. Running two different models of video card to drive two different monitors isn't possible, as far as I've tested.

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# SOLD — Quickquestion 2011-08-22 21:32

Well, i know its a long time after, but ive actually given up on 3 screens and bought a single 560ti. I actually now only run one 1680X1050 screen. I never would have had room for 2 screens, and speakers. So i sold one screen, bought a 560ti and some SP2500 Speakers, and am very happy with this decision. The 560ti SHREDS everything i throw at it, Crysis 2 Extreme DX11 High Res textures, Multiplayer, 50+ FPS constant. Recording 35 Constant. Plus the 2500s have great audio positioning so they have helped me a lot. since i got them my K/D went up .6.

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# RE: GeForce GTS 450 SLI Scaling Performance — quickquestion 2011-01-31 16:49

I heard it was, but you probably have more testing than I do. Just wondering, would 2 GTX 460SE cards be able to handle 3 monitors and play crysis? On medium with No AA, but AA if possible. I mean like a pretty steady 35 FPS or something would be perfectly fine for me. I would also like to thank you for all your help throughout this discussion, as i am kind of new to graphics cards in SLI and multiple monitors.

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