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)

• $167 GeForce GTX 460 768MB costs $7.36 per FPS
• $180 Radeon HD 6850 1GB costs $7.69 per FPS
• $220 GeForce GTX 460 1GB costs $9.09 per FPS
• $240 Radeon HD 6870 1GB costs $8.08 per FPS
• $260 EVGA GTX 460 FTW 1GB costs $8.18 per FPS
• $262 Radeon HD 5850 1GB costs $9.00 per FPS
• $292 GeForce GTX 470 1GB costs $9.97 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)

• $167 GeForce GTX 460 768MB costs $8.70 per FPS
• $180 Radeon HD 6850 1GB costs $10.11 per FPS
• $220 GeForce GTX 460 1GB costs $10.63 per FPS
• $240 Radeon HD 6870 1GB costs $10.76 per FPS
• $260 EVGA GTX 460 FTW 1GB costs $9.42 per FPS
• $262 Radeon HD 5850 1GB costs $12.13 per FPS
• $292 GeForce GTX 470 1GB costs $11.59 per FPS

Test Summary: Based on 3dMark Vantage's Jane Nash and Calico performance tests, it appears that the Radeon HD 6850 competes with the 768MB GeForce GTX 460, while the Radeon HD 6870 fits in somewhere between the 1GB GeForce GTX 460 and GeForce GTX 470 video cards. Based on price though, the Radeon HD 6850 fails to match value with a 768MB GeForce GTX 460 but the Radeon HD 6870 fits well within its space. Compared with a similarly priced EVGA GeForce GTX 460 FTW video card ($260), there's a substantial performance lead over the Radeon HD 6870. While NVIDIA doesn't offer a reference model to compete with the Radeon HD 6870, there's a factory-overclocked product that does. On AMD's side, the Radeon HD 6870 appears to nearly reach Radeon HD 5850 performance levels, albeit for about $25 less.

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