System setup and notes
| Graphics cards | BFG GeForce GTX 295 1,792MB |
GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 285 1,024MB |
Inno3D GeForce GTX 280 1,024MB |
Inno3D GeForce GTX 260 OC |
Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 X2 2,048MB |
Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 2,048MB |
Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 1,024MB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current pricing, including VAT | £400 | £315 (estimated) | £275 (estimated) | £220 (estimated) | £345 |
£260 | £217 |
| Shader model | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| Stream processors | 480 | 240 | 240 | 216 | 1,600 | 1,600 | 800 |
| GPU clock speed (MHz) | 576 | 648 | 612 | 620 | 750 | 625 | 750 |
| Shader clock speed (MHz) | 1,242 | 1,476 | 1,296 | 1,242 | 750 | 625 | 750 |
| Memory clock speed (MHz) | 1,998 | 2,484 | 2,214 | 2,100 | 3,600 | 1,986 | 3,600 |
| Memory bus width (Bits) | 448 (per GPU) | 512 | 512 | 448 | 512 (2 x 256) | 512 (2 x 256) | 256 |
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 LGA775 (3.0GHz, 12MB L2 cache, quad-core) | ||||||
| Motherboard | EVGA CK132 -NF79 (nForce 790i Ultra SLI) | MSI X48 Platinum (X48+ICH9R) | |||||
| Motherboard BIOS | P06 | V2.3 | |||||
| Mainboard software | NVIDIA device driver 15.17 | Intel Inf 9.0.0.1008 | |||||
| Memory | 4GB Corsair XMS3 DHX (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1,333 | ||||||
| Memory timings and speed | 9-9-9-24 1T @ DDR3-1333 | ||||||
| PSU | GIGABYTE Odin GT 800W | Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1,000W | |||||
| Monitor | Dell 30in 3007WFP - 2,560x1,600px | ||||||
| Disk drive(s) | Seagate 500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 (3Gb/s mode) | ||||||
| Graphics driver | ForceWare 181.20 | ForceWare 180.48 | Catalyst 8.12 | ||||
| Operating system | Windows Vista Business SP1, 64-bit | ||||||
Software
| 3D Benchmarks | Company Of Heroes: Opposing Fronts v2.103: DX10 - very high quality Far Cry 2 v1.01 - very high quality Enemy Territory: Quake Wars v1.5, HEXUS custom-recorded benchmark. OpenGL - very high quality Race Driver: GRID v1.2, HEXUS custom-recorded benchmark - ultra quality Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare v1.7, HEXUS custom-recorded benchmark: DX9 - very high quality |
|---|
Notes
Knowing that the GeForce GTX 285 is NVIDIA's range-topping single-GPU solution, we'll be comparing it head-to-head with all the other high-end GPUs on offers; NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 295, GeForce GTX 280 and GeForce GTX 260, as well as AMD's Radeon HD 4870 X2, Radeon HD 4850 X2 and Radeon HD 4870.
Based on the card's numbers alone, we're able to ascertain that performance will be higher than a stock-clocked GeForce GTX 280, but does it have the legs to encroach on Radeon HD 4870 X2 territory?
Real-world gaming benchmarks were run at 1,680x1,050, 1,920x1,200 and 2,560x1,600. We've also added in decent amounts of image quality, too.
The estimated retail price of the GeForce GTX 285 is £315, but we're told by GIGABYTE to expect its stock-clocked card anywhere between £299.99 and £329.99. Therefore, please be aware that zero-day pricing may be higher or lower when etailers update their listings.
