How we test
GPU comparisons |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphics card | Approx. pricing |
GPU clock (MHz) |
Stream processors |
Shader clock (MHz) |
Memory clock (MHz) |
Memory bus (bits) |
Graphics driver |
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1,024MB | £180 | 822 | 384 | 1,645 | 4,008 | 256 | ForceWare 275.20 |
| MSI GeForce GTX 560 TF II 1,024MB | £160 | 870 | 336 | 1,740 | 4,080 | 256 | ForceWare 275.20 |
| ASUS GeForce GTX 560 TOP 1,024MB | £175 | 925 | 336 | 1,850 | 4,200 | 256 | ForceWare 275.20 |
| ASUS GeForce GTX 560 1,024MB | £150 | 822 | 336 | 1,645 | 4,008 | 256 | ForceWare 275.20 |
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti 1,024MB | £110 | 900 | 192 | 1,800 | 4,104 | 192 | ForceWare 267.59 |
| EVGA GeForce GTX 460 1,024MB | £140 | 675 | 336 | 1,350 | 3,600 | 256 | ForceWare 267.59 |
| KFA2 GeForce GTX 460 768MB | £125 | 675 | 336 | 1,350 | 3,600 | 192 | ForceWare 267.59 |
| Inno3D GeForce GTS 450 1,024MB | £90 | 783 | 192 | 1,566 | 3,608 | 128 | ForceWare 267.59 |
| Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 2,048MB | £200 | 800 | 1,408 | 800 | 5,000 | 256 | Catalyst 11.4 |
| Sapphire Radeon HD 6870 1,024MB | £150 | 900 | 1,120 | 900 | 4,200 | 256 | Catalyst 11.4 |
| Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 1,024MB | £130 | 775 | 960 | 775 | 4,000 | 256 | Catalyst 11.4 |
| Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 1,024MB | £150 | 850 | 1,600 | 850 | 5,000 | 256 | Catalyst 11.4 |
| AMD Radeon HD 6790 1,024MB | £105 | 820 | 800 | 820 | 4,200 | 256 | Catalyst 11.4 |
| HIS Radeon HD 5770 1,024MB | £100 | 850 | 800 | 850 | 4,800 | 128 | Catalyst 11.4 |
| Sapphire Radeon HD 5750 1,024MB | £90 | 700 | 720 | 700 | 4,600 | 128 | Catalyst 11.4 |
Test bench |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5 2500K (3.30GHz, 6MB L3 cache, quad-core, LGA1155) | |||||||||||
| Motherboard | Intel DP67BG | |||||||||||
| Memory | 8GB Corsair Vengeance (9-9-9-24-2T @ 1,600MHz) | |||||||||||
| Power Supply | Corsair AX750 | |||||||||||
| Monitor | Dell 30in 3007WFP | |||||||||||
| Disk drive(s) | Crucial RealSSD C300 (256GB) | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Corsair Graphite Series 600T | |||||||||||
| Operating system | Windows 7, SP1, 64-bit | |||||||||||
Benchmarks |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark 11 | Performance preset, overall score and combined test results recorded. | |||||||||||
| Aliens vs. Predator | DX11, 1,280x720 and 1,920x1,080 resolutions, 2xAA, 8xAF, medium quality. | |||||||||||
| Call of Duty: Black Ops | DX9, 1,280x720 and 1,920x1,080 resolutions, 4xAA, ultra quality, FRAPS-recorded benchmark. | |||||||||||
| F1 2010 | DX11, 1,280x720 and 1,920x1,080 resolutions, 4xAA, high quality, Monaco circuit. | |||||||||||
| Just Cause 2 | DX10, 1,280x720 and 1,920x1,080 resolutions, 4xAA, 16xAF, medium/high quality, Dark Tower benchmark. | |||||||||||
| Metro 2033 | DX11, 1,280x720 and 1,920x1,080 resolutions, 4xAA, 16xAF, medium quality. | |||||||||||
| StarCraft II | DX9, 1,280x720 and 1,920x1,080 resolutions, 2xAA, high quality. | |||||||||||
| Power consumption | To emulate real-world usage scenarios, we record mains power draw both when idle and whilst playing Just Cause 2. | |||||||||||
| Temperature | To emulate real-world usage scenarios, we record GPU core temperature both when idle and whilst playing Just Cause 2. | |||||||||||
| Noise | A PCE-318 noise level meter is placed at front of a Corsair 600T chassis with side panel on. | |||||||||||
Notes
We've now included a reference-clocked Radeon HD 5870 1,024MB card in this line-up. The price of the 'last-generation' HD 5870 has been dropping steadily as partners buy large quantities of the GPU from AMD and confuse the market with anachronistic nomenclature.
Radeon HD 5870 is a potent card, especially when evaluated at half its launch price. Appreciating that the MSI GeForce GTX 560 Twin Frozr II and HD 5870 are natural price competitors we've highlighted them in the upcoming graphs.
