Benchmarks II
Starting with Serious Sam 2, and the Sierra De Chiapas demo in particular, let's investigate performance with differing image qualities.
Firstly, no anisotropic filtering or anti-aliasing. The demo is set to quality with the in-built anisotropic function disabled until required.
The very similar scores at 1024x768x32 can be explained by the fact that this demo is CPU-limited at that resolution on both graphics cards. That's some claim as we've got a Pentium 4 2.8GHz CPU and some super-fast Corsair RAM powering our system. Pure muscle gives the Radeon 9700 an easy victory at 1280 and 1600. Having said that, the demo is perfectly smooth on either card.
Now to what I would term medium image quality enhancement. 2x FSAA and 2x Anisotropic filtering is applied.
If your looking at that with a certain amount of disbelief, join the club. I re-ran the benchmark multiple times and came up with very consistent results. Once you add a little aniso and AA into the mix, the R9700 not only beats the Ti 4600, it humiliates it.
Now on to what I would term high quality. 4x FSAA and 8x aniso was used on both cards.
If the last graph grabbed your attention, this one will make you sit-up and take note. The Radeon 9700 Pro is able to run at these harsh settings and simply scoff at the benchmark. It's eminently playable at 1600x1200x32 with 4x FSAA and 8x aniso (although you wouldn't need FSAA at such a high resolution). The Ti 4600 gives up the ghost at 1600. If ever you wanted proof that the Radeon 9700 is a next-generation card, here it is.
Incidentally, I've taken the liberty of compiling screenshots from each of the three settings, so that you see just what a difference anisotropic filtering and FSAA. If you don't like blood, don't scroll down.
Firstly, no aniso or FSAA:
Now 2x FSAA and 2x AF
Notice the improved flooring. Look at the tree next to the red baddie at the back, it is less jagged and more defined now.
Now 4x FSAA and 8x AF
The floor has considerably greater texture (aniso) and the tree at the back is very smooth (FSAA)
