Test setup and notes
Basic setup
- Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz 800FSB CPU
- Asus P4C800 Deluxe Canterwood
motherboard run in dual-channel DDR-400 mode
- 512MB (2 x 256MB)
Corsair XMS3500 C2 memory in dual-channel mode 2-6-2-2 timings (200FSB) - Intel enhanced heatsink
- IBM 61.4GB Hard Drive
- Sony 16x DVD-ROM drive
- PCToys 420w PSU
- Lian Li PC60 case
Video Cards used
- XFX GeForce4 Ti 4800 128MB 8x AGP
(275/550)
- ATi Radeon 9
800 Pro 128MB (380/680)- ATi Radeon 9700
Pro 128MB (325/620) - Albatron GeForce4 Ti 4200 128MB 8x AGP (250/513)
Software
- Windows XP Professional Build 2600.xpclient.010817-1148
- Intel 5.00.1012 chipset drivers
- Detonator 4
3.45 drivers- ATi CATALYST 3
.2 drivers (6307)- Rivatuner RC12
.3- 3DMark 2001SE
v330 - 3DMark 2003
- UT2003 Demo (2206)
- Comanche 4 benchmark
- Codecreatures Pro
- Quake III v1.30
Notes
NVIDIA's naming structure leaves a little to be desired. It would be eminently sensible to think that a GeForce4 Ti 4800-SE would be 'faster' than the older Ti 4600 video card. Higher numerical numbers usually indicate progressions in performance. In this case, however, the 4800-SE is simply a Ti 4400 with AGP 8x support. In that case, it's native clocks of 275MHz GPU and 550MHz memory fall a little short of the 300/650 Ti 4600 speeds.
The pick of the Ti bunch, in terms of overclocking potential, is reckoned to be the Ti 4200. Runner with lower memory and core speeds, albeit with the same basic design of the larger, more expensive cards, it often hit Ti 4600 core speeds. Performance on the cheap. The Ti 4400, though, usually fared little better on the GPU side. After seeing a glut of video cards here at Hexus, we've come to the rather obvious conclusion that overclocking headroom is largely dictated by just how good the particular yield is, and less to do with noisier air cooling. Obviously, the latter does help, but upgraded air cooling only offers marginal improvements over stock cooling. In that context, the quiet fan on the XFX is greatly appreciated. Using the looping nature test from 3DMark 2001SE as our basic stability test, the XFX GeForce4 Ti 4800 SE managed to overclock from the default 275/553 clocks to 305/620. That's almost Ti 4600 territory.
Stability was excellent throughout format testing and general Windows use. The newest 43.45 drivers were used. Not once did a benchmark abort prematurely or cause the test PC to reboot. 2D was surprisingly good in both HD15 and DVI modes.
