Doom 3 & Overclocking
Doom 3
Vendor: id/Activision - (Website)API: OpenGL
Pixel Shader Version Supported: Unknown
Benchmarking Doom 3 with the Ultra Quality setting also highlights the benefits of more onboard RAM. Imagine the kind of speeds a vanilla 6800 128MB would have to run at to match the ASUS' 28.1FPS average at 1600x1200 4xAA/8xAF. Doom 3 results are interesting in their own right. A 12-pipe 6800, albeit with 256MB RAM, manages to keep within 10% of a proper GT's benchmarks.
Overclocking
Overclocking is an inexact science at the best of times. Overclocks attained by review samples aren't necessarily indicative of what you may achieve. Our sample clocked to near-Ultra levels, 400MHz core and 1080MHz RAM.
I chose to re-run Doom 3 at 1024x768 4xAA/8xAF with the overclocked card.
Extra core and memory speeds translated to a touch above GeForce 6800 GT levels. Not bad for a cheaper card, although GTs will also undoubtedly overclock too.
Noise
Noise evaluations aren't directly applicable here. ASUS' SmartDoctor's variable-speed control allows the user to control the fan's speed and noise levels. At, say, a manual setting of 50% noise isn't really an issue.
