ATI 3450 in real life games: sad face ;) Bonus benchmarks in games you might think it could play...sad face

[dug777]

It talks the talk but it can't walk the walk...

I compared Source Stress test scores I did here for my 6600GT (banshee overclocked, 583/1140) to some runs at the same settings with my 3450 (680/1130):

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ab=arc&highlight_key=y

Here ya go:

CSS Stress Test

Firstly at 1280x960, 2xAA, 8xAF, everything else maxed in the game video options.

6600GT HQ 3450 Optimal Quality, Catalyst AI maxed

64.73 40.83

1280x960 with 4xAA/16AF, everything else maxed in the game video options.

6600GT HQ 3450 Optimal Quality, Catalyst AI maxed

51.18 38.93

Now at 1600x1200, 2xAA, 8xAF, everything else maxed in the game video options.

6600GT HQ 3450 Optimal Quality, Catalyst AI maxed

21.35 28.06

Bit dumb, it's faster at resolutions you couldn't play

I also tried farcry, and whereas I could play with my 6600GT and 9800 Pro at 1024/2xAA/8xAF/everything maxed I couldn't with this... sad face

I was shocked at how bad this card was in the real world given the 3DMark05 score (4k).

It's also interesting how it drops off much more slowly (relatively) to the 6600GT (pity it starts at such a bad place!). Architecture changes mean it handles AA/AF more efficiently?

 

[Keysplayr]

n/m. Thought you typed 3850.

What made you go the 3450 route anyway? Price? Return that bad boy if you could.
Lets see how we can get you better for the same money?

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
n/m. Thought you typed 3850.

I wish, sad face

4850 for me soon

EDIT: Went the 3450 because the 4850 was out of stock, and overpriced, when we bought two weeks ago. Already saved more than this card cost ($37AUD), sorta mcterial

 

[error8]

Oh, so because there wasn't any more 4850 you just bought the cheapest card you could find? Why didn't you bought something like a 8800 GT or 9600 Gt, there should have been some rebates or something for these cards, making them a viable and cheap solution for gaming and some 10 times faster then your 6600 GT?

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
n/m. Thought you typed 3850.

I wish, sad face

4850 for me soon

EDIT: Went the 3450 because the 4850 was out of stock, and overpriced, when we bought two weeks ago. Already saved more than this card cost ($37AUD), sorta mcterial

Much better. Try to get one with a dual slot cooler though if you can. :thumbsup:

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
n/m. Thought you typed 3850.

I wish, sad face

4850 for me soon

EDIT: Went the 3450 because the 4850 was out of stock, and overpriced, when we bought two weeks ago. Already saved more than this card cost ($37AUD), sorta mcterial

Much better. Try to get one with a dual slot cooler though if you can. :thumbsup:

That's the plan

I'm awaiting an OEM dual slot.

@error8: just wanted a stop-gap

 

[error8]

Get that ATI card and start kicking games ass!

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
n/m. Thought you typed 3850.

I wish, sad face

4850 for me soon

EDIT: Went the 3450 because the 4850 was out of stock, and overpriced, when we bought two weeks ago. Already saved more than this card cost ($37AUD), sorta mcterial

Much better. Try to get one with a dual slot cooler though if you can. :thumbsup:

Are there any OEM ones out yet?

I was shocked at how bad this card was in the real world given the 3DMark05 score (4k).

It's also interesting how it drops off much more slowly (relatively) to the 6600GT (pity it starts at such a bad place!). Architecture changes mean it handles AA/AF more efficiently?

 

[imported_Kiwi]

I've always distrusted reviewers who relied too heavily on 3Dmark-anything. My own newest is a 3850 for my X2 6000. {I've got the VGA in the machine already, although the CPU is still in its little plastic container (what the heck are those called?), so the X2 4800 is still in there while a Scythe Ninja was in transit . .}

 

[Qbah]

Remember, dug, that the 9800Pro had a 256bit memory lane, the 6600GT had a 128bit one (was still a bit faster than 9800Pro though). And that 3450 has a 64bit one. AA, even at x2, kills performance on it. I'm sure the scores would be pretty much even (if not better on the 3450) if no AA was used. I *had* one and without AA I could play source games ok-ish.

As a comparison, a 9800Pro had what? 800Mhz on memory? That equals 3,2GHz of 64bit memory in raw bandwidth. The 6600GT you had has twice the bandwidth.

The 40 shaders of the 3450 are in the worst case scenario equal to 8 (8x5=40) regular shaders. As many as the 9800Pro and 6600GT had Roughly of course. And the newer games are better suited for this type of architecture, so it should be a bit faster.

Oh and you will be amazed how fast the new Radeons are I came from a X1950XTX to a HD4870 and went *wow*. I can max out everything in every game I own at 1920x1080 (play them windowed ) except for Crysis, which I really don't care about

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Qbah
Remember, dug, that the 9800Pro had a 256bit memory lane, the 6600GT had a 128bit one (was still a bit faster than 9800Pro though). And that 3450 has a 64bit one. AA, even at x2, kills performance on it. I'm sure the scores would be pretty much even (if not better on the 3450) if no AA was used. I *had* one and without AA I could play source games ok-ish.

As a comparison, a 9800Pro had what? 800Mhz on memory? That equals 3,2GHz of 64bit memory in raw bandwidth. The 6600GT you had has twice the bandwidth.

The 40 shaders of the 3450 are in the worst case scenario equal to 8 (8x5=40) regular shaders. As many as the 9800Pro and 6600GT had Roughly of course. And the newer games are better suited for this type of architecture, so it should be a bit faster.

Oh and you will be amazed how fast the new Radeons are I came from a X1950XTX to a HD4870 and went *wow*. I can max out everything in every game I own at 1920x1080 (play them windowed ) except for Crysis, which I really don't care about

Yeah, it went up to 68 FPS when I disabled AA :Q

I can't wait for a 4850...

 

[Keysplayr]

MSI has one with what looks like a real nice cooler.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127370

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
MSI has one with what looks like a real nice cooler.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127370

That looks pretty good :thumbsup:

I'm rather busy atm, and off on leave for a couple of weeks at the end of next week, so I'll buy when I get back

 

[Creig]

Originally posted by: dug777
Are there any OEM ones out yet?

There are pictures of the HIS IceQ4 4850 out there, but I haven't seen it in stores yet. It's a dual-heatpipe DHES style cooler. MUCH nicer than the stock cooler.

http://en.expreview.com/2008/0...iceq4-cooler/#more-595

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Qbah
Remember, dug, that the 9800Pro had a 256bit memory lane, the 6600GT had a 128bit one (was still a bit faster than 9800Pro though). And that 3450 has a 64bit one. AA, even at x2, kills performance on it. I'm sure the scores would be pretty much even (if not better on the 3450) if no AA was used. I *had* one and without AA I could play source games ok-ish.

As a comparison, a 9800Pro had what? 800Mhz on memory? That equals 3,2GHz of 64bit memory in raw bandwidth. The 6600GT you had has twice the bandwidth.

The 40 shaders of the 3450 are in the worst case scenario equal to 8 (8x5=40) regular shaders. As many as the 9800Pro and 6600GT had Roughly of course. And the newer games are better suited for this type of architecture, so it should be a bit faster.

Oh and you will be amazed how fast the new Radeons are I came from a X1950XTX to a HD4870 and went *wow*. I can max out everything in every game I own at 1920x1080 (play them windowed ) except for Crysis, which I really don't care about

I'm happily playing FarCry at 1024/8xAF/everything maxed. Jaggies are evil but it's plenty smooth.