Thoughts about the new 7800s 3dmark score

[zendari]

I'm not sure why people think the score is so unimpressive or low.

The 6800 Ultra started 3dmark05 at 4828 The 6800 U has a 16x400=6400 fillrate, and the 7800 GTX a 430x24=10320 fillrate, giving the GTX a 61.25% lead. Tacking on 61.25% to the 6800 Ultra's original score gives us 7785, which puts us right about even with the difference in framerates. It certainly seems like the scores are accurate.

Now, the 6800 cards improved their score via driver improvements so the 6800 Ultra now scores higher. The question then becomes: If the 7800s share such a similar architecture why would there be driver problems? And if they aren't similar, how much of a future gain can we hope to expect? Will the GTX be able to maintain about a 50% advantage?

 

[RussianSensation]

It's because x850xt pe scores 6000 points. It's also faster than 6800Ultra. So you should compare it to that as well. 6800Ultra also scores 5500 points using he same drivers as 7800 for GTX. 13000 in SLI - 2 x x850xt pe's give 10500.

Consider that x800pro gave 2x performance across the board in all games for $399. Now is $500 G70 looking that great? 50% advantage is nice, 60% even better. But last generation spoiled me at least with 100% from x800pro/6800GT and 125% from x800xt.

Add to the fact that it has been a long time from april's release of NV40. That's almost 14 months and Nvidia has not had 1 speed bump for any of their cards. Remember when CPU speeds doubled every 18 months? I guess the reality is that progress in the computer industry is slowing down as a whole. So maybe we shouldn't be dissappointed. Another important aspect is the "worth" of the upgrade. IF G70 doenst deliver above 50% speed increase, I dont see why it would be worth it for ppl with high-end cards to upgrade to it. Also there are rumours that x900 scores 10000 in 3dmark05.

 

[biostud]

Not to be a nit picker..... well just to be a nit picker anyway

clicky

 

[trinibwoy]

Originally posted by: zendari
I'm not sure why people think the score is so unimpressive or low.

The 6800 Ultra started 3dmark05 at 4828 The 6800 U has a 16x400=6400 fillrate, and the 7800 GTX a 430x24=10320 fillrate, giving the GTX a 61.25% lead. Tacking on 61.25% to the 6800 Ultra's original score gives us 7785, which puts us right about even with the difference in framerates. It certainly seems like the scores are accurate.

Now, the 6800 cards improved their score via driver improvements so the 6800 Ultra now scores higher. The question then becomes: If the 7800s share such a similar architecture why would there be driver problems? And if they aren't similar, how much of a future gain can we hope to expect? Will the GTX be able to maintain about a 50% advantage?

You are absolutely correct. If this score is accurate I think the disappointment is coming from -

1. People got spoiled by X800/6800 and forgot that never before in history did we get doubled performance in just one year. They're bitching as if doubling performance in one year is the norm.

2. Your figures assume that G70 pipe = NV40 pipe. I think it's reasonable to expect that G70 pipes will be more efficient. There are things they could have done like moving the texturing unit out of the first ALU and maybe adding an additional MAD ALU to each pipe which should improve efficiency somewhat. If they did these things then we would expect a much higher score than quoted.

Of course all of this is assuming that 3dmark is fillrate bound at default resolution.

 

[trinibwoy]

Originally posted by: RussianSensationConsider that x800pro gave 2x performance across the board in all games for $399. Now is $500 G70 looking that great? 50% advantage is nice, 60% even better. But last generation spoiled me at least with 100% from x800pro/6800GT and 125% from x800xt.

See what I meant about people getting spoiled and forgetting about all the small speed bumps we were quite happy with before last generation

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: trinibwoy

Originally posted by: zendari
I'm not sure why people think the score is so unimpressive or low.

The 6800 Ultra started 3dmark05 at 4828 The 6800 U has a 16x400=6400 fillrate, and the 7800 GTX a 430x24=10320 fillrate, giving the GTX a 61.25% lead. Tacking on 61.25% to the 6800 Ultra's original score gives us 7785, which puts us right about even with the difference in framerates. It certainly seems like the scores are accurate.

Now, the 6800 cards improved their score via driver improvements so the 6800 Ultra now scores higher. The question then becomes: If the 7800s share such a similar architecture why would there be driver problems? And if they aren't similar, how much of a future gain can we hope to expect? Will the GTX be able to maintain about a 50% advantage?

You are absolutely correct. If this score is accurate I think the disappointment is coming from -

1. People got spoiled by X800/6800 and forgot that never before in history did we get doubled performance in just one year. They're bitching as if doubling performance in one year is the norm.

2. Your figures assume that G70 pipe = NV40 pipe. I think it's reasonable to expect that G70 pipes will be more efficient. There are things they could have done like moving the texturing unit out of the first ALU and maybe adding an additional MAD ALU to each pipe which should improve efficiency somewhat. If they did these things then we would expect a much higher score than quoted.

Of course all of this is assuming that 3dmark is fillrate bound at default resolution.

Well, judging by the scores today (5500 vs 7800), the G70 pipes are actually less efficient in terms of fillrate. Of course that makes little sense. But since the initial numbers upon release for both cards mirror the fillrate, its certainly possible the G70 has some untapped potential.

 

[rise]

what was it 2 weeks ago it was doing 21000 in sli

i enjoy the speculation but lets not get carried away. the only one i have seen here that may actually be in the know is basically dismissing this latest rumored score out of hand.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Just wait for next week and all this madness will be anwsered.

Dont get side tracked by those scores.
22nd of June and all will be answered.

 

[imported_Pressure]

Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
Just wait for next week and all this madness will be anwsered.

Dont get side tracked by those scores.
22nd of June and all will be answered.

June 22nd European time right?

 

[Rage187]

unlike the last 9 years, I will not be buying a new video card to replace my 6800gt.


Multi processor consoles w/ next gen graphics are in my future.


and I really mean it THIS TIME!!!



P.S. if Xbox360 gets WoW then I'm completely converting over.

 

[Gamingphreek]

YOu are turning these rumors into reality. Im not saying they aren't true, but they very well could be justy rumors and have no truth. Wait until both of the cards are released before saying that it sucks or making any decisions. We never even got final specs for either company's card.

-Kevin

 

[Genx87]

Wait a week.

I would worry more about benchmark numbers from within a game before caring a damn about 3dfarce05

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: Genx87
Wait a week.

I would worry more about benchmark numbers from within a game before caring a damn about 3dfarce05

What's wrong with 3dmark05? It's not a litmus test, but rather a simple tool, and an effective one at doing what it does (namely rating the performance of graphics cards).

The only farce I have heard about 3dmark is not using 3dc.

 

[hans030390]

First off, the x850 got such a high score because ATI made it to do that. It's just an extremely overclocked x800. Nothing you couldnt do with a 6800ultra, but Nvidia just hasn't chosen to do that. Why whould you anyways? It's not like the sales would be that great and the 7800 is around the corner.

Still, if a 7800 gets 8000 points, thats really good considering its almost (almost) twice as much as a 6800 ultra...now, i'm not sure how well a 7800 overclocks, but that could very well be a good bit, or not much. The 6xxx cards usually OCed quite a bit, so i'm assuming the 7800 will get a boost with OCing it.

Also, there are no official drivers for the 7800. There are drivers for the x850 though. I'm thinking that when the 7800 comes out, the good drivers come out, and you OC it, I wouldn't be surprised if the card got closer to 10k in 3dmark 05...thats purely speculation.
Plus, you can't expect the card to get that much better scores. It has a nice OC added to it and not even twice the pipelines as a 6800ultra, so you really can't expect double the performance...

I'll be more content when i get next-gen benchmarks and from games like HL2...