The Subject of research in this publication are graphics that have cropped one reason or another (mostly marketing) and from video-cores of the highest class, but offered a much lower price. Such examples are the GeForce 9800GT, based on the G92 or truncated GeForce 9600GSO reduced with 64-bit bus to the GeForce 9600GT. There are two main reasons for the cut in capacity and technical specifications of video cards:
1) Need to fill a market segment in the lower price niche. Used cores are complete without defects, but their limitations are placed from the operating frequency, memory bus, workflow processors, modules and other textures. An example of such video is discussed below Radeon HD4830, on the basis of complete cores RV770, and in the HD4850 and HD3870. Such artificial cut is expensive for the manufacturer and is a temporary phenomenon, while the price will naturally fill a niche of a new and cheap nuclei (eg lack of low-priced Radeon HD4770 is offset by the expensive, but organic HD4830) or nuclei accumulate a minimum of marriage ” senior class;
2) graphics cores are high-class design and sophisticated with the passage of production builds up a marriage. When the marriage is minimal – 1-5% of the crystal, then the core is of work after being locked up and isolated the problematic unit (CPU workflow, texturing units, etc.).. An example of such video is discussed in this article, Radeon HD4730.
AMD / ATI is loyal to its main partners – PowerColor and Sapphire and provides these “intermediate” cores only to them, why not meet these models from other manufacturers. Even the “hit” 40nm-ov HD4770 is produced mainly by these two companies.
This test will involve mainly video cards trimmed with the high class graphics cores, but very close to maximum productivity.
The test machine is basically a powerful, high-AMD X2 6000 + (3.1GHz).
Incompleteness of Windows 7, Vista and the hate to sentimental feelings for Windows XP prompted us to conduct tests with OS WinXP SP3.
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PCI-E is already an established standard for graphics slot without alternative, while the AGP remained in the past. Many users have computers with AGP slot, especially in poor countries like Bulgaria. The main reason for changing the home machine is often need for more powerful video card with Pixel Shader 3.0 and up, especially for games, but often for 3D modeling or comfortably watching HDTV movies.
Marketingovite techniques cheerfully assure us that the new standard PCI-E, providing almost twice as good speed (16x against 8x). However, whether this is really the case?
We will check this with the same two features from the video card is AGP one conversion in the other PCI-E. The models are NVidia GeForce 6600 256MB DDR.
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Following our previous large survey of AGP video cards, where the overall winner was ATI FireGL X1, a game for applications was the undisputed leader NVidia GeForce 6800GS, visit with us even more powerful graphics card for AGP. PowerColor ATI Radeon HD3850 is not only a more powerful video card from the previous test, but at the moment is the most productive AGP video card on the market.
Video card supports all the latest technologies – PS4, DX10, HD acceleration and others. There should be a game or application that this video can not spurred. Production of HD3850 and fully complies with not a small price surpasses even the video card. Most highly impressed and very quiet cooler, maintaining a reasonable temperature of video chip, motherboard and memory (the cooler has a special structure which directs airflow to the memory, motherboard and power of the radiator elements). Unlike incredible 110-120 degrees, which reached the previous champion – GeForce 6800GS, ATI HD3850 does not exceed 70 degrees in the most solid load. Again, excellent use our test machine for AGP video cards – IBM Thinkcentre M50. Compatibility is significantly better than that by “shining” of video cards NVidia.
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With the advent of PCI-E graphics slot standard, AGP remained in the past. But many people use their older machines with AGP – centimentacs some feelings, some are users of expensive workstations or just want to better utilize your old computer to a second cottage, for children or as a gift to friends. In most of the more expensive computers with AGP slots have powerful processors such as Pentium 4 HT (2.80-3.20Ghz) or Athlon 3800 +. Produced at a non-commercial times, often outside of China, the older machines differ significantly in terms of quality and reliability of the new platforms. The only weak point of such a computer is outdated AGP video card. Good video cards for AGP slot is hard to find but still available on the market. While NVidia and its partners and declined to produce AGP video cards after 7th Series, ATI continues to be enjoyed by current consumer video cards with DX10 and SM 4.0 as the Radeon HD2600, Radeon HD3850, AGP, and expects to HD4xxx series of video cards. The most powerful AGP graphics card now, which is available on the market is 256-bit ATI Radeon HD3850, produced mainly from PowerColor and Sapphire. (more…)