Level Analysis: mp_mangoriver
This benchmark is focused around water, and includes an underwater section. Since it's also a benchmarked spectator, we fly up over the waterfall to get some long viewing range rendering in.
ATI mp_mangoriver screenshot.
Click to enlarge.
NV SM2.0 mp_mangoriver screenshot.
Click to enlarge.
NV SM3.0 mp_mangoriver screenshot.
Click to enlarge.
Here, we also see no image quality differences, but take a look at the full size jpegs as well, if you need more convincing.
Once again, no significant performance improvements except on the very high end with the 6800 UE changing place with the X800 XT.
Still, more of the same with AA and AF enabled. Not much exciting so far, but these benchmarks don't highlight the properties that have enhanced performance under the new rendering path. It is interesting to note that the X800 series of cards appear to be more resilient to turing on AA and AF than the NVIDIDA cards even under the new rendering path. The following four NVIDIA provided demos do a good job of pointing out situations were performance gains are seen.
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Anemone - Friday, July 2, 2004 - link
Am one of the increasing numbers of folks who does ues 1600x1200 on everything that supports it, just fyi. Now it's lcd, but before my 19" crt happily did that res too, and that's now many years old.Just for note only. :)
bearxor - Friday, July 2, 2004 - link
Yea, when are we even going to be able to buy a Ultra or "Ultra Extreme".Heck, I never even heard of "Ultra Extreme" until this preview.
I guess when ATi releases new drivers, nVidia will have to launch the long-rumored and much-hyped Geforce 6800 Ultra-Extreme Hyper Edition.
Then, during the ATi refresh,we will all be greeted the the Geforce 6900, 6900 Ultra, 6900 Turbo and 6900 Ultra Hyper Fighting Edition.
They're getting as bad as Capcom these days...
Pete - Friday, July 2, 2004 - link
Whoa, some huge gains for nV. I honestly didn't expect to see such clear differences this early--props to them.ATi's AA hit may be due to an under-performing programmable memory controller, per ATi ppl. We may see them improve memory-intense AA+AF numbers with newer drivers that better utilize the controller. Dunno if that can compensate for nV's huge SM3.0 gains, though.
I'm still a little baffled by the ever-faster "Ultra Extreme" models, though, considering we haven't seen one for even presale (AFAIK) in the many weeks since the 6800U's launch.
TheSnowman - Friday, July 2, 2004 - link
well Jeff, that explains why ati's peformace tanks, but it does nothing to explain why nvidia's doesn't.Jeff7181 - Friday, July 2, 2004 - link
Very nice article guys.Only thing I'd like to see that I didn't was lower res benchmarks, since I think it's safe to say that most people don't have monitors that support 1600x1200 at a decent refresh rate. Hell... mine can't do 1280x1024 at a decent rate.
Oh... and gordon151... I wonder if it could be because of the large amounts of objects to be anti-aliased. Grass, trees, etc. ... combine that with the HUGE draw distances and you've got quite a task on your hands. Just my theory anyway :)
gordon151 - Friday, July 2, 2004 - link
I've been wondering lately why performance tanks so much with the x800 series when AA is enabled in Farcry. It almost cuts in half when applying 4xAA, which is something you don't see in other games.