Shadows kill frame rates on an X850XT

[Steve Evans]

I've just upgraded from an AGP/9800 pro to a Pci-ex/X850XT system.
While I'm impressed with the huge increase in frame rates (see below),
turning shadows on in games such as Doom3 or FEAR, reduces the frame
so much, that it kind of defeats the object of all this new hardware.
I guess there are game tweaks to be done, but I can't see how they
could provide enough of an increase, so it looks like shadows=off
until I'm prepared to throw money at an SLI setup....well I did buy an
SLI board, now that's forward thinking!

Fear benchmark: medium/1024x768/4xAA/4xAF/Shadows off!
Before 8 16 36
After 40 80 190


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steve <AT> steveevans <DOT> org
-

 

[KCB]

I've just upgraded from an AGP/9800 pro to a Pci-ex/X850XT system.
While I'm impressed with the huge increase in frame rates (see below),
turning shadows on in games such as Doom3 or FEAR, reduces the frame
so much, that it kind of defeats the object of all this new hardware.
I guess there are game tweaks to be done, but I can't see how they
could provide enough of an increase, so it looks like shadows=off
until I'm prepared to throw money at an SLI setup....well I did buy an
SLI board, now that's forward thinking!

Fear benchmark: medium/1024x768/4xAA/4xAF/Shadows off!
Before 8 16 36
After 40 80 190


-
steve <AT> steveevans <DOT> org
-

The shadows in Doom3 really shouldn't be an issue for you, but the "soft
shadows" in F.E.A.R. are known to bring any rig down in frame rates.
See this article from anandtech discussing F.E.A.R.:
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2575&p=6
and this one from tweakguides:
http://www.tweakguides.com/FEAR_6.html
and this one from bit-tech:
http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2005/10/24/fear/2.html
They all recommend not using soft shadows in F.E.A.R. because the added
visuals are not worth the slam in performance. If it's the regular
shadows you're having problems with, then maybe try no AA or 2AA or no
aniso. How much RAM do you have, and what kind of processor? Also,
just out of curiosity, why would you get an X850XT for a PCI-E system?
Was it a really good deal?

 

[Gank]

Also, just out of curiosity, why would you get an X850XT for a PCI-E
system? Was it a really good deal?

Why wouldn't he? The only ATI cards that out perform it are the X1800 and
X1900. Not everyone has loads of money to throw at the latest and greatest.

 

[KCB]

Why wouldn't he? The only ATI cards that out perform it are the X1800
and X1900. Not everyone has loads of money to throw at the latest and
greatest.

Well, someone might not because it's two generations back. If his
machine were a AGP, then I could clearly see that it is one of the
faster AGP cards available, but as you implied yourself, it doesn't
compare to the newest generation of PCI-E cards. Secondly, unless it
was a really good price (as I asked in my post), then he would have been
better off going with the newer technology.

 

[First of One]

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=190067&AFFIL=pg&NR=1

This is why: $160 for a Visiontek X850XT with lifetime warranty.

 

[James]

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=190067&AFFIL=pg&NR=1

This is why: $160 for a Visiontek X850XT with lifetime warranty.

Exactly!

I recently bought one for $200 Cdn - a Sapphie X850 XT PCIe - cheaper
than an X1600 XT.

James

 

[KCB]

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=190067&AFFIL=pg&NR=1

This is why: $160 for a Visiontek X850XT with lifetime warranty.

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Thanks, that what I was wondering. Good deal!