High End Performance Tests

And now, we come to the extreme tests. Unfortunately, we couldn't push our tests beyond 2048x1536 this time around, so the 7800 GTX SLI setup is still not stretching its legs to its full potential (which is extremely impressive). For our 1920x1440 test (a little larger than HDTV's 1080p), the trend continues from the previous tests. This time around, we see that the SLI setup is steadily becoming less CPU bound under our AA/AF test. Without turning these features on, we do still bump into the CPU limit, however.

Battlefield 2 Performance


Battlefield 2 Performance


And our current highest end test, 2048x1536 still shows an incredible frame rate under the 7800 GTX SLI. Increasing AA/AF settings still can't hurt it too much, and even the single 7800 GTX is playable with all the options on at the highest resolution test that we ran. The 6800 Ultra and X850 XT are only playable at this resolution without AA enabled (though, the ATI part comes closer to being playable). It should go without saying that the mid-range cards are unplayable here.

Battlefield 2 Performance


Battlefield 2 Performance


For high end cards paired with a monitor that can handle it, 1920x1440 offers good AA performance. If the investment in a 7800 GTX seems worth it, nothing looks better than 2048x1536 with 4xAA/AF. Oddly enough, we can still see the difference between aliased and antialiased game play at these huge resolutions. Of course, the problem is only obvious on near vertical or near horizontal lines and is much less of an issue at huge resolutions than at, say, 1024x768.

Mid-range Performance Tests Final Words
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  • sethborg - Thursday, December 22, 2005 - link

    What monitors support these high resolutions, the article doesn't say which one they used!
  • TokyoBrit - Tuesday, August 9, 2005 - link

    I wouldn't of minded seeing the 6600GT, 6800GT and 6800U in SLI configuration in the article, as those are a more likely configuration than the 7800GTX SLI that did get included.

    Anyone care to comment on the expected performance improvements of 6600GT SLI compared to a single 6800GT, 6800GT SLI compared to a single 6800U, and 6800U SLI compared to a single 7800GTX?
  • CrystalBay - Sunday, July 31, 2005 - link

    Thanks Derek, !
  • ShadowVlican - Sunday, July 17, 2005 - link

    much better with the update, thanks derek
  • JNo - Monday, July 11, 2005 - link

    Guys, I think most of you are missing the point - this is not meant to be a *comprehensive* test of BF2 (with CPU, *all* midrange cards and picture detail analysis etc) but a general look at how a game that will become part of anandtech's new benchmark suite, performs in general across a range of cards. It does this very well and gave me an impression of how a variety of core cards scale with the game.

    Again, the article is called "BF2 **GPU** Performance Analysis" so stop whinging about lack of CPU scaling tests and not knowing how the game performs on true midrange systems - that is not the point of the article!! Read a general BF2 performance article elsewhere for that...
  • Powermoloch - Sunday, July 10, 2005 - link

    Replying #61

    Just recently I had received my X850XT for about $ 350. I'm still amazed about the benchamrks and hopefully will getting this copy of the game. It's performance is dazzling.

  • Powersupply - Sunday, July 10, 2005 - link

    Almost forgot...I whonder how much DICE/EA payed Anandtech for this one...
  • Powersupply - Sunday, July 10, 2005 - link

    I rarely write any comments but i feel obliged to do so this time around because this article stinks. Quoting what #45 said:

    " The more I think about what information this article *should have* presented, I come to realize that it is just fluff. The basic conclusion is that higher-priced cards get better FPS. No duh?"

    That's the simple and ugly truth.

    Sadly I feel that an increasing percentage of articles are just fluff here on Anandtech.
  • beorntheold - Sunday, July 10, 2005 - link

    the last game i played from EA was NFSU2. just as in NFSU the time was not constant... in a racing game. think about it.

    BF2? well, the demo won't start in fullscreen mode no matter what i do (and i did spend a while working on the problem). oh, and that patch fiasco... 8|

    makes you wonder--how do Blizzard do it? :)
  • yanman - Sunday, July 10, 2005 - link

    BF2 that is

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