X²-The Threat from Egosoft is a graphically rich space simulation that makes extensive use of bump mapping. A benchmark in the form of a rolling demo is built-in to the game and consists of rendering 23 cut scenes. Note that the benchmark reported pixel shader 1.4 and vertex shader 1.1 were used in lieu of pixel shader 2.0 and vertex shader 2.0, which are DirectX 9 features.
X²-The Threat
Shadows were disabled for this set of benchmarks due to the impact on performance. Enabling shadows caused a 30-40% decrease across the board in the average frame rate.
X²-The Threat Benchmark Results
In X²-The Threat gameplay conditions, I found that 1024x768 with 2X antialiasing and 8X anisotropic filtering and shadows disabled provided solid performance.
F1 CHALLENGE '99-'02
Developed by Incredible Simulations, Inc. (ISI) for Electronic Arts, F1 Challenge is a popular racing simulation among Formula 1 racing buffs. FRAPS logging was used to capture the average frame rate during a playback of an eight lap race on the Melbourne track.
F1 Challenge '99-'02
All in-game graphics settings were configured to their maximum value and sound was enabled.
F1 Challenge '99-'02 Benchmark Results
A high and steady minimum frame rate is important in racing simulations in order to maintain the illusion of speed. Having invested a number of hours playing F1 Challenge '99-'02, I found that the Zeus 5700 Ultra consistently achieved this requirement at a resolution of 1024x768 with 2X antialiasing and 8X anisotropic filtering.
TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 2004
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 is as addictive as it is stunning to watch. The visual quality is simply astounding. The golf courses feature wildlife, water is rendered with the assistance of DirectX 9 pixel shaders, and the character animation is quite convincing.
I tested the performance of the Zeus 5700 Ultra using two replays. The first replay was from a hole-in-one shot on the twelfth hole at Pebble Beach. The second replay was from a chip shot on the fringe of the fourteenth green at Kalpua Plantation.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 - Chip Shot
The hole-in-one replay takes place on a short par 3 with an abundance of trees and spectators in the background. The second replay begins with a close-up of the player surrounded by beautifully rendered grass, which is a definite GPU strainer. All in-game graphics settings were at their highest level with the exception of player shadows, which were disabled.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 - Teeing Off
Note that due to way replays are viewed in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004, we are not getting an accurate frame rate because a large portion of the screen is reserved for letterbox effects. The replays were viewed in ball cam mode.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 - Chip Shot Benchmarks
In Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004, the Zeus 5700 Ultra provided good performance at a resolution of 1024x768 with 4X antialiasing and 8X anisotropic filtering.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 - Hole-In-One Benchmarks
Although the minimum frame rate is not provided in the results, I would have liked it a bit higher with 4X antialiasing and 8X anisotropic filtering. Dropping down to 4X anisotropic filtering will provide an increase in performance as would overclocking the graphics card.
