GeForce GTX 280 Review

[MikeC]

Today NVIDIA is introducing two new Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) based on their GeForce GTX 200 Series - the long-awaited GeForce GTX 280 and GeForce GTX 260. Both GPUs are high-end products targeted at gaming enthusiasts and will be featured on graphics cards retailing for $649 and $399 respectively.

http://www.nvnews.net/reviews/geforce_gtx_280/images/evga_geforce_gtx_280_s.jpg

The GeForce GTX 280 is NVIDIA's most complex and powerful GPU to date and contains over 1.4 billion transistors. Based on a second generation unified architecture, the GeForce GTX 280 functions as a multi-purpose processor capable of accelerating real-time 3D graphics as well as computationally intensive parallel-computing applications. With a total of 240 shader processors, 80 texture processors, and 1GB of frame buffer memory, the GeForce GTX 280 will provide unprecedented levels of 3D graphics performance.

Although we only had a few days to skim the surface of the GeForce GTX 280's capabilities, the EVGA FTW model performed flawlessly during our 3D testing under Windows XP. This model is moderately overclocked from the reference model and in a closed case, reached a peak temperature of 79° C. Fan noise is noticeable under load, but not overbearing.

The GeForce GTX 280 outperformed the GeForce 8800 GTX at the resolution of 1920x1200, but delivered the best bang for the buck at 2560x1600 and with high quality (16xQ) antialiasing at 1680x1050. Overall increases in the average frame rate at these settings ranged from 57% to 92%.

Check it out here - http://www.nvnews.net/reviews/geforce_gtx_280/index.shtml

[SLippe]

Another great review, MikeC. :thumbsup:

[MikeC]

Thanks! But there was so much more to cover and so little time... :(

[MUYA]

SLI? :p

[SLippe]

SLI? :p

Get jAkUp to do a Tri-SLI review. ;)

[lowdownshame]

finally! i can now put my 8800gtx up on ebay and get this bad boy! thanks for the review mikec!
:)

[MikeC]

Get jAkUp to do a Tri-SLI review. ;)
Done - LOL

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=114867

[MikeC]

finally! i can now put my 8800gtx up on ebay and get this bad boy! thanks for the review mikec!
:)Awesome. Thanks!

[SLippe]

What drivers were used?

[DSC]

No 16x AF benchmarks? A card with that power should be cranked up all the way to 16x AF.

[MikeC]

What drivers were used?
ForceWare Beta 177.34 - GeForce GTX 280
ForceWare WQHL 175.16 - GeForce 8800 GTX

[MikeC]

No 16x AF benchmarks? A card with that power should be cranked up all the way to 16x AF.I agree, but I will need to create a new performance baseline. I've been using 8x across all my benchmarks for years now so performance can be compared from review to review.

[CaptNKILL]

Nice job mike. :thumbsup:

One request though.

If you have Mass Effect, could you benchmark it? :D

A quick run through of the Citadel Presidium should be a good test at high resolutions. Lots of people, objects and effects.

No other sites have benched this game yet with the GTX 280 and I'm curious as to how well it stacks up against the 8800GTX.

[evox]

Good stuff! :)

[SLippe]

ForceWare Beta 177.34 - GeForce GTX 280
ForceWare WQHL 175.16 - GeForce 8800 GTX

Thank you, sir.

[Bman212121]

Mind if I pick your brain for a minute Mike?

I really would like to hear your thoughts about this card as compared previous generations. (you can go back as far as you'd like) What I think has really sparked a lot of critism that I've seen has been price/performance. In my opinion this is the first time where we have had the plethora of options that we do currently when the next generation comes out. In previous generations months would go by before a new card came out and there were several newer games waiting to take advantage of these cards. Do you agree/disagree with this statement? Do you feel this card proves it superiority over previous cards? Do you think the current state of SLI/Dual GPU/Single GPU has overcrowded the market? Would taking the price out of the equation change your opinion about this card compared to others?

I'm trying to not lead you on with my questioning but it's hard to keep the bias out of the questions. (My questions sound like a long essay, lol)

One more thing I would be really interested if you could comment on is if you could remember back a few years ago when SLI first came around what you thought might happen did or didn't it pan out like you imagined. The reason why I'm asking this is I remember when SLI was first being talked about there could be the possibility of say getting a good GPU to start and once that card started to age you just buy a 2nd card for a much cheaper price and still get the performance. Do you think it has worked out to their advantage or does having that ability actually hurt them more than help them?

[MikeC]

Mind if I pick your brain for a minute Mike?

I really would like to hear your thoughts about this card as compared previous generations. (you can go back as far as you'd like) What I think has really sparked a lot of critism that I've seen has been price/performance. In my opinion this is the first time where we have had the plethora of options that we do currently when the next generation comes out. In previous generations months would go by before a new card came out and there were several newer games waiting to take advantage of these cards. Do you agree/disagree with this statement?

I certainly agree with that statement. One of my tasks is to keep the prices updated on right sidebar on the front page and there are currently plenty of graphics cards available to purchase. This alone makes it difficult for the consumer to figure out which product may be best for them. When you factor in SLI, it becomes even more difficult. On the other hand, there are more choices available than ever, which consumers also appreciate having.

As for the GeForce GTX 280, I was impressed with the performance it delivered at the resolutions of 2560x1600 with no and 4x AA. I also compared performance with 16xQ AA at the resolution of 1680x1050 where it outperformed the GeForce 8800 GTX by 92%. That setting doesn't actually look to bad on a monitor that has a native resolution of 2560x1600. Other than those cases, in terms of graphics performance, it bested the GeForce 8800 GTX, but does not warrant an upgrade.

The premium price tag of the GeForce GTX 280 is there because it excels at the uber-resolution of 2560x1600. The graphics quality of Dark Messiah (Source Engine) was amazing when all of the settings were cranked up at 2560x1600 with 4x AA, very high textures, and supersampling transparency AA. It was literally picture perfect. There were no signs of aliasing or texture shimmering to speak of.

Do you feel this card proves it superiority over previous cards? Do you think the current state of SLI/Dual GPU/Single GPU has overcrowded the market? Would taking the price out of the equation change your opinion about this card compared to others?

Yes, the GeForce 280 GTX does prove its superiority, but only in those situations where memory bandwidth and shader processing become the limiting factor. I believe the price is justified based on past launches. Recall that the GeForce 8800 GTX launched with a MSRP of $599 and the GeForce 8800 Ultra was $829.

But the marketplace, and competition from ATI, will ultimately dictate retail prices. Look at the GeForce 9800 GX2. It launched in March with a MSRP of $549 to $649 and is now down to $409. The GeForce 9800 GX2 is a fine graphics card, but the lack of memory can cause performance to suffer. At the time it was reviewed, I was also concerned with some of the minimum frame rates it produced, but those may have been ironed out with driver updates.

Also remember back in the day when John Carmack was pumping out the Quake series of games? Gamers not only upgraded their graphics cards, but in many cases, upgraded their CPU, memory, and mobo just to be able to play the game with smooth frame rates.


I'm trying to not lead you on with my questioning but it's hard to keep the bias out of the questions. (My questions sound like a long essay, lol)

Heh, you're killing me here :)


One more thing I would be really interested if you could comment on is if you could remember back a few years ago when SLI first came around what you thought might happen did or didn't it pan out like you imagined. The reason why I'm asking this is I remember when SLI was first being talked about there could be the possibility of say getting a good GPU to start and once that card started to age you just buy a 2nd card for a much cheaper price and still get the performance. Do you think it has worked out to their advantage or does having that ability actually hurt them more than help them?

I've always thought highly of SLI since it allowed gamers to play at settings that were otherwise unattainable with a single graphics card. I really don't know if SLI turned out as you described, but the thing is that once you had an SLI capable motherboard, you had more choices available now and in the future.

Oh boy, I feel the wrath of slaWter coming on. :)

[Bman212121]

Ty very much for answering all of my questions. :) It is nice to get a little more information from a reviewer who has played around with the card. Make a review you post numbers, but everyone reads them and comes up with their own opinion about what they mean. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

I'll try to keep Slawter off your back, hehe. I think even he loves the thought of SLI, but dreads the nforce boards it is ran on.

[SH64]

WOW an avarage of 100% & min of +208% in Bioshock! amazing .. i want one .. NOW!! :ORDER:

[Mr_LoL]

Be honest Mike. Are you glad to see ATI now being competitive?

[evox]

WOW an avarage of 100% & min of +208% in Bioshock! amazing .. i want one .. NOW!! :ORDER:
Get one for me, too. :D

[MikeC]

Be honest Mike. Are you glad to see ATI now being competitive?Absolutely!