My 8800GTX vs 4870 tests

[LordJuanlo]

I have just received my Radeon HD 4870, so I have captured some screenshots with the 8800GTX. I will post the screenshots and the FPS of both cards. It won't be a great way to bench because I will get framerate in a spot, so not minimum or averages, but I think it could be useful for some people.

The files are in JPG format (because of Imageshack limit of 1.5 mb), so they are not full quality, but you can get an idea of the quality differences between both cards. In my experience they are very subtle, if any.

I have used the same exact save spot so the screenshots are as similar as possible. In some games I have started a new game or go to specific level and take screenshots without moving (Gears of War, Jericho, Half Life 2...). In LOTRO, I use swift travel to available areas with my character, those screenshots aren't identical because game conditions may be different (time of day, or number of people online) but it will be fairly accurate.

The following settings are used in both cards:

- Resolution 1920x1200
- 4xMSAA (unless other specified)
- 16xAF
- Vsync disabled
- Default video card clocks
- 3 Ghz CPU speed (333x9)
- Vista Home Premium x64 SP1
- Forceware 175.19 / Catalyst 8.6 Hotfix
- AA and AF always from game setup, not forced via drivers

The 8800GTX screenshots are on the left, the 4870 are on the right:

Half Life 2 Episode 2

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/3251/ep214xaape2.th.jpg (http://img239.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep214xaape2.jpg) http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/3229/ep214xaaativi8.th.jpg (http://img379.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep214xaaativi8.jpg)
8800GTX - 101 FPS <==> HD4870 - 131 FPS

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/2595/ep224xaaeu2.th.jpg (http://img238.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep224xaaeu2.jpg) http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2718/ep224xaaatijb1.th.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep224xaaatijb1.jpg)
8800GTX - 119 FPS <==> HD4870 - 149 FPS

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/5736/ep234xaagj2.th.jpg (http://img125.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep234xaagj2.jpg) http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/7262/ep234xaaatiqa8.th.jpg (http://img379.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep234xaaatiqa8.jpg)
8800GTX - 137 FPS <==> HD4870 - 168 FPS

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/7717/ep244xaaxk6.th.jpg (http://img236.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep244xaaxk6.jpg) http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/6656/ep244xaaativd0.th.jpg (http://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep244xaaativd0.jpg)
8800GTX - 67 FPS <==> HD4870 - 96 FPS

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/1771/ep254xaaaa1.th.jpg (http://img126.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep254xaaaa1.jpg) http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/7632/ep254xaaatisb9.th.jpg (http://img369.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep254xaaatisb9.jpg)
8800GTX - 123 FPS <==> HD4870 - 164 FPS

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/9827/ep264xaazl1.th.jpg (http://img107.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep264xaazl1.jpg) http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/342/ep264xaaaticu8.th.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep264xaaaticu8.jpg)
8800GTX - 113 FPS <==> HD4870 - 118 FPS

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/6153/ep274xaaus3.th.jpg (http://img66.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep274xaaus3.jpg) http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/3818/ep274xaaativk3.th.jpg (http://img386.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep274xaaativk3.jpg)
8800GTX - 104 FPS <==> HD4870 - 132 FPS

Bioshock (DX10 no AA)

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/17/bioshocknoaarw7.th.jpg (http://img76.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bioshocknoaarw7.jpg) http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1787/bioshocknoaaatiiz6.th.jpg (http://img224.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bioshocknoaaatiiz6.jpg)
8800GTX - 45 FPS <==> HD4870 - 57 FPS

BloodRayne 2 (Walterman's FSAA patch)

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/7456/bloodrayne24xaaxv2.th.jpg (http://img76.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bloodrayne24xaaxv2.jpg) http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6234/bloodrayne24xaaatiex5.th.jpg (http://img224.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bloodrayne24xaaatiex5.jpg)
8800GTX - 83 FPS <==> HD4870 - 126 FPS

Devil May Cry 4 Demo (DX9)

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/3297/devilmaycry4demo4xaaon5.th.jpg (http://img234.imageshack.us/my.php?image=devilmaycry4demo4xaaon5.jpg) http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7710/devilmaycry4demo4xaaatigc4.th.jpg (http://img224.imageshack.us/my.php?image=devilmaycry4demo4xaaatigc4.jpg)
8800GTX - 80 FPS <==> HD4870 - 95 FPS
Full DMC4 Bench:

Scene 1 - 8800GTX: 80,49 FPS <==> HD4870: 110,39
Scene 2 - 8800GTX: 51,05 FPS <==> HD4870: 75,31
Scene 3 - 8800GTX: 99,35 FPS <==> HD4870: 131,14
Scene 4 - 8800GTX: 56,80 FPS <==> HD4870: 84,25

[LordJuanlo]

Crysis 64bit (DX9 High no AA)

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/2533/crysis64dx9noaaxm7.th.jpg (http://img76.imageshack.us/my.php?image=crysis64dx9noaaxm7.jpg) http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/2287/crysis64dx9noaaatick4.th.jpg (http://img398.imageshack.us/my.php?image=crysis64dx9noaaatick4.jpg)
8800GTX - 32 FPS <==> HD4870 - 42 FPS

Crysis 64bit (DX10 High no AA)

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/4364/crysis64dx10noaamr2.th.jpg (http://img76.imageshack.us/my.php?image=crysis64dx10noaamr2.jpg) http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/4061/crysis64dx10noaaatipr1.th.jpg (http://img398.imageshack.us/my.php?image=crysis64dx10noaaatipr1.jpg)
8800GTX - 27 FPS <==> HD4870 - 36 FPS

Gears of War (DX10)

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3772/gow14xaahi9.th.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gow14xaahi9.jpg) http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/8176/gow14xaaatiul4.th.jpg (http://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gow14xaaatiul4.jpg)
8800GTX - 36 FPS <==> HD4870 - 62 FPS

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/5425/gow24xaack6.th.jpg (http://img161.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gow24xaack6.jpg) http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/9163/gow24xaaatioy1.th.jpg (http://img370.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gow24xaaatioy1.jpg)
8800GTX - 34 FPS <==> HD4870 - 56 FPS

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/6461/gow34xaaad5.th.jpg (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gow34xaaad5.jpg) http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/57/gow34xaaatiqr2.th.jpg (http://img234.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gow34xaaatiqr2.jpg)
8800GTX - 26 FPS <==> HD4870 - 42 FPS

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/7552/gow44xaafw6.th.jpg (http://img162.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gow44xaafw6.jpg) http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/8711/gow44xaaatiba8.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gow44xaaatiba8.jpg)
8800GTX - 27 FPS <==> HD4870 - 43 FPS

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/4240/gow54xaafb8.th.jpg (http://img50.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gow54xaafb8.jpg) http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/8396/gow54xaaatiph6.th.jpg (http://img370.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gow54xaaatiph6.jpg)
8800GTX - 34 FPS <==> HD4870 - 52 FPS

Race Driver Grid
http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/4981/grid4xaakg8.th.jpg (http://img159.imageshack.us/my.php?image=grid4xaakg8.jpg) http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/8255/grid4xaaatisu8.th.jpg (http://img398.imageshack.us/my.php?image=grid4xaaatisu8.jpg)
8800GTX - 48 FPS <==> HD4870 - 83 FPS

STALKER (maximum game's own AA)
http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/2069/stalkermaxaasx3.th.jpg (http://img234.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stalkermaxaasx3.jpg) http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/6830/stalkermaxaaatilk5.th.jpg (http://img398.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stalkermaxaaatilk5.jpg)
8800GTX - 53 FPS <==> HD4870 - 63 FPS

Shadowgrounds Survivor
http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/9652/survivor4xaaxg1.th.jpg (http://img234.imageshack.us/my.php?image=survivor4xaaxg1.jpg) http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/7306/survivor4xaaatinx3.th.jpg (http://img398.imageshack.us/my.php?image=survivor4xaaatinx3.jpg)
8800GTX - 66 FPS <==> HD4870 - 67 FPS

[LordJuanlo]

Assassin's Creed DX10 (multisampling=2 at ASSASSIN.INI)

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/9839/assassinscreeddx104xmsgp5.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=assassinscreeddx104xmsgp5.jpg) http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/3266/assassinscreeddx104xmsaez9.th.jpg (http://img398.imageshack.us/my.php?image=assassinscreeddx104xmsaez9.jpg)
8800GTX - 38 FPS <==> HD4870 - 50 FPS

Clive Barker's Jericho

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/7404/jericho14xaayi3.th.jpg (http://img158.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jericho14xaayi3.jpg) http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/855/jericho14xaaatiss4.th.jpg (http://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jericho14xaaatiss4.jpg)
8800GTX - 20 FPS <==> HD4870 - 31 FPS

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/7942/jericho24xaacc6.th.jpg (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jericho24xaacc6.jpg) http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/9738/jericho24xaaatias4.th.jpg (http://img370.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jericho24xaaatias4.jpg)
8800GTX - 23 FPS <==> HD4870 - 38 FPS

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/8056/jericho34xaafd2.th.jpg (http://img131.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jericho34xaafd2.jpg) http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/1802/jericho34xaaatizk1.th.jpg (http://img234.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jericho34xaaatizk1.jpg)
8800GTX - 24 FPS <==> HD4870 - 40 FPS

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/8425/jericho44xaags1.th.jpg (http://img224.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jericho44xaags1.jpg) http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/4585/jericho44xaaatiqm5.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jericho44xaaatiqm5.jpg)
8800GTX - 28 FPS <==> HD4870 - 45 FPS

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/4039/jericho54xaarz3.th.jpg (http://img224.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jericho54xaarz3.jpg) http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/9175/jericho54xaaatiiw3.th.jpg (http://img370.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jericho54xaaatiiw3.jpg)
8800GTX - 23 FPS <==> HD4870 - 41 FPS

The Witcher (2xAA)

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/854/thewitcher2xaasq7.th.jpg (http://img234.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thewitcher2xaasq7.jpg) http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/8710/thewitcher2xaaatint9.th.jpg (http://img65.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thewitcher2xaaatint9.jpg)
8800GTX - 63 FPS <==> HD4870 - 77 FPS

Tomb Raider Legend (game FSAA on)

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/8785/tombraiderlegendfsaasr2.th.jpg (http://img234.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tombraiderlegendfsaasr2.jpg) http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/5733/tombraiderlegendfsaaatigl9.th.jpg (http://img65.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tombraiderlegendfsaaatigl9.jpg)
8800GTX - 50 FPS <==> HD4870 - 54 FPS

Two Worlds

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/9287/twoworlds4xaaws8.th.jpg (http://img65.imageshack.us/my.php?image=twoworlds4xaaws8.jpg) http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/1691/twoworlds4xaaatims7.th.jpg (http://img65.imageshack.us/my.php?image=twoworlds4xaaatims7.jpg)
8800GTX - 51 FPS <==> HD4870 - 40 FPS (the only game that is slower on the 4870)

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (game quality 4 AA)

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/1754/vegas2quality4aajh6.th.jpg (http://img65.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vegas2quality4aajh6.jpg) http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/1475/vegas2quality4aaatiqx2.th.jpg (http://img65.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vegas2quality4aaatiqx2.jpg)
8800GTX - 61 FPS <==> HD4870 - 80 FPS

[LordJuanlo]

Lord of the Rings Online Shadows of Angmar (DX10)
It's not easy to take the same exact screenshot, because when using Swift Travel the "landing" location is not exactly the same, you may appear a meter to the left, right, forward or backward, so I've tried to adjust as much as I could. BTW on this game I have noticed a bit of micro-stutering until I removed fraps overlay. No other game had that problem.

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/9508/lotro1thorin4xaaou7.th.jpg (http://img104.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro1thorin4xaaou7.jpg) http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/4581/lotro1thorin4xaaatizs3.th.jpg (http://img379.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro1thorin4xaaatizs3.jpg)
Thorin's Halls
8800GTX - 32 FPS <==> HD4870 - 40 FPS

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/3308/lotro2delvin4xaacp1.th.jpg (http://img236.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro2delvin4xaacp1.jpg) http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/3108/lotro2delvin4xaaatisd3.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro2delvin4xaaatisd3.jpg)
Michel Delvin
8800GTX - 41 FPS <==> HD4870 - 51 FPS

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/3112/lotro3evendim4xaajr6.th.jpg (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro3evendim4xaajr6.jpg) http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/9384/lotro3evendim4xaaatiba3.th.jpg (http://img376.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro3evendim4xaaatiba3.jpg)
Evendim
8800GTX - 36 FPS <==> HD4870 - 50 FPS

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/9076/lotro4bree4xaaej6.th.jpg (http://img104.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro4bree4xaaej6.jpg) http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6905/lotro4bree4xaaatiqs4.th.jpg (http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro4bree4xaaatiqs4.jpg)
Bree
8800GTX - 36 FPS <==> HD4870 - 49 FPS

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/8402/lotro5ostguruth4xaapb0.th.jpg (http://img236.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro5ostguruth4xaapb0.jpg) http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/6262/lotro5ostguruth4xaaatidf9.th.jpg (http://img398.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro5ostguruth4xaaatidf9.jpg)
Ost Guruth
8800GTX - 36 FPS <==> HD4870 - 48 FPS

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5933/lotro6westangmar4xaaum2.th.jpg (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro6westangmar4xaaum2.jpg) http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/4894/lotro6westangmar4xaaatixh0.th.jpg (http://img392.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro6westangmar4xaaatixh0.jpg)
West Angmar
8800GTX - 29 FPS <==> HD4870 - 39 FPS

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/2263/lotro7eastangmar4xaaas5.th.jpg (http://img117.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro7eastangmar4xaaas5.jpg) http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/4229/lotro7eastangmar4xaaatitq6.th.jpg (http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro7eastangmar4xaaatitq6.jpg)
East Angmar
8800GTX - 49 FPS <==> HD4870 - 76 FPS

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/152/lotro8esteldin4xaasw3.th.jpg (http://img161.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro8esteldin4xaasw3.jpg) http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/7914/lotro8esteldin4xaaatifc3.th.jpg (http://img398.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro8esteldin4xaaatifc3.jpg)
Esteldin
8800GTX - 31 FPS <==> HD4870 - 51 FPS

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/3277/lotro9rivendell4xaaav6.th.jpg (http://img239.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro9rivendell4xaaav6.jpg) http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/4933/lotro9rivendell4xaaatitn4.th.jpg (http://img392.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotro9rivendell4xaaatitn4.jpg)
Rivendell
8800GTX - 22 FPS <==> HD4870 - 31 FPS

[LordJuanlo]

It's done. For people wondering if a 4870 is a worth upgrade from a 8800GTX, I say YES, at least if you game at very high resolutions. Performance gains in all games (and very BIG gains in some), now I can use AA in games where I couldn't with the GTX, and zero problems so far. I have used Catalyst 8.6 hotfix and they seem to work really good. However there is one thing I miss: nHancer.

My 8800GTX has sold on eBay for about 130€, and the 4870 has been about 230€, so I'm very happy for the price of the upgrade. I think 8800GTX will dealuate a lot now that GTX 280 and 260 (and 9800GTX) have lowered their prices, so I'm sure I have sold it just in time.

[dotslasher]

thanks for the benchmarks.
I'm thinking of upgrading from my 8800GTX to the 4870 or even the x2 version.
These are good times for consumers, finally ATI has come with a card that can compete with nvidia's cards.

[walterman]

Now this is a review :)

The results are impressive.

[mullet]

Damn fine review. Lots of work dude awesome job. The 4870 is one mean card.

[Madpistol]

Very nice work! I was actually thinking about getting a 4850 for my GF's upcoming build, and this tells me it would be well worth it. :D

[methimpikehoses]

Excellent testing, thanks! Yeah, the 4870 isn't bad for a $300 card. :cool:

[CaptNKILL]

Very nice work man.

One question though, do you have the minimum FPS numbers from the Fraps logs still?

I'm interested in seeing how the minimums look.

[Tr1cK]

nice work

[H3avyM3tal]

Damn glad I upgraded from 8800GT :)
Thanks for this very very nice review!

Q: Did Jericho ever dip below 30?

[MrSavoy]

Nice review, appreciate all the time/work spent. The 4870 is without a doubt a great card for the money, no surprise there.

What stands out more to me though is the mighty 8800gtx stll standing tall in all those games and being very playable. It's not a surprise to me since I game on 1 every day; but just to see that when g80 is almost 2 years old is simply amazing imo.

*hugs his 8800gtx*

[LordJuanlo]

Thanks all for your comments, I'm glad you liked it, it was a lot of work indeed.

Did Jericho ever dip below 30?

I didn't play long enough to be sure, but as far as I remember the first scene of the game is one of the slowest with that big twister

One question though, do you have the minimum FPS numbers from the Fraps logs still?

Sorry I don't have those numbers, I really didn't play to get those screenshots. Just loaded a savegame and captured the screenshot, I didn't do a run through the levels. I must say that this card is really powerful, the feeling when playing Crysis for example is much better than it was on the GTX, it's clear that minimun frames are higher, now I can enjoy the game on high at 1920x1200.

It's very curious how I went from 768 Mb on a 384bit bus to 512 Mb on a 256bit bus, and get more performance. This card really destroys the GTX, no doubt, and if you play at very high resolutions I think it's a very worthy upgrade from any G80/G92 card if you can sell it for a good price.

[mcolbourn]

Thats a nice review I would agree that the upgrade from 8800GTX to the 4870 is good and well woth it.

[MUYA]

Do you have any Age of Conan numbers? :)

[LordJuanlo]

Nope, sorry, but with LOTRO I have more than enough MMORPG. But if anyone sends me a Conan trial key I would bench it with great pleasure... on the 4870 only, the GTX is already on the mail :D

[SH64]

WOW good work! thanks for the comparsion :cool:

any Oblivion outdoors comparsions ?

[Tr1cK]

Do you have any Age of Conan numbers? :)

I think HardOCP has them.

[mailman2]

Same here, my HD4870 tears up my OC'd GTX in Oblivion outdoors too. Its actually playable with AA on and all that grass and trees!!

[Yaboze]

LordJuanlo, thank you for this no-nonsense review. I typically don't go benchmark crazy, I go by feel or FRAP/built in FPS tests in areas I know dip below 60, like Shattrath in WoW or certain areas of Stalker that are underground.

I have a 8800GTX and this looks to be a nice upgrade for $299.

Do you miss the extra 256?

[fivefeet8]

If you can, try running Crysis with Very High settings in Dx10(any resolution). I'd like to see if the 512 meg ram affects the 4870's performance if any compared to the 8800gtx.

[LordJuanlo]

Do you miss the extra 256?

Not yet, I run all those games maxed and it looks like 512 Mb is enough. Who knows, maybe at 2560x1600...

If you can, try running Crysis with Very High settings in Dx10(any resolution). I'd like to see if the 512 meg ram affects the 4870's performance if any compared to the 8800gtx

I will try it

[Tho Jo Smale]

Excellent review Juanlo,


Too bad you don't have access to a GTX 260 to end the Flame war occurring in the the Geforce 200 series forum.


JC