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


8800GTX - 101 FPS <==> HD4870 - 131 FPS


8800GTX - 119 FPS <==> HD4870 - 149 FPS


8800GTX - 137 FPS <==> HD4870 - 168 FPS


8800GTX - 67 FPS <==> HD4870 - 96 FPS


8800GTX - 123 FPS <==> HD4870 - 164 FPS


8800GTX - 113 FPS <==> HD4870 - 118 FPS


8800GTX - 104 FPS <==> HD4870 - 132 FPS

Bioshock (DX10 no AA)


8800GTX - 45 FPS <==> HD4870 - 57 FPS

BloodRayne 2 (Walterman's FSAA patch)


8800GTX - 83 FPS <==> HD4870 - 126 FPS

Devil May Cry 4 Demo (DX9)


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)


8800GTX - 32 FPS <==> HD4870 - 42 FPS

Crysis 64bit (DX10 High no AA)


8800GTX - 27 FPS <==> HD4870 - 36 FPS

Gears of War (DX10)


8800GTX - 36 FPS <==> HD4870 - 62 FPS


8800GTX - 34 FPS <==> HD4870 - 56 FPS


8800GTX - 26 FPS <==> HD4870 - 42 FPS


8800GTX - 27 FPS <==> HD4870 - 43 FPS


8800GTX - 34 FPS <==> HD4870 - 52 FPS

Race Driver Grid

8800GTX - 48 FPS <==> HD4870 - 83 FPS

STALKER (maximum game's own AA)

8800GTX - 53 FPS <==> HD4870 - 63 FPS

Shadowgrounds Survivor

8800GTX - 66 FPS <==> HD4870 - 67 FPS

[LordJuanlo]

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


8800GTX - 38 FPS <==> HD4870 - 50 FPS

Clive Barker's Jericho


8800GTX - 20 FPS <==> HD4870 - 31 FPS


8800GTX - 23 FPS <==> HD4870 - 38 FPS


8800GTX - 24 FPS <==> HD4870 - 40 FPS


8800GTX - 28 FPS <==> HD4870 - 45 FPS


8800GTX - 23 FPS <==> HD4870 - 41 FPS

The Witcher (2xAA)


8800GTX - 63 FPS <==> HD4870 - 77 FPS

Tomb Raider Legend (game FSAA on)


8800GTX - 50 FPS <==> HD4870 - 54 FPS

Two Worlds


8800GTX - 51 FPS <==> HD4870 - 40 FPS (the only game that is slower on the 4870)

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (game quality 4 AA)


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.


Thorin's Halls
8800GTX - 32 FPS <==> HD4870 - 40 FPS


Michel Delvin
8800GTX - 41 FPS <==> HD4870 - 51 FPS


Evendim
8800GTX - 36 FPS <==> HD4870 - 50 FPS


Bree
8800GTX - 36 FPS <==> HD4870 - 49 FPS


Ost Guruth
8800GTX - 36 FPS <==> HD4870 - 48 FPS


West Angmar
8800GTX - 29 FPS <==> HD4870 - 39 FPS


East Angmar
8800GTX - 49 FPS <==> HD4870 - 76 FPS


Esteldin
8800GTX - 31 FPS <==> HD4870 - 51 FPS


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.

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

[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