Prey Benchmarks Are In!

[Ackmed]

Originally posted by: schneiderguy

Originally posted by: Ackmed

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: BFG10K
I guess all of ATi's OpenGL work has paid off - keep an eye on the minimum framerate between the X1900XTX and the 7900GTX - ATi is usually significantly faster when AA & AF are enabled.

Click.

(The site must be getting hammered so it's a bit slow at the moment).

Looks pretty close if you ask me, which is a win for ATI. How long did it take them to get it fixed? 24 months?

/clap I guess.

Prey has been out for 24 months?

it was 24 months before ATI actually fixed their OpenGL drivers after they said they would

According to who? Their OpenGL drivers have increased a lot, and at times, been faster than NV's.

 

[Nightmare225]

You understand that Prey uses a DirectX version of the Doom 3 engine? OpenGl has little or nothing to do with this...

 

[DeathReborn]

Originally posted by: Ackmed

Originally posted by: schneiderguy

Originally posted by: Ackmed

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: BFG10K
I guess all of ATi's OpenGL work has paid off - keep an eye on the minimum framerate between the X1900XTX and the 7900GTX - ATi is usually significantly faster when AA & AF are enabled.

Click.

(The site must be getting hammered so it's a bit slow at the moment).

Looks pretty close if you ask me, which is a win for ATI. How long did it take them to get it fixed? 24 months?

/clap I guess.

Prey has been out for 24 months?

it was 24 months before ATI actually fixed their OpenGL drivers after they said they would

According to who? Their OpenGL drivers have increased a lot, and at times, been faster than NV's.

I'd attribute it to the memory controller tweaks for OpenGL more than drivers. Remember those tweaks Ackmed?

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: fierydemise
I know this is a little OT but what is Prey? Is this the one with the really advanced AI on the nuclear wasteland?

you could have googled Prey faster than asking what it was. the game you are thinking of is S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

 

[schneiderguy]

Originally posted by: Ackmed
and at times, been faster than NV's.

not 2 years ago when a x800xt was getting beat out by a 6600gt that was 1/3 its price in doom3. only recently has ATI gotten their act together with openGL games.

 

[BFG10K]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor

Why doesn't the Oblivion situation suprise me in the slightest? Sounds like normal operation for ATi dev-rel to me.

So what happened to your shader subsitution theory? Are you retracting this nonsense then?

I don't know what you are fussing about with Tomb Raider, the demo worked just fine for me on my 6800,

At any rate all nvidia (and presumably ATi when they aren't paid to code shaders) can do is advise the programmers, there is no guarantee the advice will be heeded, and some developers just seem to use TWIMTBP as a label.

Click.

"The Tomb Raider: Legend development team and NVIDIA have worked closely together to provide a state-of-the-art gaming experience on the PC platform. Tomb Raider: Legend has the ability to use next-generation GPU features such as Direct X Shader Model 2 and 3, Hardware Shadow Support, and XHD Rendering at resolutions of up to 2560x1600. Eidos recommends having the latest NVIDIA GeForce graphics processor in your PC to enjoy Tomb Raider: Legend with all features enabled."

And as a result of this "close working":

Imagine our surprise when, having enabled Next Generation Content, the game suffers from routine pauses not just during action-packed sequences, but basic running and turning manoeuvres.

No matter what we did, we could not cure the problem. We tried multiple driver revisions. We dropped the resolution to a paltry 800x600. When even the insane grunt of GeForce 7900 GTX SLI failed to improve things, it was clear NVIDIA has driver problems with this game. For any random game, this would be an annoying and you'd wait for a patch or fix. Since Legend is a TWIMTBP game, this performance issue is inexcusable, but given the splash screen extolling the virtues of playing the game on NVIDIA hardware (at up to 2560x1600 no less) this problem is downright reprehensible.

So yeah, your 6800 really has nothing to do with the issue.

but I rather doubt it will (referring to your Ars "different render paths between nv4x/g7x here ).

The 7800GT is 256 MB card while the 7900GTX is a 512 MB card and I suspected certain issues were related to memory management problems in nVidia's drivers (namely the issues with enabling AA at high resolutions).

I got some evidence to support this when my 512 MB card no longer had those certain issues; additionally 91.31 has fixed other issues that 84.21 had despite your rubbish claims that 84.21 never had any issues.

Perhaps you need to tune up your pc a little instead of blaming everything on drivers?

You mean like how you told us nHancer wouldn't work with nVidia's new drivers while mine did, only for you to retract your claim after you installed them properly?

 

[BFG10K]

You understand that Prey uses a DirectX version of the Doom 3 engine?

I believe this has been proven to be false; I'm 99% certain it's OpenGL.

 

[DeathReborn]

BFG10K, Back when TR:L first came out I ran it fine on a 7800GT 12x10 with NG Content enabled without those stutters (didn't use Beta Drivers at the time either) altho SLI 7800GT's did stutter, 1 GPU didn't. With that game it really did vary in the beginning as to whether or not you had problems with stuttering.

Just my 2c on that.

Also, Prey is OpenGL, not DX like someone said.

 

[Gstanfor]

I don't know why nhancer gave problems tghe first time around, but it did. And I never retracted the claim, I stated a reinstall in safe mode after a driver cleaner run fixed the problem (why I don't know). If I were nvidia I certainly would not be offering these as official drivers.

 

[Shamrock]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: Hanners

Originally posted by: Shamrock
If you'll notice in the setup page, they dont even list a 7900GTX...why? did they use the standard 1300mhz reference design? Why not also use a 7950GTX? Why did they not use 2 7900GTX's in the SLi benchmark (even though it wouldnt be benched against ATi). It's just a demo, dont get your undies in a bunch. I'm not discrediting the ATi card, I just want to see real world benches, not benches with left out variables, left out top end cards, etc. Give them an EVGA 7900GTX Signature, or a 7950GTX.

Good spot, I did miss the GeForce 7900 GTX out of my list of boards - For info though, yes, it's running at reference clock speed.

I didn't use a GeForce 7950 GTX, because they don't exist. I didn't use a GeForce 7950 GX2 because I don't have one, sadly. Nor do I have two GeForce 7900 GTX's to run in SLI.

Finally, yes, please send me more 7900 GTXs or 7950 GX2s!!

Ignore the troll here. Very good review, I'm actually impressed with your writing and overall review. Most sites these days just post up some bullshit and call it an article, just to get free cards from manufacturers. While obviously analyzing game performance doesn't require a Pullitzer-prize winning author, I like your writing style and analysis. Keep up the good work

I brought up valid points, didnt even say anything negative about EITHER card, and you STILL get called a troll! I DID NOT say Hanner's review was bad, nor good. ALl I wanted was answers, I got them. But there are still variables to consider..hence, BOTH ati and nv are having AA & AF issues, 5150 is getting moire effect that he doesnt want etc.

If anything negative I wanted to say is, Prey is unfinished, and unpolished. At times people arent even getting correct effects. Like I said, TOO many variables, but Hanners did his best, and yes I think it's a good review with what he had.

Hanners, 7950GTX = 7950 GX2 (it's what I meant)

 

[CrystalBay]

Gstanfor Go Bark To Jakup. IOW FO U POS

Signed

G.D. Bastard

 

[ElFenix]

re: nvidia's blurb about tomb raider:

i don't see how directx shader model 2 and 3 are next gen gpu features, they've been around for 4 years and 2 years respectively.

i mean, i guess they'll be supported in the next generation of graphics hardware...

 

[josh6079]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
I don't know why nhancer gave problems tghe first time around, but it did. And I never retracted the claim, I stated a reinstall in safe mode after a driver cleaner run fixed the problem (why I don't know). If I were nvidia I certainly would not be offering these as official drivers.

Are you talking about nHancer or the 91.31's? Sorry if I missed which one, but I couldn't tell if you were talking about the 91.31 drivers or nHancer here.

 

[TecHNooB]

Just tried out the demo. It looks fantastic! Much better than Doom or Quake. I just hope the game doesn't get too repetitive. Although I don't care much for the way the shooting looks and sounds in ID's engine (guns look and sound really weak, enemies don't seem to feel impact), the guns in Prey are really dynamic and make shooting semi fun. The gun sounds are still sub par though. Needs a little more umph! Yet to find a chain gun and I doubt I will. It's a demo after all. Still, Prey looks fantastic. Might be worth getting.

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: CrystalBay
Gstanfor Go Bark To Jakup. IOW FO U POS

Signed

G.D. Bastard

Kindly drop dead!

EDIT: for josh's benefit I was talking about nHancers behaviour under 91.31 the first time I installed it.

 

[josh6079]

Thanks for clarifying.

Do you think that Nvidia should not offer the 91.31's as official drivers?

 

[Gstanfor]

Josh, I think you will find I have already addressed that point.

 

[josh6079]

I know, I'm just making sure.

 

[CrystalBay]

This is a GITG Game BTW...

 

[blckgrffn]

Originally posted by: Shamrock

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: Hanners

Originally posted by: Shamrock
If you'll notice in the setup page, they dont even list a 7900GTX...why? did they use the standard 1300mhz reference design? Why not also use a 7950GTX? Why did they not use 2 7900GTX's in the SLi benchmark (even though it wouldnt be benched against ATi). It's just a demo, dont get your undies in a bunch. I'm not discrediting the ATi card, I just want to see real world benches, not benches with left out variables, left out top end cards, etc. Give them an EVGA 7900GTX Signature, or a 7950GTX.

Good spot, I did miss the GeForce 7900 GTX out of my list of boards - For info though, yes, it's running at reference clock speed.

I didn't use a GeForce 7950 GTX, because they don't exist. I didn't use a GeForce 7950 GX2 because I don't have one, sadly. Nor do I have two GeForce 7900 GTX's to run in SLI.

Finally, yes, please send me more 7900 GTXs or 7950 GX2s!!

Ignore the troll here. Very good review, I'm actually impressed with your writing and overall review. Most sites these days just post up some bullshit and call it an article, just to get free cards from manufacturers. While obviously analyzing game performance doesn't require a Pullitzer-prize winning author, I like your writing style and analysis. Keep up the good work

I brought up valid points, didnt even say anything negative about EITHER card, and you STILL get called a troll! I DID NOT say Hanner's review was bad, nor good. ALl I wanted was answers, I got them. But there are still variables to consider..hence, BOTH ati and nv are having AA & AF issues, 5150 is getting moire effect that he doesnt want etc.

If anything negative I wanted to say is, Prey is unfinished, and unpolished. At times people arent even getting correct effects. Like I said, TOO many variables, but Hanners did his best, and yes I think it's a good review with what he had.

Hanners, 7950GTX = 7950 GX2 (it's what I meant)

I think freak was referring to Gstanfor, not you. You brought up valid points. :thumbsup:

Another vote for this game looks/feels fantastic. I hope they liberally use the great music they have throughout the game, Don't Fear the Reaper came in at an awesome time

I love the portaling and gravity changes, both add another dimension to level layout that should impact a lot of quality FPS's to come.

FWIW, it ran reasonably smooth on my rig @ 1400*900 2x/8x while looking great with all the settings turned to high. By reasonably, I mean 30-40 fps from what I could tell, no obvious stuttering but tearing from time to time.

Nat

*AND FINALLY, A GREAT USE FOR THE D3 ENGINE! WOOT!

 

[blckgrffn]

Any chance this might see the gains Quake 4 did with SMP enabled?

 

[eastvillager]

This isn't a valid way of verifying that ATI has suddenly 'fixed' their OpenGL issues.

1. Framerate in game is capped at 60.
2. Framerate in timedemo is capped at 60.

99% of the 'fix' I see here is throwing better hardware at a problem, not driver improvements.

I mean if you really, really, really want to show that ATI has fixed their opengl performance, why did you have to wait for Prey? Couldn't you have used doom3 the day the new and improved opengl performance showed up in the Catalyst driver set?

 

[Gstanfor]

Shhh! eastvillager! you make too much sense!

 

[Ackmed]

Originally posted by: schneiderguy

Originally posted by: Ackmed
and at times, been faster than NV's.

not 2 years ago when a x800xt was getting beat out by a 6600gt that was 1/3 its price in doom3. only recently has ATI gotten their act together with openGL games.

We're not talking about 2 years ago. Read the posts that were quoted, and responded to. Dont just jump in the middle and be off track. FS shows the XT/PE not far behind the 6800GT, which is a lot faster than 6600GT. Doom3 is an exception, because NV made its cards for Doom3, or Carmack made Doom3 for NV cards, whichever way you want to put it.

Originally posted by: eastvillager
This isn't a valid way of verifying that ATI has suddenly 'fixed' their OpenGL issues.

1. Framerate in game is capped at 60.
2. Framerate in timedemo is capped at 60.

99% of the 'fix' I see here is throwing better hardware at a problem, not driver improvements.

I mean if you really, really, really want to show that ATI has fixed their opengl performance, why did you have to wait for Prey? Couldn't you have used doom3 the day the new and improved opengl performance showed up in the Catalyst driver set?

Isnt Doom3 capped too? Who even still has it installed... its not like the game was any good, or had any replay value. I paid $60 for it, played 3-4 levels, and then stopped. Never played it again.

 

[nitromullet]

99% of the 'fix' I see here is throwing better hardware at a problem, not driver improvements.

What does "throwing better hardware at a problem" mean when you're talking about a hardware company? Isn't that what they are supposed to do?

ATI and NVIDIA make hardware, and I have no problems with either of them improving upon their product line. If they can make a driver that improves performance that's great, but I prefer having better hardware to begin with.

edit: BTW, AT shows a similar situation for Quake 4 where the Radeon shows much less of a hit when AA/AF are applied when compared to the 7900GTX, although the GTX still pulls in better fps overall.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2769&p=9