XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty Graphics Card Review

Features & Specifications

The XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card is the highest clocked 8800 GTS 320MB around with a core clock of 650MHz, a memory clock of 2.0GHz and a shader clock of 1500MHz. The card has 96 stream processors, 320MB of memory and is HDCP ready. Other features include TV out, RoHS, HDTV ready, SLI ready, Vista compatible and the card has dual DVI outputs.

Test Machine

Before we get to the benchmarks for the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card we need to look at the specifications of the test machine I will be using:

* CPU- Intel QX6850
* Mainboard- XFX 680i
* PSU- PC Power and Cooling 1KW
* Display- Dell 30-inch
* OS- Windows XP Pro

Benchmarks & Testing

With the upgrade of the CPU in my test machine, I also took the opportunity to change the games I typically review with some newer titles. The XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card will be tested using 3DMark06, FEAR, and Bioshock. The first test up is 3DMark06.

3DMark06

I ran 3DMark06 at default settings in both the NVIDIA control panel and in the 3DMark06 application. The test results for the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card were as follows:

* Total 3DMarks- 12717
* SM2.0- 5160
* HDR/SM3.0- 5014
* CPU- 5083
* Return to Proxycon- 42.387
* Firefly Forest- 43.620
* Canyon Flight- 46.006
* Deep Freeze- 54.280
* CPU1- 1.701
* CPU2- 2.430

To compare scores since the CPU upgrade is more difficult since the QX6850 outperforms the QX6700 in my previous test system and will skew the scores somewhat. Keep that in mind as you compare the numbers. The PNY 8800 Ultra OC card that I reviewed scored 13100 3DMarks, the ATI HD2900 XT scored11544 3DMarks, and the BFG 8800 Ultra OC scored 12966 3DMarks.

FEAR

The first gaming test up was FEAR, which is a game I have been testing with for a long time now. I used the FEAR in game test loop with all settings on max at a screen resolution of 2560 x 1600, 16x AF, and 4XAA. The test results were as follows:

* Min- 11 fps
* Avg- 21 fps
* Max- 63 fps

The percentages showed that 75% of the time frame rates were below 25 fps, 24% of the time frame rates were 25-40 fps and 1% of the time frame rates were greater than 40fps. I also decided to run the same test loop at the same settings save a change to 1920 x 1200 screen resolution. The in game test loop recorded the following data at these settings:

* Min- 19 fps
* Avg- 48 fps
* Max- 139 fps

The percentages showed that 5% of the time frame rates were below 25fps, 25% of the time frame rates were between 25 and 40 fps, and 70% of the time frame rates were greater than 40 fps.

Bioshock

The final game test for the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card was with a new game called Bioshock. I used Fraps to record frame rate data while playing Bioshock at a screen resolution of 18920 x 1200 with shadow maps on, high detail post processing on, high detail shaders on, real time reflections on, and distortion on. Fraps recorded the following frame rate data:

* Min- 15 fps
* Avg- 60.310 fps
* Max- 216 fps

Final thoughts

In the end there is little doubt that the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card is the best performing 8800 GTS 320MB graphics card you can buy. The card also came very near the levels of performance that you see on much more expensive graphics cards. If you are looking for a video card under $350 that can play most game titles maxed out at high resolutions under 2560 x 1600, the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card is a fantastic buy.