Det 50 Test

[Embattle]

http://www.gamersdepot.com/hardware/video_cards/ati_vs_nvidia/dx9_rel50/001.htm

Hope they improve otherwise there will be a number of disapointed FX5900 owners, at least the results mean the FX5900 is still highly useable.

 

[Tui]

Originally posted by Embattle
... at least the results mean the FX5900 is still highly useable.

... as a door wedge.

Sorry, couldn't resist

 

[Jonty]

Now I like nVidia, it has to be said, but there are some important facts that really out to be highlighted that may provide cause for concern and justify some of nVidia's unhappiness with the way in which they have been treated of late.

Firstly, it is becoming clearer that approximately $7-8 million has changed hands between ATi and Valve Software regarding an OEM deal. An auction was apparently held, or so sources say, where ATi and nVidia happily bidded for a bundling deal, until nVidia pulled out because the figures involved could jepordise their position with other software developers. Valve insist that any deal way won on ATi's own merits, and that could well be true, if events following the deal hadn't gone down the path they have.

Following the ATi deal, which neither Valve nor ATi are willing to go into any depth about, Valve appeared at a special 'Shader Day' event whereby they very convincingly trashed nVidia and promoted ATi. And funnily enough, the whole 'Shader Day' event was sponsored by ATi.

Fair enough, benchmarks are benchmarks, but then we learn that nVidia has some special drivers that are known to perform particularly well in DirectX9-based applications such as Half-Life 2. These release 50 drivers were made available to Gabe Newell and Valve before Shader Day and yet Valve refused to use them, claiming that issues surrounding the rendering of fog would unbalance any results found.

Drivers are such a big deal, it has emerged, because the NV3x architecture was not particularly optimised for any particular API. It then emerges that Valve have issued specific instructions to independant reviewers not to use the rel.50 drivers in any tests. Under no circumstances are they even allowed to use the rel.50 drivers and make a note on their site at any possible rendering issues which could affect performance.

And so it goes on . . . Like I say, I am an nVidia fan, so I can't be wholly objective in such matters. But there does some to be growing consensus that ATi and Valve are 'in bed together.' And fair enough, business is business, and I'm sure they can both benefit from such deals. But I feel they should at least lay all their cards on the table, rather than trying to manipulate events.

Kind Regards

 

[Cdr]

Originally posted by Jonty
And so it goes on . . . Like I say, I am an nVidia fan, so I can't be wholly objective in such matters. But there does some to be growing consensus that ATi and Valve are 'in bed together.' And fair enough, business is business, and I'm sure they can both benefit from such deals. But I feel they should at least lay all their cards on the table, rather than trying to manipulate events.

Now I'm neither a fan of ATI or nVidia (I've had both makes of cards in my machine), but, nVidia are hardly in the position to start demanding 'fair tests' especially after their recent driver and benchmark cheating fiasco. Which were proven that they sacrificed image quality for speed in order to bolster their scores upto that of ATI (amongst other things).

If I were to trust anyone, it would be Gabe Newell, and yes ATI and Valve maybe in bed together, and yes his comments about 'cheating' although not directing them at nVidia, were said at ATI's Shader Day, but I'd rather go on his word than anything that comes out of ATI's or nVidia's marketing or press department

 

[Anasyn]

I think it'd be interesting to see what other teams producing "Big Games" have to say about this, such as the team producing Doom3, as surely they've had NVidia and ATi around too.
I'd rather see something slightly more independant than a guy working for a company who's in bed with one of the two teams.

 

[FatBusinessman]

From what little I've heard, at two very well-respected developers (Carmack and Newell) have been talking about how nice ATi's cards are under DX9. While I suspect they may not be entirely unbiased, I suspect they probably have a point, and that ATi's new generation of cards are somewhat better than those of nVidia.
It may be also worthy of note that the GeForce FX range of cards haven't been particularly well-received by reviewers either.

And before you ask, I'm not really a fanboy of either side, although my last 2 cards have been from the nVidia camp (GF2 MX, GF4 Ti4200). So I'd describe myself as "impartial but not too well informed".

 

[Quige]

The differences in image quality in the screenshots in the article are quite decisive for me. Especially the Halo PC compare of the water fall.
The Nvidia seems so drab and flat.
Maybe Nvidia will get it back with their next gen card, but as I'll be buying before then it looks like it'll be ATI this time.

 

[Embattle]

It would seem nVidia isn't going to have much luck in the mobile area either - http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.html?i=1866

 

[Jonty]

I just hope it's not the end of an era

Kind Regards

P.S. There's always Doom³

 

[Embattle]

I doubt very much it is the end of another era but nVidia certainly need to spend less time trying to be a PR company, trying to convince us their products are best, and more time as a technology company making sure their products actually are the best.