Testing Setup

The tests were performed using the setups in the tables below. Since the X800 is a PCIe card I tried to use another system with an AGP X800 XT that was relatively the same speed. I will compare scores from a 9800 Pro, X600 Pro, X700 pro, X800, X800 XT and the PX6800. Benchmarking was mostly done using a great batch benchmarking program called BenchEmAll . Default benchmark demos were used for each program as were the maximum image quality settings for each. BenchEmAll is a great free app that I recommend you try out if you are into benchmarking your system. Two sets of benchmarks were run on each setup. One was done using "Balanced" settings where Anisotropic Filtering and AntiAliasing are set at "application preference" and the other set was done using a "Quality" setting where AF is forced at x16 and AA is set at x4. These two quality settings were run at 1024x768 and at 1600x1200 each. All game settings were set to maximum graphic detail. I will show results of the PX6800 and X800 both stock and overclocked settings and compare them against the other cards at stock speeds.

Synthetic Benchmarks

3DMark 2001 SE

One of the de facto DirectX benchmarks out there which can be used to measure a video cards DX8 (and lower) performance is 3DMark 2001. You will see a trend in these benchmarks where the older tests will usually allow for closer scores since they rely more on raw throughput than complex graphic shaders. The newer tests will give you a a better idea of the GPU power of these cards. Right off the bat it appears as though the better paper specs of the X800 are bringing tangible results. The stock clocked X800 is as fast as or faster than the 6800 when overclocked.

3DMark 2003

3DMark is the more controversial and newer benchmark from Futuremark which is meant to gauge a cards DX9 performance. As expected, the X800 XT stomps the others with it's fat 16 pipelines. In this newer benchmark which uses more of the GPUs features, the 6800 is in closer competition with the X800. In the high quality test the 6800 lagged behind a bit.

3DMark 2005

Futuremark's latest benchmark app is also aimed at measuring DX9 performance. I did not have the scores to compare with the X600 Pro and the 9800 Pro. WOW! I though that the X800 handily laid the smack down but the 6800's Kung-Fu is strong. I really need to get my hands on a X800 XT PCIe card to better compare these results. :)