Video
Card Tests
I can only hope that true
AGP 4X will arrive soon, either in patches or new games, as 266MHz (4x66MHz)
peak bandwidth could really speed up those precious FPS. Currently, there
is something like a 1% difference between 2X and 4X mode, but it's nice to
know that you're future compatible.
D3D
Tests
|
CPU
Speed
|
3DMark2K
|
UTBench
"N"
|
UTBench
"H"
|
WT98
|
|
933MHz
|
6685
3DMarks
|
42.2
FPS
|
41.1
FPS
|
399
MP/s
|
|
980MHz
|
6798
3DMarks
|
44.1
FPS
|
43.3
FPS
|
399
MP/s
|
UT and 3DMark2K are well
known for their accuracy and repeatability. UTBench is somewhat of an aggravating
benchmark because ultra high video card overclocking does little in comparison
to plain old high CPU speed. A few more FPS were squeezed from the slight
increase from 933 to 980. At 1024x768x32bpp, UT was very playable, not to
mention the fabulous graphics from the LeadTek 64MB GTS.
OpenGL
Tests
|
CPU
Speed
|
Q3A
"N"
|
Q3A
"H"
|
WT98
|
|
933MHz
|
123
FPS
|
81.9
FPS
|
331
MP/s
|
|
980MHz
|
134
FPS
|
82.2
FPS
|
331
MP/s
|
These FPS numbers were
all conducted with the on board sound on, so a further increase
is probable with the sound off.
Overclocking
I've noticed
that as FSB and overall CPU increases, overclockability with all my video
cards decreases. I'm not really sure what causes this but I suspect that
the card themselves are being run at or very near their maximum limits.
At 933MHz (133MHz FSB), the LeakTek would only crank up another 5% beyond
the 220 core/333 mem defaults. At 980MHz (140MHz FSB), anyoverclockability
reduced to zero. I touched the heatsink and it was scorching! Possibly,
at this near 1GHz CPU speed and operating at AGP 4X simply maximizes the
card's efficiency, I can't say for sure. At lower CPU speeds, say 700MHz,
I was able to squeeze out an additional 10% (240/366).
Conclusion
The LeadTek Winfast 64MB
GTS video card is a hardware and feature tour-de-force. Sporting everything
you could ask for in a $335 video soloution, for bragging rights, this card
is the best you can do as of this writing. The extra 32MB comes in handy when
3D gaming your brains out or making some cash rendering high end CAD drawings.
While the TV out option can't reproduce computer monitor quality images it's
not LeadTek's fault: affordable HDTV is just around the corner. If you can
stomach the extra $90 for the 64MB version, you won't be let down.
William
Yaple
08/15/00
