After looking at the performance numbers, it is easy to conclude that both NVIDIA’s new TurboCache, and ATI’s new HyperMemory technologies take sub-$75 discrete graphics performance to a whole new level.
However, Intel’s current GMA 950 results should be taken with a grain of salt, as Intel is still working on a new driver that will be add Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory support in addition to improving performance in DirectX 9 games. With that said, we have to go with the performance numbers as of today, and those numbers lie in favor of XFX’s GeForce 6200TC 128MB.
For the most part, the XFX GeForce 6200TC 128MB outran ATI’s RADEON X300 SE 128MB, running numerous tests faster than the X300 SE. Aside from performance, we must also look at the features that each graphics card brings to the table. The NV44 based GeForce 6200TC features Shader Model 3.0 support while the RV370 based only supports Shader Model 2.0.
It’s important to note that we’re truly doing an apples-to-apples comparison between the XFX and ATI cards, as both have a 64-bit memory interface, and 32MB of local memory. With that said, the XFX GeForce 6200TC 128MB is truly the faster card.
In fact, our Leadtek GeForce 6200TC 256MB with 64MB of onboard memory is noticeably slower than the XFX part, due to it’s slower memory speed of 550MHz, compared to the 700MHz memory speed of the XFX GeForce 6200TC 128MB.
This brings us to our only real complaint about the GeForce 6200 TC: NVIDIA’s branding/naming convention for the product. As it stands now, NVIDIA provides four different GeForce 6200 TC SKUs, each with wildly different feature sets. Some cards ship with a 32-bit memory interface, with only 16MB of memory, while another may ship with a 64-bit interface and 32MB of memory, yet they’re both sold as GeForce 6200 TurboCache 128MB cards!
As a result, purchasing a 6200 TC card can be incredibly confusing, even if you know just which SKU you want, it can be difficult sorting through all the marketing to determine if the card you’re looking at on the shelf features just the right memory interface and local memory size that you’re looking for. Things are likely even more confusing for the casual consumer who knows nothing about the 6200 TC, he’ll likely purchase a 256MB SKU thinking it’s the fastest 6200 TC card available, even though our benchmarks clearly demonstrate otherwise.
So are these two featured discrete graphics technologies a step up from current integrated offerings? The answer is a resounding yes, as both NVIDIA and ATI have successfully converted their existing graphics architectures to new price points that directly compete with Intel’s integrated graphics. By looking at the performance numbers, and even the driver support both companies offer for their graphics products, upgrading from integrated graphics really is a no-brainer: it’s cheap enough for everyone to do it. The truth is, Intel’s 945G has been out for almost a month and still the chipset doesn’t support Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory!
The bottom line is that NVIDIA’s TurboCache outperforms ATI’s HyperMemory technology. The XFX GeForce 6200TC 128MB featuring a 64-bit memory interface was noticeably faster than the ATI RADEON X300SE 128MB in most of our gaming benchmarks, that coupled with the extra features incorporated in the 6200TC GPU, give NVIDIA the upper hand in the latest standoff between the two graphics giants.
Elemental: Fallen Enchantress Preview Elemental: Fallen Enchantress is a standalone expansion pack and follow-up to developer Stardock's previous game in the series, subtitled War of Magic. That 4X strategy game was highly-anticipated and slated to compete with games such as Sid Meier's Civilization V for your turn-based strategy play-time, but was released in an incredibly broken and unfinished state that it never fully recovered from. Lead designer Brad Wardell apologized profusely to fans and set out with his team to go back to the drawing board and try again.
Almost two years later, the result of that proverbial mulligan is currently undergoing closed beta testing. In today's article, Will reports his thoughts on how Fallen Enchantress is shaping up, and will tell you whether or not you should be keeping an eye on it as it nears release later this year.
The Elder Scrolls Online Details Leak - Should Fans Be Excited? The Elder Scrolls Online, long rumored to be in development, was officially announced yesterday. Still in development at Zenimax Online Studios, this MMO aims to combine traditional genre mechanics with the spirit and sensibilities, not to mention setting and lore, of the immensely popular series of single-player RPGs. Though the game is set for a full unveiling in the next issue of Game Informer magazine, what appears to be the entire cover story article has been leaked to the interwebs already. In today's article, you'll find summary and analysis of all the alleged details, as well as feast your eyes on the very first screenshots and concept art from the game. Of course, the burning question now is, should you be excited?
ANNO 2070 Review
The year is 2070. The majority of life on Earth was devastated when global sea levels surged after the melting of the polar ice caps. Swaths of previously habitable land are now deep underwater, and sovereign nations are a relic of the past. But there is still hope...
This city-building RTS/simulation game from Ubisoft tasks you with re-colonizing what little land areas are left on the planet following a global warming apocalypse. Does it have what it takes to be worthy of your time and money, or should it be cast out to sea with the rest of civilization? Find out in today's review!
Hear that? It's the sound of the largest computer chip manufacturer in the world churning out new processors to power your gaming rig. This week, Intel is launching their next generation of Core CPUs, code-named Ivy Bridge. Like last year's Sandy Bridge chips, they're low-power, quad-core powerhouses that also feature integrated graphics processors. Want to find out more? Maybe check out a whole bunch of performance benchmarks on both the CPU and graphics sides of things? Well you can, in today's review!
Intel Z77 Chipset & DZ77GA-70K Motherboard Overview
Looking forward to those new Ivy Bridge CPUs? In anticipation of their release later this month, Intel has already unveiled the new Series 7 chipsets designed especially to take advantage of what will be the 3rd-generation of Core processors. In today's article, we take a look at the architecture of the enthusiast variant, the Z77, and how it's used in the Intel Desktop Extreme DZ77GA-70K motherboard. Even if you're not particularly interested in the motherboard itself, you'll probably want to see some of the new features that come along with it, so read on!
Mass Effect 3 PC Review
This latest release from EA/BioWare is the final entry in their trilogy of sci-fi action RPGs, putting you in a dire situation: rally the troops to save Earth at all costs. There was a lot of hype surrounding the final act of what has been a vast and highly-customizable story-telling experience, and the reception among many hardcore fans has been less than stellar. Even people that haven't played the game have probably heard about all the nerd rage going on over Mass Effect 3's ending...
If you want to cut through all the crap and find out whether or not the rest of ME3 is worth playing, come check out Will's spoiler-free take on the first blockbuster game release of 2012.
Batman: Arkham City PC Review Batman: Arkham City is the sequel to 2009’s smash-hit action game Batman: Arkham Asylum. As the name suggests, you will be reprising your role as the Caped Crusader and going against an even larger 'prison' filled with Gotham's criminals and villains. A textbook example on how to do a proper sequel, Arkham City takes what worked in the original, excised or improved upon what didn’t, and elevated everything to an even greater scope. The PC version suffered from a few months of delay, but in that time, Rocksteady worked closely to NVIDIA to implement some familiar technologies from the last game, such as PhysX and 3D Vision, along with new DirectX 11 optimizations. But how well was the whole package executed? Read on to find out!
Saints Row: The Third PC Review Saints Row is one of most unique series of games to build upon the open-world action template forged by Grand Theft Auto, and has met with plenty of critical and commercial success since it began on consoles back in 2006. This latest iteration, titled Saints Row: The Third promises the most outlandish fun and freedom of customization of them all, and in a much more PC-friendly package than its predecessor. Does it live up to those expectations and, more importantly, is it worth the price of admission? Find out in Will's latest review!
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim PC Review The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is Bethesda Softworks’ latest offering in their series of epic fantasy RPGs, as well as one of the most highly-anticipated PC titles of 2011. As the Dovahkiin, or Dragonborn, prepare to take the fight to the mythical beasts that have returned to the realm after centuries of slumber, all the while exploring a huge and highly-detailed open world.
The PC version of the game promises enhanced graphical fidelity, standard RPG trimmings such as hotkeys and quick-save, as well as unbridled mod support, something we’ll all be thankful for once they release that SDK. Skyrim has already sold millions of copies and set records for play-time on Steam... Find out why in today's review, which happens to be one of the biggest and most in-depth articles on the subject out there!
L.A. Noire Complete Edition PC Review L.A. Noire, as the name clearly states, is a video game built on the tropes of one of the greatest periods of American cinema: film noir. Developed by the now defunct Australian developer Team Bondi and published by Rockstar Games, this title has been out on consoles for a full six months before finally making its way to the PC. This “Complete Edition” of the game features improved graphics, keyboard/mouse controls, and every bit of previously-released DLC for free. But was it truly worth the wait? Read on and find out!
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