Image quality

Before we run benchmarks, we first want to take a look at the visuals of the various code paths. Obviously based on our screenshots from GeForce FX last week, the DX8.1 path doesn’t look bad, but you could see some obvious differences between the FX and RADEON 9800 XT in the way water was handled. (We should note however that direct screen grabs currently aren’t possible with the video stress test, so we can’t create identical screenshots. All screenshots are taken with 4xAA/8xAF enabled).

We took the following screenshots with GeForce FX 5950 Ultra running the DX7 path:

GeForce FX 5950 Ultra w/ DX7 path, see the water

5950 Ultra DX7 #2, note the walls

DX7 - Hmm, whats wrong with this picture?

DX7 path #4

Final DX7 shot from VST

The lack of shaders in Source’s DX7 path has a profound impact on the look of the water, you’ll also notice the lack of normal mapping on the walls of the caves in VST, the difference is pretty profound as you’ll see in our DX8.0 path screenshots with GeForce FX 5950 Ultra:

GeForce FX 5950, see the difference in the water?

The walls look much better now

DX 8.0 path and FX 5950U

Predator charcter is back with DX8.0

5950U DX8.0

DX8.0 5950 Ultra

With DX8.0 shaders, the Source engine looks dramatically different than the screenshots we took with the video stress test. Those of you with older GeForce2/GeForce2 MX and RADEON 7500 cards may want to upgrade based on these screenshots. Let’s see how much of an improvement the DX8.1 path brings:

DirectX 8.1 GeForce FX 5950 Ultra

Looking at the walls of the cave, hard to spot any differences from the DX8.0 path here

Ripple effect appears to be less pronounced in comparison to 8.0 path

DX8.1 path with 5950U appears to add smoke in this scene

DX8.1 path and the 5950U

1.4 shaders don't seem to add much here either

The most profound difference we can see with the DX8.1 path is the ripple effect of the water in the overhead shot – it isn’t as pronounced. You’ll also notice the addition of smoke to the flames in the scene with the Predator character. Now lets force DX9 on GeForce FX 5950 Ultra:

GeForce FX 5950 Ultra now running the DX9 path

Do you see any differences here?

Predator character still looking good

Water ripples less here too

DX9 path with the 5950 Ultra

Final DX9 path shot with VST

The DX9.0 GeForce FX 5950 Ultra screenshots look remarkably similar to the DX8.1 screenshots. Spotting differences is next to impossible. This was incredibly suspicious to us, and our first indication that something was amiss, so we grabbed a RADEON 9800 XT and started taking screenshots. To help save on page load times, we’ve provided the RADEON 9800 XT screenshots on the next page, you may want to open the third page in a new window (right click on the link below and select "open in new window") so you can refer back to the GeForce FX screenshots.