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Flanno's super-duper 5970 4GIG QuadFire Benchmark-O-rama!

Flanno

Flanno

Flanno

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18 Jun 2005
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I am posting this as a companion piece to " Layte's super-duper 480SLI Benchmark-O-rama!"
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18168653

The purpose of this is to give an idea how an ATI Quadfire 4GIG setup (2 x Sapphire 4gig 5970's) performs compared to a GTX 480 SLI setup. The contention amongst many people is that GTX 480 SLI scales better, has better minimum framerates and possibly better average framerates, compared to an ATI multi gpu setup. So I wanted to find out. Therefore I will compare my results to Layte's.

I tried to keep the benchmark settings the same as Layte's, in the same order, and resolution tested at was 1920x1200. However in benchmarks where Nvidia uses 16xAA, usually only 8xMSAA is available for ATI. I also benchmarked with my system in it's daily setup which has the GPU speed set only slightly higer then a stock 5870 which is considerably slower then lots of 5970 users out there. Catalyst 10.7a drivers with 10.8a application profiles were used as I find they give the best multi gpu performance so far.

System :
i7 980X @ 4.2ghz
- 1.29v vcore,1.34v vtt

Sapphire 5970 4gig x 2 Quadfire
- 900mhz (+50mhz) core, 2400mhz memory (stock)

Catalyst 10.7a with 10.8a application profiles

Results :
*** I will be comparing the results below to the Nvidia results in this thread http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18168653 ***

Just Cause 2
1920x1200,8xAA,16xAF

Dark Tower


Desert Sunrise


Concrete Jungle


Analysis :
Almost nothing in it, comparing Nvidia and ATI.

Crysis Warhead
1920x1200, 8xAA, Enthusiast Settings, DX10, Ambush Flythrough


Analysis :
Nvidia score 29.29 min framerate, 89.97 max, and an average of 69.90.
ATI score 39.50 min framerate, 91.42 max, and an average of 69.11.
So really nothing in it here either, though ATI has a higher minimum framerate.

Crysis
1900x1200, 8XAA, Very High settings, DX10, Assault Harbour


Analysis :
Nvidia score 35.22 min framerate, 89.88 max, and an average of 62.37.
ATI score 37.70 min framerate, 109.14 max, and an average of 64.74.
Again nothing in it here, except ATI's higher max framerate.

Stalker Call of Pripyat
1920x1200, Ultra settings, Enh. DX11


Analysis :
ATI has considerably higher maximum framerates. e.g 426.4fps max in day test for ATI v 295.1 for Nvidia. Nvidia's minimum framerates and average framerates are higher and in a couple of cases considerably higher e.g. 85.6fps min in sunshafts test v 47.9 for ATI.

Streetfighter IV. 1920x1200, 8XAA, all settings maxed out (16xAA option not available ingame for ATI, limited to 8XAA)


Analysis :
Almost nothing in it. ATI less then 15fps faster but limited to 8xAA. Nvidia can pull off C16xAA.

Resident Evil 5
1920x1200, 8X MSAA, DX10. (16xAA option not available ingame for ATI, limited to 8X MSAA)


Analysis :
ATI wins in all areas here especially in Area 1 and 4, most notably in Area 1 with a score of 423.9 v 245 for Nvidia. However in Area 2 and 3 the results are closer. Nvidia also has 16xAA to its credit.

Dirt 2 (game benchmark, not demo benchmark)
1920x1200, DX11, all settings maxed out


Analysis :
ATI has a slightly higher minimum and maximum framerate. Nothing in it really. I did notice the screen judder the odd time which gave the impression the framerate was not what the benchmark reported. But I have seen this personally on ATI and Nvidia systems and I think it's the game engine. After a few laps it seems to iron out when you are actually playing the game.

Devil May Cry 4
1920x1200, max settings, 8x MSAA (16xAA option not available ingame for ATI, limited to 8X MSAA)



Analysis :
Assuming the test Layte ran was with 2 gtx 480's in sli (not sure as that test is in the single card section); then ATI is dominating in this benchmark by over 100fps+ in 3 out of 4 tests. However I suspect this was a single GTX 480 run so the comparison is probably not fair, especially as the GTX 480 can do 16xAA, where as ATI is limited to 8x MSAA

Aliens V Predator
1920x1200, default settings


Analysis :
Nothing to say about this one. With ATI cards this just does not scale. 1 5970 4gig was only a couple of frames slower then 2.

Opinion so far :
From what I've seen Nvidia GTX 480 SLI dooes not have significantly better minimum or average framerates compared to ATI 5870 Quadfire and by extension 5870 Trifire, since it's generally thought that the 4th ATI GPU does very little and Trifire scales better. In some cases like in Crysis, ATI has higher minimum framerates, and matches Nvidia in Warhead. ATI also on a number of occasions has higher maximum framerates. Overall though - assuming that there is very little difference in performance between Nvidia and ATI in minimum and average framerates, then I also assume ATI provides just a smooth a gaming experience since superior minimum framerates was the reason a lot of nvidia users gave as the main factor in delivering a smoother gaming experience compared to ATI.

Finally, one thing I noticed when monitoring my benchmarks with Afterburner / G19 display, was that the GPU load was pretty evenly spread across all 4 ATI GPU's, and temps generally stayed in low to mid 60's for each core. So Quadfire may have got a lot better then people think and may be scaling.

Although only a synthetic benchmark; here are 2 Heaven screenshots I took some time back, comparing a single 5970 4gig against 2 of them in quadfire at default settings. While the results are nothing special as the CPU is running at stock 3.33ghz and the GPU's are also running at stock; it does show scaling is there.

5970 4gig


5970 4gig X 2 Quadfire


I would very much like to see how GTX 480 3 way performs against 5970 4GB Quadfire. I believe that even at 4.2ghz, while 3 way GTX 480 will be CPU limited just like 5970 4GB Quadfire; it will perform better then ATI seeing as GTX 480 SLI is neck and neck with the best ATI has to offer. I am tempted to pick up 3 GTX 480's in the next week or two. ATI is fine, Gsods and Driver issues are not. If I can get the right fan profile and be confident my 800D with 2x140mm sidefans can cool these 480's then I might go for it.

GTA IV and Batman benchmarks are on the way. If you'd like any others, I'd be happy to oblige :D
 
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Try a run of crysis at 2560*1600 with 4x AA :p

Just playing - I already know it will fall over because of limited VRAM


There is also the question of microstutter, which will be higher on the quad-GPU setup than the dual-GPU GTX480 setup. Although, at 1920-resolution it's all moot, since microstutter disappears in CPU-restricted scenarios, and anything above x-fire 5870s is incredibly CPU restricted at that resolution.
 
I did run it at 2560. Didn't fall over if I rememer correctly. I thought 2gb per core would be enough :)

Yes microstutter is a concern I guess. However I can't feel it. Or maybe I can. I use vsync and tripple buffering in all games anyway.

GTX 480 3 way is a possibility for me if I can sell my cards. I don't watercool though, and noise will be a major concern for me.
 
Ah - you have a PAIR of 4Gb 5970s? I thought / assumed your title meant you had a pair of regular 5970s, with a total memory of 4Gb? And yes - I was too lazy to properly read your blurb :p

Anyway, 2Gb frame buffer will clearly be enough :)
 
Of topic, but if I moved to 3 gtx 480's (I briefly tried them and found em too noisy but I had a crap case and no headphones....ok the case wasn't crap..was a Raven RV02 but it wasn't as good as I'd read); would I really need to go and get something like a HAF-X - I hate windows for a couple of different reasons. Do you think my current case setup would provide sufficient cooling.

All the 140mm fans below are Noiseblocker SilentPro PK2's, and push a decent amount of air and have decent static pressure. The only thing I can see a HAF-X adding is the 120mm duct fan blowing into the GTX 480's though how cool the air is I don't know as it would be pulling it from the front 230mm fan which will have to cool 5 hard drives. The HAF-X has a sidefan but I have 2 x 140mm sidefans. The HAF-X has a rear 140mm fan. I have one too and it's reversed to feed the cpu cooler. Hmm...maybe I will stick with what I have and get rid of that POS AX1200 psu.



 
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Flanno said:
I did run it at 2560. Didn't fall over if I rememer correctly. I thought 2gb per core would be enough :)

Yes microstutter is a concern I guess. However I can't feel it. Or maybe I can. I use vsync and tripple buffering in all games anyway.

GTX 480 3 way is a possibility for me if I can sell my cards. I don't watercool though, and noise will be a major concern for me.
Click to expand...

Jeez, nice rig, do you work in an investment bank with bumber bonuses, or will you be entering into a IVA soon, Lol?

If I was you I would be tempted to hold out for the 6000 series else you might have to upgrade the 480's a couple of weeks later if the 6870 benchies are positive.

A single 5870 was fine for most games on my 3008 so I assume you could sell off one of your sapphires now, and the other when you upgrade.
 
I used be a partner in a law practice. Now retired.

If I can get the dodgy AX1200 sorted (on number 3); and figure out how to stop the stupid 800D HD covers from rattling, that might draw my attention away from these 480's :) I might look at a 700D case. :)
 
Hang on aren't these cards like £650+ each? so ~£1300 set of cards and most of the time struggling to best a £700 nVidia SLI setup?
 
Flanno said:
Of topic, but if I moved to 3 gtx 480's (I briefly tried them and found em too noisy but I had a crap case and no headphones....ok the case wasn't crap..was a Raven RV02 but it wasn't as good as I'd read); would I really need to go and get something like a HAF-X - I hate windows for a couple of different reasons. Do you think my current case setup would provide sufficient cooling.
Click to expand...

Well, that depends on your definition of "sufficient" cooling, which is largely dependent on how much noise you can tolerate under load. In my HAF-X the SLI GTXs I have (right next to each other) don't get too loud in game (furmark is a different story...).

But honestly - you seem to have a rather large amount of disposable income, so why not consider a water-cooling setup for the GPUs?

That case looks like it could fit a nice 360 rad in the top. There might still be room for the cool-it to the left (where you have the 140mm extraction fan right now). Alternatively, you could have the cool-it in a similar place to where you have it now, as long as the top rad was dragging cool air in. You would gain a couple of degrees on the CPU by using warmer second-hand air, but nothing too drastic.

It seems to me that the only real solution to GPU noise under load is water cooling. A 360-rad can handle a ~600W load with silent fans, and a ~20C delta of air to water temps. This should keep your GPU temps at a max of around 60-65. I'm considering it at some point, but I'm planning to wait a few months. I've already spent far too much on my machine recently...
 
Rroff said:
Hang on aren't these cards like £650+ each? so ~£1300 set of cards and most of the time struggling to best a £700 nVidia SLI setup?
Click to expand...

Yeah, the Ares is even more expensive. I didn't buy these cards because they were value for money. I wanted crossfire and the option to do quadfire. And I wanted something relatively quiet.
 
Rroff said:
Water cooling is the only way really to run tri-SLI 480 unless your sucker for punishment.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I suspected as much. I had 3 gtx 480's brienfly and couldnt handle the noise. quadfire 4gig 5970's was the next best thing, and quiet. Watercooling is a possibility but I don't seem to get along with it. My last couple of efforts 10 years ago were shall we say less then successful.

Anyway, I've derailed this thread by talking about changing video cards. A bad idea, even without taking depreciation into account. Think I'll play some games instead :) Or I would if the wasps inside this AX1200 gave it a rest for once.
 
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If you want to go all-out, you could consider a Mountain Mods case. Check out the ascension - it's the grand pimp-daddy of cases. Double-wide, with plenty of room for at least 4 360-rads in there. That would keep your entire setup (CPU and any GPUs you like) nice and cool, and would run virtually silently. Cooling it with 120mm fans at around 700rpm, the loudest thing in the case would be the PSU.

Quite a bit of effort to put together I suppose, but I'm planning to construct one of these beasts at some point in time.
 
Would be interesting to see how much its down to hitting the CPU wall or CF scaling those times when its close to the SLI setup.
 
Flanno said:
Thanks. I suspected as much. I had 3 gtx 480's brienfly and couldnt handle the noise. quadfire 4gig 5970's was the next best thing, and quiet. Watercooling is a possibility but I don't seem to get along with it. My last couple of efforts 10 years ago were shall we say less then successful.

Anyway, I've derailed this thread by talking about changing video cards. A bad idea, even without taking depreciation into account. Think I'll play some games instead :) Or I would if the wasps inside this AX1200 gave it a rest for once.
Click to expand...

Well I only have experience with GTX470 SLI... but I can't see how 480 SLI could be any better than that noise/heat wise lol.
 
Duff-Man said:
If you want to go all-out, you could consider a Mountain Mods case. Check out the ascension - it's the grand pimp-daddy of cases. Double-wide, with plenty of room for at least 4 360-rads in there. That would keep your entire setup (CPU and any GPUs you like) nice and cool, and would run virtually silently. Cooling it with 120mm fans at around 700rpm, the loudest thing in the case would be the PSU.

Quite a bit of effort to put together I suppose, but I'm planning to construct one of these beasts at some point in time.
Click to expand...

Windows drive me bannanas. So a mountain mods is out. Partially this is due to my short career in a valetting company where I became obsessed with car detailing. No matter how careful you are wiping dust off a case window, even using airdusters to blow it off first, sooner or later whatever cloth you use will rub the dust off the window causing light abrasions, micro marring, swirl marks, spider swirling etc.. Even an ostrich duster will do it. The same applies to car paint. Of course a lot of the time these marks only show up under bright halogens or leds which are often in these types of cases and you have to look for it but I'm the sort of person who goes nuts if I mark the paint on the edge of fan screw hole, screwing the fan back in. So much so, I go back and touch it up. Probably OCD. It's makes building PC's tough.
 
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