Welcome to the very first GPU review written and produced by GPUReview.com! For now we are still purchasing the hardware that we review so we may not being reviewing cards very often until we start getting samples from manufacturers. The idea to do this review came from my desire to upgrade from my 8800 GTX to a GTX 280. So this review will be focused on the performance differences between the Evga 8800 GTX and the Evga GTX 280 in four games and two benchmarks.
Our review "software suite" consists of:
| |
|
Our review hardware consists of (my PC):
| |
|
You can see that two different motherboards. This was necessary because the GTX 280 could not be installed onto my Abit IN9 32X-MAX. For more details check out this story I wrote about the whole ordeal. The performance differences between the two motherboards are negligible.
Our testing methodology involves me playing a game and recording 2 minute sections using Fraps. I get at least 3 two minute runs and then I average the Minimum, Maximum and Average FPS numbers. The settings are kept the same for both graphics cards. 16X anisotropic filtering and 4X Multisampling antialiasing were used for all games by using the Nvidia control panel Manage 3D Settings menu. No filtering or antialiasing were used while running the 3DMark benchmarks.
n00b
The Progenitor
How do the graphs look? Do you like the colors I used and the green stone background?
Is anything unclear? Did you have to read any paragraphs twice?
The graphs are great (looks 3d), coupled with the green background made it easier to see.
Nvidia really made a great product, but because of the price (and the expected price of the ATI cards), people just went on to bash Nvidia and dismissing the technology.
(This reminds me of people complaining of Nvidia rebranding 8800s into 9000s while people overlooks Ati's actions in renaming the 2900s into 3800s [a "new" generation])
It does seem that the article was written to justify your purchase of the GTX280 (well, I would do that if I got that card too =D ).
Member
Couple of points:
I don't like the charts. I mean, the 3D bars and background, that's all very nice, but I prefer the simple, white-backed flat 2D bars that I can glance at and not get distracted by colors and such.
The review was easy to understand, although I did notice you went on a tiny bit about the games in the test. Most people already know this information, and they're here for the cards, probably because they want to play these games in the first place.
There are some grammatical things that could be done to smooth out the review, but otherwise it was worded well and ran generally smoothly. I'm impressed.
(I would say you could give me the reviews to proofread, as I'm a writer, but that would seem pretentious, I think?)
n00b
I've read several review sites and the are all fairly scientific. Of them all, [H]ardOCP is the best because I feel like I will get the same results.
And that is where your strong point lies. You did this review in your living room - not in a sterile lab. You have the feel of a normal guy comparing his old system against his new upgrade and sharing his experiences and results. There's something trustworthy about that - I feel like I could do the same thing and have the same success, even if my numbers end up being slightly different (horrors!). If I want hard stats I'll go to Tom's or Anand (or the comparison page), but what I want to read is how it works for another guy like me. That's exactly what you did. You may want to include even a few more subjective statements about what you liked and didn't like, how the game looked, etc. to emphasize the 'real' nature of your review.
You've got something here. I'd look forward to more!
But I think the site its getting better, also the graphs appear to be giving the finger to the reader... or its just me?
Member
Did i forget to brush my teeth? oh no did i show up in court without my pants on again?
relax, its good!
I think you should cram a little more into your conclusion, touch on all the data you've collected so far (all be it, you need more cards, but thats $$$), answer the question who should buy it and who shouldn't. Get in any outstanding frustrations as well as any oustanding positives! Longer conclusion would be better.
n00b
n00b
Ya I'm obviously excited about that part, becuase I overclock EVERYTHING, thats a great review, to bad you can't do 2 or 3 way SLI, but I totally understand, GTX280 = 2nd morgage, lol. Awseom man, just awsome.
Senior Member
Member
Bring on the user review section!
GPUReview Founder
Senior Member
n00b
Senior Member
But anyways , nice review .