XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty Video Card Review

It has been a while now since NVIDIA released the 8800 GTS 320MB graphics cards. XFX is back with a new massively overclocked version of the 8800 GTS 320MB called the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty edition. This is the first higher-end Fatal1ty branded card. Read the review for all the details.

Gallery

7 images

Benchmarks

Features & Specifications
The XFX 8800 GTS Fatal1ty video card has a core clock of 650MHz, a shader clock of 1500MHz and a memory clock of 2GHz. Compare that to the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB XXX edition, the previous fastest GTS 320MB from XFX, with a core clock of 580MHz, a memory clock of 1.8GHz and a shader clock of 1500MHz.

The XFX 8800 GTS Fatal1ty video card has the same features as all other 8800 series graphics cards from NVIDIA. Most notably the card is DirectX 10 compliant, has TV out, is HDTV ready, Dual DVI outputs, SLI ready, RoHS compliant and supports HDCP for HD video content.

Test System
Before we get into the performance of the XFX 8800 GTS Fatal1ty video card, we need to look at the specifications of my test system:

• CPU- Intel QX6850
• Mainboard- XFX 680i
• 2GB OCZ PC2-6400 RAM
• Display- Dell 30-inch
• PSU- PC Power & Cooling 1KW
• OS- Windows XP Pro SP2

Benchmarks & Testing
I have changed my review process up a bit by changing the games that I test with. I will be using 3DMark06, FEAR and Bioshock to test the XFX 8800 GTS Fatal1ty video card. The first test up is 3DMark06.

3DMark06
I ran 3DMark06 on default settings in the application and in the NVIDIA control panel. The results were as follows:

• Total 3DMarks- 12717
• SM2.0- 5160
• HDR/SM3.0- 5014
• CPU- 5083
• Return to Proxycon- 42.387
• Firefly Forest- 43.620
• Canyon Flight- 46.006
• Deep Freeze- 54.280
• CPU1- 1.701
• CPU2- 2.430

With the changes in my test system and the changing of the test games I previously used, direct comparisons of the XFX 8800 GTS Fatal1ty video card to previously reviewed cards won’t be perfect. However, the stock clocked PNY 8800 GTS 320 I reviewed on a system using the Intel QX6700 processor scored 9344 total 3DMarks. The overclocked Foxconn 8800 GTS 320MB card scored 9922 total 3DMarks, the PNY 8800 GTX Overclock graphics card scored 12639 3DMarks on the older QX6700 processor. Any way you look at it the XFX 8800 GTS Fatal1ty video card is one seriously great performing video card.

FEAR
The next test up is with FEAR, which I ran at maximum setting with 16x AF and 4x AA at 2560 x 1600 resolution. Using the FEAR in game test loop the XFX 8800 GTS Fatal1ty video card recorded the following frame rates:

• Min- 11
• Avg- 21
• Max- 63

The percentages showed that 75% of the time frame rates were below 25 fps, 24% of the time frame rates were 25-40 fps, and only 1% of the time were frame rates greater than 40fps. You really need a pair of XFX 8800 GTS Fatal1ty video card to enjoy FEAR maxed out at 2560 x 1600.

Dropping the screen resolution alone down to 1920 x 1200 and leaving all other settings the same showed the following frame rate data:

• Min- 19
• Avg- 48
• Max- 139

The percentages shows that 5% of the time frame rates were below 25 fps, 25% of the time frame rates were 25-40 fps and 75% of the time frame rates were above 40 fps.

Bioshock
The final test up for the XFX 8800 GTS Fatal1ty video card was with Bioshock. This is a very nice game, though it suffers from some stability issues for many users including me. I used FRAPS to record frame rate data while playing a single player game at a screen resolution of 1920 x 1200 with all settings on high. Fraps recorded the following frame rate data:

• Min- 15 fps
• Avg- 60.310 fps
• Max- 243 fps

Verdict

Conclusion

Pros

• Fantastic performance
• Bundled with Lost Planet DX10 game
• Out performs some 8800 GTX cards

Cons

• Priced more than other 8800 GTS 320MB cards

Verdict
In the end, I was very impressed with the XFX 8800 GTS Fatal1ty video card. This card offers a serious amount of bang for your gaming dollar. It’s a real struggle to find any cons for this video card, sure it costs more than other 8800 GTS 320MG cards on the market at $339.99, but it blows them away in performance. If you want gaming performance maxed out on current titles at resolutions suitable for 24-inch displays and under, the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty is the card to buy.

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