The XFX GTX 280 XXX shares all of the same features in common with its GTX 280 brethren from XFX and other video card makers. The only differences between the XFX GTX 280 XXX we are looking at today are the clock speeds and the fact that the card is bundled with a full version of Call of Duty 4. The video card has a GPU clock of 670 MHz, a shader clock of 1458 MHz, and a memory clock of 2500MHz. Other features include NVIDIA PhysX ready, support for CUDA, HDCP capable, and the card has 240 processing cores.
The test machine I am using has the following specs:
- OS- Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 32-bit
- PSU- Top Power 1100W
- RAM- 2GB Aeneon DDR3-16000
- CPU- Intel QX9770
- Mainboard: XFX 790i Ultra
- Display- 30-inch Dell
The XFX GTX 280 XXX will be tested using 3DMark06, Quake Wars, and Crysis. The first test up is 3DMark06.
I ran 3DMark06 at default settings in the 3DMark06 application and default settings in the NVIDIA control panel. The 3DMark06 test results for the XFX GTX 280 XXX were as follows:
- Total 3DMarks- 16287
- SM2.0- 6481
- HDR/SM3.0- 7560
- CPU- 4520
- Return to Proxycon- 55.342
- Firefly Forest- 52.668
- Canyon Flight- 82.100
- Deep Freeze- 70.889
- CPU1- 1.467
- CPU2- 2.228
To compare 3DMark scores, the stock XFX GTX 280 scored 16119 3DMarks. The stock clocked GTX 260 from PNY scored 14367 3DMarks and the XFX 9800 GX2 Black Edition scored 16642.
The first gaming test up for the XFX GTX 280 XXX was Quake Wars. I ran the game at a screen resolution of 2560 x 1600 with all setting on high with V-sync turned off. Shadows, smooth foliage, and other settings were turned on. Fraps recorded the following frame rate data:
- Min- 33 fps
- Avg- 60.462 fps
- Max- 62 fps
These settings on Quake Wars gave virtually identical frame rates on the XFX GTX 280 running stock clocks.
The next gaming test up is Crysis. I first ran the game at a resolution of 1920 x 1200 with 2xAA and all advanced options in the game set to very high and v-sync off. I used Fraps to record frame rate data while playing a single player game from the initial beach insertion to the battle with the first enemy soldiers. Fraps recorded the following data:
- Min- 11 fps
- Avg- 17.347
- Max- 28 fps
Those numbers are very good for Crysis ran at settings so high. For a better comparison to other video cards I have reviewed, I also ran Crysis with the same resolution and settings, save a change to medium on all advanced options. Fraps recorded the following frame rate data at these settings:
- Min- 45 fps
- Avg- 66.187 fps
- Max- 101 fps
The overclocked GTX 280 XXX turned in about 5 fps faster than the stock clocked GTX 280 at these settings.
The GTX 280 XXX offers a bit more performance for your dollar than the stock clocked GTX 280 cards will offer, in some games. If you are a big fan of Crysis, the GTX 280 XXX might be justifiable. At the time, this review was written the GTX 280 XXX from XFX was only $20 more expensive at $469.99 online than the stock card. Whether or not that extra $20 is worth about 5 fps more in a game like Crysis is an individual decision.
