After completing the installation, we get down to the heart of the matter. How does it perform? The most important aspect of any graphics card is its performance in 3D applications such as games. There are several ways to determine the performance but we used a 3D benchmark program called 3DMark06 from Futuremark. Since a card of this performance level is likely to be used at a very high resolution, we tested it using 1920x1200 resolution. Here are the results for your scrutiny:
As you can see the 3DMark06 results are pretty impressive. This $199 card performs close to the same level as other graphics cards in the $300-$400 price range. In fact the card impressed us so much that we decided to get another one and test them again using the SLI technology. I might also add that this is one of the few cards capable of three-way SLI on a compatible motherboard. Here are the two-way SLI results from 3DMark06:
Finally, here are the two scores compared together:
Gaming Performance
To get the full appreciation of the graphics card, I took it for a spin with some of my favorite games including Half-Life 2, CounterStrike: Source, Battlefield 2, FlatOut Ultimate Carnage, Black&White 2, Halo 2 and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. In each game the card performed very well. I had assumed it would lag a bit during Derby Bowl 3 in “FlatOut Ultimate Carnage” where there are twelve cars in a fast action environment with a lot of detailed graphics but the card sailed right through without a glitch. I had the settings on 8x anti-aliasing and full anisotropy with 32-bit color at 1920x1200 resolution.
In “CounterStrike: Source” I was impressed to be able to up the number of bots to 32 without any lag what-so-ever. The card handled everything that the HL2 graphics engine could throw at it and just laughed in its face. Frame rates in HL2 never dropped below 70FPS in any situation with all graphics options on full.
Gamers will be totally satisfied with this video card, of that I have no doubt.
PNY XLR8 GeForce 9800GTX+ 512MB Video Card
The PNY XLR8 GeForce 9800 GTX+ is a fantastic video card for gaming in HD. It performs on par with other HD cards costing much more and handles any game out today with excellent frame rates and stunning graphics. If you have the cash and are willing to spend it, you can get three of these cards and hook up a 3-way SLI system for an incredible gaming machine. But do keep in mind it may be more cost effective to just get a single card that is more expensive card in the first place.
Pros: Excellent 3D rendering, high gaming frame rates, quiet cooling system, 3-way SLI, just an awesome looking card.
Cons: Uses 2 6-pin power connections, significant amount of ambient heat, 2-way and 3-way SLI isn’t cost effective.
