Nvidia starts to decline GF100 architecture. Remember that this is the
graphics chip that takes place in the new GTX series of manufacturer:
the GeForce GTX 470 and GTX 480 DirectX 11 compatible. Today is the GTX
465, which is finally unveiled. We had the chance to test it by Zotac.
While at the present time, the prices of its big sisters are really
prohibitive because of low stocks in the shops, the GTX 465 is announced
at less than $345, which is starting to become affordable for almost as
many players.
The GeForce GTX 465 is it the first DirectX 11 card affordable and
powerful for new generation of Nvidia? On paper, yes. It is clear that
the GPU designer has not reinvented the wheel with this new version of
its GF100: it keeps all the ingredients that make them an attractive
option but still be improved.
Features
- Microsoft DirectX 11 Support: DirectX 11 GPU with Shader Model
5.0 support designed for ultra high performance in the new API’s key
graphics feature, GPU-accelerated tessellation. - NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround Ready: Expand your games across three
displays in full stereoscopic 3D for the ultimate “inside the game”
experience with the power of 3D Vision and SLI technologies.
NVIDIA Surround also supports triple screen gaming with non-stereo
displays. - Interactive Ray Tracing: By tracing the path of light through a 3D
scene, ray tracing uses the power of the GPU to create spectacular,
photo-realistic visuals. Get a glimpse into the future of gaming with
ray tracing. - 3-way NVIDIA SLI Technology: Industry leading 3-way SLI technology
offers amazing performance scaling by implementing 3-way AFR (Alternate
Frame Rendering) for the world’s premier gaming solution under Windows 7
with solid, state-of-the-art drivers. - NVIDIA PhysX Technology: Full support for PhysX technology, enabling
a totally new class of physical gaming interaction for a more dynamic
and realistic experience with GeForce. - NVIDIA CUDA Technology: CUDA technology unlocks the power of the
GPU’s processor cores to accelerate the most demanding tasks such as
video transcoding, physics simulation, ray tracing, and more, delivering
incredible performance improvements over traditional CPUs. - 32x Anti-aliasing Technology: Lightning fast, high-quality
anti-aliasing at up to 32x sample rates obliterates jagged edges. - NVIDIA PureVideo HD Technology: The combination of high-definition
video decode acceleration and post-processing that delivers
unprecedented picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise
image scaling for movies and video. - PCI Express 2.0 Support: Designed for the new PCI Express 2.0 bus
architecture offering the highest data transfer speeds for the most
bandwidth-hungry games and 3D applications, while maintaining backwards
compatibility with existing PCI Express motherboards for the broadest
support. - Dual-link DVI Support: Able to drive industries largest and highest
resolution flat-panel displays up to 2560×1600 and with support for
High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). - HDMI 1.3a Support: Fully integrated support for HDMI 1.3a including
xvYCC, Deep color and 7.1 digital surround sounds.
Radeon vs. GeForce
To understand what the GTX 465
are you can simply say that it is the mix
of GeForce GTX 470 and Radeon HD 5850. You shake very hard and what
stands out is a graphics processor that runs at 607 MHz and consists of
352 cores (same frequency as GTX 470 with 448 cores), 1024 MB of GDDR5
memory clocked at 1603 MHz (same capacity as the Radeon but lower
frequency) and a 256-bit memory bus (like the Radeon HD 5800 also).
Physically, it repeats almost every feature of the design of the GTX
470, with an impressive cooling system, two power outlets and 6 pin
PCI-Express. It occupies two slots at the rear of the housing issue and
connectors, no DisplayPort but still the two DVI ports and mini HDMI.
Note that the Zotac model is supplied with the miniHDMI/HDMI adapter.
Noise, power consumption and heat: no change!
Let’s talk first of consumption of the card. The GeForce GTX 465 is just
like his big sister very greedy. Nvidia announces 200 watts of
consumption. With our various tests we have found that the GPU green
design was still optimistic. If the GTX 470 already consumed 252 watts
according to our measurements (instead of 215 W as announced), the GTX
465 consumes 235W all by itself (tests performed with OCCT: GPU 2560 x
1600). Recall that the TDP announced by Nvidia is not the maximum power
consumption of the card but its consumption at stake.
For noise, we have not seen much difference with 470 and heat for the
level of either: GPU temperatures vary between 1-3 °C lower (90 °C under
extreme loads), not enough applaud. The ATI Radeon HD 5800 are not too
concerned to make that side, they are unsurpassed.
Nevertheless, we must clarify that we have tested the card with the 257
beta drivers available on Nvidia’s site and, as all drivers that are not
certified, they are not fully functional. Must specify that you need
these for your GTX 465 is recognized and fully functional. However,
because of supply concerns, Nvidia will have plenty of time to get
drivers certified by the time the card is found on the shelves.
GTX 470 is better than GTX 465
Take a GTX 470 and remove 10 to 30 frames per second and you have the
GTX 465. Although we passed all our tests in all definitions of current
screen, we strive to compare scores mainly 1680 x 1050 and 1920 x 1200
pixels for high-end cards, whose GTX 465 is the part. If you play on a
screen of 19 inches, not worth investing in the latter, you will
in-operate. To keep things simple and concise, the GeForce GTX 465 lies
between GTX 470 and a HD 5850, the latter having a clear tendency in
particular Far Cry 2, Resident Evil 5 and Dirt 2 in the two definitions
mentioned above. As usual, all settings are High Profile (even if the
ultra is possible) with anti-aliasing at 2x or 4x.
However, like all cards last generation, the GTX 465 does not break
sharply when the figure resolution increases. But, in our two games in
DirectX 11 benchmark (Dirt 2 and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. CoP); the scores are
clearly below what may provide a HD 5850 or GTX 470. For example, under
Dirt 2By definition Full HD, the GTX 465 is around 55 frames per second
(fps) while the HD 5850 proudly displays a smooth 70 frames per second
and, finally, the GTX 470, 88 on average.
For the rest, everything is fluid. If you enable PhysX, no problem, the
card supports it without flinching. With regard to 3D Vision, stay on a
22 inch is not a miscalculation (even if the 24-inch models will not be
long till the end of their noses): Despite the halving of the number of
frames per attributable to the second method, the games are playable and
smooth.
GTX 465 does not satisfy
Between a HD 5850 and GeForce GTX 465, the battle rages and the first is
doing excellent. The GTX 465 is not a bad card, since its performance
range between those of HD 5850 and HD 5870. But, whether on consumption,
noise, performance, Nvidia does not mark a point, and it starts to
become quite alarming. The architecture is not everything!
So certainly PhysX, 3D Vision, 3D Blu-ray the arguments mark the
chameleon to tip the balance in its favor. But there’s not enough to
convince. Moreover, the argument seems PhysX no longer hold since it
would seem that with the new beta ForceWare drivers (only and it is a
known bug in Nvidia will correct soon), it is possible to use a green
solution for rendering physical and ATI for the calculation, the pilots
cohabiting perfectly under Windows 7.
Specifications
GPU Engine Specs:
- CUDA Cores: 352
- Graphics Clock (MHz): 607 MHz
- Processor Clock (MHz): 1215 MHz
- Texture Fill Rate (billion/sec): 26.7
Memory Specs:
- Memory Clock (MHz): 1603
- Standard Memory Config: 1024 MB GDDR5
- Memory Interface Width: 256-bit
- Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec): 102.6
Feature Support:
- NVIDIA SLI-ready: 2-way/3-Way
- NVIDIA 3D Vision Ready: yes
- NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround Ready: yes
- NVIDIA PureVideo Technology: HD
- NVIDIA PhysX-ready: yes
- NVIDIA CUDA Technology: yes
- Microsoft DirectX: 11
- OpenGL: 4.0
- Bus Support: PCI-E 2.0 x 16
- Certified for Windows 7: yes
Display Support:
- Maximum Digital Resolution: 2560×1600
- Maximum VGA Resolution: 2048×1536
- Standard Display Connectors: Mini HDMI, Two Dual Link DVI
- Multi Monitor: yes
- HDCP: yes
- HDMI: yes
- Audio Input for HDMI : Internal
Standard Graphics Card Dimensions:
- Height: 4.376 inches (111
mm) - Length: 9.5 inches (241 mm)
- Width: Dual-slot
Thermal and Power Specs:
- Maximum GPU Temperature (in C): 105
C - Maximum Graphics Card Power (W): 200 W
- Minimum Recommended System Power (W): 550 W
- Supplementary Power Connectors: 6-pin x2
Conclusion
The advertised price of $345 seems unrealistic for the GTX 465. Soaring prices on the GTX 470 and 480 we legitimately think that the new GeForce expected to retail for around $410, 62-100 dollars more than a Radeon HD 5850. And the two solutions is the HD 5850 which won our votes, although the GTX 465 remains the first truly affordable solution with Nvidia DirectX 11.
