Asus ENGTX295 Graphic card

[Edmund]

It has now been a while since Nvidia launched its flagship, Geforce GTX 295. Here Nvidia is trying to give us the best of two worlds; uncompromising performance and very acceptable noise level.

In October 2005 began the trip. When Asus had made a special version of the existing Prince, Geforce 7800 GT. The card came equipped with an external power supply, good theoretical performance and won awards after awards. The trip was short, as when the card met the market was met with some drivers, stability, and not least, compatibility.

This was the first and only video card with two graphics processors on a circuit board in his time, as any other, could hardly be expected at that time. The idea of a dual-GPU card was posted from him, and it took quite exactly one year before it was gone on the path again - in the form of the Geforce 7900 GX2.

Again met the manufacturer against ground. Even when the technology has reached physical changes, in the form of the Geforce 7950 GX2, things did not go as it should. It was not until Geforce 9800 GX2, at the beginning of 2008, that things began to drop.

As I mentioned, Geforce GTX 295 reached our location, and finally we also have a test in place. We'll see if Nvidia live up to their word. Span you fast, for this is really something!

[Edmund]

Test Configuration

• Motherboards: Asus Rampage II Extreme (Socket 1366)
• Processor: Intel Core i7 920
• RAM: 6 GB Corsair Dominator 2 (1066 MHz - CAS6-5-5-15 @ 1.65 v)
• Power Supplies: Cooler Master Ultimate 700W
• Graphics:
  
  • Asus GeForce GTX 295 - Forceware 182.06 Asus GeForce GTX 285 TOP - Forceware 182.06
  • Asus Radeon HD 4870 X2 - ATI Catalyst 9.2
  • Gigabyte 9800 GTX - Forceware 181.20
  • MSI Geforce 9800 GT - Forceware 181.20
  • Ward Gainward 8800 GTX - Forceware 181.20
• Harddisk: Samsung T166 500 GB SATA II, 16 MB cache
• Operating System: Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit SP1
• Applications:
  
  • 3Dmark Vantage Build 1.0.1
  • 3DMark 06
  • Crysis
  • World in Conflict
  • Company of Heroes

As you can see, we have now chosen to make major upgrades in our test setup for the video card, and equipped it with a brand new Core i7 setup. All cards are tested again to compensate for this, with updated drivers.

Disassembly

On disassembly of the graphics card you have to calculate in good time. The undersigned, who otherwise looks at himself as well qualified, spent over an hour just to separate the cards from each other, and about as long to screw it together again.

Recommendation: Sort screws, write down what color to where etc. - this can free you from the extreme amount of extra work.

The card has two DVI ports, both on the secondary card and include internal SLI-bridge. When we have reached the bottom of the disassembly is a fan of Delta Electronics Inc. - and as mentioned earlier, a bunch of screws, etc.

For improved air flow and cooling properties Nvidia has made small holes in the PCB's and the covers around

Accessories

With the package comes from a powerful bundle. It consists of:

• CD with manual
• Transition from DVI to VGA
• 2xMolex to 6 pin
• Coupon for 10 percent in five games
• Quick guide for installation
• Audio cable for HDMI-Output
• Mouse in the "leather"
• 2x6 pin to 1x 8 pin transition

Certainly a respectable package of things, but something one must then expect to get with such an expensive tool. The undersigned like a mouse pad - it is something sticky in the beginning, but after a little use it is good as gold.

[Edmund]

Power Consumption

In all setups, we measured power consumption. This is a measurement that shows how much effect the complete machine goes from the outlet in the wall - the screen is kept outside. This is not an exact value for the individual video cards, but a value you can use to compare the layouts.

When it comes to power ports of 295 at the bottom of the graph. The card is performing great number of desktop use, and generally low load, but when the card gets something to chew on, there is not as good with.

Temperature

The card indicates anything more respectable numbers when it comes to temperature. Many believe perhaps temperature results are very smooth, but several factors into play. Most of today's card is programmed to maintain a specified temperature with and without load.

The most common is between 60 and 70 degrees with no load, and 80 to 90 with loaded. To regulate this increase and lower the fan speed, and noise. Nvidia has chosen a slightly different solution with this card, and have locked the fan speed at 40 percent.

In particular, no load, this is somewhat impractical. This may of course change with programs such as. Riva Tuner, but as mentioned, we had sacrificed some higher temperatures at desktop use and low load on the fan speed is lowered.

Noise

When it comes to noise, it is something for GTX 295. Cooling solution is referred to as programmed at 40 percent constant, which gives pretty good temperatures under load. At the desktop use and low load, however, graphic card just a little much - especially in relation to the environment.

Slightly higher fan speed under load can withstand most of the bugs which increase significant amount of sound in the game, etc. Without the load, it is however, something in excess much noise.

Cooling solution would also need some minor improvements. The card already has two relatively heat-GPU is under the hood, and it will not help much on the temperature that the card pushes most of the heat directly into the cabinet again. Unless you have a well-ventilated cabinet, preferably with a fan pointing out the page, there may be some heat issues - especially if you are picky on noise.

[Edmund]

3D Mark 06 and Vantage

In 3Dmark 06, AMD is the king of the heap, and lets not Geforce GTX 295 take over the throne. In SM 2.0-test, Geforce GTX 295 must actually see himself off Geforce GTX 285, but the total comes GTX 295 best out of the contributions from Nvidia.

In Pixel Shade-tested, Geforce GTX 295 peaks graph, but when it comes Shade-particles we have to see the card itself decisively defeated by the ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 and the Geforce GTX 285.

3D Mark Vantage

When it comes to 3Dmark Vantage Geforce GTX 295 starting to show muscle, and tops the graph with a good margin.

GTX 285 peaks in the graph shade part of the 3Dmark Vantage, while the Geforce GTX 295 ports for third place.

[Edmund]

Crysis

Crysis yes, all the testers, and overclocker's favorite among gaming tests. We have used this in our tests because the built-in demos and the tests are very accurate, which is reflected in the performance tests. Here we can actually distinguish as little as 10-20 MHz in the core rate.

When it comes to games, that really is the most important, the Geforce GTX 295 good. At low resolution, place the test card is completely in the top, and far above both the Geforce GTX 285 and ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2. When we increase the resolution to 1680x1050 the card is still a good distance away from the nearest competitor, but is struggling a bit with large fluctuations in FPS. At 1920x1200, it is quite evenly between the Geforce GTX 295 and ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2. When we increase the resolution even more at 2560x1600, test card collapses completely, and end up in a disappointing third place. When it should be said, none of the cards delivers performance playing in this shared stone.

Crysis warhead

In Crysis Warhead at low resolution is the Geforce GTX 295 once in a class by themselves, but suffer from major FPS-fluctuations. At 1680x1050 resolution is Geforce GTX 295 king on the mound. At 1920x1200 and 2560x1600 resolution everything falls apart for the test card and the Geforce GTX 295 fall well down on the graph. Probably not optimized drivers must take a large part of the blame.

Company of Heroes

This WW2 RTS game from relic impressed a time the many fans of strategy games for PC, and took the graphics capabilities of the strategy to new heights. It still hangs with the graphics and the game takes advantage of the GPU-power it can get.

In the game Company of Heroes delivers Geforce GTX 295 sjanseløs performance across the board. Even if it takes them all together at 2560x1600 resolution, the performance is not where it should be, also here we keep a button on bad drivers.

World in Conflict

World in Conflict, was for many a game that was admired, tested, purchased and forgotten. Still it must be dried powders of the box every time I feel like a test rig or two, simply because it, like Crysis has a demo you can rely on - which gives accurate results. Although it is a while since the game came in the shelves, there is no doubt that there is a heavy title, even for the current setup. One thing you have to have in mind is that this is strategy. Strategy requires even close to equal frame-rate to blend nicely.

In the game World in Conflict peaks GTX 295 graph at all resolutions, and is both one and two horse heads in front of the nearest competitor, AMD 4870X2.

Call of Duty 4

In Call of Duty 4 tops Geforce GTX 295 in a time graph. It is relatively evenly between Nvidia and AMD's high. ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 can do to and with the lure of a win at 1280x1024 resolution, but when you increase the resolution goes Geforce GTX 295 is slowly but surely from the competitor.

[Edmund]

Conclusion

Despite the bad drivers optimized in some applications, there is little doubt that Nvidia delivers high performance in buckets and bins. The card is struggling a little against AMD's high in some synthetic tests and games with very different FPS, but provides good bad optimized drivers not set deep track.

The card is equipped with one HDMI and two DVI ports, and the box containing the accessories of good quality.

When it comes to power consumption can Geforce GTX 295 is relatively good at desktop use, but at the last card is the least-efficient power of the test cards. To keep the card cool, the fan is programmed to run at 40 percent performance constant, which we think provides some much noise at the desktop use. This provides good temperature without load, but will be soon a little hot when the card will be charged. Much of the hot air is also sent out in the cabinet again, so a well ventilated cabinet is preferable.

There is little doubt that this is a board for enthusiasts that put performance ahead of price. One must be out by about 4000 blank million for the glory, but in spite of the price we feel that one is left with a lot of performance for the money. We hope, however, learn from Asus Nvidia and ATI, and go forward with their plans for two GPUs on one PCB. Such a solution provides many advantages in terms of temperature, noise, etc.

Pros

• Performance class

Cons

• High power consumption
• Small optimized drivers
• Poor programmed fan control
• Costs