Test System:
- Processor: Intel Pentium 4 1.7GHz
- Motherboard/Chipset: Intel 850 Chipset/Motherboard (Dell OEM)
- IDE Interface: Ultra ATA/100
- Memory: 256MB PC800 RDRAM
- HD: Maxtor 7200RPM DMA/100
- IDE Interface: Ultra ATA/100
- Video: ATI RADEON 8500, ATI RADEON 7500, GeForce 3 @ 200/460 (Reference-design), Dell OEM 32 MB GTS
- ATI Drivers: ATI 7167 (4.13.7167)
- Nvidia Drivers: Detonator 3 12.41
- CD/DVD: NEC 16x DVD-ROM
- Sound: SB Live! 1024 Sound
- Windows 98 Second Edition
- Power Supply: 330 Watt
It should be noted, at this point, that NVIDIA is about to release new drivers that improve performance of the card across benchmarks. But as those are not yet officially released, we chose to go ahead and bench using the 12.41's. When the DETONATOR 4's are officially released, we will update this preview with the new scores.
| Card | Score |
| RADEON 8500 | 6603 |
| GF3 (200/460) | 5707 |
| RADEON 7500 | 4388 |
| 32MB GTS: | 3280 |
3DMark 2001 Pro has become a standard in measuring how well video cards perform through a series of tests that measure Direct3D performance. It's becoming so ubiquitous, in fact, that the game of the hour, Max Payne, even lists a recommended 3dMark 2001 score in its system requirements.
Running the test at the standard setting of 1024x768x32-bit, the RADEON 8500 provides us with the best 3DMark 2001 score we've ever seen, 6603. Considering that this is still a pre-release engineering sample using alpha drivers, furthermore, makes it all the more impressive. We can't wait to see how this puppy performs in a month, when the final product is released, drivers are ready for primetime, and DX 8.1 is out to let the card really shine. But by the same token, the NVIDIA isn't likely to just sit on its laurels and do nothing; so we'll see what the next month holds.
And you will also note that the RADEON 7500's score is nothing to turn one's nose at, either. While its score of 4388 doesn't measure up to either the RADEON 8500 or GF3, it is one heck of a score for a $199 card and leaves the previous-generation GTS in its dust.