MadOnion's 3DMark 2001SE Pro is a popular 3D benchmark tool, and one that many gamers use to compare performance results. This test uses a wide range of game and feature tests, and demonstrates overall DirectX 8 performance levels quite nicely. All benchmark testing was performed in 32-bit mode, and used pure hardware DirectX support.
The 3DMark 2001SE Pro benchmarking once again shows the GeForce FX 5900 Ultra falling back from the Radeon 9800-based cards, as is standard in this particular 3D test. This has been standard operating procedure for the new NVIDIA-based cards, and the latest driver revision doesn't seem to have changed it much. The XFX GeForce FX 5900 Ultra certainly posts some nice scores, but in relative terms, overall 3DMark 2001SE Pro performance levels are more equivalent to the Radeon 9700 Pro.
The 3DMark 2001SE Pro AA and AF benchmark scores do change the rankings slightly, and now the XFX GeForce FX 5900 Ultra is slightly ahead of the Radeon 9800 Pro, but still well back from the Radeon 9800 XT.
Code Creatures is a synthetic 3D benchmark that provides us with yet another angle in any 3D video performance comparison. This is a high-end 3D benchmark that also requires DirectX 8 hardware, and along with 3DMark 2001SE, is a good barometer for potential DirectX 8 game performance.
Our first chart outlines the Total score produced by the Code Creatures benchmark, and again shows the GeForce FX 5900 Ultra out to a nice lead. The newer NVIDIA-based cards have historically performed quite well in Code Creatures benchmarking, and the XFX GeForce FX 5900 Ultra is certainly no exception.
Once the 4X AA and 8X AF details are added to the Code Creature test, the XFX GeForce FX 5900 Ultra shows some nice legs over the Radeon 9800 Pro, but still can't reach the performance of the Radeon 9800 XT.
