FarCry Performance

FarCry is a hot first-person shooter that takes in-game graphics to the next level, although in a different direction than DOOM 3. Instead of darkness and confined spaces, FarCry can place you outdoors, on bright sandy beaches, jungles or even on the water itself. This game gives our video cards a different kind of a stress test, and rest assured that FarCry ranks up there with the very toughest 3D game benchmarks. FarCry is an interesting benchmark, as it combines old school performance requirements with hot new features such as support for SM 3.0. For this test, we are using the full retail version, and the included in-game demo.

The latest patches enable SM 3.0 support for FarCry, and this makes it an excellent test of current feature sets and performance. FarCry is a game that offers some level of graphics impact at standard 1280x1024 detail settings, and can really put the screws to our reference cards at higher resolutions and detail levels. The Radeon X1900 XT 512MB proves this out, as it posts the highest score at both resolutions - barely squeaking ahead of the GeForce 7900 GT 256MB at 1280x1024, while annihilating the competition at 1600x1200. The Radeon X1900 XT is very impressive at this game test, and it seems to have reached the limits of our Core 2 Duo processor.

FarCry AA and AF Performance

FarCry proves to be a much better high-end performance indicator when the higher detail 4X AA and 8X AF settings are enabled. Once we hit this level, the Radeon X1900 XT 512MB takes no prisoners and speeds by even the GeForce 7900 GT 256MB card.

Quake 4 Performance

Quake 4 is the latest in 3D first-person shooters from id Software and Raven, and while the actual storyline is pretty standard fare and the game itself is based on the DOOM 3 engine, the graphics are exceptional and it is an improvement over previous games. The lighting and shadow effects are excellent, and the overall level design and architecture are a real treat. The overall load on the graphics card can be extreme, which is both a blessing and a curse, depending on the actual hardware you are testing.

Quake 4 is a bit different story, and this time the Radeon X1900 XT 512MB has to take a backseat to the GeForce 7900 GT 256MB. The ATI card still takes second place, but there seems to be an NVIDIA-slant in this test a well, as the Radeon X1800 XL also posts a lower-than expected score.

Quake 4 AA and AF Performance

The average framerates drop back once 4X AA and 8X AF details are enabled, and we now have a dead heat between the Radeon X1900 XT 512MB and GeForce 7900 GT 256MB. The latter card takes a slim victory at 1280x1024, while the former does the same at 1600x1200.