3DMark06 Advanced is the latest version in this popular 3DMark series of gaming benchmarks from Futuremark, and is the first to showcase new HDR/SM3.0 and SM2.0 graphics tests, as well as offering dual core tailored CPU tests. The Feature tests have also been enhanced for the newest 3D support, and to provide reliable measurements for game hardware of today, and tomorrow. This is one very serious game test, which punishes cards that do not support HDR/SM3.0 or SM2.0, and really puts video hardware to the next-generation test.
3DMark06 Advanced is a mix of high-end performance and features testing, making this another benchmark that really highlights the forward-thinking architecture of the Radeon X1900 XT 512MB. The performance advantage is obvious, and the high-end ATI card is well out in front at both 1280x1024 and 1600x1200, and is the only one to surpass 5,000 3DMarks in either one. This is a significant performance gap, and the Radeon X1900 XT 512MB almost doubles the 3DMark06 scores of the mid-range cards.
The higher-end AA/AF detail settings do not change the overall rankings, but surprisingly, it does bring the cards closer together. While the Radeon X1900 XT 512MB continues to show the highest performance, the GeForce 7900 GT has certainly made up some ground.
The second part of our 3DMark06 Advanced testing (at a standard 1280x1024 resolution) utilizes the Feature Test portion of the benchmark, and concentrates on the Fill Rate and Vertex and Pixel Shader performance. We also present the SM2.0 and SM3.0/HDR results here as well. The first chart shows the cards ranked by Fill Rate performance, with the number displayed representing MTexels/second, while the second chart has the cards ranked by Vertex and Pixel Shader performance, with the number displayed representing MVertices/second.
The Fill Rate benchmark testing shows the Radeon X1900 XT 512MB taking a backseat behind the GeForce 7900 GT 256MB, in both single and multi-texturing scenarios. We anticipated a small advantage for the GeForce 7900 GT, as it does offer a slightly higher texture fill-rate.
The 3DMark06 Advanced Pixel and Vertex Shader benchmark results (displayed as MVertices/second) show the Radeon X1900 XT 512MB in a much better light, and have the high-end ATI card well out in front. This benchmark is the ATI "sweet spot" and highlights the architectural advantages of the Radeon X1900 line.
The SM2.0 & SM3.0/HDR capabilities of the Radeon X1900 XT 512MB are well known, and the 3DMark06 tests simply confirm it as the superior video card in this range.
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