PowerColor X600 XT PCI-Express 128MB

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Kurtis Kronk
Brian
PowerColor
Jan. 1, 2005

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Image Quality

To compare the image quality of the X600 XT and 6600 GT, we took screen captures using FRAPS from a few different games With all of the games we used for IQ testing (Doom 3, HL2, and Far Cry) we were able to take almost the exact same shot with each card. The HL2 Stress Test runs through a map on a predefined course and you can not stand still or save the "game.' Because of this, the screen captures were taken while the camera was moving. Similarly, we recorded a timedemo on the beginning of the coast map standing still in a scene we set up with the help of some cheats. Although we were standing still in the timedemo, the antlions that are in the scene constantly move and bob their heads around, so we took several screenshots with each card and picked the ones that were the most similar. While the screen captures in Half-Life 2 are not exactly the same pixel to pixel, they are close enough for a good comparison.

This first set of screen captures is from the first level in Doom 3. The X600 cards used to display an unsightly bug with AA and AF disabled in Doom3, but that is no longer present. You can clearly notice that there is an image quality difference between the X600 XT and 6600 GT. Neither are 'wrong,' but you may prefer one over the other. I personally think the X600 XT rendering looks better.

When 4xAA and 8xAF are enabled, there seems to be a slight difference in the quality between the two cards. The X600 XT looks like it is handling Anti Aliasing a bit better than the 6600 GT. The X600 XT does a better job of handling the jagged edges.

This is a set of screen captures from the Half-Life 2 Source stress test which has an object with a stained glass shader effect applied to it. AA and AF were disabled when these shots were taken. While the X600 XT and 6600 GT provide equal image quality, the 5950 Ultra shows terrible texture filtering quality.

This is a set of screenshots taken in a scene we set up in the beginning of the Coast level. With the help of some cheats we were able to get some antlions to sit on the beach with a jeep and an airboat behind them. The image quality is the same except for one thing. If you look closely at the 6600 GT capture, you will notice a couple of near-vertical lines in the water which do not appear with AA and AF disabled. If you are having trouble spotting the lines, mouseover the image for an overlay that shows where they are in the water. Also worth noting here is a strange water rendering bug in Half-Life 2. Notice how the reflections of the airboat and jeep extend beyond them... This happens on both cards, even with AA/AF disabled, but it becomes more exaggerated the further you turn up AA/AF.

In Far Cry, with AA and AF disabled, the X600 XT and 6600 GT seem to provide very comparable texture filtering. There is virtually no difference between the cards.

When 4xAA and 8xAF are enabled, there is still no difference in quality between the cards.

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Page 9 of 10

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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: The Card & The Bundle
Page 3: Test Setup
Page 4: Benchmarks: Doom 3
Page 5: Benchmarks: Half-Life 2
Page 6: Benchmarks: Counter-Strike: Source
Page 7: Benchmarks: Far Cry
Page 8: Benchmarks: Splinter Cell
Page 9: Image Quality
Page 10: Overclocking & Conclusion

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