Technical specifications of the tested graphic cards
|
GeForce FX 5800 Ultra |
GeForce FX 5950 Ultra |
GeForce 6600 GT |
GeForce 6800 Ultra |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| GPU |
NV30 |
NV38 |
NV43 |
NV40 |
| manufacturing process |
.13µ (TSMC) |
.13µ (TSMC) |
.11µ (TSMC) |
.13µ (IBM) |
| Number of transistors |
125 milj. |
130 milj. |
143 milj. |
222 milj. |
Memory bus
width / bits |
128 bit (32x4) |
256 bit (64x4) |
128 bit (64x2) |
256 bit (64x4) |
Memory bus
speed (Ultra) |
16.0 GB/s |
30.4 GB/s |
16.0 GB/s |
35.2 GB/s |
| Pixel fillrate |
2000 MP/s |
1900 MP/s |
2000 MP/s |
6400 MP/s |
| Texel fillrate |
4000 MT/s |
3800 MT/s |
4000 MT/s |
6400 MT/s |
| Vertex nopeus |
200 Mtri/s |
356 Mtri/s |
375 Mtri/s |
600 Mtri/s |
| AGP-bus |
2x / 4x / 8x |
2x / 4x / 8x |
2x / 4x / 8x |
2x / 4x / 8x |
| Memory |
128 MB |
256 MB |
128 MB |
256 MB |
GPU's clock
frequency |
500 MHz |
475 MHz |
500 MHz |
400-450 MHz |
Memory clock
frequency |
500 MHz |
475 MHz |
450-500 MHz |
550-600 MHz
|
| supported memory types |
DDR2 |
DDR / DDR2 |
DDR / DDR2 / DDR3 |
DDR / DDR2 / DDR3 |
Number of Pixel
pipelines |
4 x 2 (TMU) |
4 x 2 (TMU) |
8 x 1 (TMU) |
16 x 1 (TMU) |
Configuration
of pixel
pipelines |
4 FP32 / 8 FX12 ALUs |
1 full FP ALU / 2 mini
FP ALUs per pipeline |
16 FP ALUs (2 shader units
+ 2 mini ALUs per pipeline) |
32 FP ALUs (2 shader units
+ 2 mini ALUs per pipeline) |
Accuracy of
pixel pipeline |
FP32 / FP16 / FX12 |
FP32 / FP16 |
FP32 / FP16 |
FP32 / FP16 |
Instructions per
clock cycle |
12 (1 FP/2 FX tai 2 TEX) |
12 (FP) |
64 (FP tai 32 FP + 1 TEX) |
128 (FP tai 64 FP + 1 TEX) |
Textures
per phase |
16 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
Number of vertex
shader units |
? |
? |
3 |
6 |
Pixel shader
version |
2.0+ |
2.0+ |
3.0 |
3.0 |
Vertex shader
version |
2.0+ |
2.0+ |
3.0 |
3.0 |
OpenGL/DirectX
version |
1.5 / 9.0 |
1.5 / 9.0 |
1.5 / 9.0 |
1.5 / 9.0 |
| RAMDAC |
2 x 400 MHz |
2 x 400 MHz |
2 x 400 MHz |
2 x 400 MHz |
2D picture quality, speed and TV output
The picture quality of Leadtek WinFast A6600GT TDH is exquisite at all resolutions. Both colour and contrast were good via Samsung 19" CRT when
testing VGA and DVI outputs. In 2D the GPU runs at 300 MHz which is more than enough for desktop and other 2D use. Actual 2D-tests were left unrun,
but operation was evaluated with normal 2D-use ie. "playing around" with desktop etc. Leadtek's WinFast A6600GT TDH worked splendidly in this area.
The picture updated very smoothly and windowing was suberb without any delays or problems.
For TV-output Leadtek uses NV43's integrated TV-coder. HDTV-connector (included in retail package) includes S-video, composite and RGP connections
for demanding consumer. The best picture quality is gained without any doubt what so ever via HDTV connector. The S-video connection is so called
direct connection, thus it does not work with any adapter.
Testing with Sony's 29" TV, there were no blurs of any kind on the screen. It was very sharp and easy to look. Any disturbances was not to be
seen. The best resolution via TV-output is 1024x768@60Hz which is sufficient enough.
Overclocking
It was presumed before tests that WinFast A6600GT TDH would offer exellent platform for overclocking mainly because of the .11µ linewidth.
In AGP-version (with all manufactures), the memory chips were underclocked to 450 MHz (900 MHz DDR3) though they are 500 MHz (2.0ns, 1000 MHz DDR3) at
specs. In 3D the GPU run at 500 MHz which was tolerable ;)
Overclocking of NV43 GPU and DDR3's took place using RivaTuner driver-level hardware oc. The results were attained by lifting clock freqs 10 MHz at
a time at the beginning and finally with 1 MHz steps to get the rest of the card. The final stable result in 3D was 594 MHz@GPU and 1096,9 MHz@memory.
As a conclusion: GPU went up 19% and memory chips 22%. So briefly, Leadtek's WinFast A6600GT TDH overclocks nicely without any harware-level spanking.
To measure burn temperatures RivaTuner was used (again). The "Hardware Monitoring" has been good tool for temps already before, so why change something
that is working fine...
Measurements were done burning the card for 60 minutes with Phong in 3D and the temperatures were written down at 60 min mark. This temperature
represents peaktemp for both default and overclocked GPUs.
When processing the temperature data, it was foud that the Leadtek WinFast A6600GT TDH was running steaming hot. Highest default clock temperatures
were 75°C. Overclockin' resulted up to 81°C. Idle temperatures were between 46 and 48°C and they were invariant of the freq. Despite of the
hight temps, the Leadtek's aluminium heatsink was warm but not hot though. Memory chips were hot when touching with fingers, but they were not blazeing.
(this is due the material of memory packing, translator notice). The ambient temp went up 5°C from idle (37°C) when burning up the card.
It is almost impossible to say wether or not the Leadtek's cooling works, but it's fair to say that it does not break ones ears. For Overclocking
it would be a good idea to give the card some extra airflow.
Pictures of idle (first picture) and burning (second picture) temperatures are below.
GeForce 6600GT @ 500 MHz / 900 (stock clocks)
GeForce 6600GT @ 594 MHz / ~1097 (overclocked)
Leadtek WinFast A6600GT TDH (NV43)
