I will be doing a couple benchmarks on stock and overclocked freq to show you what to expect. Since I didn't have an ATI Radeon HD 5850 card to compare realistically, I decided to throw the score of my HD 5870's into the mix to give you some idea where the cards stand (And the scores surprised me a little).

Update 1 (4/16/2010):
-Revised some text.
-Replaced some text specs with images.
-Added some 3-way Benchmarks
-Added system images

Update 2 (4/17/2010):
-Changed graph colors
-Added Fan noise video

Update 3 (4/29/2010)
-Added an updated impression


I tried to make the review unbiased as possible by throwing in a mix of DX10 and DX11 benches. This review isn't to compare these cards directly as to which is better than the other, they are merely graphed to show you the performance they can achieve, nothing more. I will be updating this post periodically and frequently. Review is NOT final.

When you look at the score PLEASE keep an open mind. Both GPU's are extremely fast and more than plenty for gaming.

Enjoy the review.

Test Setup used:



 
Wattage measurement is based off the peak. Does not represent the actual Power Consumption of the GPU.

Let's get started!















API:        
DX10/DX11
Shaders:    
High
Tessellation:    
Normal
Anisotropy:    
16x
Anti-Aliasing:    
4x
Resolution:    
1920 x 1080















API:       
DX 10
Mode:       
Enthusiast
Anti-Aliasing:    
4x
Map:       
Ambush
EXE:       
64bit
Resolution:   
1920 x 1080










*0 watts from the GTX 470 OC was due to issues from overloading my UPS.





API:       
DX11
Mode:       
Ultra Quality
Anti-Aliasing:    
4x
Resolution:    
1920 x 1080








*0 watts from the GTX 470 OC was due to issues from overloading my UPS.





API:        
DX10/DX11 (Tessellation Enabled)
Mode:       
Extreme Quality
Anti-Aliasing:    
4xMSAA
SSAO Mode:   
OFF
Resolution:    
1920 x 1080
Contact Shadows:
Off








API:       
DX10
Shadows:   
High
Anti-Aliasing:   
4x
Anisotrophy:   
16x
Water:       
V.High
Objects:   
High
Decals:       
On
Soft Particles:   
On
H-R Shadows:   
On
SSAO:       
Off
PLS:       
Off
Resolution:    
1920 x 1080







*0 watts from the GTX 470 OC was due to issues from overloading my UPS.





API:       
DX10/DX11
Mode:       
High
Anti-Aliasing:   
4x
Anisotrophy:   
16x
HBAO:       
On
Resolution:    
1920 x 1080





There was an issue running the benchmark. For some reason I kept getting lower than normal FPS. Due to time constraints I just left it, will definitely figure out what was going on and update.





*0 watts from the GTX 470 OC was due to issues from overloading my UPS.



Conclusion

    Overall, I am VERY impressed with this card. The reviews tend make it look like it's crap in comparison to other cards but trust me when I say it definitely isn't crap. As you can see, in a lot of my tests it ended up close to the HD 5870 and probably even surprised you a little bit. I check for system stability prior to doing tests and check installs, I can assure you the results for ALL tests are unaltered. Going off of the benches you can see that this card seems to shine with AA added, will do some more tests in the future to show this in much more detail. Will the 5870 be a faster card with no AA or will the GTX 470 be the faster GPU with no AA?

    Temps, Noise and power consumption were another big issue that concerned a couple people, hell, it even concerned me a bit. I initially was going to include the highest temps reached during benches but I started to realize something consistent. Temps would always hit a constant 92C - 93C while in use before the fan would even throttle, and even then, the hotter it got, the fans would throttle to compensate and it would remain within those numbers. However, please don't get alarmed as it's within thermal standards for these cards and is perfectly normal. I was playing some BC2 for about 2hrs and during that time it hovered at a constant 92C the whole time. No shutdowns or driver crashes etc. So pretty good for a first impression.

    The power consumption of these cards is high, but nothing to worry about. Just by rough estimates a DECENT 800w+ PSU (brand name) with a decent CPU overclock will provide you a good amount of headroom. Also be sure to heed the NVIDIA Power Requirements for PSU's which can be found Specifications tab. Btw, a quick and easy way to drop wattage use (and I found this out on accident) is to turn your fans up to 100%. Now you're probably saying "Huh?? That doesn't make sense" Neither did it to me (I'm stupid btw) and I tested over and over and every time I was on a 100% fan I was losing a good 40w - 60w off of my load. I can't give you exact numbers but I'll have to do some more research on it one day.

    Now the other big nuisance that concerned others. Fan sound. At very stressing benches, you'll hear them throttle. I have 3x intake 88cfm yates rated for 40db and you can definitely hear the fans over them. Now, is it mind blowingly loud and annoying enough to annoy you? Pffft, not by a mile. At one time I did hear it hit 80%, but it was totality tolerable, so under normal gaming conditions I can safely say "Myth Busted". What isn't bearable though is 100% fan. Yes, in fact it does sound like a Harrier Jet landing in front of your house. I will post some videos of it soon to compare for you guys if you want. If you play with headphones on or loud music/ game audio, then it wouldn't bother you at all.

Video:



So my overall unbiased way of deciding on your next gen GPU and how I compare these cards:

-If you want that extra edge in DX11, PhysX, CUDA or you Fold@Home a lot, Nvidia is your choice of GPU for this round.

-You're picky about temps, power use and want DX11 features, but you're more focused on running your current games faster and being ready for a DX11 when the right game comes out. ATI.

That's an honest opinion from my perspective THUS FAR. I will need to play with these GPU's for a while longer to give you some more impressions, but if you're still deciding on if you should get a GTX470... get it. I'm afraid for when Nvidia launches better drivers that are optimized and provide better game performance in DX10/DX11. They will have a sleeper on their hands. And it's only $369.



UPDATED IMPRESSIONS 4/29: Been playing around with the cards for a while now and swapping left and right from the HD 5870's to the GTX 470's a couple times and just getting an overall "feel" for which card group I preferred. There's times I preferred the GTX 470 setup over the HD 5870 setup, in those scenario's it was while running the Heaven benchmark, then again I started to realize I was liking a card because of it's tessellation performance in a benchmark... kinda stupid, not too many games use tessellation like the Heaven Benchmark and it isn't a good representation of tessellation in future games. You're probably saying "Well, that's stupid, it's a great representation of future DX11 titles featuring tessellation support!" Yes, and no at the same time. I am quite positive that there won't be a lot of games that will use tessellation like Heaven, having the extra boost in that department will seem beneficial, but hard to determine until more games with tessellation come out if they will be THAT tough to run. For now, the only BIG benefit you're going to get is rubbing Heaven Benchmarks into another users face, good for you, bad for them.

Now I am a gamer, not into benchmarks too much, not into folding, not into PhysX unless I see it in games that are actually cool, and I could care less for 3D surround support as well because I wear glasses already, **** do I need more for?! I'm more into the overall gaming experience I can get out of my cards on my little screen. The card I had the smoothest gameplay out of was kind of hard to judge. Both cards for general gaming are great. When you're playing a lot of games with a dual card config with cards that are THIS quick you're going to be above 60fps almost 100% of the time. The only time you'll notice is if you sit there staring at your FRAPS counter for hours at a time monitoring dips and highs.

In a lot of games where it dipped below 60fps or the game just ran like crap in general *cough* GTA IV */cough* I noticed dips with both cards in the same areas of the game. Now I would say that I noticed that the 5870 would dip a little more than the 470 in Crysis or something, but it was nothing that would say that minimum FPS should even be considered an argument for buying either card because it wasn't like the game stayed at the low FPS for even 1 sec, it seemed to happen when usually loading something while progressing through a level. And it lag spiked on the 470 as well, so neither gets a sympathy vote. Averages are what matter, they're average fps and that's what should be looked at.

Now I will still stand by what I stated before, the GTX 470 out of both cards is still the better buy IF neither of the following negatives matter to you:

• Temps (Don't care who flames me for this, it's true no matter which way you look at it or what anyone says, they run hotter than the friggin sun, and yes I know about fan profiles)
• Power Consumption (My cards are 1.0V and 1.037V)

Now the 5870's Negatives:

• Basically everything that the 470 can do that this can't, i.e. PhysX support, Tessellation Performance, 3D surround etc etc.

After time with playing with both them I'm sure a couple of you have figured out what card I picked to stick with.

The HD 5870's.

I am VERY picky about my power draw, now you could say: "Well, if you're so concerned about power draw why do you have a 1050w PSU and why don't you just buy an ATOM and stfu?!" I like lower power consumption only because it'll generate less heat, it's a rule of computer parts. I also like amazing performance, nothing epic, or for benching, but for gaming. The watts it uses gets transferred into heat (I don't know the whole complicated wiki article on it, I just know that more watts = more heat). In addition these cards needed about 100w extra power to do what the 5870's can do at lower wattage, it's a fact. What made me jump with "****?!" at one time was the fact that I managed to do a 875w run at 760Mhz to the core. THAT... is NOT cool (pun intended).

I have my machine in a room that isn't open spaced and the machine gets by with ambients of 75F to 80F+ and equals hot uncomfortable extended gaming sessions at times. I like to Play Bad Company 2, but don't like the added realism from playing the desert maps and making my room feel like one as well .

I had the same awesome gaming experience out of both cards, but the power draw and the temps were too much for me from the GTX 470's. One day, I will go green again, just now now.


Comments and suggestions are welcome. Please go easy on me, looking at these graphs made my head hurt so I went lazy mode. Also, this is my first BIG BIG review. There was too much data for me to toss in, new to using excel as well. So please go easy on me.

Nice review. I don't know why you get 750 watts for 470 SLI. I have never seen above 630 overclocked and my monitor is plugged into it as well. Whoa 787 actually.

Nice work. Looking forward to the rest.

Naz,,, by any chance do you have company of heroes....if so could you do a benchmark for me on that game as well.......

Very nice job, confirms much of my surprise as to why more people aren't going for the 470s since they're much more readily available and still perform excellently once OC'd a bit.  Now the question of which you're going to keep? 

chizow

Very nice job, confirms much of my surprise as to why more people aren't going for the 470s since they're much more readily available and still perform excellently once OC'd a bit.  Now the question of which you're going to keep? 

Which do you think?

daveyd007

Great review Naz! Thanks!

Np. I wish I could've done it better for a first run, but I learned a lot of stuff and I will be prepared 80x better next time if I do another.

sirjamesddj

Very professional review. My compliments!!!

Thanks.

ok naz...thanks anyways

I wouldn't get the SC unless that is all you can get. $30 for 18mhz...

I have the SC and the Vanilla (the third card) and they seem to all be capable of hitting the same clocks. The only way I would get the SC is if the Vanilla is sold out or something.

therapy

Fantastic review..iv benched and played with 2 480's b4 i sold them off on ebay for ridiculous prices..i did the same trying 2 gtx 470's..

I decided to sell my ati cards off and got a pair of 470's few days ago..i slowed myself down some but they are great cards for the money..they seem to overclock  well with no voltage involved..

Yeah, been thinking of keeping them myself. Only thing is that I'm very picky about temps and power use, though I like the extra power available for those "just in case moments". I may sell them off and wait for the next revision of them. If they can honestly get the power use down a little bit more then we're the best of friends.

Btw, right now I'm doing a couple tests to check stability of the 3-way SLI setup and I'll post up results if my machine doesn't blow up in the process.

EDIT: I think I broke some kind of record or something for Vantage...

Right now I'm going to go ahead and stop my 3-way benches. It's not worth it, not yet.

My scaling sucks too, I don't know if it's just the way 3-way is nativley or what, but it sucks really bad. I went from a 60fps avg to a 70fps avg OC'd on Crysis bench.

With Rudsters ninja math it's a 16% gain. I got similar results with Unigine and Bad Company as well, fro now it's DEFINITELY not worth it. I say if you want the extra boost to go with dual GTX 480's.

Now one thing that I was massively impressed with:



Link to Vantage score:

LINKY

Accidentally caught it on video as well, and it ran perfect. Crazy PhysX inflation, but win score, lol!

Oh, and btw. 32xAA = epic win on L4D2! It seriously ran like I only had 4xAA applied in a lot of situations compared to how I remembered it with my 5870's. And I was playing earlier with 2 GTX 470's, not 3. if you want to play with me to get some more impressions on gaming you can add me on steam while I'm playing.

(PM Me for the info).

When I first saw that score I was like:

^^ Thanks!

Excellent user Review! I've ordered 2 EVGA GTX 470 cards but unfortunately here in Sweden they will not be in stock until 1st of june. So I just have just go on reading reviews until that.