MSI NVIDIA GeForce 8800 ULTRA Series

MSI takes the video card to a powerful new level with the NX8800Ultra-T2D768E. Based on the GeForce 8800Ultra GPU, this 768MB card delivers top performance for hard-core gamers who want the best. The core clock has been boosted to 660MHz and the memory clock now runs at a staggering 2300MHz. Live Update Online keeps your BIOS and drivers updated automatically so you don’t have to worry about installing the wrong one.

StarOSD is a helpful utility designed for games, making it easy to adjust contrast, brightness, temperature and overclocking on the fly. D.O.T. Express may be the ultimate overclocking utility, letting you maximize performance without worrying about overheating or stability issues.

Dual DVI ports will run two monitors or one monitor and one flat panel TV. HDCP support lets you watch programming in full HD mode from your PC. MSI’s Vivid tool easily enhances image quality. NVIDIA’s PureVideo brings the technology from high-end equipment to your computer. Dedicated processing cores and software deliver a vivid, lifelike picture free of the annoying artifacts and imperfections you get from standard PC-based video solutions.

·         MSI Vivid Image Technology

The MSI Vivid tool optimizes digital photo color, sharpens character edge and enhances contrast in gaming for incomparable image quality.

·         MSI DuAl CoreCell Technology

MSI Dual CoreCell technology delivers GPU and RAM frequency adjustments and fan speed adjustment for optimized performance with the ultra-quiet operation you desire.

·         MSI StarOSD Technology

MSI StarOSD technology simplifies system monitoring. You can even overclock your graphics card and optimize your display during gameplay.

·         NVIDIA Unified Architecture with GigaThread Technology

The fully-unified shader core dynamically allocates processing power to geometry, vertex, physics and pixel shading operations, delivering incredibly true-to-life 3D graphics. In addition, the massively multi-threaded architecture supports thousands of independent, simultaneous threads, providing extreme processing efficiency in advanced, next generation shader programs.

·         Full Microsoft DirectX 10 Support The DirectX 10 GPU with full Shader Model 4.0 support delivers unparalleled levels of graphics realism and film-quality effects.

·         NVIDIA PureVideo HD Technology

The combination of high-definition video decoding acceleration and post-processing delivers unprecedented picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color and precise image scaling for all video content, especially movies.

 

• Core speed : 612MHz (Overclocked to 650MHz)
• Memory speed :2160MHz
• Graphics Bus Technology: PCI Express
• Memory Amount: 768MB DDR3
• Memory Interface: 384-bit
• Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec): 103.7
• Fill Rate (Billion pixels/sec): 39.2
• RAMDACs (MHz)

 

Features & Specifications

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NVIDIA unified architecture: Fully unified shader core dynamically allocates processing power to geometry, vertex, physics, or pixel shading operations, delivering up to 2x the gaming performance of prior generation GPUs. GigaThread Technology: Massively multi-threaded architecture supports thousands of independent, simultaneous threads, providing extreme processing efficiency in advanced, next generation shader programs. Full Microsoft DirectX 10 Support: World's first DirectX 10 GPU with full Shader Model 4.0 support delivers unparalleled levels of graphics realism and film-quality effects. NVIDIA SLI Technology: Delivers up to 2x the performance of a single graphics card configuration for unequaled gaming experiences by allowing two cards to run in parallel. The must-have feature for performance PCI Express graphics, SLI dramatically scales performance on today's hottest games. NVIDIA Lumenex Engine: Delivers stunning image quality and floating point accuracy at ultra-fast frame rates. 16x Anti-aliasing: Lightning fast, high-quality anti-aliasing at up to 16x sample rates obliterates jagged edges. 128-bit floating point High Dynamic-Range (HDR): Twice the precision of prior generations for incredibly realistic lighting effects - now with support for anti-aliasing. NVIDIA Quantum Effects Technology: Advanced shader processors architected for physics computation enable a new level of physics effects to be simulated and rendered on the GPU - all while freeing the CPU to run the game engine and AI. NVIDIA ForceWare Unified Driver Architecture (UDA): Delivers a proven record of compatibility, reliability, and stability with the widest range of games and applications. ForceWare provides the best out-of-box experience and delivers continuous performance and feature updates over the life of NVIDIA GeForce GPUs. OpenGL 2.0 Optimizations and Support: Ensures top-notch compatibility and performance for OpenGL applications. NVIDIA nView Multi-Display Technology: Advanced technology provides the ultimate in viewing flexibility and control for multiple monitors. PCI Express Support: Designed to run perfectly with the PCI Express bus architecture, which doubles the bandwidth of AGP 8X to deliver over 4 GB/sec. in both upstream and downstream data transfers. Built for Microsoft Windows Vista: NVIDIA's fourth-generation GPU architecture built for Windows Vista gives users the best possible experience with the Windows Aero 3D graphical user interface. NVIDIA PureVideo HD Technology: The combination of high-definition video decode acceleration and post-processing that delivers unprecedented picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for movies and video. Discrete, Programmable Video Processor: NVIDIA PureVideo HD is a discrete programmable processing core in NVIDIA GPUs that provides superb picture quality and ultra-smooth movies with low CPU utilization and power.

Hardware Decode Acceleration: Provides ultra-smooth playback of H.264, VC-1, WMV and MPEG-2 HD and SD movies. HDCP Capable: Designed to meet the output protection management (HDCP) and security specifications of the Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats, allowing the playback of encrypted movie content on PCs when connected to HDCP-compliant displays. Spatial-Temporal De-Interlacing: Sharpens HD and standard definition interlaced content on progressive displays, delivering a crisp, clear picture that rivals high-end home-theater systems. High-Quality Scaling: Enlarges lower resolution movies and videos to HDTV resolutions, up to 1080i, while maintaining a clear, clean image. Also provides downscaling of videos, including high-definition, while preserving image detail. Inverse Telecine (3:2 & 2:2 Pulldown Correction): Recovers original film images from films-converted-to-video (DVDs, 1080i HD content), providing more accurate movie playback and superior picture quality. Bad Edit Correction: When videos are edited after they have been converted from 24 to 25 or 30 frames, the edits can disrupt the normal 3:2 or 2:2 pulldown cadences. PureVideo HD uses advanced processing techniques to detect poor edits, recover the original content, and display perfect picture detail frame after frame for smooth, natural looking video. Video Color Correction: NVIDIA's Color Correction Controls, such as Brightness, Contrast and Gamma Correction let you compensate for the different color characteristics of various RGB monitors and TVs ensuring movies are not too dark, overly bright, or washed out regardless of the video format or display type. Integrated SD and HD TV Output: Provides world-class TV-out functionality via Composite, S-Video, Component, or DVI connections. Supports resolutions up to 1080p depending on connection type and TV capability. Noise Reduction: Improves movie image quality by removing unwanted artifacts. Edge Enhancement: Sharpens movie images by providing higher contrast around lines and objects. Dual 400MHz RAMDACs: Blazing-fast RAMDACs support dual QXGA displays with ultra-high, ergonomic refresh rates - up to 2048x1536@85Hz. Dual Dual-link DVI Support: Able to drive the industry's largest and highest resolution flat-panel displays up to 2560x1600

$829.00 RRP

 

MSI MX8800 Ultra Review
by Tareq Kamal Hamdi

www.tbreak.com

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Intro & Packaging

MSI sent us their fastest card for testing- the GeForce 8800 ULTRA with overclocked speeds. Easily, the scores posted in most games by this card are the fastest we’ve seen in our labs for an out-of the-box product. Playing with it feels like having a pair of Gatling guns at your disposal. Lets look at the specifications posted by MSI

·         Core speed : 612MHz (Overclocked to 650MHz)

·         Memory speed :2160MHz

·         Graphics Bus Technology: PCI Express

·         Memory Amount: 768MB DDR3

·         Memory Interface: 384-bit

·         Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec): 103.7

·         Fill Rate (Billion pixels/sec): 39.2

·         RAMDACs (MHz): 400

 

The Ultra has the same size as the 8800GTX which by itself is the largest single GPU graphics card we’ve seen. The fan is relocated on the Ultra with an nVidia logo around it which certainly looks cool. Underneath the fan, nVidia uses a new GPU which is clocked higher than the stock 8800GTX- more on this a bit later.

Like the 8800GTX, the Ultra uses features two SLI Connectors connect to another 8800 Ultra Card. The face of the card has two Dual-Link DVI connectors as well as the Video Output connector. MSI adds yellow caps on the DVI outputs to protect it from damage.

We removed the top black plastic cover from the heatsink to see the cooling function and then the complete heatsink to reach the GPU.

After cleaning the thermal paste, you can see the Ultra GPU is modeled as G80-450-A3. Even the RAM chips used on the Ultra (Samsung BJ08) are faster- running at 0.8ns compared to the GTX’s 1ns. The last picture is of the chip that is responsible for the Shader speed.

Testbed

Testbed

 

CPU:	Intel Core 2 Extreme 2.93GHz
Memory:	2 x 1GB Corsair DDR2-1066MHz Dominator Memory Modules
Motherboard:	ASUS Blitz Formula
Optical/Hard Drives:	Generic 8X DVDRW, Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM/8MB Cache SATA
Monitor:	LG 19" Monitor
Operating System:	Windows Vista Ultimate - 32bit
Drivers:	Intel 8.2.0.1014 Chipset Drivers and nVidia Forceware 158.24 Drivers

We've recently upgraded our testbed to Vista as far as graphics card are concerend and have introduced a lot of new games under both DirectX 9 and DirectX 10. The following is the list of games we've tested.

Benchmarks

 

Company of Heroes:	Direct-X 9 and Direct-X 10. Using built-in benchmark
Counter-Strike: Source & HL2 Lost Coast:	Direct-X 9: Built-in benchmarks
F.E.A.R.:	Direct-X 9: Built-in benchmark
Lost Planet:	Direct-X 9 and Direct-X 10. Using demo version built-in benchmark
Prey:	Direct-X 9, using timedemo from TPUBench
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.	Direct-X 9, using timedemo
Supreme Commander:	Using built-in benchmark
Word in Conflict:	Direct-X 9 and Direct-X 10, Beta version, built-in benchmark

If you would like for us to add any additional benchmarking software, please email us at [email protected]

World in Conflict - DirectX 10

World in Conflict DX10 (1600x1200- 0X AA/AF)
Product Score Higher is better>>> Difference MSI 8800 Ultra 24 GeForce 8800GTX 22 -8% Radeon HD2900XT 11 -54%

 

World in Conflict DX10 (1600x1200- 4X AA / 16X AF)
Product Score Higher is better>>> Difference MSI 8800 Ultra 22 GeForce 8800GTX 21 -5% Radeon HD2900XT 9 -59%

 

World in Conflict DX10 (2048x1536- 0X AA/AF)
Product Score Higher is better>>> Difference MSI 8800 Ultra 18 GeForce 8800GTX 17 -6% Radeon HD2900XT 10 -44%

 

World in Conflict DX10 (2048x1536- 4X AA / 16X AF)
Product Score Higher is better>>> Difference MSI 8800 Ultra 17 GeForce 8800GTX 16 -6% Radeon HD2900XT 7 -59%

Conclusion

 

We dont need to tell you that the MSI 8800 Ultra is the fastest graphic card in our labs at the moment. The massive round-up of games that we tested the card under speaks for itself. The 8800 Ultra managed to stay on top of the 8800GTX as well as the HD 2900XT comfortably under most games. The only game it was bested in by the HD 2900XT is World in Conflict beta under DirectX 10 when AA and AF was disabled.

The card does run hot but is extremely silent. MSI does a good job by bundling Company of Heroes which is one of the best games of last year. The only downside to the Ultra is the pricing. In Dubai, the card runs for AED 3250/- which is about US$900. For that amount, you can get two Radeon HD 2900XTs and run them in Crossfire for possibly better performance. This is something we'll check in an upcoming article. Still, the 8800 Ultra remains the fastest graphics card for now.