Company of Heroes Performance
Company of Heroes includes a built-in performance test that consists of the cut scene prior to the first mission. We have found that the performance generally reflects in-game performance, although some of the larger firefights may run somewhat slower.
The quick and dirty summary is that the 8600 cards perform way lower than we'd like when running Company of Heroes. The 8600 GTS is able to match performance with the 7900 GS, and the 8600 GT keeps up with the X1650 XT. We are disappointed with the performance of G84 as compared to older hardware in this case. Features are great to add, but we need to see market leading price/performance at the introduction of new hardware. This launch feels more like a case of two steps forward, two steps back.
Company of Heroes includes a built-in performance test that consists of the cut scene prior to the first mission. We have found that the performance generally reflects in-game performance, although some of the larger firefights may run somewhat slower.
The quick and dirty summary is that the 8600 cards perform way lower than we'd like when running Company of Heroes. The 8600 GTS is able to match performance with the 7900 GS, and the 8600 GT keeps up with the X1650 XT. We are disappointed with the performance of G84 as compared to older hardware in this case. Features are great to add, but we need to see market leading price/performance at the introduction of new hardware. This launch feels more like a case of two steps forward, two steps back.
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xpose - Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - link
How does H.264 video decoding work? Do I need to use a special powerdvd with special nvidia drivers for this to work? Or can I simply just get the latest nvidia drivers and use whatever media player I want to take advantage of this?RamIt - Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - link
Why no benchmarks for source based games?Yongsta - Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - link
There should be a 8700 series to bridge the gap, since the 8600 is a dissappointment. Gone are the days when you could get a $150 card and get the performance of a $300+ card. Ti4200 (overclock to Ti4600) or Radeon 9500 (softmod to 9700), etc!ssidbroadcast - Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - link
Does anyone else think that us enthusiasts are expecting too much out of nVidia? The 8600 line clearly beats out it's 7600 counterpart, I think it might be expecting too much for the g84 to handily outdo a 7900 or an X1950. These are the BEST of last year, ppl! The best their engineers could do and only a year ago, or less! Why should we expect a MID-RANGE card too wallop the HIGH-RANGE of last year?Just a thought.
Live - Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - link
Because they have done so for the last years?Spoelie - Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - link
http://legionhardware.com/document.php?id=637">http://legionhardware.com/document.php?id=637For namesake alone they should have called the 8600GTS the 8600GT,
and the 8600GT the 8600GS
which would indicate there performance a bit more out of a history perspective. Dunno if the 8600GTS provides the jumps expected from the last generation
shabby - Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - link
Its been available on newegg since the other 8600 cards came out last week. If nvidia's partners shipped those cards to stores why couldnt they ship one to you guys?mongo lloyd - Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - link
Have you actually tested this? Seeing as it was bloody madness to get it to work half-assedly on 6xxx and 7xxx cards (not even including the fact that nvidia screwed up support for it in every other driver release, and not disclosing that fact, or even acknowledging that they had broken it), it seems not so smart to just take it at face value.
I swear the quality of Anandtech articles has been declining...
Hippiekiller - Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - link
Heres to hoping they make an 8700 series, or AMD can fill in the performance gap between these cards and the 320 8800.I am not willing to pay 300+ anymore.
ochentay4 - Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - link
please explain me why do i need h.264 100% decoding on hardware when there are free decoders that already do that (and nvidias charges you for this cards like if you where buying a rocket) and the most important thing is that it is supposed that you will be using these cards when relatively new pcs that can already play h.264 without a single frame drop... see, dx10 is for vista, and h.264 is for hd video, so its likely that the user has a really good pc.my 2 cents!