![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Monday , January 25, 2010
- Author:
- Matthew Krysiak
- Editor:
- Brent Justice
- Google +1
ASUS EAH5750 Formula Video Card Review
Today we have the ASUS EAH5750 Formula video card on our test bench and we put it through its paces. The ASUS EAH5750 Formula offers a big custom heatsink and fan unit, but the big question is does it offer any advantages to gamers or is it just a lot of hot air?
DiRT 2
DiRT 2, the first DX11 game title released is here. Check out our thorough Gameplay Performance and Image Quality evaluation for information about this new game. We are using the full version today. Our run-through is detailed on page three of our Gameplay Performance and Image Quality evaluation. In order to benefit from DX11’s Tessellation you have to run with the "Ultra" settings and you have to be running in DX11 mode on a DX11 video card.
Highest Playable Settings
In DiRT 2 , the ASUS EAH5750 Formula was playable at 1920x1200, no AA, 16X AF, using the DirectX 11 API, and using "High" in-game settings. With the lack of DirectX 11 support on the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 we were forced to use the DirectX 9 API and found that 1920x1200, 4X MSAA, 16X AF, and "Ultra" in-game settings to be playable. The ASUS EAH5750 was also playable at these settings in DirectX 9 mode but in order to do so you must edit one of the games configuration files to force DX9.
In DirectX 9 mode "Ambient Occlusion" settings disappears and Tessellation is off since they both are DirectX 11 effects. This means that even though the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 was using "Ultra" settings we still weren’t getting the best image quality that DiRT 2 has to offer. The ASUS EAH5750 Formula on the other hand was able to play with "Ambient Occlusion" on "High" but we weren’t able to benefit from DX11’s other effect, Tessellation since the "Ultra" settings were out of our reach. In the end though being able to play with either API gave the EAH5750 Formula the advantage in DiRT 2. Since not only were we able to experience DirectX 11 but if we forced DirectX 9 mode we were still able to get the same gameplay experience that the GeForce GTS 250 was.
Apples-to-Apples
For our Apples-to-Apples comparison we forced DirectX 9 mode in DiRT 2’s configuration file for our ASUS EAH5750 Formula and used the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250’s highest playable settings. At these settings, the EAH5750 Formula was able to achieve the higher average framerate of 43.5 with the GeForce GTS 250 right on its heels at 42.2 FPS. Of course, we cannot test DX11 performance in an apples-to-apples environment.
Image Quality
In our first screenshot comparison we can see one of the most notable advantages of being able to use AA. Note the course route on the HUD on the top of the screen, something that we spend a lot of time looking at during the race, on the left with no AA there is terrible aliasing on it but on the right there isn’t. While that was one of the major benefits for us you can also see more examples of the benefits of AA on the flag posts, building edges, and railings in the screenshot.
In our second screenshot comparison you can still see the improvements that AA can bring but this one is more for "Ambient Occlusion." Notice the guy and the girl leaning up against the trailer and how on the left with the ASUS EAH5750 there is a shadow on the trailer and with the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 there isn’t. Also keep in mind the EAH5750 can match these settings and image quality while in DX9 mode as well and it is playable. The EAH5750 simply gives us more options.