The Games of Christmas '08: GPU Performance Part 1

Far Cry 2: DX9 GPU Performance

Even though Far Cry 2 has its own built-in benchmarking tool with some flythroughs and “action scenes”, we decided to record our own timedemo consisting of about 7 minutes of game time. It involves everything from run-and-gun fights to fire effects.


1680 X 1050



2560 X 1600


It seems that in its DX9 iteration, Far Cry 2 really benefits when the card you are using has over 512MB of memory. Is 512MB the new 256MB? It is too early to tell but as games increase the number and complexity of textures, it is a distinct possibility. That being said, in this particular instance the HD 4870 1GB really comes into its own since it beats a GTX 260 216 with minor overclocks in three out of four tests. Personally, I find the most telling result here to be the final high resolution benchmark which shows just how much of a different there is between the 1GB and 512MB versions of the same ATI card.

In the lower-end of the spectrum, the 9800 GTX+ provides some stiff competition against the HD 4850 and manages to provide playable framerates more often than not. However, when AA is turned on at 1680 X 1050m we are able to see where the strengths of the HD 4850 lies.