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For testing today we built a system specifically based around the Intel Core i5 760 processor (check out this article). nVidia have recommended that the GTS450 should be tested at a maximum of 1680×1050, but as we received an overclocked edition we have pushed some of the engines to 1080p (1920×1080).
KitGuru is all about buying advice. Life is all about choices. We're going to compare MSI's Cyclone against several cards that you're likely to consider alongside nVidia's latest offering, including Sapphire's HD5770 Vapor X and a standard HD5750.
The GTX460 has also been included to show what you can expect if you decide to part with a little extra cash.
Main System:
Processor: Intel Core i5 760 @ 4.2ghz
Memory: Corsair Dominator with Air Flow Pro @ 1600mhz
Motherboard: ASRock P55 Extreme4
Power Supply: Thermaltake ToughPower XT 675W
Case: Bitfenix Colossus
Cooler: Corsair H70
Monitor: iiyama ProLite E2472HDD
Comparison video cards:
Sapphire HD5770 Vapor X – 860mhz core/1200mhz memory
HD5750 – 700 mhz core/1150 mhz memory
GTX 460 OC 715mhz core / 900 memory
Technical Equipment:
Keithley Integra unit
Thermal Diodes
Raytek Laser Temp Gun 3i LSRC/MT4 Mini Temp
SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa)
Software:
Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate Edition
Forceware Driver 260.52
Catalyst 10.8
FRAPS Professional
GPU Z
CPU Z
MSI Afterburner
Furmark
Unigine Heaven Benchmark 2.1
3DMark Vantage
Stone Giant Benchmark
Resident Evil 5
Tom Clancy HAWX
Mafia 2
Aliens V Predator
Far Cry 2
Metro 2033
HQV Benchmark 2.1
All the latest BIOS updates and drivers are used during testing. We perform under real world conditions, meaning KitGuru tests all games across five closely matched runs and averages out the results to get an accurate median figure.
Our minimum frame rate game graphs have three main zones. These are sampled over a specific 30 interval period of time and then mapped into a chart. These are handy reference guides to detail worst case performance of the product being reviewed. When we test video cards we try to find the best combination of resolution and image quality settings while still maintaining playable frame rates.
Over 30fps is the zone most people want at all times, this means perfectly smooth frame rates with no hitching.
Between 30fps and 25fps is the KitGuru ‘Playable’ zone, although some people might notice occasional stuttering in specific scenes.
Under 25fps is classed as the KitGuru ‘Danger Zone’ which means that the game experience will be less than impressive. Settings and/or resolution would need lowered to help smooth out the frame rate.
Seems ilke a really good little card from nvidida again
performance seems close to HD5770, with these overclocked solutions anyway
seems a little too late to me, with ATIs new range around the corner
seems a little too late with atis new range around the corner
It is a very good card to be fair and I think the review shows that. even though these are overclocked boards, it seems that reference solutions with this product are thin on the ground ! I see a few partner cards are clocked at 930mhz core !!
It just seems to me, and no offense to nvidia that this is just too late, I hear strong rumours that new ATI series might even hit in a months time !
Whats with the GTX460 pricing? some of the 768mb cards this morning dropped to the same price as overclocked 450s?! they are pricing themselves out of the game. total mess.
I am not that impressed with this. 460 is the way to go, still. especially as the prices of 460 have dropped so much.
IT is the biggest issue with the product. the timing is all wrong. 6 months ago, it would have been great. in september 2010? im not sold. its on the tail end of ATI’s last generation really which have been selling all year.
I hate knocking a company cause the 450 is a very good card with great tessellation performance, as all fermi cards have, but its not the knockout punch in this sector that nvidia would want. I spent all morning reading reviews and while some always will say different things in certain games and tests, the overall view is that the ATI cards are still competitive. thats not really good considering the difference between launch times.
bit of a non event really, everyone is waiting on the next generation cards now.
Its a good enough card, well priced, but very boring really 🙁
Tessellation performance is excellent as expected, but until more games use it, its just a selling point for nvidia. Nothing really uses it right now. metro 2033 a little.
I wonder why nVidia feel the need to restrict SLi on these lower end boards where you can only use the 450/460 in 2xSLi? Compared to ATi, whose 5750/5770’s are still Quadfire enabled. Especially since SLi seems to scale so well at the moment, I wonder if 4×450’s would completely hammer 3 or 4 5770’s? And I’d LOVE to see 3 or 4 460’s in SLi.
Crossfire X that is, not Quadfire.