CONTENTS

1. Video card's features
2. Testbed configuration, test tools, 2D quality
3. Performance comparison
4. Conclusion

Last time when we were reviewing the FX5600 Ultra based video card from Gainward we touched upon the problem of two variations of the 5600 Ultra chip available on the market. Below are also reviews of graphics cards we examined before:

Theoretical materials and reviews of video cards which concern functional properties of the GPU NVIDIA GeForce FX

• Analysis of the architecture of NVIDIA NV30 (GeForce FX)
• NVIDIA GeForce FX 5800 Ultra (NV30) - single-page review
• NVIDIA GeForce FX 5800 Ultra (NV30) - multi-page review
• NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra (NV31) and GeForce FX 5200 Ultra (NV34) - single-page review
• NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra (NV31) and GeForce FX 5200 Ultra (NV34) - multi-page review
• ASUS V9900 Ultra on NVIDIA GeForce FX 5800 Ultra - AA and anisotropy quality
• Gainward FX Powerpack Ultra/1000 Golden Sample and Gainward FX Powerpack Pro/660 TV/DVI on NVIDIA GeForce FX 5800 Ultra and 5200 - scaling (performance vs. CPU clock speed) of GeForce FX 5800 Ultra, performance of GeForce FX 5200
• Leadtek WinFast A300 Ultra MyVIVO on NVIDIA GeForce FX 5800 Ultra - performance of GeForce FX 5800 Ultra vs. CPU clock speed in heavy modes with AA and anisotropy enabled
• MSI FX5800 Ultra-TD8X on NVIDIA GeForce FX 5800 Ultra
• Albatron, Chaintech, Gainward, InnoVision, Leadtek, Palit and Prolink video cards on NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
• ASUSTeK NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200/5600 video cards
• MSI FX5600-VTDR128 (MS-8912) card on NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600
• Albatron, Leadtek and MSI video cards on the NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
• Prolink PixelView GeForce FX 5600 256MB Golden Limited on NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600
• Gainward FX PowerPack Ultra/760 XP Golden Sample on NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra (new revision)

Yet in the beginning of spring when the NV31/NV34 were announced, the higher-level NV31 named GeForce FX 5600 Ultra was clocked at 350/350 (700) MHz. Such cards were anticipated by the end of April.

But the child delivery turned to be much harder than expected. Probably, the successful arrival of ATI's RADEON 9600 PRO and the pressure from the partners who didn't like that the difference between the 5600 and the 5600 Ultra was only 25MHz made NVIDIA reconsider the frequencies of its FX5600 Ultra and start working on the second revision to let the processor run confidently at 400 MHz. Plus, the memory's access time was to be set 2.2ns instead of 2.8ns to make it able to maintain 400(800) MHz without redesigning the PCB.

That resulted in the new specifications which are now available at the NVIDIA's site where it's said that the fillrate is 1600 M texels. Divide it by 4 texture units and you will get the core frequency of 400 MHz. That's nice, and the Gainward's card reviewed last time proves that everything is OK.

But! Either NVIDIA had its plans changed too late, or they brought out a certain number of the previous 5600 Ultra in the FCPGA package, or there was a marketing trick, or the previously released chips got to the manufacturers by mistake and it could trigger big losses to call the chips back, but the cards carrying the previous GeForce FX 5600 Ultra clocked at 350 MHz and coupled with the 2.8ns memory of the same frequency got onto the market.

The saddest thing is that both NVIDIA's solutions have identical names:

This is the older GPU, 350 MHz

The newer GPU, 400 MHz

So, the packages are different, the frequencies are different but the names are the same. On the store shelves you can see video cards based on the different chips (like GeForce4 Ti 4200 and 4600) but with the same words on the boxes and cards: GeForce FX 5600 Ultra.

It's simply a disgrace! One has to call a spade a spade. First ATI confused us with their RADEON 9000 - RADEON 9200 which were equal in speed and the RADEON 9200 turned to be slower than the 9100, and now there are two different 5600 Ultra and something wrong happening in the NVIDIA's marketing department.

Users will again have difficulty in choosing cards because the traders can easily pass off 350MHz cards as 400MHz ones, and most people who don't use the Internet or PC press can be easily deceived. I just hope that companies which have already released the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 350 MHz will name 400MHz cards differently. However, the rumor has it that there are currently some problems with the mass production of the new ultras.

But while the new revision is still on its way to the market, the 350 MHz cards are already on sale. That is why we decided to find out what such cards can offer us, especially because there were several driver versions released after the preproduction samples got here.

So, today we are dealing with the Leadtek FX 5600 Ultra (350 MHz). It looks exactly like the previously reviewed GeForce FX 5200 Ultra based card.

Leadtek is well known for a careful quality control its cards go through; besides, its retail packages always contain some games and other useful software; finally, you can always find some peculiarities and unusual designer's thoughts incarnated in its cards. Unfortunately, as Leadtek is getting more popular in Russia, the traders raise prices for its products, and even the price leader ASUS takes the second position in this respect.

But let's leave the sad things aside and have a look at the card itself.

Card

Leadtek WinFast A310 Ultra MyVIVO

AGP x8/x4/x2 interface, 128 MB DDR SDRAM in 8 chips on the front and back PCB sides.
Leadtek WinFast A310 Ultra MyVIVO
Hynix memory chips of 2.8ns access time; it corresponds to 350 (700) MHz. The memory works at the same frequency, the GPU runs at 350 MHz. 128bit memory interface.

Comparison with the reference design, front view
Leadtek WinFast A310 Ultra MyVIVO	Reference card NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra

Comparison with the reference design, back view
Leadtek WinFast A310 Ultra MyVIVO	Reference card NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 Ultra

Last time we mentioned that all new 5600 Ultra (like 5200 Ultra) are based on the reference design with slight changes. It's quite possible that NVIDIA released a new version of the reference card, but we don't have it, that is why we can compare only to the older one. Now, look at the cooler. Leadtek WinFast A310 Ultra MyVIVO You all know how much Leadtek is fond of experiments with coolers. This time they offer an effective and relatively small cooler with the heatsink covering both GPU and memory chips on top. On the backside you can see an ordinary flat fin heatsink. The fan grill looks perfect. The card is equipped with the Philips 7114 codec for the VIVO control: The TV-out functions lie on the shoulders of the GeForce FX 5600 chip (the Philips 7114 is used only for VI). Now let's see what the box contains:

Leadtek WinFast A310 Ultra MyVIVO
User Guide, CDs with drivers and utilities, 2 games, S-Video-to-RCA, DVI-to-d-Sub adapter, VIVO splitter, s/w for VIVO.

Leadtek WinFast A310 Ultra MyVIVO
This is a stylish box in austere colors without unnecessary pictures. The mirror-like cover looks excellent.

Test results: comparison of the cards' performance Conventional signs: ANISO 8xP - Anisotropic 8x Performance (earlier it was called Balanced), ANISO 8xQ - Anisotropic 8x Quality, ANISO 16xQ - Anisotropic 16x Quality. Test applications: Return to Castle Wolfenstein (MultiPlayer) (id Software/Activision) - OpenGL, multitexturing, Checkpoint-demo, test settings - maximum, S3TC OFF, the configurations can be downloaded from here Serious Sam: The Second Encounter v.1.05 (Croteam/GodGames) - OpenGL, multitexturing, Grand Cathedral demo, test settings: quality, S3TC OFF Quake3 Arena v.1.17 (id Software/Activision) - OpenGL, multitexturing, Quaver, test settings - maximum: detailing level - High, texture detailing level - #4, S3TC OFF, smoothness of curves is much increased through variables r_subdivisions "1" and r_lodCurveError "30000" (at default r_lodCurveError is 250 !), the configurations can be downloaded from here Unreal Tournament 2003 Demo (Digital Extreme/Epic Games) - Direct3D, Vertex Shaders, Hardware T&L, Dot3, cube texturing, default quality Code Creatures Benchmark Pro (CodeCult) - the game that demonstrates card's operation in DirectX 8.1, Shaders, HW T&L. AquaMark (Massive Development) the game that demonstrates card's operation in DirectX 8.1, Shaders, HW T&L. RightMark 3D v.0.4 (one of game scenes) - DirectX 8.1, Dot3, cube texturing, shadow buffers, vertex and pixel shaders (1.1, 1.4). Quake3 Arena, Quaver The card tested Compared to: Performance difference, % 1024x768 1280x1024 1600x1200 Leadtek FX5600 U R9600 PRO 15,5 14,9 18,4 Leadtek FX5600 U GF FX 5600 15,3 17,7 18,8 Leadtek FX5600 U GF4 Ti 4600 -9,6 -18,8 -19,6 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x R9600 PRO AA 4x 15,3 2,9 -8,0 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF FX 5600 AA 4x 19,8 22,2 25,5 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x 13,3 18,6 18,8 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ R9600 PRO AA 16xQ 6,4 8,1 12,5 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ GF FX 5600 ANIS 8xQ 15,7 16,5 17,7 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ GF4 Ti 4600 ANIS 8x -7,9 -3,4 1,2 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP R9600 PRO ANIS 16xQ 52,1 48,6 47,3 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP GF FX 5600 ANIS 8xP 15,8 16,8 17,7 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP GF4 Ti 4600 ANIS 8x 31,6 32,9 32,5 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xQ R9600 PRO AA 4x+ANIS 16xQ 8,9 1,9 -6,5 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xQ GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x+ANIS 8x 3,9 11,5 12,0 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xP R9600 PRO AA 4x+ANIS 16xQ 39,1 30,8 22,8 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xP GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x+ANIS 8x 32,7 43,1 47,1 Serious Sam: The Second Encounter, Grand Cathedral The card tested Compared to: Performance difference, % 1024x768 1280x1024 1600x1200 Leadtek FX5600 U R9600 PRO -18,5 -24,6 -13,2 Leadtek FX5600 U GF FX 5600 10,5 12,3 14,5 Leadtek FX5600 U GF4 Ti 4600 -7,7 -13,8 -16,5 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x R9600 PRO AA 4x -22,0 -22,8 -15,0 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF FX 5600 AA 4x 16,4 21,8 26,2 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x 33,3 34,6 20,9 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ R9600 PRO AA 16xQ 10,2 19,2 31,6 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ GF FX 5600 ANIS 8xQ 10,2 11,9 13,5 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ GF4 Ti 4600 ANIS 8x 21,0 26,7 31,1 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP R9600 PRO ANIS 16xQ 22,6 31,6 48,0 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP GF FX 5600 ANIS 8xP 8,4 9,1 12,1 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP GF4 Ti 4600 ANIS 8x 34,6 39,9 47,4 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xQ R9600 PRO AA 4x+ANIS 16xQ 11,2 12,8 19,3 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xQ GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x+ANIS 8x 36,9 42,1 62,1 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xP R9600 PRO AA 4x+ANIS 16xQ 22,6 30,6 54,8 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xP GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x+ANIS 8x 50,9 64,6 110,3 Return to Castle Wolfenstein (Multiplayer), Checkpoint The card tested Compared to: Performance difference, % 1024x768 1280x1024 1600x1200 Leadtek FX5600 U R9600 PRO 4,0 8,9 24,3 Leadtek FX5600 U GF FX 5600 4,8 14,9 21,1 Leadtek FX5600 U GF4 Ti 4600 -5,5 -9,3 -12,3 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x R9600 PRO AA 4x 9,4 3,0 -2,6 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF FX 5600 AA 4x 18,9 25,2 30,9 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x 21,1 29,2 30,2 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ R9600 PRO AA 16xQ 14,6 15,2 22,6 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ GF FX 5600 ANIS 8xQ 13,0 17,2 20,3 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ GF4 Ti 4600 ANIS 8x 8,1 12,4 17,4 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP R9600 PRO ANIS 16xQ 41,2 57,6 65,2 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP GF FX 5600 ANIS 8xP 5,1 14,7 20,0 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP GF4 Ti 4600 ANIS 8x 33,2 53,8 58,2 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xQ R9600 PRO AA 4x+ANIS 16xQ 18,1 10,1 2,2 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xQ GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x+ANIS 8x 20,3 29,3 23,0 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xP R9600 PRO AA 4x+ANIS 16xQ 50,1 28,9 22,8 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xP GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x+ANIS 8x 52,9 51,4 47,9 Code Creatures The card tested Compared to: Performance difference, % 1024x768 1280x1024 1600x1200 Leadtek FX5600 U R9600 PRO -5,8 -9,7 -12,4 Leadtek FX5600 U GF FX 5600 19,6 16,7 27,0 Leadtek FX5600 U GF4 Ti 4600 -24,7 -29,4 -33,9 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x R9600 PRO AA 4x 17,3 6,3 16,4 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF FX 5600 AA 4x 19,7 25,5 37,1 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x -1,1 12,4 14,9 Unreal Tournament 2003 DEMO The card tested Compared to: Performance difference, % 1024x768 1280x1024 1600x1200 Leadtek FX5600 U R9600 PRO 2,3 4,0 12,9 Leadtek FX5600 U GF FX 5600 12,8 14,1 14,8 Leadtek FX5600 U GF4 Ti 4600 -14,4 -13,2 -12,5 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x R9600 PRO AA 4x 4,7 -7,8 8,4 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF FX 5600 AA 4x 17,6 21,9 10,0 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x 38,9 44,4 5,5 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ R9600 PRO AA 16xQ 10,0 9,4 14,8 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ GF FX 5600 ANIS 8xQ 11,5 12,3 13,3 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ GF4 Ti 4600 ANIS 8x 76,6 82,5 87,3 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP R9600 PRO ANIS 16xQ 21,0 18,8 23,1 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP GF FX 5600 ANIS 8xP 11,6 12,2 13,1 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP GF4 Ti 4600 ANIS 8x 94,3 98,2 100,9 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xQ R9600 PRO AA 4x+ANIS 16xQ 11,5 -0,3 34,7 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xQ GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x+ANIS 8x 75,7 75,8 80,3 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xP R9600 PRO AA 4x+ANIS 16xQ 20,3 5,9 178,4 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xP GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x+ANIS 8x 89,8 86,5 272,5 AquaMark The card tested Compared to: Performance difference, % 1024x768 1280x1024 1600x1200 Leadtek FX5600 U R9600 PRO 1,7 4,9 19,2 Leadtek FX5600 U GF FX 5600 9,4 11,7 26,7 Leadtek FX5600 U GF4 Ti 4600 -20,4 -25,1 -17,8 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x R9600 PRO AA 4x -9,6 -10,8 -14,8 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF FX 5600 AA 4x 11,3 18,0 26,9 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x 20,7 24,5 0,8 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ R9600 PRO AA 16xQ 10,1 15,8 26,2 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ GF FX 5600 ANIS 8xQ 9,3 11,5 19,1 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ GF4 Ti 4600 ANIS 8x 122,5 140,0 220,8 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP R9600 PRO ANIS 16xQ 29,0 42,1 52,5 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP GF FX 5600 ANIS 8xP 9,0 15,0 17,2 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP GF4 Ti 4600 ANIS 8x 160,5 194,4 287,5 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xQ R9600 PRO AA 4x+ANIS 16xQ 2,7 17,2 5,2 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xQ GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x+ANIS 8x 111,6 137,0 148,8 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xP R9600 PRO AA 4x+ANIS 16xQ 8,0 24,2 23,7 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xP GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x+ANIS 8x 122,6 151,1 192,7 RightMark 3D The card tested Compared to: Performance difference, % 1024x768 1280x1024 1600x1200 Leadtek FX5600 U R9600 PRO -43,9 -41,8 -38,2 Leadtek FX5600 U GF FX 5600 9,8 9,5 9,9 Leadtek FX5600 U GF4 Ti 4600 -39,4 -39,7 -39,8 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x R9600 PRO AA 4x -38,5 -37,5 -19,7 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF FX 5600 AA 4x 11,5 12,4 14,8 Leadtek FX5600 U AA 4x GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x -28,1 -22,8 -13,8 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ R9600 PRO AA 16xQ -42,7 -40,2 -37,4 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ GF FX 5600 ANIS 8xQ 10,3 11,4 11,8 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xQ GF4 Ti 4600 ANIS 8x -39,1 -36,5 -35,1 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP R9600 PRO ANIS 16xQ -33,3 -29,9 -29,2 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP GF FX 5600 ANIS 8xP 10,6 13,0 9,6 Leadtek FX5600 U ANIS 8xP GF4 Ti 4600 ANIS 8x -29,2 -25,6 -26,6 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xQ R9600 PRO AA 4x+ANIS 16xQ -27,7 -28,0 -14,6 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xQ GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x+ANIS 8x -21,1 -14,1 -9,4 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xP R9600 PRO AA 4x+ANIS 16xQ -26,6 -23,7 -0,6 Leadtek FX5600 U AA4x+ANIS8xP GF4 Ti 4600 AA 4x+ANIS 8x -20,0 -9,1 5,4

Well, the scores are lower as compared to the 400MHz card, but still, it performs quite well with the anisotropy and AA enabled. The tests with shaders used in quantity failed but by arrival of such games the 5600 Ultra cards must become cheap enough because by that time the NV4x family will replace the current middle-end class.

Remember once again that modern accelerators should be used with the quality improving modes of AA and anisotropy. In this respect the 5600 Ultra justifies the money users pay (over $200 for the middle of June). If you have a GeForce4 Ti and you are interested in AA and/or anisotropy it doesn't make sense to consider cards weaker than GeForce FX 5800 (or RADEON 9700 PRO).

As to the VIVO, its operation was partially discussed in the reviews listed above. Also, it will be highlighted in Aleksei Samsonov's review of the Philips 7114.

Conclusion

The Leadtek WinFast A310 Ultra MyVIVO can give you:

1. a higher speed in AA and/or anisotropy than its competitors (RADEON 9600 Pro or GF4Ti 4600);
2. potentially more technological solution with the DX9 support (such games are right around the corner already);
3. VIVO support;
   
4. pleasure from the high-quality product equipped with a rich retail package.

In our 3Digest you can find full comparison characteristics for video cards of this and other classes.

Again, remember that there are two types of the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra cards on the market - with the frequency of 350MHz and 400 MHz. Be careful!