Introduction

Between the GeForce GTX 460 and the GeForce GTX, a fairly large performance gap of more than 30 percent gap 560 TI. What would have been still absolutely normal a few years ago, is rather unusual in 2011, because especially in the low and medium-sized Preisgefügen, the 3D-Probanden cavort so closely to narrow that follows usually in steps of ten the next product.

In addition, NVIDIA is certainly not just right, that is the Radeon HD 6850 mostly before the GeForce GTX 460 and the Radeon HD 5850 is living a relatively safe existence of the “old guard”. This end is to now and NVIDIA sends the GeForce GTX 560 (without TI) on the market.

The special thing about the show: Unlike all other video cards are there no real reference design. The manufacturer allows for a wide margin at the frequencies, so that almost no GeForce GTX 560 of others to the same.

We have the MSI GeForce GTX 560 twin Frozr II and the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 560 AMP! invited for this article in our test lab, both have to prove whether they are worth their money.

Key technical data

Technically the GeForce GTX 560 is no too exciting product, because in the end it is 560 Ti, which has strong similarities with the GeForce GTX 460 apart of the clock rates, only a slightly attenuated GeForce GTX. As a GPU is on the run of the current GF114 used, which is manufactured in the 40-nm process from TSMC.

Thus the improvements compared to the predecessor of GF104 are automatically available. So NVIDIA has investigated all transistors on the GF104 and used on the GF114 (if possible) with a slower switching time, to be able to save more on power consumption.

On the GeForce GTX 560, a streaming multiprocessors (SM) of GF114 is disabled by default so that seven SMs are active. Pro SM, there are 48 of scalar beer, which can calculate a MADD (multiply-ADD) per cycle. This makes a total 336 Shadereinheiten – exactly as many as on the GeForce GTX 460.

A texture clusters with eight full text ureinheiten is connected to every SM, that can address a pixel and texture. 56 TMUs are left of the up to 64 TMUs. Do not forget be allowed the seven “sleep” engines (one per SM), for the geometry and tessellation performance of the GPU are responsible.

On the GeForce GTX 560, there are four 64-bit wide memory controller, which generates a 256-bit memory interface. Thus, VRAM sizes of 1,024 MB and 2,048 MB are possible, that will come on the market. Each controller as usual hangs a ROP cluster with eight ROPs, which makes the number to its 32 faltered.

On the “standard clock rates” of the GeForce GTX 560 is only so much say that there are no requirements of NVIDIA and the manufacturers to have free hand. Makes it currently appears currently as the slowest graphics card with a TMU domain 810 MHz, a Shaderfrequenz of 1,620 MHz and a memory clock of 2.004 MHz would work. This apparently is the minimum benefit, a GeForce GTX-560-buyer is received, we have determined this information as a “Standard” for a GeForce GTX 560. Most Partner cards will work expected to be a little faster, but the differences should be but rarely felt.

The fastest known GeForce GTX 560 works, however, with 950 MHz or 1900 MHz (as and shader clock), while the GDDR5 memory with 2,200 to works. In the latter, there will be still faster Partner cards, with 2.244 MHz likely to the maximum.

Due to the numerous different clock rates, there is no indication of the maximum power consumption from NVIDIA. On Windows it should focus strongly 560 TI on the GeForce GTX; MSI is for the GeForce GTX 560 twin Frozr II (with and without OC) to a value of 150 Watts – 20 Watts less than with TI-version. According to NVIDIA, there will be two six pin power plug at each design.

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The test candidate

MSI GeForce GTX 560 twin Frozr II OC

MSI sends for the launch of two different “GeForce GTX 560″ variants in the race: the GeForce GTX 560 twin Frozr II (available for the time being not in Germany), as well as the somewhat flottere GeForce GTX 560 twin Frozr II OC, where is has met the latter with us in the test lab. From 185 EUR, the Accelerator from today on the market should be available.

MSI GeForce GTX 560 twin Frozr II OC looks visually absolutely identical to the GeForce GTX 560 TI twin Frozr II in OC, as the manufacturer apparently took the “older” graphics card as a template. The PCB is a not quite cm 23 in length, with the cooler on the PCB out rises and the total length of the video card is so 24 cm. Two six pin power plug are necessary for the maximum power consumption, according to MSI amounting to 150 watts.

The cooler comes from the famous twin-Frozr II series and has no surprises. A cooling block of aluminium, where in turn many aluminum lamellas find their place, which occupy almost the entire front of the card, is placed directly on the GF114-GPU. In addition, there are four heatpipes.

Two large in diameter 75 mm axial fans provide the necessary fresh air and an active fan control to keep them in check – we investigate whether this works in the cooling section. Newly added to come is a small heat sink that is placed on the power supply. These remains of the remaining twin-Frozr II cards usually untreated.

TMU domain of the MSI GeForce GTX 560 twin Frozr II OC is the Shaderdomäne with 1,740 MHz and the 1024 MB GDDR5 memory produced by Samsung, 2,040 MHz approached 870 MHz,. Windows clock to the components on 51, 101 and 135 MHz down to to save electricity.

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The bracket is with two dual-link DVI-as well as provide a mini HDMI output of the generation 1.4a. The facilities of the MSI card is composed of two electricity, a DVI to D-SUB-as well as a mini-HDMI to HDMI-adapter together. There is a driver CD with the hotel’s own Afterburner tool software supplement.

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ZOTAC GeForce GTX 560 AMP!

The NVIDIA-exclusive board partners ZOTAC will send four different models in the dealer shelves to the launch of the GeForce GTX 560: A normal GeForce GTX 560 with an own cooler, a 2 GB version, a lightly overclocked version, as well as the AMP emerging in our! card, which is one of the frequencies on it. The map from the present day is to change hands for 189 euros.

ZOTAC GeForce GTX uses 560 AMP! comes on a 23.5 cm long PCB, which is an in-house development and therefore a black color. In the most cases the card should can be appropriately incorporate without major inconveniences. Two six pin power plug are necessary for the power supply. The LMP version from the wall outlet is to drag up to 171 Watts, while the normal OC model approved no more than 153 Watts himself and that is not overclocked cards 150 watts.

The cooling system is also from their own home, 560 TI 550 TI and GeForce GTX is but significantly different from the counterparts on the GeForce GTX. The heart is a copper block that is placed directly on the GF114-GPU. A large aluminium cooler was built over this, which is equipped with numerous lamellae and also “edited the power”.

Also, there are three heatpipes are connected to the copper block and the aluminium radiator. Two large in diameter 75 mm axial fans provide the necessary fresh air which temperature be controlled by a fan control.

ZOTAC GeForce GTX TMU domain added 560 AMP! with high 950 MHz, which has a Shaderfrequenz of 1,900 MHz result. The 1024 MB GDDR5 memory, which is manufactured by Samsung is working with 2,200 MHz. On Windows the components with the usual 51 MHz, 101 MHz or 135 MHz operate in order to save electricity.

On the bracket of the GeForce GTX 560 AMP! the buyer finds two dual-link DVI-as well as a mini-HDMI connector to 1.4a corresponding to the standard. As facilities, there are two electric power, a DVI to D-SUB-as well as a mini-HDMI to HDMI adapter. ZOTAC sets the box also have a driver CD, as well as a download coupon for the game “assassin’s creed: brotherhood” in.

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Test results

Performance

On the following pages we present the speed of today’s counterparties – in different resolutions, quality settings, APIs and using PhysX in our renowned performance ratings. The ratings include, apart from the 3DMark 11 and mafia 2 PhysX, all tested 3D applications, their Einzelergebnisse now can be found in the annex. We not only on the summary ratings, but also indicate the major (negative as positive) riders in the individual benchmarks.

Performance without AA/AF

The GeForce GTX 560 560 TI as on the GeForce GTX 460 geared clearly closer to the GeForce GTX. So is the difference to the TI card under 1680 x 1050 at nine percent, while there are 18 per cent to the earlier map. Values to 11 percent and 16 percent change under 1920 x 1200. The comparable AMD Radeon HD 6870 quicker is six or ten percent.

Under 2560 x 1600, the Radeon HD 6870 can then issue good 17 per cent of the GeForce GTX 560. The TI variant is quicker by 12 percent, the GeForce GTX 460 18 percent slower.

Significant outliers in the individual benchmarks:
We can see any abnormalities with the GeForce GTX 560. The graphics card certianly is consistently there one, where one would expect it from you: are lower than the GTX 460 between the GeForce GTX 560 TI and the GeForce GTX 460, where the differences to the TI go through.

Performance with AA/AF

With the two quality-enhancing features, it looks as usual better for the GeForce GTX 560 compared to the competition from AMD. So the map under 1680 x 1050 now six percent faster than the Radeon HD 6870, see 1920 x 1200, it is still three percent. Under 2560 x 1600 the GeForce GTX 560 must be, however, satisfied with a tie. On the relationships with the GeForce GTX 560 TI and nothing has changed, however, to the GeForce GTX 460.

When achtfacher anti-aliasing, the GeForce GTX 560 at 1680 x 1050 earned a tie with the Radeon HD 6870. In the full-HD resolution renders the AMD card then two percent quicker, in the highest resolution to 21 percent slower – for the latter, but both products are absolutely too slow.

Significant outliers in the individual benchmarks:
And any special features of the GeForce GTX 560 fall on us even with turned on anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering. Only under 2560 x 1600 at eight x anti-aliasing, the GeForce GTX 560 suffers some shipwreck and can’t place hardly of the GeForce GTX 460.

The reason for this is to find, because there is only an extreme bucking of the GeForce GTX 560 in contrast to the competition from their own home in mass effect 2. Also renders the card in F1 2010 just quickly like the GeForce GTX 460. We assume in this regard a minor driver issue.

Performance according to API

Because different architectures benefit differently from different APIs, we have decided, in addition to create an own rating, with incorporated into it all values of a resolution (i.e. without anti-aliasing, 4xAA and 8xAA) for each DirectX level: performance ratings from a second perspective, so to speak.

DirectX 9

DirectX 10

DirectX 11

Performance with SSAA

With the current GPU generation there has been a step both ATi and NVIDIA in terms of image quality to the front. Because finally, both producers officially allow the use of Super sampling-anti-aliasing, which edited the whole image in contrast to the traditional anti-aliasing. The disadvantages are, however, in a huge hardware hunger, an incompatibility in certain games. ATi allows SSAA officially in the Control Panel, but only in DirectX 9 titles. NVIDIA SSAA is possible, however, under all APIs including DirectX 11, but it must be on a (NVIDIA own) external tool be used. This has the advantage to setting the SSAA samples regardless of the MSAA samples in contrast to the ATi implementation.

In addition, the LOD in use of SSAA is moved to ATi cards to achieve as an improved anisotropic filtering. The NVIDIA hardware leaves the LOD (at least yet) to standard. For reasons of comparability we limit ourselves with tests DirectX 9 games, as well as the resolutions 1680 x 1050 and 1920 x 1200. In the titles of call of duty: Modern warfare 2, we bring mass effect 2 and StarCraft 2 accordingly 4xSSAA added.