I’ve been fortunate in being able to review Zotac videocards consecutively over the past few months; partly because of the brand’s quality and workmanship, but primarily due to the unique opportunity it presents me in the form of direct comparisons and as validation for our benchmarking and testing procedures.

                                              Full size hardware - full length and double-slot cooler.

Zotac sent us an 8800 GTS (G92 core) 512MB for review and release after the NDA of December 11, this being the official launch date of the G92-based 8800 GTS. This GTS version is totally different from the previous iteration based on the G80 core. While the GTS 320 and 640MB versions of old were by no means slow, this newest chipset from Nvidia is way fast - it puts every videocard performance benchmark that the 8800 GT kicked out of kilter back into its rightful place, where the GTS version is faster than the GT, and the GTX and Ultra rules over them all (although it is rumored that the GTX and Ultra are both getting G92 versions in the near future as well.)

                                             Its big profile signals the return of the two-slot solution.

In a strange twist of chance, we have not actually tested a stock-clocked 8800Gt here on our own benchmark, although our Singapore office have handled a few. What we were able to get our hands on the past few weeks were all “improved” versions – like Zotac’s 8800GT AMP! Edition and Leadtek’s GT Extreme Edition. Consequently, our benchmarks give us a unique perspective of the performance of Nvidia’s newest release – the 8800GTS represented by Zotac’s (stock-clocked) 8800 GTS 512MB.

                                             Thanks to Techarp for the chart! Note the number of stream processors.

To lay the foundation of our preview of the Zotac 8800 GTS (G92) 512MB, we need to know the important specs backing it: aside from core, memory and shader speed differences, the main specification that differs it from the GT is the number of stream processors – 128 on the new GTS and 112 for the GT. Interestingly, both the GT and the GTS has 256-bit interfaces, making the two video chipsets very similar to each other. This impression is made clearer in the comparison tests that we did, as we can see in the next paragraphs and charts.

                                             Requisite cool logo included.

The long and short of it is that performance on the benchmarks we ran are very close, and the lead is exchanged between the two cards on numerous occasions – no one card dominates the whole benchmark suite. Then again, it is a somewhat unfair comparison between the GT and the GTS, as the Zotac 8800GT AMP! Edition had a 700Mhz core and 2000MHz memory overclock as compared to the stock 600 core and 1800MHz memory clocks on a bog-standard GT. The GTS is standard-clocked at 650MHz core and 1944MHz memory speeds, already making it “slower” than the lower – classed GT.

                                             Listed above are specs of previous 8800 series models, including the "old" 8800 GTS.

For good or bad though, the hardware enthusiast of today is expected to keep track of more than core and memory speeds – as well as it should, seeing that the more aware consumer needs additional specs to make a good decision. In addition to the core and memory clocks, the shader clock is another important indicator of performance, as well as the number of stream processors, memory bandwidth, fill rate and memory bus width. Stream processors, simply put, is the number of “processors” that take raw pixels from one end and add effects, bump-maps, shadows etc. to it to output a finished pixel out of the other end, while the memory bus width determines how much raw data can be handled when transferring from GPU memory to the GPU itself.

                                             The shape of the cooler is strange / unique / revolutionary.

Described another way, the more esoteric specifications described above tell the consumer how quickly and well the card can transfer data around itself and to the output device (monitor). Due to the nature of the different applications and games, the type of processing (bump mapping, multiple layers, fog, lighting) and amount and type of data (how many total pixels on the screen, how many vertices) determine where a videocard will excel – depending on the different specifications it carries.

                                             Note that GT numbers are for AMP! (overclocked) version, stock clocked GTs score lower.                        

For example, performance on the synthetic benchmarks 3DMark 05 and 06 generally gives the win to the higher clocked AMP! GT – we attribute that to the fact that these 4 and 3 year old (respectively) synthetic benchmarks cannot saturate the total fill rate / memory bandwidth of both cards and thus the card that can hurry out the data the quickest (i.e. the one with the higher clocks) gets the win in the benchmark. Real-life benchmarks tell almost the same story, though the numbers are closer. Certain operations will favor a wider memory bus, some other benchmarks will favor better shader performance. Taken together, all these specifications form a synergy that makes it possible to play some of the newest and best games at high resolutions and with good-looking effects. This same synergy makes the higher clocked GT version comparable to the stock-clocked GTS – which speak volumes on both card’s prowess.

                                             Ready for SLI action.

Reports from other sources state a performance in-line with our tests with the overclocked version of the GT, and thinking of the potential of the 8800 GTS, it is fair to expect the same overclockability, making it conceivable that the GTS will be able to surpass (in some tests at least) the G80 – based GTX. The GTS as it is has great performance, but I’d advise getting either the cheaper, overclocked AMP! Edition of the GT, or waiting for the AMP! Edition of the GTS. Either way, right now it is Nvidia all the way.

                                              Sticker reminds you not to throw away your new 8800GTS.