Massive Graphics Cards Roundup: 22 tested and reviewed

Great gaming performance has never been so affordable. We test 22 current cards from Nvidia and ATI to find what works and what doesn't

The current generation of cards from Nvidia and ATI offers astonishing variety: some provide blistering performance with no expense spared, while others make a mockery of their mid-range prices by blitzing our comprehensive gaming benchmarks. Never before have you been able to buy so much for so little.

Nvidia’s GeForce 9000 series, for instance, offers DirectX 10 and HD decoding at incredible prices — starting at just $75. Across the fence, ATI’s HD 4000 architecture sets new standards in bang per buck, with $273 cards tearing through our benchmarks. At the top sits Nvidia’s colossal GeForce GTX 285, driven by the most powerful single GPU we’ve seen.

But which card is right for you? There’s no point paying top dollar for a behemoth of a card unless you’re really going to see the benefit. Equally, it could be a false economy to aim too low and pick a card that can’t make the most of modern games.

Test results: Click on image for full size

This month, we break down the specifications of all 20 mainstream cards currently on the market, and give full details of the cards’ performance across a range of benchmarks.

Then you’ll find a detailed review of each card’s strengths and weaknesses, beginning with the cheapest. For those looking to eke extra performance out of their chosen card, we also road test a neat gadget that lets you accelerate your card at the press of a button.

Test results: Click on image for full size

Crysis 1680 x 1050 High - test resultsAs usual in this market, each chipset is sold under any number of different brands. Generally, though, the distinction between competing models amounts to little more than different casings, stickers and coolers.

Test results: Click on image for full size

For that reason, we don’t single out particular manufacturers, but focus on the underlying hardware, taking prices (for standard-clocked models) from a cross-section of brands. Read on to find out which card is right for you.

Feature table: click to enlarge image

This Group Test appeared in the April, 2009 issue of PC & Tech Authority Magazine