 |
 |
 |
||
|
|
||||
 |
|
|
| Introduction, Specifications & Features | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NVIDIA created a ton of buzz in the gaming community when it first introduced SLI. That buzz quickly gave way to a huge success, and the buzz and success really haven't diminished since. In fact, the birth of Quad SLI has only reinvigorated the buzz. Quad SLI is currently possible thanks to NVIDIA's GeForce 7950 GX2 video card. A 7950 GX2 is a single card that features two G71 GPUs. This means that you can run pseudo-SLI in a single PCI Express x16 (or x8) slot and essentially enjoy the benefits of SLI on some non-SLI capable motherboard (as long as the motherboard's BIOS has been updated to provide support for the 7950 GX2). We finally have another retail 7950 GX2 in the HotHardware labs, and it comes from MSI. Rather than just call it the "MSI GeForce 7950 GX2," MSI opted to call it the NX7950GX2-T2D1GE. Like other 7950 GX2s, this bad boy features 1GB of fast DDR3 memory and a 512-bit memory interface. The GPU and memory clocks are the same as the NVIDIA reference card speeds (500MHz and 1.2GHz, respectively). So let's jump right in and see how the NX7950GX2-T2D1GE performs.
The MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE is packaged in a blue and white box that features an angelic female and boasts the card's features and specifications. The box also includes a handle for easy transportation of the package.
The NX7950GX2 rests snugly surrounded by sturdy styrofoam. Our sample arrived without a problem, so we believe the packaging is adequate. Inside the package, MSI includes a plethora of accessories and software. The accessories include a TV-out cable (S-video and component supported), two DVI-to-VGA adapters, an S-video cable, a Y-power cable, a Quick Installation Guide, and a Quick User's Guide. The software includes a full game (King Kong - The Official Game of the Movie) and a bunch of utilities, which you can find listed below. Overall, it's a decent bundle, but we would like to see a newer game included.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closer Look at the Card | ||||
One thing that is important to reiterate and make clear is that a single 7950 GX2 can be used on non-SLI motherboards, even CrossFire motherboards. Not every PCI Express motherboard is compatible, but many are. Not only must the motherboard have a PCI Express x16 slot, but it must also have a compatible system BIOS. For more information, visit www.nvidia.com/GX2. This was a great decision by NVIDIA as it provides SLI opportunities to people who are reluctant to change motherboards. For Quad SLI, though, you will need an SLI motherboard.
When we were first teased about Quad SLI in January, the cards were very long. Thankfully, that is a thing of the past as the 7950 GX2 is no longer than other high-end cards. Their average size is rather impressive considering how much horsepower they are packing. You can see in the first picture that MSI's design doesn't stray from NVIDIA's reference design in any substantial way. The only change is the sticker on the top of the cooler, which features the same angelic woman from the box.
As you can see in the pictures above, the 7950 GX2 is basically a GPU, PCB and cooler sandwich. Cooler, GPU, PCB, cooler, GPU, PCB. The GPUs are cooled by two identical coolers. If you want to read more about how these two GPUs are linked and work together, feel free to check out our 7950 GX2 launch article. As you might expect, this card does require the space of two expansion slots. Usually we'd see that as a downer, but in the case of the GX2 it's easy to accept.
Like other high-end cards on the market today, MSI's 7950 GX2 features dual DVI connectors and a TV-out connector with HDTV support. Although this card is more powerful than other single card solution, it still only requires one connection to your power supply. |
| Test System & 3DMark06 | ||||||||||||||
For testing the NX7950GX2, we used an Athlon 64 X2 4600+ processor on a DFI LANParty NF4 SLI-DR motherboard. We also used 2GB of Corsair DDR RAM (TWINX2048-4400) and a 120GB Maxtor SATA hard drive. The NX7950GX2 was compared to an XFX 7900 GT 550M Xtreme in both single and SLI configurations and to an ATI Radeon X1900 XTX with reference clock speeds. Note that the XFX 7900 GTs are overclocked, which we expect will give them a slight advantage when in SLI mode over the NX7950GX2.
MSI's 7950 GX2 really impressed us in 3DMark06. We did expect the XFX 7900 GTs to perform the best in this benchmark since they are overclocked, but the 7950 GX2's scores are impressive considering it is a single card. The following game benchmarks will tell us if this two-GPU wonder can maintain impressive numbers in real-world scenarios, however. |
| Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory | ||||||
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is a great game for the NX7950GX2 to show its capabilities. If it were overclocked to speeds equivalent to the XFX 7900 GTs, it would be right on par with the 7900 GT SLI configuration. |
| X3: Reunion | ||||||
There really isn't a lot of fluctuation in X3 performance between high-end cards. It is worth noting that the 7950 GX2's performance didn't fall going from 1600x1200 to 1600x1200 with 4x AA / 8x AF. |
| F.E.A.R. | ||||||
F.E.A.R. is another game that demonstrates the power of putting two GPUs on one card. The NX7950GX2 put up some very nice numbers here. |
| Half-Life 2: Lost Coast | ||||||
In our Lost Coast benchmark, MSI's 7950 GX2 failed to beat out the Radeon X1900 XTX when AA and AF were not enabled. When 4x AA and 8x AF were turned on, though, the GX2 counters with a better set of numbers. |
| Quake 4 | ||||||
In Quake 4, the 4x AA / 8x AF scores really show the potential of the GX2. You should be able to crank the resolution up to 1600x1200 and turn the eye candy up to at least 4xAA and 8x AF and have a smooth gaming session. |
| Overclocking the NX7950GX2 | ||||
The default core and memory clock speeds for the NX7950GX2 are 500MHz and 600MHz (1.2GHz effective), respectively. We used Coolbits to overclock the card to 550MHz (core) and 1.4GHz (memory). It was perfectly stable at these speeds. As you can see in the graphs below, the clock bumps definitely helped the GX2 make up some ground on the pair of 7900 GT Xtreme cards, which are clocked at 550MHz (core) and 1.63GHz (memory).
The core was overclocked 10%, and the memory was overclocked 16.7%. This resulted in a performance gain of 4-10%. Not too shabby. |
| Performance Summary & Conclusion | ||||
Performance Summary: Usually, good price / performance ratios are reserved for more affordable mid-range cards. Flagship cards rarely offer a lot of value, however. That's just not the case with the 7950 GX2, though. It offers performance that somewhat justifies its $550+ price tag. The GX2 performs roughly on par with a pair of GeForce 7900 GT cards, and its price is in-line with the cost of two GTs. And MSI's version of this card proved to be an excellent representative of NVIDIA's flagship.
If you've got a motherboard with a single PCI Express x16 slot, and you're tempted to upgrade your system, you could go get an SLI or CrossFire ready motherboard and pick up a pair of GeForce or Radeon cards, but that may not be the best route with the GX2 on the scene. You just go buy a single 7950 GX2, use your current motherboard, and save yourself some money, and end up with similar performance in the end. From our experience with the NX7950GX2, we recommend adding it to your consideration list. One thing that you need to keep in mind if you do intend to purchase only a single 7950 GX2 is that you cannot run dual monitors and pseudo-SLI multi-GPU high-performance mode on the card simultaneously. You have to choose one or the other in the driver control panel, just like traditional two-card SLI. While we do appreciate MSI's attempt to add value to its bundle by including a plethora of handy utilities, we'd still like to have seen the company update its game selection. We would also like to see a factory overclock, but only one of NVIDIA's partners has been allowed to do that so far with the GX2, so it seems MSI's hands are tied on that one, and we can't hold it against them. Based on its features and performance, we are awarding the MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE an 8.5 on the Heat Meter.
|
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
