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We've run more loops of this
benchmark than we care to remember, frankly. Why is it
that we can't seem to just discard Quake 3 in favor of
something more modern and comprehensive? Call it
nostalgia or old habits dieing hard, here are our Quake 3
Time Demo runs with all the eye candy turned down in a flat
out drag race.
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Quake 3 Arena Low Quality Time Demo |
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It's still alive
and kicking |
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This would
definitely have to classify as a milestone. This is
the first time in the HotHardware Lab, that we have ever
gotten the frame rate above 300 fps in this test.
Remember again, we're also using a GeForce3 Ti 500 for our
graphics card here, so the high scores are not as a result
of the GeForce4 Ti 4600. Actually, we have the
resolution, texture detail, geometry and color bit depth,
turn way down so as to not limit the system in any way but
rather let the processors run as fast as they can pushing
polygons. The 2.4GHz Northwood has a 7% lead over the
Athlon XP 2100+. You can also see where system memory
bandwidth plays a big factor, with the 2.95GHz P4 and its
500MHz RDRAM clock, scoring a big 20 - 25% gain over the
other processors and clock speeds in this test.
We've said this
before and we'll say it again as much as we hate to admit
it, nothing beats RDRAM for overall system bandwidth, at
least for now until Dual Channel DDR II memory becomes
available and there are chipsets that support it.
Furthermore, Intel's next move in chipsets with RDRAM, is
going to make PC1066 (533MHz RDRAM) a reality much sooner
than later. You can see a glimmer of what is to come
for PC1066 in this test as well and it sure is pretty.
We've taken a
look at the new Pentium 4 2.4GHz Northwood Processor and
have shown you what it can do in a myriad of situations and
software applications. Additionally, we've given you a
look into what the future holds for the Pentium 4, with our
over-clocked scores here. We've been impressed with
the overall performance of the Pentium 4 since its debut in
November of 2000. It's just the price points that have
kept us a little more reserved about things with Intel,
along the way. However, in that regard, we also like
what we see for process technology enhancements, with 300mm
wafers and .13 micron die geometries. Intel should
definitely have the capability to gain market share from a
cost/value perspective as well, moving forward. At the
time of this article's release, the Pentium 4 2.4GHz
processor is priced at $562 in lots of 1K pcs.
The rubber will
really meet the road however, when the new 133MHz Front Side
Bus Northwoods hit the streets and AMD's Thoroughbreds are
out in the market with them as stiff competition. It's
definitely shaping up to be an interesting Spring and Summer
season in the PC Hardware scene.
Discuss this or any
other Hot Hardware Review in the PC Hardware Forums!
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