NVIDIA finally releases the GeForce GTX 480 1.5 GB

Crédits photo : PCWorld.fr Find the best price

Finally, after months of waiting, all sorts of rumours and marketing tease, the new GeForce GTXs are here, version 480 first.

We haven't received our test model yet as NVIDIA has limited the number of available press samples. Several other sites have already published theirs however and the results are fairly clear.

On average the GeForce GTX 480 gives 15% better performance than the ATI Radeon HD 5870 (released 23/09/09). The GeForce proves pretty fast at high definition with the 8x antialiasing filter. You can also play in 3D (3D Vision) and, another innovation, on three screens at any one time (3D Vision Surround). Both technologies can be combined but you then need to have 3 3D compatible screens of course, the 3D glasses kit and a casing that can handle at least two  GeForce GTX 480s. You'll need two cards for a sufficiently fluid image.

Compatibility with PhysX means you can take your visual effects further on certain titles and, finally, GPU computing is here for compatible applications.

Downside: energy consumption, noise and heat

There are also some downsides to the card, beginning with power consumption. Very high, this model is on a par with the ATI Radeon HD 5970, a model that has two graphics chips. The HD 5870 is however much faster for gaming. Next are the readings taken for heat levels on the GTX 480s: 85°C taken on the back of the card by PCWorld.fr. Noise levels are also high.

At £299 (inc VAT), the card is also priced pretty high, 40% up on the Radeon HD 5870. It should become available around April 12 and stocks will certainly be limited at first.

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