Aquamark3 uses DirectX9 features such as Pixel Shader 2.0 and a real world game engine to allow users to test their system under heavy graphic load. Results can then be uploaded to an online database and compared to other users systems. The default benchmark runs at 1024x768x32 with no Anti-Aliasing and 4x Anisotropic filtering. Detail levels are set to maximum. The results of this test are displayed as frames per second, triangles per second and the main Aquamark3 TRISCORE. The TRISCORE shows the performance of your CPU and GPU and finally gives your overall score for the benchmark. As Aquamark is not prone to other processes affecting the scores it provides reliable and comparable results.

9800 pro 380/350 (below)

 

9800 XT 412/365 (below)

 

9800 XT 470/400 (below)

A total of around 4000 more points from the 9800 pro stock to the overclocked 9800 XT. 9800 pro at stock performs very well in this benchmark and is capable of running this engine at a variety of resolutions with ease. As a matter of interest outside the confines of this review when I overclocked my barton core from 2300mhz to 2400mhz and upped the FSB to 450mhz from 400mhz I scored another 3,000 for a total of 48,000.

 

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