Testing (continued):
Call of Juarez:
Call of Juarez is yet another 3D game to offer a benchmark for analyzing DirectX 10 performance. The results are provided in terms of minimum, maximum, and average frame rate values, and higher is better for each. The results are about opposite of what we have seen so far, and here the single GPU HD4850 takes the top prize. The scores are all comparable, but the GTX260 EXTREME+ still finishes second.
Power Consumption:
The final test was to monitor the power consumption of the test system with each of the three graphics cards installed. A Seasonic Power Angel power monitoring device was used to monitor the AC wattage drawn. Since all other hardware remained the same, any change in this value would be the result of the graphics card's demands. Idle conditions were established by letting the system sit at the Windows desktop until a stable reading was achieved, and for load testing the Devil May Cry benchmark was executed in DirectX 9 mode.
At idle the GTX260 EXTREME+ drew the least amount of electricity, and you might even consider the system energy efficient. But when the action on screen got heavy, the wattage drawn rose dramatically. While it did not draw nearly as much as the dual GPU HD4850X2, it did seem to use a good deal of power for a single GPU product.
