Benchmarks: Metro 2033, Splinter Cell Conviction
Metro 2033 is another game that has no built-in benchmark tool so we have relied on Fraps to gauge GPU performance. The "Chase" level was used where we recorded the first 60 seconds of the cart ride. The game was tested using DirectX 11 though the Tessellation feature was disabled as it hammers performance too severely. Furthermore anti-aliasing was disabled and instead we used the default analytical anti-aliasing with 4xAF.
As you can see even at 1680x1050 all mainstream and some high-end graphics cards struggle in Metro 2033 and this is certainly the case with the GeForce GTX 460. The Inno3D GeForce GTX (768MB) averaged just 17fps making it 2fps slower than the Radeon HD 5830. The Palit GTX 460 Sonic Platinum (1GB) averaged 23fps matching the Radeon HD 5850.
Now at 1920x1200 we see similar performance trends and while the Inno3D GeForce GTX (768MB) is able to match the Radeon HD 5830 it doesn't really matter as neither card is able to deliver playable performance with 14fps. Clearly those using single GPU setups will have to reduce the visual quality further to enjoy playable frame rates in Metro.
Metro 2033 is not a 2560x1600 resolution friendly game as a pair of Radeon HD 5870 graphics cards rendered just 15fps. Moreover the GeForce GTX 480 SLI configuration managed just 25fps, so it comes as little surprise to learn that the Palit GTX 460 Sonic Platinum (1GB) averaged just 11fps and the Inno3D GeForce GTX (768MB) averaged 4fps.
Splinter Cell Conviction Benchmarks
Splinter Cell Conviction requires Fraps to measure in-game performance. For this game we used the first level known as "Merchant's Street Market" where we recorded 60 seconds of gameplay. The highest visual quality settings were used along with 4xAA/16xAF.
At 1680x1050 the Inno3D GeForce GTX (768MB) averaged 50fps making it 6fps faster than the Radeon HD 5770 and 2fps slower than the Radeon HD 5830. The more powerful Palit Sonic Platinum (1GB) spat out 61fps making it just 5% slower than the GeForce GTX 470.
At 1920x1200 the GeForce GTX 460 cards start to struggle a little more. The Inno3D GeForce GTX (768MB) renders just 41fps making it 4fps faster than the Radeon HD 5770 and 3fps slower than the Radeon HD 5830. The Palit GTX 460 (1GB) was 22% faster but was left a little behind the GeForce GTX 470 and Radeon HD 5850 graphics cards.
At 2560x1600 the Inno3D GeForce GTX (768MB) drops to just 26fps making it 2fps faster than the Radeon HD 5770 and 3fps slower than the Radeon HD 5830. The Palit GTX 460 Sonic Platinum (1GB) is 23% faster and is again just 2fps slower than the GeForce GTX 470.