PNY GeForce GTX570 Enthusiast Edition Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and contents3. PNY GTX 5704. Testing methodology5. Synthetic: UniGine Heaven Benchmark 2.56. Synthetic: 3DMark Vantage7. Synthetic: 3DMark 118. Synthetic: Stone Giant9. Synthetic: Tessmark10. Synthetic: Alien vs Predator Benchmark11. Battlefield Bad Company 212. Call Of Duty Black Ops13. Crysis Warhead14. Mafia II15. Metro 203316. Technical: Overclocking17. Technical: Thermal Dynamics18. Technical: Power Usage19. Final Thoughts20. View All Pages

Today we are looking at the PNY GTX570. This card is a reference NVIDIA design equipped with 1280MB of GDDR5. The PNY GTX 570 offers full DirectX 11 support and ships with the core clock speeds of 732 MHz and the 1280 MB of GDDR5 is clocked to an effective 3800 MHz.

Key Features

• Full Microsoft DirectX 11 support
• NVIDIA CUDA™ technology support
• DirectCompute 5.0 Support
• OpenCL Support
• NVIDIA PhysX™ technology
• NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround Ready
• NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology
• Dual-Link HDCP-Capable
• OpenGL 4.1 support

Minimum System Requirements

• PCI Express or PCI Express 2.0-compliant motherboard with one dual-width x16 graphics slot
• Two 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors
• A minimum 550W or greater system power supply (with a minimum 12V current rating of 38A)
• Intel Pentium 4, AMD Athlon XP class processor or higher
• 200MB of available hard disk space
• 2GB system memory (4GB recommended)
• Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7 Operating System (32 or 64-bit)
• DVD-ROM drive for installation
• DVI or HDMI or VGA compatible monitor

Product Specifications

Core Clock	732 MHz
Processor Cores	480
Processor Clock	1464 MHz
Texture Fill Rate	43.9 Billion/sec.
Memory Amount	1280MB GDDR5
Memory Data Rate, effective	3800 MHz
Memory Interface	320-bit
Memory Bandwidth	152.0 GB/sec.
On-board Outputs	DVI, DVI, and HDMI mini
Bus Type	PCI Express® 2.0

The exterior of PNY GTX 570 package  is a thin black cardboard shell.  The front side is decorated with product details.

The back side lists all the key features of the card, the minimum system requirements and a breakdown of exactly what is in the box.

The actual GTX 570 is packaged in a low profile black cardboard box. The box has nothing on it other then the PNY company lettering on both ends.

Inside the box is the PNY GTX 570, a driver CD and quick installation guide. Also included is a DVI to VGA adapter, a 6 pin PCI-e to Molex power adapter and an HDMI mini to HDMI adapter.

PNY's GTX 570 is based on the NVIDIA reference model.  The shroud that covers the card and the heatsink is a gloss black plastic and it uses a blower type fan to cool the card. Our review sample has the core clocked to 732 MHz, the shaders run at 1464 MHz, and the 1280MB of GDDR5 is clocked at 950 MHz. The GTX 570 also has 40 ROP's, 480 Shaders, a 320bit memory bus and an impressive 152 GB of memory bandwidth.

The PNY GTX 570 needs 2 x 6 pin PCI-e connectors for stable operation. There are 2 SLI connections which allow up to multiple SLI configurations unlike the GTX 460 which only had a single connection restricting it to 2 way SLI.

The first image above shows the blower style fan used on the GTX 570. The fan forces the hot air over the entire heatsink before expelling it outside the rear of our case. The final image shows the connections available on the GTX 570. There are 2 Dual Link DVI ports as well as 1 mini HDMI port.

An overview of the hardware in GPUz and GPU Caps Viewer.

Today we are using an AMD system running the Phenom II X2 555BE unlocked to a Phenom II X4 B55. We used the Arctic Freezer 13 Pro to cool our CPU which is overclocked to 4.02ghz. We built our test system using the NZXT Phantom chassis and are powering it with the Corsair HX850 modular PSU.

Processor: Phenom II X4 B55 @ 4.01ghz
Cooling: Arctic Freezer 13 Pro
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H v2
Graphics: PNY GTX 570 1280MB
Chassis: NZXT Phantom
Power Supply: Corsair HX850
Memory: 4GB GSkill DDR III 1600 MHz @ 6-8-6-24
Storage: SATA II Kingston SSD V Series 64GB (OS boot) 2 x 500GB SATA II WD Black (Raid 0)
Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster 245BW (Digital)

System validation is available here.

Comparison Graphics card: Sapphire 6950 (unlocked with 1536 unified shaders)

Software:
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit SP1
Catalyst 11.3
Forceware 267.24

Alien vs Predator Benchmark
UniGine Heaven Benchmark 2.5
3DMark Vantage 1.1.0
3DMark 11
Fraps Professional
Furmark
Steam Client
TessMark
Stone Giant

Games:
Battlefield Bad Company 2
Call of Duty Black Ops
Crysis Warhead
Mafia II
Metro 2033

All the latest BIOS updates and drivers are used during testing. We perform under real world conditions, meaning KitGuru tests all games across five closely matched runs and average out the results to get an accurate median figure.

Heaven Benchmark 2.5 is a DirectX 11 GPU benchmark based on advanced Unigine engine from Unigine Corp. It reveals the enchanting magic of floating islands with a tiny village hidden in the cloudy skies. Interactive mode provides emerging experience of exploring the intricate world of steampunk.

Efficient and well-architected framework makes Unigine highly scalable:

• Multiple API (DirectX 9 / DirectX 10 / DirectX 11 / OpenGL) render
• Cross-platform: MS Windows (XP, Vista, Windows 7) / Linux
• Full support of 32bit and 64bit systems
• Multicore CPU support
• Little / big endian support (ready for game consoles)
• Powerful C++ API
• Comprehensive performance profiling system
• Flexible XML-based data structures

We are testing at 1080p to remain consistent with other video cards we review @ KitGuru

The PNY GTX 570 leads by an average of 5 frames per second. The GTX 570 scored an average of 45 frames per a second while the 6950 managed 38.9.  Our minimum  frames per second with the GTX 570 was a respectable 24.3 frames per second.

Futuremark released the revised 3DMark Vantage v 1.110, on March 14, 2011. It is a benchmark based upon DirectX 10, and therefore will only run under Windows Vista (Service Pack 1 is stated as a requirement) and Windows 7. This is the first edition where the feature-restricted, free of charge version could not be used any number of times. 1280×1024 resolution was used with performance settings.

Today's testing was conducted at the default 1280×1024 resolution which is referred to as the Performance setting.

The results of our 3DMark Vantage testing have both cards posting some very decent numbers but GPU performance is slightly better with  the 570.  The PNY GTX 570 scores 2215 points more then our unlocked 6950.

3DMark 11 is designed for testing DirectX 11 hardware running on Windows 7 and Windows Vista the benchmark includes six all new benchmark tests that make extensive use of all the new features in DirectX 11 including tessellation, compute shaders and multi-threading.

After running the tests 3DMark gives your system a score with larger numbers indicating better performance. Trusted by gamers worldwide to give accurate and unbiased results, 3DMark 11 is the best way to test DirectX 11 under game-like loads.

Testing once again was conducted @ 1280×720 resolution which is the default performance setting.

The PNY GTX 570 edges out the unlocked 6950 in our 3DMark 11 testing with a score of 4906 at the performance setting.

When we look at the individual test results we can see how much more demanding 3DMark 11 is over the previous generations of the 3DMark series.

Stone Giant is a benchmark tech demo that showcases and measures DirectX 11 performance using the BitSquid Engine. This is a very heavy tessellation dependent benchmark which runs very well on nVidia hardware. We are testing at 1080p with Tessellation levels set to Medium.

The PNY GTX 570 and  HD 6950 both produced good results in our Stone Giant testing. The GTX 570 managed a very respectable minimum of 47.25 frames per second and an average frame rate of 76.11. The GTX 570 average frame rate is close to 12 frames per second faster then the unlocked 6950 in this tessellation heavy benchmark.

TessMark, is small synthetic graphics benchmark focused on Tessellation performance of Direct3D 11 and OpenGL 4 capable cards.

Like Unigine Heaven, TessMark allows to select the level tessellation. The small difference is that TessMark proposes four differents levels:

• Moderate
• Normal
• Extreme
• Insane

This is another application like Stone Giant which focuses on tessellation performance.  NVIDIA's current DirectX 11 hardware scores well when testing with high tessellation levels.  Moderate and normal levels are settings we would find in real world applications like games. We tested today with moderate, normal, and extreme settings to get an indication of the tessellation scaling.

The results clearly favor the PNY GTX 570 which is what we expected in this tessellation test. NVIDIA hardware is currently dominating AMD when it comes to tessellation performance.

Alien versus Predator is a science fiction first-person shooter computer game developed by Rebellion Developments and published by Fox Interactive for PC and Apple Macintosh computers in 1999. It is based on the Alien and Predator media franchises and the crossover Alien vs. Predator franchise. It was unofficially ported to Linux in 2001 and Xbox in 2009, following Rebellion’s public release of the game’s source code. A sequel, Aliens versus Predator 2, was developed by Monolith Productions and released by Sierra in 2001.

Like the 1994 Alien vs Predator game for the Atari Jaguar, Aliens versus Predator offers three separate campaigns, each playable as a separate species: Alien, Predator, or human Colonial Marine.  Each player character has different objectives, abilities, and weapons. The single-player campaign presents the player with a conventional series of levels to progress through that are designed around the abilities of each character.

Thanks go out to Mr John for writing this GUI which can control all the graphics settings within the AVP Benchmark.

Our PNY GTX 570 has no trouble dealing with AVP benchmark even with all the eye candy turned up to the maximum. The GTX 570 averaged 46 frames per second compared to 37 with our unlocked 6950.  Our minimum frames per second did briefly drop below the 30 FPS mark to 29 FPS.

Battlefield Bad Company™ 2 brings the spectacular Battlefield gameplay to the forefront of next-gen consoles and PC, featuring best-in-class vehicular combat set across a wide range of huge sandbox maps each with a different tactical focus. New vehicles like the All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and the UH-60 transport helicopter allow for all-new multiplayer tactics in the warzone. Extensive fine-tuning ensures that this will be the most realistic vehicle combat experience to date. Tactical destruction is taken to new heights with the updated DICE Frostbite engine. Players can now take down entire buildings or create their own vantage points by blasting holes through cover, thereby delivering a unique dynamic experience in every match.

Today we will be testing our cards during Operation Aurora which is the first mission of the Single player campaign. We are testing at 1920×1080 with in game details set to High with 2MSAA, 16AF, v-sync off and HBAO enabled.

Battlefield Bad Company 2 played very well with both cards. We maintained frame rates well above the 25 fps ‘danger zone'. The GTX 570 minimum score of 43 frames per second was 4 frames per second faster then the 6950.  With both cards average frame rates were excellent and provided smooth gaming throughout testing.

Call of Duty: Black Ops is a first-person shooter video game developed by Treyarch, published by Activision and released worldwide on November 9, 2010 for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii consoles, with a separate version for Nintendo DS developed by n-Space. Announced on April 30, 2010, the game is the seventh installment of the Call of Duty series, and the first to be set in the Cold War. It is the third in the series to be developed by Treyarch, and is a sequel to the developer's Call of Duty: World at War.

The player assumes the role of a foot soldier who can wield various firearms, of which two at a time can be carried; throw grenades and other explosives; and use other equipment as weapons. A player close enough to an enemy can kill with one knife blow. A character can take three stances: standing, crouching, or prone; each affects rate of movement, accuracy, and stealth. The player can dive prone from a standing position when running. The player can momentarily sprint but will then grow tired. The screen glows red to indicate damage to a player's health, which goes away over time. When the character is within the blast radius of a live grenade, a marker indicates the direction of the grenade, helping the player to flee or throw it back. Among the game's weapons are crossbows with bolts and explosive ammunition, Dragon's Breath rounds and ballistic knives.

Testing of the latest Call of Duty release will be done at 1080p. We selected the Defector mission from the single player campaign for today's testing.

This game is based on good old DX9 technology but still offers a great visual experience.  The PNY GTX 570 and HD 6950 performed as expected, averaging between 80-90 frames per second at 1080p. Even more impressive is the minimum of 61 frames per second generated by our PNY GTX 570.  It scored close to 18 frames per second higher then the 6950.

Crysis Warhead, like the original Crysis, is set in the near future when an ancient alien spacecraft is discovered on an island east of the Philippines. The single-player campaign has the player assume the role of former SAS Delta Force operator Sergeant Michael Sykes, referred to in-game by his call sign, Psycho. Psycho’s arsenal of futuristic weapons builds on those showcased in Crysis, with the introduction of Mini-SMGs which can be dual-wielded, a six-shot grenade launcher equipped with EMP grenades, and the destructive, short ranged Plasma Accumulator Cannon (PAX). The highly versatile Nanosuit returns. In Crysis Warhead, the player fights North Korean and extraterrestrial enemies, in many different locations, such as a tropical island jungle, inside an “Ice Sphere”, an underground mining complex, which is followed by a convoy train transporting an unknown alien object held by the North Koreans, and finally, to an airfield.

Testing will be done with Enthusiast settings at 1080p resolution. We are testing today using the Adapt or Perish campaign from the single player game.

The PNY GTX 570 and HD 6950 provided all the performance we need to play Crysis Warhead comfortably. The PNY GTX 570 posted a minimum of 30 and an average of 46.39 frames per second at Enthusiast settings. The average speed was about 5 frames per second faster than the 6950 in this test but both cards were right around the 30 frame per second minimum we look for.

Mafia II is a third-person action-adventure video game, the sequel to Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven. It is developed by 2K Czech, previously known as Illusion Softworks, and is published by 2K Games.Originally announced in August 2007 at the Leipzig Games Convention, it was released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC in August 2010.

The game is set in 1940s and 1950s era Empire Bay (the name is a reference to New York’s state nickname “The Empire State”) a fictional city based on New York City, with influences from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Detroit. The game features a map of 10 square miles with no restrictions from the start of the game.There are 30-40 vehicles in the game (45 with DLC) as well as licensed music from the era.

Testing  will be done with Apex PhysX disabled @ 1080p. Disabling PhysX gives us the best comparison for this test.

With Apex PhysX disabled the PNY GTX 570 breezed through Mafia II. The PNY GTX 570 minimum frames per second was 46, compared to 32 recorded by our unlocked HD 6950.

Metro 2033 is an action-oriented video game with a combination of survival horror and first-person shooter elements. The game is based on the novel Metro 2033 by Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky. It was developed by 4A Games in Ukraine and released in March 2010 for the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows.

The game utilizes multi-platform 4A Engine, running on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Microsoft Windows. There is some contention regarding whether the engine is based on the pre-release X-Ray engine (as claimed by Sergiy Grygorovych, the founder of GSC Game World, as well as users who have seen the 4A Engine SDK screenshots, citing visual similarities, shared resources, and technical evaluation of the pre-release 4A Engine demo conducted at the request of GSC Game World), or whether the engine is an original development (as claimed by 4A Games and Oles’ Shiskovtsov in particular) who claims it would have been impractical to retrofit the X-ray engine with console support). The PC version includes exclusive features such as DirectX 11 support and has been described as “a love letter to PC gamers” because of the developers’ choice “to make the PC version [especially] phenomenal”.

While the pace of this game often seems slow, the graphics are absolutely stunning with the details turned up. This comes at a price requiring a very powerful graphics card to experience the visuals at decent frame rates. Let's see if the PNY GTX 570 brings enough power to tame this particularly demanding game engine.

We are testing with the High preset selected. This is one step down from the maximum but is still very demanding at 1080p, especially with PhysX enabled.

This actually looks a lot worse than it ‘felt'. Only on one instance did the frame rate dip to around 14 frames per second on the GTX 570, averaging much higher than this generally throughout our testing. This engine places a heavy load on the system, but the GTX570 delivered a great gaming experience.

To overclock the PNY GTX 570 today we used Afterburner 2.1 beta 7 which is based on Rivatuner.

We managed to get an 89mhz core clock increase from 732 to 821 MHz and an additional 200MHz via the GDDR5 memory boosting it from 3800 MHz to 4000 MHz effective. While these are not massive increases over the stock values we gained an additional 385 points in 3DMark 11.

The overclocked core and memory speeds allowed the hardware to generate an extra 2 frames per second on minimum frames per second and closer to 4 frames per second on the average frame rates.

The tests were performed in a controlled enviroment with temperatures maintained at a constant 20c – a touch cooler then the average persons room temperature.

Idle temperatures were measured after sitting at the desktop for 30 minutes. Our peak gaming temperatures were obtained by playing Crysis Warhead for 30 minutes. Our maximum Furmark temperatures were recorded during a 15 minute stress test. All fan settings were left on automatic.

Due to the fan profile configuration the total load temperatures never exceeded 83c.  The automatic fan speed never passed 57% which resulted in very reasonable noise levels.

If we look at the images from Furmark testing, temperatures rose quickly until reaching their peak. Once we reached the high of 83c the cooler and fan profile held it steady. The temperatures then remained stable for the duration of our tests. They also verify the fact that our modest overclocking had no effect on the peak temperature of 83c.

For our power consumption testing we use the P3 Kill A Watt. Please keep in mind that these numbers are not specific to the power used by the GTX 570 but the total amount of power being used to run the review system.

With our system sitting idle the P3 Kill A Watt indicates that 143 watts of power is being consumed.

When we loaded and started playing Crysis Warhead our power consumption increases by close to 200 watts peaking at 340 watts.

And finally when running Furmark we reached a peak power consumption of 375 watts.

These numbers fall in line with what we would expect when running an overclocked system and a high end graphics card.

Our time spent with the PNY GTX 570 graphics solution was enjoyable. Nvidia's GTX570 is able to chew through the frame rates, even at high resolution with the image quality cranked.  The PNY GTX 570 is both powerful and quiet and it proved to be a fantastic gaming card throughout all of our testing.

When compared against our unlocked HD 6950, the PNY GTX 570 provided a superior overall experience. It is faster and emits less noise when under extended load situations. We really rate the HD6950 as one of the best value for money cards on the market, especially when bios modded … but it is clear that this PNY GTX 570 model outperforms it.

While the reference cooler and fan profile are fairly well balanced, we feel that a slightly more aggressive profile setting would be beneficial with this specific product. The pre-defined fan profile setting means it takes the PNY GTX 570 a full 60 seconds to reduce the temperature from 83c to 55c. This doesn't sound too bad, but it then takes another full minute to reduce the temperature to 48c. Obviously if they had opted for a custom cooler design this would be dramatically improved.

The PNY GTX 570 can be found on NewEgg.ca currently for $334, $50 more then the 6950, but it also has a $30 USD mail in rebate offer available. After this mail in rebate the price is down to the $300 bracket which is a pretty decent price for a card this powerful. The PNY GTX 570 is a product that is definitely worth buying and comes highly recommended.

Pros:

• fast gaming card
• reasonably quiet
• competitively priced against the competition

Cons:

• A more substantial, custom cooler would make for a better overall product

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