Asus 4870 X2 TOP

Maximum Playable Settings

Earlier in the review we compared a number of cards against each other when using the same settings. This gives a great overview of which card is fastest in each game however it does not tell us how far apart the products are in terms of the maximum settings we can use while maintaining smooth framerates.

The power of the X2 cards are apparent as you can double the AA quality when compared with the 280GTX OCX and still run Oblivion without it dipping under 25fps. The Asus TOP allows for a few extra frames per second which is important when you reach these settings.

All cards have the same maximum playable settings with the Asus TOP performing the best. To play this game at 2560x1600 with max eye candy you need two of these high end boards. Start saving if you are lucky enough to have a 30 inch screen.

Half life 2: Episode 2 again shares the same maximum playable settings across the cards on test today, that said the Asus 4870 X2 TOP gives the best results and this time it is noticeable as the minimum frame rates are closer to 40fps rather than 30fps.