The high-end workstation GPU market has shown much favor towards the NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700 and, more recently, the Quadro FX 3800. Not to be outdone by these wonderfully well-rounded GPUs, AMD introduced the FirePro V7750 workstation GPU this past summer. This rounds out AMD’s lineup of workstation GPUs by filling in the high-end slot, and it does so exceptionally.
With the arrival of this product, we’ve on our hands an old-fashioned showdown between the NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800 and the ATI FirePro V7750. In fact, they share very similar hardware specs: 1GB of GDDR3, 55nm GPUs, similar core and memory frequencies, DirectX 10, and the exact same MSRP. Both GPUs are marketed to the high-end segment, offering power and impressive features at an affordable price.
The FirePro V7750 is based on the 55nm RV730 architecture–a simplified version of the FirePro V8750’s RV770-based core–that powers the Radeon HD 4650 and 4670. This DCC-oriented RV730-GL variant offers the following specs:
- AMD RV730 GPU
- 55nm process node
- 800MHz core clock
- 320 Stream Processors
- 1GB 1000MHz GDDR3
- 128-bit memory bus
- 28.8GBps memory Bandwidth
- 1×6-pin PCIe power connector
- 76W power consumption
- 2x DisplayPort, 1x DL-DVI Outputs
- Supports DirectX 10
- USD$899 MSRP
Despite costing nearly $1000 less than the V8750, the V7750 has an arsenal of features that look impressive, including two DisplayPorts and 30-bit Deep Color support. Another exclusive feature is the AutoDetect technology. AutoDetect is a neat feature that automatically detects what software package a user is running and dynamically tunes the driver’s operating parameters for maximum performance.
Benchmarks
This evaluation primarily pits the FirePro V7750 against its direct competitor, the NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800. However, we also tossed in results for the FirePro V8750 to give some perspective on the price/performance ratio of the V7750. Let’s see how V7750 stacked up:
The showdown between the V7750 and the FX 3800 was a close one, but the V7750 narrowly edged out its competitor in virtually every benchmark. Its OpenGL performance in Cinebench was impressive, yielding nearly 1000 more points than the FX 3800. Viewperf scores in both SolidWorks and 3ds Max were very close, with the V7750 winning the majority in SolidWorks, while the two GPUs won seven a piece in 3ds Max.
Maya, however, continues to tell a story of ATI dominance; the FirePro V7750 bested the Quadro FX 3800 by more than twice the average frames per second. In fact, the V7750 did so well in the Maya tests that its average frame rate was actually close to that of the FirePro V8750. AMD must be working some crazy driver voodoo to pull off such impressive scores in Maya.
Analysis
Bearing in mind that these numbers are primarily texture and geometry oriented, we suspect that the greater memory bandwidth of the Quadro FX 3800 would turn the tables in crowd simulations, particle generation and, especially, timeline scrubbing. The greater memory speed and core clock of the V7750, as well as its numerous stream processors, may work to close that gap, however. Regardless, the two GPUs performed admirably and achieved similar results in today’s tests.
So, which is the better product? There really isn’t an easy answer to that question, as it requires an understanding of your working environment and what you wish to do with the GPU.
The FirePro V7750 edges out the Quadro FX 3800 in geometry-heavy tests, and also offers an appreciably low power consumption of only 76W to the FX 3800’s 108W. Though neither will break the bank in energy bills, the lower power efficiency of the V7750 may be appreciated over the long haul when it’s running full bore for hours on end. The V7750 also seems to have a lower price point on its side: at the time of publication, it can be found online for around $600, while the FX 3800 is averaging prices just slightly over $700. We suspect this coincides with NVIDIA’s struggle to cheapen the cost of its G200 cores.
The cons for the V7750 can be seen in the additional features that the FX 3800 offers. Though not supported out of the box, the Quadro FX 3800 can be expanded to allow support for Serial Digital Interface, as well as 3-pin stereoscopic output. In fact, the FirePro V7750 doesn’t support 3D stereoscopic output at all. This is an interesting omission, seeing as stereo technology is currently seeing a massive surge in popularity.
Also on the list of features exclusive to the FX 3800 is SLI Multi OS. SLI Multi OS allows a single workstation equipped with an SLIed pair of compatible Quadro GPUs to virtualize multiple Windows and/or Linux operating system environments. This is especially attractive to small studios that need to do more with less equipment. Combine all of these technologies, and you have several features that are both compelling and exclusive to a GPU with the same MSRP.
Final thoughts
When you get down to it, you really can’t go wrong with either one of these GPUs. For around $700, you’re buying into a very capable GPU that will bring excellent application performance and rock-solid stability, regardless of the vendor. The FirePro V7750 will benefit Maya users the most and, with its feature set, is best suited for the individual artist and high-level 3D enthusiasts. Its slightly lower price point will also be attractive to individual buyers. Small studios looking to equip their workstations with capable hardware will probably look to the Quadro FX 3800 for its SLI Multi OS technology, as well as its expandable support for stereoscopic output.
More broadly, when you put the differences aside and look at how these two GPUs compare to ultra-high-end parts like the V8750, you find an astonishing value for the dollar. With affordable prices, incredible performance and outstanding feature sets, artists and engineers looking to build their own workstation couldn’t ask for more.
In short, we can confidently recommend the FirePro V7750 GPU as an excellent workstation solution.
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