Nouveau Gallium3D Linux 3.8 vs. NVIDIA Driver A Nouveau vs. NVIDIA Linux driver performance comparison on three NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards. Benchmarking for a future article on Phoronix.com. GT 220: Nouveau Latest: Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K @ 3.50GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z77H2-A2X v1.0, Chipset: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd, Memory: 8192MB, Disk: 60GB OCZ VERTEX2 + 128GB RVS02 SuperSpeed, Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 220 (405/324MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC892, Monitor: DELL P2210H, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168B + Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 OS: Ubuntu 13.04, Kernel: 3.8.0-999-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 6.6.0, Display Server: X Server 1.13.0.902 (1.13.1 RC 2), Display Driver: nouveau 1.0.4, OpenGL: 2.1 Mesa 9.1-devel (git-2f225f6) Gallium 0.4, Compiler: GCC 4.7, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 GT 220: NVIDIA Stock: Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K @ 3.50GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z77H2-A2X v1.0, Chipset: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd, Memory: 8192MB, Disk: 60GB OCZ VERTEX2, Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 220 1024MB (625/400MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC892, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168B + Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 OS: Ubuntu 13.04, Kernel: 3.7.0-030700-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 6.6.0, Display Server: X Server 1.13.0.902 (1.13.1 RC 2), Display Driver: NVIDIA 313.09, OpenGL: 3.3.0 NVIDIA 313.09, Compiler: GCC 4.7, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 GT 220: NVIDIA Underclocked: Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K @ 3.50GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z77H2-A2X v1.0, Chipset: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd, Memory: 8192MB, Disk: 60GB OCZ VERTEX2, Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 220 1024MB (405/324MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC892, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168B + Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 OS: Ubuntu 13.04, Kernel: 3.7.0-030700-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 6.6.0, Display Server: X Server 1.13.0.902 (1.13.1 RC 2), Display Driver: NVIDIA 313.09, OpenGL: 3.3.0 NVIDIA 313.09, Compiler: GCC 4.7, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 9800GT: Nouveau Latest: Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K @ 3.50GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z77H2-A2X v1.0, Chipset: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd, Memory: 8192MB, Disk: 60GB OCZ VERTEX2, Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT (399/399MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC892, Monitor: DELL P2210H, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168B + Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 OS: Ubuntu 13.04, Kernel: 3.8.0-999-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 6.6.0, Display Server: X Server 1.13.0.902 (1.13.1 RC 2), Display Driver: nouveau 1.0.4, OpenGL: 2.1 Mesa 9.1-devel (git-2f225f6) Gallium 0.4, Compiler: GCC 4.7, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 9800GT: NVIDIA Stock: Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K @ 3.50GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z77H2-A2X v1.0, Chipset: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd, Memory: 8192MB, Disk: 60GB OCZ VERTEX2, Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT 512MB (660/950MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC892, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168B + Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 OS: Ubuntu 13.04, Kernel: 3.7.0-030700-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 6.6.0, Display Server: X Server 1.13.0.902 (1.13.1 RC 2), Display Driver: NVIDIA 313.09, OpenGL: 3.3.0 NVIDIA 313.09, Compiler: GCC 4.7, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 9800GT: NVIDIA Underclocked: Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K @ 3.50GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z77H2-A2X v1.0, Chipset: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd, Memory: 8192MB, Disk: 60GB OCZ VERTEX2, Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT 512MB (399/399MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC892, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168B + Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 OS: Ubuntu 13.04, Kernel: 3.7.0-030700-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 6.6.0, Display Server: X Server 1.13.0.902 (1.13.1 RC 2), Display Driver: NVIDIA 313.09, OpenGL: 3.3.0 NVIDIA 313.09, Compiler: GCC 4.7, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 9800GTX: Nouveau Latest: Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K @ 3.50GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z77H2-A2X v1.0, Chipset: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd, Memory: 8192MB, Disk: 60GB OCZ VERTEX2, Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX (675/1101MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC892, Monitor: DELL P2210H, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168B + Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 OS: Ubuntu 13.04, Kernel: 3.8.0-999-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 6.6.0, Display Server: X Server 1.13.0.902 (1.13.1 RC 2), Display Driver: nouveau 1.0.4, OpenGL: 2.1 Mesa 9.1-devel (git-2f225f6) Gallium 0.4, Compiler: GCC 4.7, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 9800GTX: NVIDIA Stock: Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K @ 3.50GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z77H2-A2X v1.0, Chipset: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd, Memory: 8192MB, Disk: 60GB OCZ VERTEX2, Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX/9800 GTX+ 512MB (675/1100MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC892, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168B + Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 OS: Ubuntu 13.04, Kernel: 3.7.0-030700-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 6.6.0, Display Server: X Server 1.13.0.902 (1.13.1 RC 2), Display Driver: NVIDIA 313.09, OpenGL: 3.3.0 NVIDIA 313.09, Compiler: GCC 4.7, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 Doom 3 1.3.1 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Quality: Low Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better GT 220: Nouveau Latest ...... 20.22 |====== GT 220: NVIDIA Stock ........ 30.17 |========= GT 220: NVIDIA Underclocked . 22.37 |======= 9800GT: Nouveau Latest ...... 38.93 |=========== 9800GT: NVIDIA Stock ........ 129.07 |====================================== 9800GT: NVIDIA Underclocked . 63.50 |================== 9800GTX: Nouveau Latest ..... 83.50 |======================== 9800GTX: NVIDIA Stock ....... 140.97 |========================================= Nexuiz 2.5.2 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - HDR: Yes - Sound: Off Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better GT 220: Nouveau Latest ...... 14.91 |======= GT 220: NVIDIA Stock ........ 22.42 |========== GT 220: NVIDIA Underclocked . 18.41 |======== 9800GT: Nouveau Latest ...... 28.72 |============= 9800GT: NVIDIA Stock ........ 87.28 |====================================== 9800GT: NVIDIA Underclocked . 44.46 |==================== 9800GTX: Nouveau Latest ..... 53.75 |======================== 9800GTX: NVIDIA Stock ....... 95.64 |========================================== OpenArena 0.8.5 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better GT 220: Nouveau Latest ...... 91.80 |======= GT 220: NVIDIA Stock ........ 158.30 |============ GT 220: NVIDIA Underclocked . 111.07 |========= 9800GT: Nouveau Latest ...... 139.70 |=========== 9800GT: NVIDIA Stock ........ 493.90 |====================================== 9800GT: NVIDIA Underclocked . 277.60 |===================== 9800GTX: Nouveau Latest ..... 224.67 |================= 9800GTX: NVIDIA Stock ....... 535.33 |========================================= OpenArena 0.8.8 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better GT 220: Nouveau Latest ...... 26.50 |======= GT 220: NVIDIA Stock ........ 42.50 |=========== GT 220: NVIDIA Underclocked . 28.63 |======== 9800GT: Nouveau Latest ...... 51.10 |============== 9800GT: NVIDIA Stock ........ 136.27 |==================================== 9800GT: NVIDIA Underclocked . 72.80 |=================== 9800GTX: Nouveau Latest ..... 93.73 |========================= 9800GTX: NVIDIA Stock ....... 155.03 |========================================= World of Padman 1.2 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better GT 220: Nouveau Latest ...... 97.97 |======== GT 220: NVIDIA Stock ........ 161.47 |============ GT 220: NVIDIA Underclocked . 113.27 |========= 9800GT: Nouveau Latest ...... 162.00 |============= 9800GT: NVIDIA Stock ........ 515.93 |======================================== 9800GT: NVIDIA Underclocked . 294.37 |======================= 9800GTX: Nouveau Latest ..... 280.27 |====================== 9800GTX: NVIDIA Stock ....... 530.83 |========================================= Reaction Quake 3 1.0 Beta Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better GT 220: Nouveau Latest ...... 39.08 |========= GT 220: NVIDIA Stock ........ 56.10 |============= GT 220: NVIDIA Underclocked . 43.63 |========== 9800GT: Nouveau Latest ...... 74.40 |================== 9800GT: NVIDIA Stock ........ 158.23 |====================================== 9800GT: NVIDIA Underclocked . 94.53 |======================= 9800GTX: Nouveau Latest ..... 154.33 |===================================== 9800GTX: NVIDIA Stock ....... 171.30 |========================================= Urban Terror 4.1 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better GT 220: Nouveau Latest ...... 67.20 |=========== GT 220: NVIDIA Stock ........ 142.97 |====================== GT 220: NVIDIA Underclocked . 101.40 |================ 9800GT: Nouveau Latest ...... 92.10 |============== 9800GT: NVIDIA Stock ........ 257.33 |======================================== 9800GT: NVIDIA Underclocked . 218.07 |================================== 9800GTX: Nouveau Latest ..... 114.40 |================== 9800GTX: NVIDIA Stock ....... 261.13 |========================================= VDrift 2010-06-30 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better GT 220: Nouveau Latest ...... 49.46 |========= GT 220: NVIDIA Stock ........ 11.21 |== GT 220: NVIDIA Underclocked . 8.40 |= 9800GT: Nouveau Latest ...... 97.05 |================= 9800GT: NVIDIA Stock ........ 38.12 |======= 9800GT: NVIDIA Underclocked . 19.54 |=== 9800GTX: Nouveau Latest ..... 235.01 |========================================= 9800GTX: NVIDIA Stock ....... 43.18 |======== Warsow 1.0 Resolution: 1280 x 1024 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better GT 220: Nouveau Latest ...... 26.30 |======= GT 220: NVIDIA Stock ........ 41.20 |=========== GT 220: NVIDIA Underclocked . 78.85 |====================== 9800GT: Nouveau Latest ...... 42.73 |============ 9800GT: NVIDIA Stock ........ 132.63 |===================================== 9800GT: NVIDIA Underclocked . 67.30 |=================== 9800GTX: Nouveau Latest ..... 74.57 |===================== 9800GTX: NVIDIA Stock ....... 148.87 |========================================= Warsow 1.0 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better GT 220: Nouveau Latest ...... 26.40 |======= GT 220: NVIDIA Stock ........ 93.17 |========================== GT 220: NVIDIA Underclocked . 31.93 |========= 9800GT: Nouveau Latest ...... 42.67 |============ 9800GT: NVIDIA Stock ........ 132.90 |==================================== 9800GT: NVIDIA Underclocked . 67.20 |================== 9800GTX: Nouveau Latest ..... 74.83 |===================== 9800GTX: NVIDIA Stock ....... 149.30 |========================================= Xonotic 0.6 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Effects Quality: Low Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better GT 220: Nouveau Latest ...... 93.37 |=========== GT 220: NVIDIA Stock ........ 171.38 |==================== GT 220: NVIDIA Underclocked . 134.03 |================ 9800GT: Nouveau Latest ...... 150.96 |================== 9800GT: NVIDIA Stock ........ 346.05 |========================================= 9800GT: NVIDIA Underclocked . 256.69 |============================== 9800GTX: Nouveau Latest ..... 272.37 |================================ 9800GTX: NVIDIA Stock ....... 347.09 |========================================= Xonotic 0.6 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Effects Quality: High Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better GT 220: Nouveau Latest ...... 34.69 |======== GT 220: NVIDIA Stock ........ 58.76 |============= GT 220: NVIDIA Underclocked . 44.87 |========== 9800GT: Nouveau Latest ...... 57.90 |============= 9800GT: NVIDIA Stock ........ 170.99 |===================================== 9800GT: NVIDIA Underclocked . 89.07 |=================== 9800GTX: Nouveau Latest ..... 102.78 |====================== 9800GTX: NVIDIA Stock ....... 188.67 |=========================================