Splinter Cell Performance
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory uses a heavily modified Unreal Engine 2 to provide support for all major Shader Models and HDR lighting in SM2.0 and SM3.0 render paths. HDR lighting and antialiasing is currently incompatible with the new ATI hardware with Ubisoft likely to release a patch in due course. Until then identical codepaths can be run on both GPUs with AA off and HDR on, and lower levels of IQ underneath.
The X1800 XT has a measurable initial advantage across the board.
Add in options befitting the highest end consumer graphics products and the X1800 XT pulls away even further from GeForce 7800 GTX in Splinter Cell: CT.
Turning off AA to turn on HDR lessens the advantage but still leaves it measurable and repeatable. 60Hz LCD gaming is best served by the X1800 XT with Splinter Cell: CT configured to 1280x1024, 4xAA, 8xAF.
