Nvidia GeForce 3D Vision review

Behind the scenes
So when it works properly - and compatibility should improve with every new game release - it's superb. But with two images being produced we were keen to see just how much extra strain the 3D effect puts on the PC itself. Nvidia is very clear that you'll need Vista or Windows 7, a dual-core CPU and at minimum a GeForce 8800GT, 9600 GT or GT 140, all of which are roughly equivalent across the graphics card generations.

But we'd recommend a fairly hefty gaming rig to do 3D Vision justice. Nvidia had told us previously to expect around a 50% drop in framerates with 3D enabled, and that proved not far off. The precise figures varied between 60% and 40% of the non-3D performance, so many gamers will need to lower settings or buy a faster Nvidia card, which is surely what the company is hoping with this launch.

And that brings us to the price. At £347 exc VAT for the full package (assuming you already own an Nvidia card), it certainly isn't cheap. But this is a new technology aimed at early adopters, and once you see the results with your own eyes, it's a highly tempting proposition. Yes, it has its early flaws, but with Nvidia wielding such clout in the world of gaming we can see GeForce 3D Vision making slow but steady progress towards the mainstream.

Author: David Bayon