6800 Ultra and Futuremark: Optimizations at work?

[Jason]

Seems Nvidia is once again using optimizations to positively affect benchmark results. Or is it just a bug in a newly released card? The guys take a shot and present some very good information and results at Driver Haven.

They compare the Nvidia and ATI card textures and mipmaps produced to those requested by Futuremark.

While the average user may never notice or be able to tell the difference I have to whole heartedly agree with their comment as follows:

To me though, its not a matter of what I can see so much as the fact that this changing of textures is happening behind the users back. I have selected maximum quality on my £400 graphics card and I fully expect it to have Max Quality�not lesser quality than a much cheaper competitiors product.