- Email |
- Print |
- Comments (184) |
- Share
Race Driver: GRID
In order to benchmark Race Driver: GRID, we use FRAPS to run a 45 second lap at the Detroit “Sports Car Circuit,” one of the more demanding tracks in the game. We also utilize the most demanding cockpit view and start/remain in the back of the pack, which should provide close to a worst-case scenario for performance. If you find this view difficult (or just enjoy looking at the shiny cars while you drive), you can typically gain performance by utilizing the swingman view.
Also note that some hardware configurations may suffer larger frame rate hits during night racing, resulting in somewhat lower performance than seen here. I happen to be a big fan of racing games and probably a little pickier than most people in terms of frame rates. Any time the performance drops below 40 FPS, it can be felt in this game. So, personally, I like to remain above 40 FPS. But your reaction time probably won't suffer unless frame rates drop to near 30 FPS though, so we’ll settle for an average target of 40 FPS.
The upward slope and tight spacing at each step up in CPU power signifies the processor limitation at these settings, and only the two least-expensive graphics cards level out to a balance once we reach the quad-core processors. The cheapest GPU/CPU combination hits our target, although the stock Pentium E6300 is significantly limiting the performance of each graphics card.
It’s interesting that the only graphics card to not reach the target also happens to be the one that, given enough CPU power, provided the highest performance. Not that we need 100 FPS, but the GeForce GTX 295 just begs us for an overclocked CPU.
We see a similar picture at 1680x1050, with 23 out of the 24 combinations reaching the target line. Performance from each of the cards (apart from the Radeon HD 4890 and Radeon HD 4870 X2), levels out after reaching the quad-core processors. Once again, bumping up the CPU horsepower beyond a stock Pentium E6300 provides a significant increase in performance, and an overall more-balanced platform.
The large performance hit incurred by the GeForce GTX 295/Core i7-920 is puzzling, but totally repeatable. After numerous tries exiting the game, results at 1280x1024 and 1680x1050 remained as-charted. Expecting an aspect ratio-limited situation, we tested 1600x1200, only to find that it too achieved the same 68 FPS average and 58 FPS minimum seen at 1680x1050.
The inclines seen here aren’t as severe as they were in lower resolutions, indicating that the GPUs are starting to be pushed a bit harder. The Radeon HD 4850/E6300 hit 40 FPS exactly, although the E8400 provides a better balance for both the Radeon HD 4850 and GeForce GTX 260. The quad-core CPUs provide the better balance for Radeon HD 4890 and faster graphics solutions.
The GeForce GTX 260 and Radeon HD 4850 both fall below the green line at 2560x1600, leaving E6300/Radeon HD 4890 as the cheapest solution to reach our target. The Radeon HD 4890 and GeForce GTX 285 balance out well with the E8400, while it takes the Q9550 or i7-920 to keep up with the GeForce GTX 295 and Radeon HD 4870 X2.
- AMD and Intel General Discussion (not for getting help) [CPU & Components]
- 2 days left to return video card, please advise [Graphic & Displays]
- Index of "If sKora had..." topics [Homebuilt Systems]
- Gaming rig £750-800 [Homebuilt Systems]
- Advice - new video editing/multitaksing desktop [Homebuilt Systems]
Questions? Ask Tom's community!
- 1 / 10
- Next
-
Sponsored links
Related forums topics
- Intel quad core Kentsfield CPU's
- Index of "If sKora had..." topics
- If skora had...To build a cheap i7 gaming rig
- Old Timer needs some advice
- WEIGH IN: Dec.08 System Builder Marathon ~$1250 system components
- People asking for System Qritiques on day of ordering?
- Matching CPU for 6200 ?
- Anybody play on xBox as well?
Related articles
-
Intel 440LX AGPset The Intel 440LX AGPset introduced Accelerated Graphics Port capability to the Intel architecture PC platform. This popular chip set provides a fundamental building block for balanced platform performance in a wide variety of...
-
TH: Enough with the Inquisition! Let’s look forward. Do you anticipate Stream and GPGPU technology being applied in the consumer space beyond today’s video player/editor/transcoder apps? AMD: Yes, very much so. Applications like physics simulation,...
-
There’s a ton of benchmark data here, from which we’re able to draw a number of different conclusions. But first, let’s revisit the questions posed in the introduction: What’s this new design element going to mean to gamers? Will Core i5 handicap you...
Best offers
|
Compaq Presario CQ5210F Mini-Tower... | $415.00 Beach Camera More info |
|
Pavilion p6240f Mini-Tower Desktop... | $549.98 STAPLES More info |
|
iMac All-In-One Desktop (3.06GHz... | $1699.00 ABT More info |
|
iMac All-In-One Desktop (3.06GHz... | $1149.00 MacConnection More info |
|
Pavilion p6210f Mini-Tower Desktop... | $546.98 STAPLES More info |
Partners
The Games selection
crazy :
Xiao Xiao 7
A great fight scene from the animation movies Xiao Xiao.
|
action :
Yoyo the Star
Yoyo is a young girl who recently graduated and dreams to become a movie star (don't we all). You'll have to guide her on the path to stardom,...
|
Wow, this is an amazingly in depth review! I kinda feel that its sponsered by Asus or Corsair, but I guess you kept with the same brand for the sake of controls etc.
Thankyou!
I see a great series coming
Very helpful stuff.
I'd like to see some discussion on the availability of sub $400 (at times as low as $280) 28" monitors. At this price range, does it make more sense to spend more on the LCD even if less is spent initially on graphics? I would think the benefit of 28" vs. 22" is so great that the extra money could be taken from, say, a 9550 + 4890 combo and getting a 8400/6300 + 4850 instead, with the right motherboard a second 4850 later will pass a 4890 anyway.
I like the balance charts. It's a good way to characterize the data. This article is well constructed and well thought-out.
That being said - is there a way we can compile this data and compute an "optimized" system for the given hardware available? Finding the true, calculated sweet spot for performance/$ would be so nice to have on hand every quarter or twice a year. I'll have to think about this one for a while. There may be some concessions to make, and it might not even work out. But it would be so cool.
Nice one.Now i want to see part two.
I feel like the person that did this review got it finished alittle bit late. I can only assume he did all the testing some months back and has only just finished writing up his results. But its sad to not see the new P55/i5 Systems, AMD Athlon II Quad Cores, or the Radeon 5000 series.
Good review, but hopefully it can be updated soon with some of the newer equipment thats out, to turn it into a fantastic guide for people.
Great job, this is the information people need to be seeing; the way people provide benchmarks these days hardly tells the story to most of the readers. It's definitely important to point out the disparities in ones CPU choice, rather than just assuming everyone uses the i7 all the sites choose.
Looking forward to part 2.
wow! Awesome works! Can't wait til you guys get to the ATI 5000 series. Keep it up!
This will take up some of my time. Even though I know how, it's nice to get a refresher every now and then.
you are really kidding me by not considering the ATI 5000 series, although am a fan of nvidia , but this is not fair !
amazing article....one of the best I have seen in a long time (from any site)
you all deserve a raise
Very nice.
The picture on the first page is better than any porno I've ever seen!
It took me roughly an hour and a half to read this article at work. Wow these are the types of tests and in depth articles that I’ve been waiting for. Its been about a month to two months since we’ve had such a deep study. The System Builder Marathon reviews and tests were great. The best GPU’s per price/performance are lacking and basic comparisons while this article shows us the true value and capabilities of certain GPU’s and CPU’s.
Im however perplexed that the once good 4850 which is compared to my 9800GTX+ is deemed a weaker GPU now. I thought the Far Cry 2 tests shown in previous TOMs comparisons garnerd higher frame rates? I know that the systems were comparable.... Anyway keep up the good work and this is a Quality comparison/chart/review.
This is a great review that people who are building pc's actual need to see.
I was quite surprised by the power of the HD4890. It thumped the GTX285 and more powerful cards when using a dual core CPU. Even in Crysis which always seemed like it favoured Nvidia cards in past reviews. It is probably that the previous reviews all used overclocked quad cores and/or the ATI drivers have really improved.
It also seems as though the Nvidia cards need a more powerful CPU in order to get equivalent performance to the ATI cards.
It's just these kind of articles that make TH shine over the other sites. Well done!
Looking forward to the rest of the series. Well done.
Thank you Paul and team for sacrificing many weeks on this project. Its great to have something to point at and say this is why you shouldn't do that. It will be great to be able do direct price/performance comparison for the same results of a less expensive OC'd system and stock system.
Can't wait for the rest!!!!!
Also, whats the chance of getting a how to run you're own benchmarks article so we can test our systems against yours using the same method?
This is good, this must be the first time in computer history things are beeing done right. And this is sure the best way i ever seen a review done, in my 18 yrs as an entusiastic computer builder. Looking forward to all the updates to come.
My PC says 'bring in the part 2'. Is this would be a series also like the best GPU/CPU?