Core i5, Core i7, CrossFire, And SLI: Gaming Paradise, Redux?

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Benchmark Results: Grand Theft Auto 4

We’ve fielded a lot of feedback email asking for Grand Theft Auto 4 results. The game often proves to be fairly processor-dependent, but performance generally only ranges between 40 and 60 frames per second.

At 1680x1050, we can see that this one prefers Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 285—especially on the Core 2 Quad platform, where ATI falls behind. The Core i5/Corei7s and AMD’s Phenom II X4 deliver similar performance otherwise. SLI is the only multi-card technology that exhibits a gain of any sort; CrossFire actually hurts performance.

Swap over to a single Radeon HD 4870 X2 and the three Nehalem-based CPUs take a lead, even over the Phenom II.

When you up the resolution, a single Radeon HD 4870 X2 delivers even results across our five test beds. Again, CrossFire does nothing positive for performance. A single GeForce GTX 285, on the other hand, does gain a fair bit of performance from a second card. With just one installed, you really won’t be able to tell the difference between Core i7, Core i5, or Phenom II, though.

Chris Angelini
Chris Angelini
Chris Angelini is an Editor Emeritus at Tom's Hardware US. He edits hardware reviews and covers high-profile CPU and GPU launches.
78 Comments Comment from the forums
  • lashton
    so we can assume for gaming the 965BE (or 955 oc) and ATi cards are just as fast as Core i7 and i5 but at a fraction of the price
    Reply
  • cangelini
    The 955 does cost less. The 965 is more expensive than Core i5.
    Reply
  • Dekasav
    Only thing I don't like is how you knock Crossfire with 2 HD 4870X2's, since when is it even feasible that 4-way CF would scale as well as 2-way SLI?

    But excellent review, overall, I'm actually surprised at how the 965BE did, I thought it'd be behind, where it was actually right in the pack.
    Reply
  • dirtmountain
    I would have liked to see a 780a or a 980a SLI motherboard used to check the SLI numbers on the P2 965BE. I'm also surprised there's no overclocking numbers in the comparison, is that article still to come out?
    Reply
  • cangelini
    It's upcoming dirt; Patrick is the one working on it (and our Italian team sent word of its i5 and i7s in excess of 4.2 GHz)
    Reply
  • sudeshc
    Nice game collection you got there.......:)

    Great review.
    Reply
  • anonymous x
    Let us know what you think about this in the comments section, but it was pretty clear that Vista was never a favorite, so we're hoping Windows 7 is a more popular environment in which to test
    I like vista, rock solid and stable since I got it years ago. Don't listen to the bashers who never have tried the product.
    Reply
  • lashton
    You giotta remember vista is design for spoecific hardware and powerfull hardware that can run it, so people with P4 3GHz and vista complain about its speed, vista is OK, i dont like it cause my computer doesm't like it thats fine i get over it and chnage my OS
    Reply
  • cangelini
    Thanks for weighing in, guys!
    Reply
  • crash27
    So there's no benafit from adding a second 285 to a q9550s or an x4 965 be ??

    I get a good performance boost from my second gtx280 with my q9650 @ 4 gz
    Reply