Dead Space: Performance Analyzed

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Test System And Settings

Note that we used two test systems: a Core i7 920-based system for the majority of the benchmarks and a Core 2 Quad Q6600-based system to demonstrate what slower CPU architecture, lower clock speeds, and fewer logical CPU cores will offer in the way of performance (since i7 sports Hyper-Threading).

Once again, we chose a range of graphics cards to test, most of them from our "Best Cards for the Money" monthly recommendations. This gives us a nice, broad spectrum of cards to scrutinize from various budgets.

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Header Cell - Column 0 Graphic Test SystemCPU Test System
CPUIntel Core i7-920 (Bloomfield),2.67 GHz, QPI-2400, 8 MB CacheIntel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (Kentsfield),2.7 GHz, FSB-1200, 8 MB Cache
MotherboardASRock X58 Supercomputer Intel X58, BIOS P1.90MSI P7N SLI Platinum Nvidia nForce 750i, BIOS A2
NetworkingOnboard Realtek Gigabit LAN controllerOnboard nForce 750i Gigabit Ethernet
MemoryMushkin PC3-10700 3x 2,048 MB, DDR3-1066, CL 8-8-8-19 at 1.8 VA-Data Extreme DDR2 800+ 2x 2,048 MB, DDR2-800, CL 5-5-5-18 at 1.8 V
GraphicsSapphire HD4650 512 MB DDR2 PCIeGigabyte GV-N96TSL-1GI 1 GB DDR3 PCIeDiamond Radeon HD 4770 512 MB DDR5 PCIePowercolor AX4830 512 MB DDR3 PCIeGigabyte GV-NX88T512HPV1 512 MB DDR3 PCIeAsus ENGTS250 DK 1 GB DDR3 PCIeAsus EAH4850 MT 512 MB DDR3 PCIeASUS ENGTX260 796 MB DDR3 PCIeATI Radeon HD 4870 referenceASUS ENGTX260 796 MB DDR3 PCIe
Hard DriveWestern Digital Caviar WD50 00AAJS-00YFA, 500 GB, 7200 RPM, 8 MB cache, SATA 3.0 GB/sWestern Digital Caviar WD50 00AAJS-00YFA, 500 GB, 7200 RPM, 8 MB cache, SATA 3.0 GB/s
PowerThermaltake Toughpower 1200W1200 W, ATX 12V 2.2, EPS 12v 2.91Ultra HE1000X ATX 2.2, 1000W
Software and Drivers
Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit 6.0.6001, SP1
DirectX versionDirectX 10
Graphics DriversNvidia GeForce 185.85, Catalyst 9.5
Don Woligroski
44 Comments Comment from the forums
  • anamaniac
    "Mushkin PC3-10700
    3x 2,048 MB, DDR3-1066, CL 8-8-8-19
    at 1.8 V"

    This is a mistake, right?
    Reply
  • anamaniac
    Interesting article.

    Deadspace does seem like a decent game, but it was too much for me.
    Tried sitting down to play it a few times, but I just couldn't take it.

    And yeah, the game can play on some junk hardware.
    800x600 res, minimum settings.


    First time I saw one of those creatures, I just wasted ammo. WTF WAS THAT!?!?!
    Pentium D 2.8GHz, 1GB DDR2 533, Nvidia 7500LE 256MB.
    It played. Average framerate was bad, but the minimums were kinda bad, yet still possible.

    Nice to see what I may be able to crank it up to now with my 4670, though a couple gigs of ddr2 800 will be a nice bonus if I find the will to spend my rent money...
    Reply
  • Andraxxus
    It can play fairly well even on a E6300@1.86Ghz with 1GB DDR2 667 and Nvidia 7600GT but I never finished it.
    Reply
  • tacoslave
    im ashamed to say this but i jumped when one of those things came at me out of nowhere...
    Reply
  • axilon
    One of the few games that sucked me in. I do NOT recommend playing it at 3am, the dreams I had....
    Reply
  • microdots
    9600gt plays this game great
    awesome game regardless tho. everything is very well done, its easy to tell that the developers took great time in perfecting every portion in the levels and environment. as from what i remember it defiantly lived up to its hype. i still haven't beaten it either along with being super cool its also pretty difficult but totally worth the money; a true gaming experience.
    Reply
  • Ciuy
    so in the end AO = bad. Unless u got to much fps .
    Reply
  • Kill@dor
    I don't blame you for being scared to try this game out...its really something else ^_^ Very well made game in my opinion
    Reply
  • rags_20
    I was thinking of trying it. Is it really that scary? I mean, if you turn down the volume, it shouldn't be as scary.
    Reply
  • Roffey123
    It was the soundscape in the game that got me, I'm used to the monsters and such, but the ambience really got to me - so I never really got far. Perhaps I should summon the courage up for it again.
    Reply