Dead Space: Performance Analyzed

Benchmark Results: GeForce AO Enabled

Only the GeForce cards can be tested with AO enabled because the feature has been implemented through the GeForce drivers and is not an option in the Radeon drivers. Let's see what this subtle image-quality enhancement feature costs in terms of performance.

Compared to the High Detail performance on the previous page, the AO feature has almost cut performance in half. At this resolution, this result isn't as bad as it sounds because all of these cards were performing at ridiculously high frame rates anyway. But this doesn't bode well for the AO feature as the resolution increases.

Indeed, at 1680x1050, we're seeing a crack in the GeForce 9600 GT's armor. It's still playable with a minimum frame rate of 30 FPS, but the card's prospects for 1920x1200 aren't looking good.

At the 1920x1200 resolution, the GeForce 9600 GT is still mostly playable, even though the minimum frame rate has gone down to 24 FPS. All of the other GeForce cards are demonstrating a little more oomph and smoother performance.

Wow! The AO feature doesn't combine with the 2560x1600 resolution very well at all, pulling the GeForce 9600 GT and GeForce 8800/9800 GT below 20 FPS minimum. Even the GeForce GTS 250's minimum frame rate is brought down below 30 FPS, leaving the GeForce GTX 260 as the only card we tested that is able to handle the AO feature at 2560x1600 with a minimum frame rate above 30 FPS.

  • 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