Dead Space: Performance Analyzed

CPU Benchmarks: Clock Speeds And Multiple Cores

The previous performance benchmarks have shown the earmarks of a high graphics-system dependency mixed with a low CPU dependency with extremely high frame rates at low resolutions. Let's see just how powerful the CPU needs to be to handle Dead Space by comparing stock Core i7-920 performance to Core 2 Quad Q6600 performance as the clock speed is lowered:

Even at 1.6 GHz, we're not seeing an appreciable impact on performance. Clearly, Dead Space is very easy on the CPU. Now, let's see if disabling CPU cores has an appreciable effect on performance:

Even with only two CPU cores running at a mere 1.6 GHz, Dead Space easily musters an average FPS of over 70 FPS–and that's at 2560x1600 with High Details enabled. Only when the CPU is reduced to using a single core at 1.6 GHz is there a noticeable impact on performance.

This is great news for folks with older CPUs who want to play Dead Space.

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  • 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