CPU & RAM Resources, And Conclusion
Processor Usage
Whether you're using a GeForce or Radeon, a Core i5-6500 CPU lands between 81 and 95% utilization. It's not idle by any means, but there's still some headroom available. Interestingly, AMD's Radeon-based platform registers slightly lower CPU usage.
System Memory Usage
Memory utilization is similar, regardless of whether you have a GeForce or Radeon installed.
With these values, it is of course necessary to subtract the amount of RAM used by the OS and its services (around 1.9GB). We can therefore deduce that Prey is quite efficient when it comes to memory usage.
Video Memory Usage
To the contrary, this game gobbles up graphics memory, likely a result of the Very High quality preset we're using to test. This is more true on the Radeon than the GeForce, though it's important to note that AMD's card has an additional 2GB of GDDR5. Even so, the capacity used remains far from the total amount of memory available on these boards.
Conclusion
What a fantastic surprise: Prey is both graphically detailed and relatively accessible across a range of hardware configurations.
Of course, entry-level cards like the Radeon RX 460 and GeForce GTX 1050 have a hard time maintaining playable frame rates under the Very High quality preset, and you can forget resolutions above 1920x1080 with them. But High quality at 1080p is completely within the realm of possibility. Not bad for a couple of affordable little graphics cards.
If your graphics hardware is even more powerful, don't hesitate to dial in the Very High preset on a 4GB card. Otherwise, you can relax the texture quality setting, even at 1440p, and realize enjoyable performance.
We have to commend the developers at Arkane Studios for making excellent use of CryEngine technology. Prey offers great graphics without requiring a three-way SLI array of GPUs for playable frame rates.
MORE: Mass Effect Andromeda Performance Review
