CPU/RAM Utilization And Conclusion
Processor Usage: Intel Core i5-6500
While Resident Evil 7 does not seem to be CPU-limited at Full HD, the RE Engine seems to be more at ease with the RX 480 than the GTX 1060 6GB. The difference in CPU utilization is noticeable, to AMD's advantage. This isn't particularly surprising for a console port.
For what it's worth, activating Shadow Cache doesn't seem to have a serious impact on CPU usage.
Video Memory Usage
Once again, we see maximum on-board memory usage is higher on the Radeon RX 480 than the GeForce GTX 1060 6GB. The former reaches ~7GB, while the latter approaches 6GB.
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Conclusion
Should you buy a Radeon RX 480 or GeForce GTX 1060 6GB for Resident Evil 7? It's hard to pick a winner. The first benefits from lighter CPU usage; the second has a slightly higher maximum frame rate.
One thing is certain: this game requires lots of on-board memory, even if you only plan to play it at 1920x1080. As the resolution goes up, so do the memory requirements.
The Radeon RX 480 and R9 390, along with Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, should be fast enough for playable performance in virtual reality, if you want to experiment with VorpX (as some enthusiasts have). After all, slower movements in the game are satisfactory, even at lower frame rates.
While the RE Engine handles large textures with ease, it remains somewhat faded-looking on traditional screens. It'll only reveal its true potential on an HDR-capable display, or even better a VR headset. Then you can really scare yourself...
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