Testing & Results

Testing Methodology

The Microsoft DirectX-11 graphics API is native to the Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System, and will be the primary OS for our test platform. DX11 is also available as a Microsoft Update for the Windows Vista OS, so our test results apply to both versions of the operating system. All of the tests in this review were run with DX11 graphics.

While a lot of gamers use the 1680×1050 desktop resolution, 1920×1080 is rapidly becoming the most popular. Because it is the more demanding of the two, I ran all of my tests at a resolution of 1920×1080. You can expect slightly better frame rates if you are using 1680×1050, but the difference probably won’t be dramatic.

I used a combination of synthetic and video game benchmark tests in this article to illustrate relative performance among graphics solutions. Our benchmark frame rate results are not intended to represent real-world graphics performance, as this experience would change based on supporting hardware and the perception of individuals playing the video game.

Test System

• Motherboard: Biostar Hi-Fi Z87W Motherboard
• Processor: Intel Core i5-4670K Sandy Bridge CPU 3.4GHz
• System Memory: 16GB Kingston HyperX Beast DDR3-2133MHz
• Disk Drive: Seagate 1TB SSHD ST1000LM014
• PSU: Corsair CMPSU-850TX 850W 80-Plus Certified
• Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

DirectX-11 Benchmark Applications

Synthetic Benchmarks

• 3DMark11
  • “Extreme” settings (1920×1080)
• ComputeMark 2.1
  • Extreme Presets, 1920×1080
• Unigine Heaven Benchmark 4.0
  • Extreme tesselation, high shaders, 4xAF, 8xAA

Gaming Benchmarks

• Assassin’s Creed III
  • Very high textures, high shadows, tesselation, SSAO, advanced shadow sampling, 4x AA, 16x AF
• Far Cry 3
  • Performance Presets
• Tomb Raider
  • Ultra textures, AFx16, TressFX Hair, FXAA, Ultimate Settings
• Bioshock Infinite
  • Ultra Quality Level Presets (1920×1080)

• Lost Planet 2 Benchmark
  • High textures, High shadows, High DX11, High rendering, CSAA32X