What does the processor affect in games? What is affected by the frequency of the GPU in a video card and what is it? What to change a video card or processor
CPU is a core computing component that greatly influences the performance of a computer. But how much does gaming performance depend on the processor? Should you change your processor to improve gaming performance? What kind of increase will this give? We will try to find the answer to these questions in this article.
1. What to change the video card or processor
Not long ago, I again encountered a lack of computer performance and it became clear that it was time for another upgrade. At that time my configuration was as follows:
- Phenom II X4 945 (3 GHz)
- 8 GB DDR2 800 MHz
- GTX 660 2 GB
Overall, I was quite happy with the computer’s performance, the system worked quite quickly, most games ran on high or medium/high graphics settings, and I didn’t edit videos that often, so 15-30 minutes of rendering didn’t bother me.
The first problems arose in the game World of Tanks, when changing graphics settings from high to medium did not give the expected performance increase. The frame rate periodically dropped from 60 to 40 FPS. It became clear that performance was limited by the processor. Then it was decided to go up to 3.6 GHz, which solved the problems in WoT.
But time passed, new heavy games were released, and from WoT I switched to one that was more demanding of system resources (Armata). The situation repeated itself and the question became what to change - the video card or the processor. There was no point in changing the GTX 660 to a 1060; it was necessary to take at least a GTX 1070. But the old Phenom definitely wouldn’t be able to handle such a video card. And even when changing the settings in Armata, it was clear that the performance was again limited by the processor. Therefore, it was decided to first replace the processor with a transition to a more productive Intel platform for games.
Replacing the processor entailed replacing the motherboard and RAM. But there was no other way out; besides, there was hope that a more powerful processor would allow the old video card to be more fully capable in processor-dependent games.
2. Processor selection
There were no Ryzen processors at that time; their release was only expected. In order to fully evaluate them, it was necessary to wait for their release and mass testing to identify strengths and weaknesses.
In addition, it was already known that the price at the time of their release would be quite high and it was necessary to wait about another six months until the prices for them became more adequate. There was no desire to wait that long, just as there was no desire to quickly switch to the still crude AM4 platform. And, given AMD’s eternal blunders, it was also risky.
Therefore, Ryzen processors were not considered and preference was given to the already proven, polished and well-proven Intel platform on socket 1151. And, as practice has shown, not in vain, since Ryzen processors turned out to be worse in games, and in other performance tasks I already had enough performance .
At first the choice was between Core i5 processors:
- Core i5-6600
- Core i5-7600
- Core i5-6600K
- Core i5-7600K
For a mid-range gaming computer, the i5-6600 was the minimum option. But in the future, I wanted to have some reserve in case of replacing the video card. The Core i5-7600 was not very different, so the original plan was to purchase a Core i5-6600K or Core i5-7600K with the ability to overclock to a stable 4.4 GHz.
But, having read the test results in modern games, where the load on these processors was close to 90%, it was clear that in the future they might not be enough. But I wanted to have a good platform with a reserve for a long time, since the days when you could upgrade your PC every year are gone
So I started looking at Core i7 processors:
- Core i7-6700
- Core i7-7700
- Core i7-6700K
- Core i7-7700K
In modern games they are not yet fully loaded, but somewhere around 60-70%. But, the Core i7-6700 has a base frequency of only 3.4 GHz, and the Core i7-7700 has not much more - 3.6 GHz.
According to test results in modern games with top video cards, the greatest performance increase is observed at around 4 GHz. Then it is no longer so significant, sometimes almost invisible.
Despite the fact that i5 and i7 processors are equipped with auto-overclocking technology (), you shouldn’t count on it too much, since in games where all cores are used, the increase will be insignificant (only 100-200 MHz).
Thus, the Core i7-6700K (4 GHz) and i7-7700K (4.2 GHz) processors are more optimal, and given the possibility of overclocking to a stable 4.4 GHz, they are also significantly more promising than the i7-6700 (3.4 GHz) and i7-7700 (3.6 GHz), since the difference in frequency will already be 800-1000 MHz!
At the time of the upgrade, Intel 7th generation processors (Core i7-7xxx) had just appeared and were significantly more expensive than 6th generation processors (Core i7-6xxx), the prices of which had already begun to decline. At the same time, in the new generation they updated only the built-in graphics, which are not needed for games. And their overclocking capabilities are almost the same.
In addition, motherboards with new chipsets were also more expensive (although you can install a processor on an older chipset, this may pose some problems).
Therefore, it was decided to take the Core i7-6700K with a base frequency of 4 GHz and the ability to overclock to a stable 4.4 GHz in the future.
3. Selecting a motherboard and memory
I, like most enthusiasts and technical experts, prefer high-quality and stable motherboards from ASUS. For the Core i7-6700K processor with overclocking capabilities, the best option is motherboards based on the Z170 chipset. In addition, I wanted to have a better built-in sound card. Therefore, it was decided to take the most inexpensive gaming motherboard from ASUS on the Z170 chipset -.
The memory, taking into account the motherboard’s support for module frequencies up to 3400 MHz, also wanted to be faster. For a modern gaming PC, the best option is a 2x8 GB DDR4 memory kit. All that remained was to find the optimal set in terms of price/frequency ratio.
Initially, the choice fell on AMD Radeon R7 (2666 MHz), since the price was very tempting. But at the time of ordering, it was not in stock. I had to choose between the much more expensive G.Skill RipjawsV (3000 MHz) and the slightly less expensive Team T-Force Dark (2666 MHz).
It was a difficult choice, since I wanted faster memory, and funds were limited. Based on tests in modern games (which I studied), the performance difference between 2133 MHz and 3000 MHz memory was 3-13% and an average of 6%. It's not much, but I wanted to get the maximum.
But the fact is that fast memory is made by factory overclocking slower chips. G.Skill RipjawsV memory (3000 MHz) is no exception and, to achieve this frequency, its supply voltage is 1.35 V. In addition, processors have a hard time digesting memory with too high a frequency and already at a frequency of 3000 MHz the system may not work stably. Well, increased supply voltage leads to faster wear (degradation) of both memory chips and the processor controller (Intel officially announced this).
At the same time, Team T-Force Dark memory (2666 MHz) operates at a voltage of 1.2 V and, according to the manufacturer, allows the voltage to increase to 1.4 V, which, if desired, will allow you to overclock it manually. After weighing all the pros and cons, the choice was made in favor of memory with a standard voltage of 1.2 V.
4. Gaming performance tests
Before switching platforms, I performed performance tests on the old system in some games. After changing the platform, the same tests were repeated.
The tests were performed on a clean Windows 7 system with the same video card (GTX 660) at high graphics settings, since the goal of replacing the processor was to increase performance without reducing image quality.
To achieve more accurate results, only games with a built-in benchmark were used in the tests. As an exception, a performance test in the online tank shooter Armored Warfare was carried out by recording a replay and then playing it back with readings using Fraps.
High graphics settings.
Test on Phenom X4 (@3.6 GHz).
The test results show that the average FPS changed slightly (from 36 to 38). This means that the performance in this game depends on the video card. However, the minimum FPS drops in all tests have decreased significantly (from 11-12 to 21-26), which means the game will still be a little more comfortable.
In hopes of improving performance with DirectX 12, I later did a test in Windows 10.
But the results were even worse.
Batman: Arkham Knight
High graphics settings.
Test on Phenom X4 (@3.6 GHz).
Test on Core i7-6700K (4.0 GHz).
The game is very demanding on both the video card and the processor. From the tests it is clear that replacing the processor led to a significant increase in average FPS (from 14 to 23), and a decrease in minimum drawdowns (from 0 to 15), the maximum value also increased (from 27 to 37). However, these indicators do not allow for comfortable gaming, so I decided to run tests with medium settings and disable various effects.
Medium graphics settings.
Test on Phenom X4 (@3.6 GHz).
Test on Core i7-6700K (4.0 GHz).
At medium settings, the average FPS also increased slightly (from 37 to 44), and drawdowns decreased significantly (from 22 to 35), exceeding the minimum threshold of 30 FPS for a comfortable game. The gap in the maximum value also remained (from 50 to 64). As a result of changing the processor, playing became quite comfortable.
Switching to Windows 10 changed absolutely nothing.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
High graphics settings.
Test on Phenom X4 (@3.6 GHz).
Test on Core i7-6700K (4.0 GHz).
The result of replacing the processor was only a decrease in FPS drawdowns (from 13 to 18). Unfortunately, I forgot to run tests with medium settings, but I did test on DirectX 12.
As a result, the minimum FPS only dropped.
Armored Warfare: Armata Project
I play this game often and it has become one of the main reasons for upgrading my computer. At high settings, the game produced 40-60 FPS with rare but unpleasant drops to 20-30.
Reducing the settings to medium eliminated serious drops, but the average FPS remained almost the same, which is an indirect sign of a lack of processor performance.
A replay was recorded and tests were performed in playback mode using FRAPS at high settings.
I summarized their results in a table.
| CPU | FPS (min) | FPS (Wednesday) | FPS (Max) |
| Phenom X4 (@3.6 GHz) | 28 | 51 | 63 |
| Core i7-6700K (4.0 GHz) | 57 | 69 | 80 |
Replacing the processor completely eliminated critical FPS drops and seriously increased the average frame rate. This made it possible to enable vertical synchronization, making the picture smoother and more pleasant. At the same time, the game produces a stable 60 FPS without drops and is very comfortable to play.
Other games
I have not conducted tests, but in general a similar picture is observed in most online and processor-dependent games. The processor seriously affects FPS in online games such as Battlefield 1 and Overwatch. And also in open world games like GTA 5 and Watch Dogs.
For the sake of experiment, I installed GTA 5 on an old PC with a Phenom processor and a new one with a Core i7. If earlier, with high settings, FPS stayed within 40-50, now it stably stays above 60 with virtually no drawdowns and often reaches 70-80. These changes are noticeable to the naked eye, but an armed one simply extinguishes everyone
5. Rendering performance test
I don't do much video editing and only ran one simple test. I rendered a Full HD video with a length of 17:22 and a volume of 2.44 GB at a lower bitrate in the Camtasia program that I use. The result was a file of 181 MB. The processors completed the task in the following time.
| CPU | Time |
| Phenom X4 (@3.6 GHz) | 16:34 |
| Core i7-6700K (4.0 GHz) | 3:56 |
Of course, a video card (GTX 660) was involved in the rendering, because I can’t imagine who would think of rendering without a video card, since it takes 5-10 times longer. In addition, the smoothness and speed of playback of effects during editing also very much depends on the video card.
However, the dependence on the processor has not been canceled and the Core i7 coped with this task 4 times faster than the Phenom X4. As the complexity of editing and effects increases, this time can increase significantly. What the Phenom X4 can handle for 2 hours, the Core i7 can handle in 30 minutes.
If you plan to seriously engage in video editing, then a powerful multi-threaded processor and a large amount of memory will significantly save you time.
6. Conclusion
The appetite for modern games and professional applications is growing very quickly, requiring constant investment in upgrading your computer. But if you have a weak processor, then there is no point in changing the video card, it simply will not open it, i.e. Performance will be limited by the processor.
A modern platform based on a powerful processor with sufficient RAM will ensure high performance of your PC for years to come. This reduces the cost of upgrading a computer and eliminates the need to completely replace the PC after a few years.
7. Links
Processor Intel Core i7-8700
Processor Intel Core i5-8400
Intel Core i3 8100 processor
* There are always pressing questions about what you should pay attention to when choosing a processor, so as not to make a mistake.
Our goal in this article is to describe all the factors affecting processor performance and other operational characteristics.
It's probably no secret that the processor is the main computing unit of a computer. You could even say – the most important part of the computer.
It is he who processes almost all processes and tasks that occur in the computer.
Be it watching videos, music, Internet surfing, writing and reading in memory, processing 3D and video, games. And much more.
Therefore, to choose C central P processor, you should treat it very carefully. It may turn out that you decide to install a powerful video card and a processor that does not correspond to its level. In this case, the processor will not reveal the potential of the video card, which will slow down its operation. The processor will be fully loaded and literally boiling, and the video card will wait its turn, working at 60-70% of its capabilities.
That is why, when choosing a balanced computer, Not costs neglect the processor in favor of a powerful video card. The processor power must be enough to unleash the potential of the video card, otherwise it’s just wasted money.
Intel vs. AMD
*catch up forever
Corporation Intel, has enormous human resources and almost inexhaustible finances. Many innovations in the semiconductor industry and new technologies come from this company. Processors and developments Intel, on average by 1-1,5 years ahead of the engineers' achievements AMD. But as you know, you have to pay for the opportunity to have the most modern technologies.
Processor pricing policy Intel, is based both on number of cores, amount of cache, but also on "freshness" of architecture, performance per clockwatt,chip process technology. The meaning of cache memory, the “subtleties of the technical process” and other important characteristics of the processor will be discussed below. For the possession of such technologies as well as a free frequency multiplier, you will also have to pay an additional amount.
Company AMD, unlike the company Intel, strives for the availability of its processors for the end consumer and for a competent pricing policy.
One could even say that AMD– « People's stamp" In its price tags you will find what you need at a very attractive price. Usually a year after the company has a new technology Intel, an analogue of technology appears from AMD. If you are not chasing the highest performance and pay more attention to the price tag than to the availability of advanced technologies, then the company's products AMD– just for you.
Price policy AMD, is based more on the number of cores and very little on the amount of cache memory and the presence of architectural improvements. In some cases, for the opportunity to have third-level cache memory, you will have to pay a little extra ( Phenom has a 3 level cache memory, Athlon content with only limited, level 2). But sometimes AMD spoils his fans possibility to unlock cheaper processors to more expensive ones. You can unlock the cores or cache memory. Improve Athlon before Phenom. This is possible thanks to the modular architecture and the lack of some cheaper models, AMD simply disables some blocks on the chip of more expensive ones (software).
Cores– remain practically unchanged, only their number differs (true for processors 2006-2011 years). Due to the modularity of its processors, the company does an excellent job of selling rejected chips, which, when some blocks are turned off, become a processor from a less productive line.
The company has been working for many years on a completely new architecture under the code name Bulldozer, but at the time of release in 2011 year, the new processors did not show the best performance. AMD I blamed the operating systems for not understanding the architectural features of dual cores and “other multithreading.”
According to company representatives, you should wait for special fixes and patches to experience the full performance of these processors. However, at the beginning 2012 year, company representatives postponed the release of an update to support the architecture Bulldozer for the second half of the year.
Processor frequency, number of cores, multi-threading.
During times Pentium 4 and before him - CPU frequency, was the main processor performance factor when selecting a processor.
This is not surprising, because processor architectures were specially developed to achieve high frequencies, and this was especially reflected in the processor Pentium 4 on architecture NetBurst. High frequency was not effective with the long pipeline that was used in the architecture. Even Athlon XP frequency 2GHz, in terms of productivity was higher than Pentium 4 c 2.4 GHz. So it was pure marketing. After this error, the company Intel realized my mistakes and returned to the side of good I started working not on the frequency component, but on performance per clock. From architecture NetBurst I had to refuse.
What same for us gives multi-core?
Quad-core processor with frequency 2.4 GHz, in multi-threaded applications, will theoretically be the approximate equivalent of a single-core processor with a frequency 9.6 GHz or 2-core processor with frequency 4.8 GHz. But that's only in theory. Practically However, two dual-core processors in a two-socket motherboard will be faster than one 4-core processor at the same operating frequency. Bus speed limitations and memory latency take their toll.
* subject to the same architecture and amount of cache memory
Multi-core makes it possible to perform instructions and calculations in parts. For example, you need to perform three arithmetic operations. The first two are executed on each of the processor cores and the results are added to the cache memory, where the next action can be performed with them by any of the free cores. The system is very flexible, but without proper optimization it may not work. Therefore, optimization for multi-cores is very important for processor architecture in an OS environment.
Applications that "love" and use multithreading: archivers, video players and encoders, antiviruses, defragmenter programs, graphic editor, browsers, Flash.
Also, “lovers” of multithreading include such operating systems as Windows 7 And Windows Vista, as well as many OS kernel based Linux, which work noticeably faster with a multi-core processor.
Most games, sometimes a 2-core processor at a high frequency is quite enough. Now, however, more and more games are being released that are designed for multi-threading. Take at least these SandBox games like GTA 4 or Prototype, in which on a 2-core processor with a frequency lower 2.6 GHz– you don’t feel comfortable, the frame rate drops below 30 frames per second. Although in this case, most likely the reason for such incidents is “weak” optimization of games, lack of time or “indirect” hands of those who transferred games from consoles to PC.
When buying a new processor for gaming, you should now pay attention to processors with 4 or more cores. But still, you should not neglect 2-core processors from the “upper category”. In some games, these processors sometimes feel better than some multi-core ones.
Processor cache memory.
is a dedicated area of the processor chip in which intermediate data between processor cores, RAM and other buses is processed and stored.
It runs at a very high clock speed (usually at the frequency of the processor itself), has very high bandwidth and the processor cores work directly with it ( L1).
Because of her shortage, the processor can be idle in time-consuming tasks, waiting for new data to arrive in the cache for processing. Also cache memory serves for records of frequently repeated data that, if necessary, can be quickly restored without unnecessary calculations, without forcing the processor to waste time on them again.
Performance is also enhanced by the fact that the cache memory is unified, and all cores can equally use data from it. This provides additional opportunities for multi-threaded optimization.
This technique is now used for Level 3 cache. For processors Intel there were processors with unified level 2 cache memory ( C2D E 7***,E 8***), thanks to which this method appeared to increase multi-threaded performance.
When overclocking a processor, the cache memory can become a weak point, preventing the processor from being overclocked beyond its maximum operating frequency without errors. However, the plus is that it will run at the same frequency as the overclocked processor.
In general, the larger the cache memory, the faster CPU. In which applications exactly?
All applications that use a lot of floating point data, instructions, and threads make heavy use of the cache memory. Cache memory is very popular archivers, video encoders, antiviruses And graphic editor etc.
A large amount of cache memory is favorable games. Especially strategies, auto-simulators, RPGs, SandBox and all games where there are a lot of small details, particles, geometry elements, information flows and physical effects.
Cache memory plays a very important role in unlocking the potential of systems with 2 or more video cards. After all, some part of the load falls on the interaction of processor cores, both among themselves and for working with streams of several video chips. It is in this case that the organization of cache memory is important, and a large level 3 cache memory is very useful.
Cache memory is always equipped with protection against possible errors ( ECC), if detected, they are corrected. This is very important, because a small error in the memory cache, when processed, can turn into a gigantic, continuous error that will crash the entire system.
Proprietary technologies.
(hyper-threading, HT)–
the technology was first used in processors Pentium 4, but it didn’t always work correctly and often slowed down the processor more than it speeded it up. The reason was that the pipeline was too long and the branch prediction system was not fully developed. Used by the company Intel, there are no analogues of the technology yet, unless you consider it an analogue? what the company’s engineers implemented AMD in architecture Bulldozer.
The principle of the system is that for each physical core, one two computing threads, instead of one. That is, if you have a 4-core processor with HT (Core i 7), then you have virtual threads 8 .
The performance gain is achieved due to the fact that data can enter the pipeline already in the middle of it, and not necessarily at the beginning. If some processor blocks capable of performing this action are idle, they receive the task for execution. The performance gain is not the same as that of real physical cores, but comparable (~50-75%, depending on the type of application). It is quite rare that in some applications, HT negatively affects for performance. This is due to poor optimization of applications for this technology, the inability to understand that there are “virtual” threads and the lack of limiters for the load of threads evenly.
TurboBoost – a very useful technology that increases the operating frequency of the most used processor cores, depending on their load level. It is very useful when the application does not know how to use all 4 cores and loads only one or two, while their operating frequency increases, which partially compensates for performance. The company has an analogue of this technology AMD, is technology Turbo Core.
, 3 dnow! instructions. Designed to speed up the processor in multimedia computing (video, music, 2D/3D graphics, etc.), and also speed up the work of programs such as archivers, programs for working with images and video (with the support of instructions from these programs).
3dnow! – quite old technology AMD, which contains additional instructions for processing multimedia content, in addition to SSE first version.
*Specifically, the ability to stream process single-precision real numbers.
Having the latest version is a big plus; the processor begins to perform certain tasks more efficiently with proper software optimization. Processors AMD have similar names, but slightly different.
* Example - SSE 4.1(Intel) - SSE 4A(AMD).
In addition, these instruction sets are not identical. These are analogues with slight differences.
Cool'n'Quiet, SpeedStep CoolCore Enchanted Half State(C1E) AndT. d.
These technologies, at low loads, reduce the processor frequency by reducing the multiplier and core voltage, disabling part of the cache, etc. This allows the processor to heat up much less, consume less energy, and make less noise. If power is needed, the processor will return to its normal state in a split second. On standard settings Bios They are almost always turned on; if desired, they can be disabled to reduce possible “freezes” when switching in 3D games.
Some of these technologies control the rotation speed of fans in the system. For example, if the processor does not need increased heat dissipation and is not loaded, the processor fan speed is reduced ( AMD Cool'n'Quiet, Intel Speed Step).
Intel Virtualization Technology And AMD Virtualization.
These hardware technologies make it possible, using special programs, to run several operating systems at once, without any significant loss in performance. It is also used for the proper operation of servers, because often more than one OS is installed on them.
Execute Disable Bit AndNo eXecute Bit – technology designed to protect a computer from virus attacks and software errors that can cause the system to crash through buffer overflow.
Intel 64 , AMD 64 , EM 64 T – this technology allows the processor to work both in an OS with a 32-bit architecture and in an OS with a 64-bit architecture. System 64 bit– from the point of view of benefits, for the average user it differs in that this system can use more than 3.25GB of RAM. On 32-bit systems, use b O A larger amount of RAM is not possible due to the limited amount of addressable memory*.
Most applications with 32-bit architecture can be run on a system with a 64-bit OS.
* What can you do if back in 1985, no one could even think about such gigantic, by the standards of that time, volumes of RAM.
Additionally.
A few words about.
This point is worth paying close attention to. The thinner the technical process, the less energy the processor consumes and, as a result, the less it heats up. And among other things, it has a higher safety margin for overclocking.
The more refined the technical process, the more you can “wrap” in a chip (and not only) and increase the capabilities of the processor. Heat dissipation and power consumption are also reduced proportionally, due to lower current losses and a reduction in core area. You can notice a tendency that with each new generation of the same architecture on a new technological process, energy consumption also increases, but this is not the case. It’s just that manufacturers are moving towards even greater productivity and are stepping beyond the heat dissipation line of the previous generation of processors due to an increase in the number of transistors, which is not proportional to the reduction in the technical process.
Built into the processor.
If you don't need a built-in video core, then you shouldn't buy a processor with it. You will only get worse heat dissipation, extra heating (not always), worse overclocking potential (not always), and overpaid money.
In addition, those cores that are built into the processor are only suitable for loading the OS, surfing the Internet and watching videos (and not of any quality).
Market trends are still changing and the opportunity to buy a powerful processor from Intel Without a video core, it drops out less and less. The policy of forced imposition of the built-in video core appeared with processors Intel under the code name Sandy Bridge, the main innovation of which was the built-in core on the same technical process. The video core is located together with processor on one chip, and not as simple as in previous generations of processors Intel. For those who do not use it, there are disadvantages in the form of some overpayment for the processor, the displacement of the heating source relative to the center of the heat distribution cover. However, there are also advantages. Disabled video core, can be used for very fast video encoding technology Quick Sync coupled with special software that supports this technology. In future, Intel promises to expand the horizons of using the built-in video core for parallel computing.
Sockets for processors. Platform lifespan.
Intel has harsh policies for its platforms. The lifespan of each (the start and end dates of processor sales for it) usually does not exceed 1.5 - 2 years. In addition, the company has several parallel developing platforms.
Company AMD, has the opposite policy of compatibility. On her platform on AM 3, all future generation processors that support DDR3. Even when the platform reaches AM 3+ and later, either new processors for AM 3, or new processors will be compatible with old motherboards, and it will be possible to make a painless upgrade for your wallet by changing only the processor (without changing the motherboard, RAM, etc.) and flashing the motherboard. The only nuances of incompatibility may arise when changing the type, since a different memory controller built into the processor will be required. So compatibility is limited and not supported by all motherboards. But in general, for a budget-conscious user or for those who are not used to completely changing the platform every 2 years, the choice of a processor manufacturer is clear - this AMD.
CPU cooling.
Comes standard with processor BOX-a new cooler that will simply cope with its task. It is a piece of aluminum with a not very high dispersion area. Efficient coolers with heat pipes and plates attached to them are designed for highly efficient heat dissipation. If you do not want to hear extra noise from the fan, then you should purchase an alternative, more efficient cooler with heat pipes, or a closed or open-type liquid cooling system. Such cooling systems will additionally provide the ability to overclock the processor.
Conclusion.
All important aspects affecting the performance and performance of the processor have been considered. Let's repeat what you should pay attention to:
- Select manufacturer
- Processor architecture
- Technical process
- CPU frequency
- Number of processor cores
- Processor cache size and type
- Technology and instruction support
- High-quality cooling
We hope this material will help you understand and decide on choosing a processor that meets your expectations.
22.10.2015 16:55
Not just reviews. This is exactly how we should start today’s article, which will become another useful link in our “” section, in which we rarely, but still, conduct research not on specific products, but on the useful capabilities that such devices carry.
The test results obtained eloquently indicate that there is no need to install a powerful processor in a home gaming system.
We remember about three key devices in a personal computer that every gamer needs: processor, RAM and video card. Now the IT world is moving towards reducing power and miniaturizing PCs, but powerful systems and productive games have not yet been canceled. Which means inherent in every enthusiast collection rules competent machines will live for a long time.
Everyone knows that the key PC component that affects the number of frames per second in any gaming application is the video adapter. The more powerful it is, the greater the resolution and detail of the picture the user can afford. Everything here is more or less simple.
Everything is also clear with RAM, because its quantity, and even its frequency (in almost 100% of cases), do not in any way affect the game fps. gold standard today it is 8 GB, but we dare to assure you that 4 GB is quite enough to run your favorite games.
It's much more important to have more videos in 2015 brains(and here 4 GB is no longer enough, especially for ).
And finally heart of the system- a processor that can do so much and mean so much, but still remains somewhat dark theme for players.
Two, four or six cores; three, four or still two and a half gigahertz? There are enough questions for the CPU (and then there’s the notorious unlocking potential powerful video cards), but not many answers are given in the media; the most important thing is that they do not pop up as often as users demand.
Everyone knows that the key PC component that affects the number of frames per second in any gaming application is the video adapter.
What processor is needed for modern games? And what video card should I choose for it? This is what we decided to look into.
Participants of today's answers to questions Intel processors of different generations (fourth, fifth and sixth) became available. Why are there no devices from AMD? Yes, because AMD itself is practically gone. Do you remember the last time this company released high-performance desktop processors? We remind you that this was in 2011, Bulldozer architecture (AMD K11) at 32 nm. We are promised AMD Zen () in 2016, but can we trust the meager information available? Time will show.
So, we have three different processors, three different platforms and three different sockets (even memory standards vary).
There is reason to believe that even Intel Core i3 processors with 4 MB of cache and Hyper-Threading technology will be enough for any gaming applications.
However, we have one video card for all systems - the key aspect of today's testing, which levels all three platforms with each other, giving the desired answer in the title. And it is she who will have to process the image in all test games.
The screen resolution in applications is Full HD (perhaps this is still the most popular and standard format for displaying game images). Graphics quality settings are maximum.
For the purity of the experiments, each of the processors was even overclocked in order to reflect in even more detail the influence of CPU power on the final frame/s (or the lack of this influence). Although after the first results it became obvious that there was no point in overclocking, and it turned out to be impossible.
Test stand:
First system:
Second system:
Third system:
The test results obtained eloquently indicate that there is no need to install a powerful processor in a home gaming system. Additional physical cores are of no use, as is the clock speed (which negates the open multiplier in processors with the “K” suffix for the stated purpose). The key factor is still the video card.
As you can see, one of the most powerful single-chip adapters is capable of to uncover even the initial series Intel Core i5. Indeed, you can observe some difference in fps between an overclocked processor and a default one or a six-core and a four-core one, but in all games and benchmarks it does not exceed 15%. The only exception was the game GTA V (this line has always been famous for its extreme processor dependence), but even in it 50-60 frames/s is enough for anyone gaming maniac. There are hardly any users who can notice the difference by eye between 70 and 100 fps.
There is reason to believe that even Intel Core i3 processors with 4 MB of cache and Hyper-Threading technology will be enough for any gaming applications. The situation is somewhat reminiscent of a combination with two adapters, the use of which is practically not noticeable compared to a single, but powerful 3D accelerator, but there is more than enough hassle with setting up.
Games are not tasks where quantity is important; optimization and the developers’ ideas are more important here (as a rule, they try to target their products to the widest possible audience of users, including those with weak systems).
If you are a gamer and still face the dilemma of choosing the right processor, do not rush to spend hundreds of extra dollars on a powerful CPU (and especially with an unlocked multiplier). Better take a closer look at a more powerful video card or a functional motherboard. Such a purchase will make much more sense.
ASUS STRIX GTX 980 Ti in all cases
Many players mistakenly consider a powerful video card to be the main thing in games, but this is not entirely true. Of course, many graphics settings do not affect the CPU in any way, but only affect the graphics card, but this does not change the fact that the processor is not used in any way during the game. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the principle of CPU operation in games, tell you why a powerful device is needed and its impact in games.
As you know, the CPU transmits commands from external devices to the system, performs operations and transfers data. The speed of execution of operations depends on the number of cores and other characteristics of the processor. All its functions are actively used when you turn on any game. Let's take a closer look at a few simple examples:
Processing user commands
Almost all games use externally connected peripherals in some way, be it a keyboard or a mouse. They control vehicles, characters or certain objects. The processor receives commands from the player and transmits them to the program itself, where the programmed action is carried out almost without delay.
This task is one of the largest and most complex. Therefore, there is often a delay in response when moving if the game does not have enough processor power. This does not affect the number of frames in any way, but it is almost impossible to control.
Generating random objects
Many items in games do not always appear in the same place. Let's take as an example the usual garbage in the game GTA 5. The game engine, using the processor, decides to generate an object at a certain time in a specified location.
That is, objects are not random at all, but they are created according to certain algorithms thanks to the computing power of the processor. In addition, it is worth considering the presence of a large number of different random objects; the engine transmits instructions to the processor what exactly needs to be generated. From this it turns out that a more diverse world with a large number of non-persistent objects requires high CPU power to generate what is needed.
NPC behavior
Let's look at this parameter using the example of open-world games, so it will be more clear. NPCs are all characters that are not controlled by the player, they are programmed to perform certain actions when certain stimuli appear. For example, if you open fire from a weapon in GTA 5, the crowd will simply scatter in different directions; they will not perform individual actions, because this requires a large amount of processor resources.
In addition, in open-world games, random events never occur that the main character does not see. For example, on a sports ground, no one will play football if you don’t see it and are standing around the corner. Everything revolves only around the main character. The engine will not do anything that we cannot see due to its location in the game.
Objects and environment
The processor needs to calculate the distance to objects, their beginning and end, generate all the data and transfer it to the video card for display. A separate task is the calculation of contacting objects; this requires additional resources. Next, the video card gets to work with the built environment and finalizes small details. Due to weak CPU power in games, sometimes objects do not fully load, the road disappears, buildings remain boxes. In some cases, the game simply stops for a while to generate the environment.
Then everything depends only on the engine. In some games, the deformation of cars and the simulation of wind, fur and grass are performed by video cards. This significantly reduces the load on the processor. Sometimes it happens that these actions need to be performed by the processor, which is why frame drops and freezes occur. If particles: sparks, flashes, water sparkles are executed by the CPU, then most likely they have a certain algorithm. The fragments from a broken window always fall the same way, and so on.
What settings in games affect the processor?
Let's look at a few modern games and find out which graphics settings affect the processor. Four games developed on our own engines will participate in the tests, this will help make the test more objective. To make the tests as objective as possible, we used a video card that these games did not load 100%, this will make the tests more objective. We will measure changes in the same scenes using an overlay from the FPS Monitor program.
GTA 5
Changing the number of particles, texture quality and lowering the resolution do not improve CPU performance in any way. The increase in frames is visible only after reducing the population and rendering distance to a minimum. There is no need to change all settings to a minimum, since in GTA 5 almost all processes are taken over by the video card.
By reducing the population, we have reduced the number of objects with complex logic, and the draw distance has reduced the total number of displayed objects that we see in the game. That is, now buildings do not take on the appearance of boxes when we are away from them, the buildings are simply absent.
Watch Dogs 2
Post-processing effects such as depth of field, blur, and cross-section did not increase the number of frames per second. However, we got a slight increase after lowering the shadow and particle settings.
In addition, a slight improvement in the smoothness of the picture was obtained after lowering the relief and geometry to minimum values. Reducing the screen resolution did not give any positive results. If you reduce all the values to the minimum, you will get exactly the same effect as lowering the shadow and particle settings, so there is not much point in doing so.
Crysis 3
Crysis 3 is still one of the most demanding computer games. It was developed on its own CryEngine 3 engine, so it is worth taking into account that the settings that affected the smoothness of the image may not give the same result in other games.
Minimum settings for objects and particles significantly increased the minimum FPS, but drawdowns were still present. In addition, performance in the game was affected after reducing the quality of shadows and water. Reducing all graphics parameters to the minimum helped to get rid of sudden drawdowns, but this had virtually no effect on the smoothness of the picture.
The first quad-core processor was released in the fall of 2006. It was the Intel Core 2 Quad model, based on the Kentsfield core. At the time, popular games included bestsellers such as The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion and Half-Life 2: Episode One. The “killer of all gaming computers” Crysis has not yet appeared. And the DirectX 9 API with shader model 3.0 was in use.
How to choose a processor for a gaming PC. We study the effect of processor dependence in practice
But it's the end of 2015. There are 6- and 8-core central processors on the market in the desktop segment, but 2- and 4-core models are still considered popular. Gamers admire the PC versions of GTA V and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and there is no gaming video card in the wild that can produce a comfortable FPS level in 4K resolution at maximum graphics quality settings in Assassin’s Creed Unity. In addition, the Windows 10 operating system was released, which means that the era of DirectX 12 has officially arrived. As you can see, a lot of water has passed under the bridge in nine years. Therefore, the question of choosing a central processor for a gaming computer is more relevant than ever.
The essence of the problem
There is such a thing as the processor dependence effect. It can manifest itself in absolutely any computer game. If the performance of a video card is limited by the capabilities of the central chip, then the system is said to be processor-dependent. We must understand that there is no single scheme by which the strength of this effect can be determined. It all depends on the features of the particular application, as well as the selected graphics quality settings. However, in absolutely any game, the central processor is tasked with such tasks as organizing polygons, lighting and physics calculations, artificial intelligence modeling, and many other actions. Agree, there is plenty of work to do.
The most difficult thing is to choose a central processor for several graphics adapters at once
In processor-dependent games, the number of frames per second can depend on several parameters of the “stone”: architecture, clock speed, number of cores and threads, and cache size. The main goal of this material is to identify the main criteria that affect the performance of the graphics subsystem, as well as to form an understanding of which central processor is suitable for a particular discrete video card.
Frequency
How to identify processor dependence? The most effective way is empirically. Since the central processor has several parameters, let's look at them one by one. The first characteristic that most often pays close attention to is the clock frequency.
The clock speed of central processors has not increased for quite some time. At first (in the 80s and 90s), it was the increase in megahertz that led to a frantic increase in the overall level of productivity. Now the frequency of AMD and Intel central processors is frozen in the delta of 2.5-4 GHz. Everything below is too budget-friendly and not entirely suitable for a gaming computer; everything higher is already overclocking. This is how processor lines are formed. For example, there's the Intel Core i5-6400 running at 2.7 GHz ($182) and the Core i5-6500 running at 3.2 GHz ($192). These processors have absolutely all the same characteristics, except clock speed and price.
Overclocking has long become a “weapon” of marketers. For example, only a lazy motherboard manufacturer does not boast about the excellent overclocking potential of its products
On sale you can find chips with an unlocked multiplier. It allows you to overclock the processor yourself. At Intel, such “stones” have the letters “K” and “X” in their names. For example, Core i7-4770K and Core i7-5690X. Plus, there are separate models with an unlocked multiplier: Pentium G3258, Core i5-5675C and Core i7-5775C. AMD processors are labeled in a similar way. Thus, hybrid chips have the letter “K” in their names. There is a line of FX processors (AM3+ platform). All “stones” included in it have a free multiplier.
Modern AMD and Intel processors support automatic overclocking. In the first case it is called Turbo Core, in the second - Turbo Boost. The essence of its operation is simple: with proper cooling, the processor increases its clock frequency by several hundred megahertz during operation. For example, the Core i5-6400 operates at a speed of 2.7 GHz, but with active Turbo Boost technology this parameter can permanently increase to 3.3 GHz. That is, exactly at 600 MHz.
It is important to remember: the higher the clock frequency, the hotter the processor! So it is necessary to take care of high-quality cooling of the “stone”
I'll take the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X video card - the most powerful single-chip gaming solution of our time. And the Intel Core i5-6600K processor is a mainstream model, equipped with an unlocked multiplier. Then I'll launch Metro: Last Light - one of the most CPU-intensive games these days. The graphics quality settings in the application are selected in such a way that the number of frames per second each time depends on the performance of the processor, but not the video card. In the case of GeForce GTX TITAN X and Metro: Last Light - maximum graphics quality, but without anti-aliasing. Next, I will measure the average FPS level in the range from 2 GHz to 4.5 GHz in Full HD, WQHD and Ultra HD resolutions.
Processor dependency effect
The most noticeable effect of processor dependence, which is logical, manifests itself in light modes. So, in 1080p, as the frequency increases, the average FPS steadily increases. The indicators turned out to be very impressive: when the operating speed of the Core i5-6600K increased from 2 GHz to 3 GHz, the number of frames per second in Full HD resolution increased from 70 FPS to 92 FPS, that is, by 22 frames per second. When the frequency increases from 3 GHz to 4 GHz, it increases by another 13 FPS. Thus, it turns out that the processor used, with the given graphics quality settings, was able to “pump up” the GeForce GTX TITAN X in Full HD only from 4 GHz - it was from this point that the number of frames per second stopped growing as the CPU frequency increased.
As the resolution increases, the processor dependence effect becomes less noticeable. Namely, the number of frames stops growing starting at 3.7 GHz. Finally, in Ultra HD resolution we almost immediately ran into the potential of the graphics adapter.
There are many discrete video cards. It is customary on the market to catalog these devices into three segments: Low-end, Middle-end and High-end. Captain Obvious suggests that different processors with different frequencies are suitable for graphics adapters of different performance.
Dependence of gaming performance on CPU frequency
Now let's take the GeForce GTX 950 video card - a representative of the upper Low-end segment (or lower Middle-end), that is, the absolute opposite of the GeForce GTX TITAN X. The device belongs to the entry level, however, it is capable of providing a decent level of performance in modern games in Full HD resolution. As can be seen from the graphs below, a processor operating at a frequency of 3 GHz “pumps up” the GeForce GTX 950 in both Full HD and WQHD. The difference with the GeForce GTX TITAN X is visible to the naked eye.
It is important to understand that the less load falls on the “shoulders” of the video card, the higher the frequency of the central processor should be. It is irrational to purchase, for example, a GeForce GTX TITAN X level adapter and use it in games at a resolution of 1600x900 pixels.
Low-end video cards (GeForce GTX 950, Radeon R7 370) will need a central processor operating at a frequency of 3 GHz or more. Middle-end segment adapters (Radeon R9 280X, GeForce GTX 770) - 3.4-3.6 GHz. Flagship high-end video cards (Radeon R9 Fury, GeForce GTX 980 Ti) - 3.7-4 GHz. Productive SLI/CrossFire connections - 4-4.5 GHz
Architecture
In reviews dedicated to the release of this or that generation of central processors, the authors continually state that the difference in performance in x86 computing from year to year is a meager 5-10%. This is a kind of tradition. Neither AMD nor Intel have seen serious progress for a long time, and phrases like “ I continue to sit on my Sandy Bridge, I'll wait until next year"become winged. As I already said, in games the processor also has to process a large amount of data. In this case, a reasonable question arises: to what extent is the effect of processor dependence observed in systems with different architectures?
For both AMD and Intel chips, you can identify a list of modern architectures that are still popular. They are relevant, on a global scale the difference in performance between them is not so big.
Let's take a couple of chips - Core i7-4790K and Core i7-6700K - and make them work at the same frequency. Processors based on the Haswell architecture, as is known, appeared in the summer of 2013, and Skylake solutions in the summer of 2015. That is, exactly two years have passed since the update of the line of “tak” processors (that’s what Intel calls crystals based on completely different architectures).
Impact of architecture on gaming performance
As you can see, there is no difference between the Core i7-4790K and Core i7-6700K, operating at the same frequencies. Skylake is ahead of Haswell in only three games out of ten: Far Cry 4 (by 12%), GTA V (by 6%) and Metro: Last Light (by 6%) - that is, in all the same processor-dependent applications. However, 6% is mere nonsense.
Comparison of processor architectures in games (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980)
A few platitudes: it is obvious that it is better to assemble a gaming computer on the basis of the most modern platform. After all, not only the performance of the chips themselves is important, but also the functionality of the platform as a whole.
Modern architectures, with few exceptions, have the same performance in computer games. Owners of processors from the Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge and Haswell families can feel quite calm. The situation is similar with AMD: all kinds of modular architecture variations (Bulldozer, Piledriver, Steamroller) in games have approximately the same level of performance
Cores and threads
The third and perhaps determining factor limiting the performance of a video card in games is the number of CPU cores. It’s no wonder that more and more games require a quad-core CPU to be installed in their minimum system requirements. Vivid examples include such modern hits as GTA V, Far Cry 4, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and Assassin’s Creed Unity.
As I said at the very beginning, the first quad-core processor appeared nine years ago. Now there are 6- and 8-core solutions on sale, but 2- and 4-core models are still in use. I will give a table of markings for some popular AMD and Intel lines, dividing them depending on the number of “heads”.
AMD APUs (A4, A6, A8 and A10) are sometimes called 8-, 10-, and even 12-core. It’s just that the company’s marketers also add elements of the built-in graphics module to the computing units. Indeed, there are applications that can use heterogeneous computing (when x86 cores and embedded video process the same information together), but such a scheme is not used in computer games. The computational part performs its task, the graphic part does its own.
Some Intel processors (Core i3 and Core i7) have a certain number of cores, but twice the number of threads. The technology responsible for this is Hyper-Threading, which first found its application in Pentium 4 chips. Threads and cores are slightly different things, but we’ll talk about this a little later. In 2016, AMD will release processors based on the Zen architecture. For the first time, the Reds' chips will have technology similar to Hyper-Threading.
In fact, the Core 2 Quad based on the Kentsfield core is not a full-fledged quad-core. It is based on two Conroe crystals housed in one package for LGA775
Let's do a little experiment. I took 10 popular games. I agree that such an insignificant number of applications is not enough to state with 100% certainty that the effect of processor dependence has been fully studied. However, the list includes only hits that clearly demonstrate trends in modern game development. Graphics quality settings were selected in such a way that the final results did not limit the capabilities of the video card. For GeForce GTX TITAN X this is maximum quality (without anti-aliasing) and Full HD resolution. The choice of such an adapter is obvious. If the processor can “pump up” the GeForce GTX TITAN X, then it can cope with any other video card. The stand used the top-end Core i7-5960X for the LGA2011-v3 platform. Testing was carried out in four modes: when only 2 cores were activated, only 4 cores, only 6 cores and 8 cores. Hyper-Threading multithreading technology was not used. Plus, testing was carried out at two frequencies: at nominal 3.3 GHz and overclocked to 4.3 GHz.
CPU dependency in GTA V
GTA V is one of the few modern games that use all eight cores of the processor. Therefore, it can be called the most processor-dependent. On the other hand, the difference between six and eight cores was not so impressive. Judging by the results, the two cores are very far behind other operating modes. The game slows down, a large number of textures are simply not drawn. A stand with four cores demonstrates noticeably better results. It lags behind the six-core one by only 6.9%, and by 11% behind the eight-core one. Whether in this case the game is worth the candle is up to you to decide. However, GTA V clearly demonstrates how the number of processor cores affects the performance of a video card in games.
The vast majority of games behave in a similar way. In seven out of ten applications, the system with two cores turned out to be processor-dependent. That is, the FPS level was limited precisely by the central processor. At the same time, in three out of ten games, the six-core stand demonstrated an advantage over the quad-core one. True, the difference cannot be called significant. The game Far Cry 4 turned out to be the most radical - it stupidly did not start on a system with two cores.
The gain from using six and eight cores in most cases turned out to be either too small or not there at all.
CPU dependency in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Three games that are loyal to the dual-core system were The Witcher 3, Assassin's Creed Unity and Tomb Raider. All modes showed identical results.
For those who are interested, I will provide a table with complete test results.
Multi-core gaming performance
Four cores is the optimal number for today. At the same time, it is obvious that gaming computers with a dual-core processor are not worth building. In 2015, it is precisely this “stone” that is the bottleneck in the system
We've sorted out the nuclei. The test results clearly show that in most cases, four processor heads are better than two. At the same time, some Intel models (Core i3 and Core i7) can boast support for Hyper-Threading technology. Without going into details, I will note that such chips have a certain number of physical cores and double the number of virtual ones. In ordinary applications, Hyper-Threading certainly makes sense. But how does this technology fare in games? This issue is especially relevant for the line of Core i3 processors - nominally dual-core solutions.
To determine the effectiveness of multi-threading in games, I assembled two test benches: with a Core i3-4130 and a Core i7-6700K. In both cases, the GeForce GTX TITAN X video card was used.
Hyper-Threading efficiency of Core i3
In almost all games, Hyper-Threading technology affected the performance of the graphics subsystem. Naturally, for the better. In some cases the difference was gigantic. For example, in The Witcher, the number of frames per second increased by 36.4%. True, in this game without Hyper-Threading, disgusting freezes were observed every now and then. I note that no such problems were noticed with the Core i7-5960X.
As for the quad-core Core i7 processor with Hyper-Threading, support for these technologies made itself felt only in GTA V and Metro: Last Light. That is, in only two games out of ten. The minimum FPS has also increased noticeably. Overall, the Core i7-6700K with Hyper-Threading was 6.6% faster in GTA V and 9.7% faster in Metro: Last Light.
Hyper-Threading in Core i3 really drags, especially if the system requirements indicate a quad-core processor model. But in the case of Core i7, the performance increase in games is not so significant
Cache
We've sorted out the basic parameters of the central processor. Each processor has a certain amount of cache. Today, modern integrated solutions use up to four levels of this type of memory. The cache of the first and second levels, as a rule, is determined by the architectural features of the chip. The L3 cache may vary from model to model. I will provide a small table for your reference.
So, more productive Core i7 processors have 8 MB of third-level cache, while less fast Core i5 processors have 6 MB. Will this 2 MB affect gaming performance?
The Broadwell family of processors and some Haswell processors use 128 MB of eDRAM memory (Level 4 cache). In some games it can seriously speed up the system.
It's very easy to check. To do this, you need to take two processors from the Core i5 and Core i7 lines, set them to the same frequency and disable Hyper-Threading technology. As a result, in the nine games tested, only F1 2015 showed a noticeable difference of 7.4%. The rest of the 3D entertainment did not respond in any way to the 2-MB deficit in the third level cache of the Core i5-6600K.
The impact of L3 cache on gaming performance
The difference in L3 cache between Core i5 and Core i7 processors in most cases does not affect system performance in modern games
AMD or Intel?
All tests discussed above were carried out using Intel processors. However, this does not mean at all that we do not consider AMD solutions as the basis for a gaming computer. Below are the test results using the FX-6350 chip used in AMD's most powerful AM3+ platform, using four and six cores. Unfortunately, I did not have an 8-core AMD “stone” at my disposal.
Comparison of AMD and Intel in GTA V
GTA V has already proven itself to be the most CPU-intensive game. Using four cores in an AMD system, the average FPS level was higher than, for example, a Core i3 (without Hyper-Threading). In addition, in the game itself, the image was rendered smoothly, without stuttering. But in all other cases, Intel cores turned out to be consistently faster. The difference between processors is significant.
Below is a table with full testing of the AMD FX processor.
Processor dependency on an AMD system
There is no noticeable difference between AMD and Intel in only two games: The Witcher and Assassin’s Creed Unity. In principle, the results lend themselves perfectly to logic. They reflect the real balance of power in the central processor market. Intel cores are noticeably more powerful. Including in games. AMD's four cores compete with Intel's two. At the same time, the average FPS is often higher for the latter. Six AMD cores compete with the four threads of the Core i3. Logically, the eight “heads” of the FX-8000/9000 should challenge the Core i5. Yes, AMD cores are absolutely deservedly called “half-cores”. These are the features of modular architecture.
The result is banal. Intel solutions are better for gaming. However, among budget solutions (Athlon X4, FX-4000, A8, Pentium, Celeron), AMD products are preferable. Testing has shown that the slower four cores perform better in CPU-dependent games than the faster two Intel cores. In the mid and high price ranges (Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, A10, FX-6000, FX-8000, FX-9000) Intel solutions are already preferable
DirectX 12
As was already said at the very beginning of the article, with the release of Windows 10, DirectX 12 became available to computer game developers. You can find a detailed overview of this API. The DirectX 12 architecture finally determined the direction of development of modern game development: developers began to need low-level software interfaces. The main task of the new API is to rationally use the hardware capabilities of the system. This includes the use of all processor threads, general-purpose calculations on the GPU, and direct access to graphics adapter resources.
Windows 10 has just arrived. However, there are already applications in nature that support DirectX 12. For example, Futuremark has integrated the Overhead subtest into the benchmark. This preset is able to determine the performance of a computer system using not only the DirectX 12 API, but also AMD Mantle. The principle behind the Overhead API is simple. DirectX 11 imposes limits on the number of processor rendering commands. DirectX 12 and Mantle solve this problem by allowing more rendering commands to be called. Thus, during the test, an increasing number of objects are displayed. Until the graphics adapter stops handling them and FPS drops below 30 frames. For testing, I used a bench with a Core i7-5960X processor and a Radeon R9 NANO video card. The results turned out to be very interesting.
Noteworthy is the fact that in patterns using DirectX 11, changing the number of CPU cores has virtually no effect on the overall result. But with the use of DirectX 12 and Mantle, the picture changes dramatically. Firstly, the difference between DirectX 11 and low-level APIs turns out to be simply cosmic (by an order of magnitude). Secondly, the number of “heads” of the central processor significantly affects the final result. This is especially noticeable when moving from two cores to four and from four to six. In the first case, the difference reaches almost twofold. At the same time, there are no special differences between six and eight cores and sixteen threads.
As you can see, the potential of DirectX 12 and Mantle (in the 3DMark benchmark) is simply enormous. However, we should not forget that we are dealing with synthetics; they do not play with them. In reality, it makes sense to evaluate the profit from using the latest low-level APIs only in real computer entertainment.
The first computer games supporting DirectX 12 are already looming on the horizon. These are Ashes of the Singularity and Fable Legends. They are in active beta testing. Recently colleagues from Anandtech
