MSI FX5700 Ultra TD128 - Testing X2 Threat Rolling Demo, Gun Metal
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X2 Threat Rolling Demo (DirectX 9)
The X2 Threat rolling demo is based off the game made by Enlight Software. Released last December, X2 is a space sim similar to Wing Commanders, Freelancers, and Independence Wars. Though the rolling demo requires DX9 installed to run, it uses all DX8 and focuses on bump mapping.
"A completely rewritten 3D engine based on DirectX8 encompasses many visual effects such as volumetric Nebulae (gas clouds) that have a real impact in the game (you can hide in them), many new engine, shield, weapon and explosion effects. Objects cast real dynamic 3D shadows! Dynamic DP3 bump mapping allows a previously unseen level of detail."
Above is a screenshot of the graphics settings used: 1024x768x32, no AA or AF, bump mapping and real-time shadows on.
In X2 Threat, the FX5700U performs right alongside the overclocked R9600Pro which is a terrific sign for the 5700. Clearly, the 5700 is benefiting from its core upgrades when compared to the 5600, which falls way behind in this test.
Gun Metal Benchmark 1.20 (DirectX 9.0)
Our first true DX9 benchmark is by Yeti Studios. The PC version of Gun Metal is a port of the title from the Xbox.
"The Benchmark intentionally incorporates features and functions that are designed to really push the latest DirectX 9 compatible 3D accelerators to the limit and therefore the speed of the benchmark should not be taken as representative of the speed of the game. We would always expect the game to run at a higher frame-rate than the Benchmark on the same hardware configuration."
The graphics settings used were a resolution of 1024x768x32, 2x AA, no AF, terrain detail and draw distance high, and all visual settings turned on.
Our first DX9 benchmark has the FX5700U beating the overclocked R9600Pro by 3 frames per second. To the naked eye, this is pretty insignificant, but considering how low these numbers are to begin with in this stressful test, 3 frames says a lot about the 5700; especially considering the R9600P only gained 4 FPS from being overclocked.
Head on to the next page to see more DX9 tests, where we focus solely on the FX5700 Ultra and overclocked Radeon 9600Pro, and where we take image quality into consideration.
Next: Testing - Halo, NFSU >>
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