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Our newest GPU test procedure has been built with the intention of benchmarking high-end graphics cards. We test at 1920×1080 (1080p), 2560×1440 (1440p), and 3840×2160 (4K UHD) resolutions.
We try to test using the DX12 API if titles offer support. This gives us an interpretation into the graphics card performance hierarchy in the present time and the near future, when DX12 becomes more prevalent. After all, graphics cards of this expense may stay in a gamer's system for a number of product generations/years before being upgraded.
A shipping mishap with our GTX 1080 FE meant that we had to buy a new GTX 1080 for testing purposes. As it happens, the cheapest GTX 1080 cards available tend to be factory-overclocked offerings with better coolers than the FE card. As such, we spent just over £500 on Gigabyte's GTX 1080 G1 Gaming which features a triple-fan cooler and a factory overclock. Reference RX Vega64 versus overclocked GTX 1080 may not be the most ideal comparison. However, it is the comparison that is most relevant given that gamers with around £500 available are unlikely to spend £50 (10%) more on the slower FE card.
Note: We tested the RX Vega64 using the ‘Turbo‘ power mode in AMD's WattMan software. This prioritises all-out performance over power efficiency, noise output, and lower thermals.
General Test System Notes
- AMD Graphics cards were benchmarked with the AMD Crimson Beta (RX Vega pre-release) driver.
- Nvidia Graphics cards were benchmarked with the Nvidia 384.94 driver.
Test System
| CPU |
Intel Core i7-7700K ‘Kaby Lake' (Retail)
Overclocked to 4.8GHz Core |
| Motherboard |
Gigabyte Z270X-Ultra Gaming
|
| Memory |
G.Skill Flare X
16GB (2x8GB) @ 3200MHz 14-14-14-34 |
| Graphics Card |
Varies
|
| System Drive |
Crucial M4 512GB SATA 6Gbps SSD
|
| Games Drive | SK hynix SE3010 960GB SATA 6Gbps SSD |
| Chassis | NZXT Phantom 630 (medium fan speed) |
| CPU Cooler |
Noctua NH-D14
|
| Power Supply |
Seasonic 1000W Platinum
|
| Operating System |
Windows 10 Professional with Creators' Update (64-bit)
|
Our test system consists of an overclocked Core i7-7700K processor and 16GB of 3200MHz G.Skill DDR4. High-end hardware is used to eliminate CPU and memory from the bottleneck equation and put the performance onus solely on the GPU being tested.
Comparison Graphics Cards List
Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti Reference (1480MHz core / 1582MHz Boost / 11Gbps memory)
Gigabyte GTX 1080 G1 Gaming (1696MHz core/ 1835MHz Boost / 10Gbps memory)
Nvidia GTX 1070 Founders Edition (1506MHz core/ 1683MHz boost / 8Gbps memory)
Software and Games List
- 3DMark Fire Strike & Fire Strike Ultra (DX11 Synthetic)
- 3DMark Time Spy (DX12 Synthetic)
- Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation (DX12)
- Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (DX12)
- Ghost Recon Wildlands (DX11)
- Grand Theft Auto V (DX11)
- Rise of the Tomb Raider (DX12)
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