Tomb Raider Tested, Benchmarked

Guest, if as you say, the i5 provides no noticeable performance difference over the i7, can't you just infer that that the results would have been virtually the same? Is it really that hard to think "O, the i7 gives me 79fps, the i5 must give me 78ish" If it helps you, you can sharpie "i7" over the "i5" on the benchmark (I understand that all these BIG numbers can get quite confusing!)

Is it honestly worth arguing about? I mean really!! Look at the CPU performance graph, how do you not feel like a blithering fool?

Not so funny fact: the in-game benchmark tool doesn't reflect at all the game's graphics most intensive moments. Benchmarking the game with these settings in 1080p, I have these results. But at certain moments, specially during some cutscenes, I saw my fps drop as low as 39. So I changed shadows and DOF back to normal, and I have my constant 60 fps back again.

Steve, I know you didn't use the in-game benchmark tool for your tests. But if you ever feel like re-running those tests, I'd suggest the ShantyTown level.

Thanks Alpha Gamer I will certainly be looking into the ShantyTown level for our upcoming testing. Even if we don't use it for the article update as we will want to compare the new results with the old it sounds like I will have to use it for future GPU testing in our graphics card reviews.

Just downloaded the latest Nvidia drivers 314.21 (3/15 release) which has resulted in a massive boost in frame rate. At one of my saved game locations my avg fps went from 28-33 to 40-45. On the in game benchmark I got an average of 33 and a minimum of 22. (Playing at Ultimate settings, FXAA, 16X AF, TressFX enabled, at 2560 x 1440 using a stock GTX 670)

The game only does real work on three threads, and is heavily CPU bound in large outdoor areas (such as Mountain Village and Shanty Town - see the Village Overlook and Helicopter Hill camps, respectively) with the Level of Detail set to higher levels. You don't need to do anything but stand at those locations and look in the right direction. I was CPU bound to about 45fps with a 4.6GHz 3930K with Level of Detail on Ultra.