CPU Scaling and Performance

Using the almighty GeForce GTX 590, we measured the performance of our Core i7 (LGA1366) processor when clocked at 2.0GHz through to 3.8GHz in 600MHz increments. As the graph indicates, Brink appears to be predominantly GPU-dependent. Reducing the Core i7's clock speed by almost 50% cut the average frame rate by a mere 3%.

Although Brink can utilize four threads, it only taxes one of them heavily, leaving the other three at about a 50% workload. As a result, dual-core processors don't seem to take a serious hit. In fact, when clocked at the same frequency, the Phenom II X2 and Phenom II X6 deliver the same performance.

Processors with the most efficient architectures still win as the Core i7 920 and i5 750 easily top our graph. The Phenom II X4 980 was 10% slower than the i7 920 which was unexpected. Perhaps more surprising was the fact that the Athlon II X2 260 was just 11% slower than the Phenom II X4 980.