We can say upfront that this article is in no way buying advice, but we're testing purely for the science of it. For the unaware, IPC (instructions per cycle) provides a good indicator of how fast a processor is, so with that in mind we're putting Intel and AMD's latest CPU architectures to the test running at a flat 4GHz.
Today we’re checking out the $200 Ryzen 5 2600, the most affordable chip of AMD's 2nd-gen processors. It's a bit cheaper than the 2600X we tested on launch day, but the real competition comes from the Core i5-8400 which is a little more affordable at $179. Let's find out where each stands.
It's been great to have more competition in the CPU sector since Ryzen arrived. Based on the refreshed Zen+ architecture, today we're testing AMD's new X processors: the 2700X is an 8-core/16-thread CPU with a 3.7 GHz base and a 4.3 GHz max boost and the 2600X is a 6-core/12-thread CPU operating at 100 MHz lower clocks.
Before the incoming 2nd-gen Ryzen parts arrive this shootout will let us establish how AMD and Intel currently stack up with all the latest Windows updates, BIOS updates, driver updates and new motherboards we have on hand, giving us an up to date reference point for the new CPUs.
To play Far Cry 5, Ubisoft recommends that you have a Core i7-4770 or Ryzen 5 1600 processor along with a GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon R9 290X -- fairly heavy recommendations. Benchmarking the game has been made easy by its built-in benchmark which appears to do a good job of replicating the kind of performance you can expect to see when playing the game.
Along with our recent editorials on why it's a bad time to build a gaming PC, we've been revisiting some older GPUs to see how they hold up in today's games. But how do you know how much you should be paying for a secondhand graphics card?
The latest Radeon Adrenalin Hotfix adds support for A Way Out, Sea of Thieves and Vulkan 1.1, but also fixes an intermittent stutter in Forza Motorsport 7. Gameplay in Final Fantasy XV and Star Wars Battlefront 2 has also been improved.
Continuing along with revisiting some of our favorite old graphics cards, today we'll be checking back in with the Radeon R9 280X, which is also to say that we're checking back in with the 7970 GHz Edition, both of which are essentially a factory overclocked Radeon HD 7970, so we'll technically be revisiting that, too, the very same card we first reviewed in December 2011!
This new AMD hotfix further improves performance for Final Fantasy XV compared to previous releases, particularly on Vega 64 and Radeon RX 580 models (and derivatives). Minor stutters on particle effects in FFXV have also been fixed.
At a time when graphics cards are extremely overpriced, AMD's new Ryzen APUs offer an affordable means of building a basic gaming PC. But we've been keen to see if the APU holds its ground against bargain priced second-hand GPUs. Today we're going to find out.
GTX 750 Ti... 2014 is calling
The latest Radeon Adrenalin hotfix driver is out with performance optimizations for Final Fantasy XV, Warhammer: Vermintide II and DOTA 2. In DOTA 2 they promise a 6% gain if you're using a Radeon RX 580. This is part of new eSports title optimizations (Overwatch, PUBG) that includes other metrics such as 99th percentile frame times.
If you want to push your CPU to the point where it begs for mercy, you're going to need a good cooler. Like most PC components, there are different options for those with different wants and needs. We've rounded up what we believe are the best in each category by taking into account performance, price, noise levels, and design.
We've learned most of what there is to know about AMD's new Vega-infused CPUs, but those of you thinking about buying the Ryzen 3 2200G or Ryzen 5 2400G after seeing how it competent it is as a budget gaming platform may be asking yourselves whether the chip would be best installed on an A320 or B350 motherboard.
