Gaming CPU Shoot-Out Redux: Multi-GPU Scaling - Unigine Valley

Submitted by skipclarke on 3 September, 2014 - 02:38

Article Type: 
Review
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Unigine Valley

I have previously used the Unigine Heaven demo in GPU benchmarking. For this test I have upgraded to the Unigine Valley demo. The test was run at "High" quality, with 2X AA.

I let the benchmark load and run through a full cycle, and manually triggered the benchmark mode and then FRAPS when the images first appear on screen. I stopped FRAPS as the demo faded out.


1080p Widescreen

Unigine Valley - 1080p HD       Unigine Valley - 1080p HD CrossFire    
R7 260X     R9 270X     R9 280X     R9 290 R7 260X CFX     R9 270X CFX     R9 280X CFX
Min Avg Max     Min Avg Max     Min Avg Max     Min Avg Max     Min Avg Max     Min Avg Max     Min Avg Max    
AMD FX-9590 20 32.5 58     38 48.8 87     37 64.1 114     36 76.0 121 31 59.6 106     30 76.6 118     30 80.7 123
AMD FX-9370 18 32.5 59     29 48.8 88     30 63.2 113     29 74.0 112 24 58.5 105     26 74.0 117     26 75.7 115
AMD FX-8350 16 31.7 58     22 45.8 83     23 62.5 108     28 73.0 111 25 58.0 108     24 75.4 118     28 77.4 115
AMD FX-6350 15 31.6 58     18 45.6 83     19 64.5 101     29 71.0 110 24 54.8 102     23 72.5 113     24 73.6 113
AMD FX-4350 14 31.7 58     18 45.9 84     19 63.3 100     28 70.0 107 24 56.7 101     24 71.0 110     25 71.3 113

We do see som improvement across the CPU line, when paired with a single R9 280X or an R9 290. There are some clear instances (the R9 280X in particular) where minimum fps showed a major improvement with a better CPU. Max fps improved as well, but the averages held constantly.

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Using a pair of video cards, we see comparable performance across the board. In each bank we don't see a CPU that can unlock any untapped power of the GPU.

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1080p Eyefinity

Unigine Valley - Eyefinity       Unigine Valley - Eyefinity CrossFire    
R7 260X     R9 270X     R9 280X     R9 290 R7 260X CFX     R9 270X CFX     R9 280X CFX
Min Avg Max     Min Avg Max     Min Avg Max     Min Avg Max     Min Avg Max     Min Avg Max     Min Avg Max    
AMD FX-9590 5 11.5 22     11 18.1 35     14 25.5 50     18 31.5 58 5 20.0 42     19 33.0 62     26 48.2 94
AMD FX-9370 4 11.5 22     11 18.1 33     15 25.5 49     19 31.4 58 5 19.7 41     18 32.7 63     26 48.0 95
AMD FX-8350 1 10.2 24     7 16.9 35     11 25.3 52     16 31.2 59 5 19.0 42     20 33.4 62     27 48.4 92
AMD FX-6350 2 10.6 24     7 16.9 35     11 25.3 52     18 29.6 55 5 19.3 43     19 33.2 62     20 47.6 93
AMD FX-4350 2 10.7 24     7 16.9 35     11 25.3 152     18 31.1 59 5 19.1 42     19 33.6 63     21 47.8 92

With the Eyefinity trials, we actually see an instance where the top two CPUs perform slightly worse at max fps. Granted it is just 1-2 fps, but it is consistent. We do see that the higher end CPUs provide improvement for minimum fps.

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As with the single 1080p test, we see comparable performance across the board. Again, we're left with blocked groupings.

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