Nvidia has some optimization work ahead

Given that we constitute the Radeon R9 280X to be faster than the GeForce GTX 780 at every resolution, there's no doubt some controversy will follow these results.

We figured something was wrong from the outset so we contacted Nvidia and they suggested using the newer 344.75 drivers, which were given to us prior to existence fabricated public -- initially we were using the 344.65 WHQL. The new driver was pressumably tweaked for Far Cry iv, though the release notes don't make any performance claims. Alas, with the suggested release installed, nosotros didn't receive a single extra frame. We should also point out nosotros are testing with the latest version of Far Cry 4 (v1.3 as of posting).

For all Radeon cards we used the Catalyst fourteen.eleven.two beta commuter, which has too been updated for Far Cry 4. AMD claims up to a fifty% performance increase over the Catalyst 14.xi.1 beta in unmarried-GPU scenarios with anti-aliasing enabled.

Information technology'due south worth mentioning this latest beta driver doesn't support CrossFire. The CrossFire profile for Far Cry four is currently disabled while AMD works with Ubisoft to investigate an issue where CrossFire configurations are not performing as intended.

Getting back to Nvidia's poor functioning... nosotros tin ostend that the 344.75 commuter was used while Far Cry 4 has been patched to the latest version through Uplay. We asked Nvidia if the performance we saw was unusual or different to what they have seen and they have notwithstanding to answer.

Every bit information technology stands, we believe AMD is getting the nigh out of its Radeon graphics cards in Far Cry four and don't expect to encounter many functioning improvements in the future, with the exception of CrossFire setups. Nvidia on the other hand have some work ahead, which is hard to believe with Far Cry 4 beingness Nvidia-sponsored.

Ubisoft also has work to practice. Despite twenty-four hour period i patches, we are still experiencing a lot of crashes with both AMD and Nvidia cards when playing via Uplay.

If we ignore Nvidia'southward shaky performance and focus on what we saw from AMD, then it seems gamers tin can enjoy Far Cry 4 in all of its glory at 1920x1200 (or 1080p) with a Radeon Hard disk drive 7850 or R9 265 (a $150 graphics carte du jour). Of course, a R9 270X or 7870 will give you lot ampler room for heavy scenes, while the Hard disk drive 7970 or amend will be required for an average of 60+ fps.

As is often the case, nosotros constitute that gamers are all-time served by an Intel Cadre i5 processor, though the Core i3 is also quite strong here. Sadly, the AMD FX and Phenom II range struggles, though you tin can even so expect playable performance.

Until the side by side one, y'all can check out more PC gaming criterion tests here, including GTA 5, Dragon Historic period: Inquisition, Battleground Hardline, Evolve and more.