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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Unigine Valley

1080p Widescreen

1080p Eyefinity

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