Unreal Tournament 3 Performance and Review on the 8600m GT! (pictures+benchmarks and more)

Unreal Tournament 3 Performance and Review

Foreword: This performance review is made possible by fraps, by which all gaming performance was measured. Take note that actual performance of the game will be ~3-5 fps higher than those measured in the screen shots.


Hi, as I promised, I am delivering a performance review of UT3 on the 8600m gt ddr3 card. This review will include the following sections:

-DX10 vs DX9 picture quality and performance
-Max settings vs High Settings picture quality and performance
-Tweaks /Recommended Settings
-Optimized Performance Review
-Benchmark of Different Overclock Profiles (rough 9600m gt and 8700m gt performance indicators)
-Further Optimization
-Performance Verdict


But first off,

Testing Equipment:
XPS m1530
1200x800 Resolution using vista 32 sp1
2.2ghz 800fsb t7500 processor
overclocked 665/870 8600m gt ddr3 w/forceware 177.35
3gb ddr2 ram
7200rpm HDD

Settings used:


Alright lets get started.
Firstly, we will see how this game runs using Max settings
DX10 vs DX9

DX10 Image and Frame Rate


DX9 Image and Frame Rate


We can see quite a bit of an improvement in frame rates moving from DX10 to DX9 rendering mode. There is a difference in image quality. Notice the shadows in both, DX10 is noticeably darker. Thus by using DX10 rendering expect to get a slightly more atmospheric feel but at the cost of ~5 fps or so.

*note: the map I used and the location chosen for the shots above is more graphically taxing to render and should be consider a fps hard hit location. Maps in UT3 will vary in performance, some other maps will give you better frame rates.

Max Setting vs High Settings
-using DX10 rendering.


High Setting Image Quality and Performance
-Uses 4x Anisotropic Lighting
-slightly lower shadow resolution
-slightly lower texture resolution



Max Setting Image Quality and Performance
-Uses 16x Anisotropic Lighting
-Highest shadow resolution
-Highest texture resolution



The map I used for this benchmark is a great example of how much fps can vary based on the map you play. The difference in performance between high and max settings however remain pretty consistently @~5 fps. The image quality is very similar, in fact its almost impossible to tell the difference. For those of you whose tittering between playability on max settings, i'll definately suggest at least lowering texture to 4, as it will reduce anisotropic lightning to 4x. Of course your first option is always to run this game in dx9 before tinkering with texture settings.

Max vs High Settings Benchmarking
Benchmarks taken on Garden of Dreams, an averagely demanding map in the graphics department
-20 bots
-full 20 kill round
-simulate real game action



Notice that during 4/5 setting gameplay, there were only 2 significant drops in frame rates to ~20ish. Compare this to 5/5 setting game play where there were significantly more drops to ~low 20 fps and even some in the 10s. Noted that we are using a benchmark program that reduces frames some what, but the fact remains that repeated fps drops to low 20s causes too many stutters in game and to really get the smooth fun feel of unreal tournament, lowering settings to 4/5 is the best way to go. Image quality is very similar and if you find yourself to be a graphic whore, you will still be astonished.

Tweaks and Recommended Settings:

There is an extensive tweakguide for UT3 @ Tweakguides.com

The few that I found most useful are:

Changing from DX10 to DX9
Go to Documents ->My Games-> Unreal Tournament 3 -> UT Game -> Config -> UTEngine

Control+f Find: AllowD3d10
Change from True to False to enable DX9 rendering mode

Lowering Anisotropic Lighting

Go to Documents ->My Games-> Unreal Tournament 3 -> UT Game -> Config -> UTEngine

Control+f Find: Maxanisotropy
Change numerical value: 16 should be default for level 5 textures, 4 for level 4 textures, 0 for level 3 textures. However you can tweak this option for the best performance/quality ratio on your computer[/I]

Optimized Performance Review
These settings work very well and in my opinion the best performance/quality ratio you can get with this game.


DX9
1200x800
4/5 world detail
4/5 texture detail
max anisotropy = 2
90 field of vision

Stock Clock 475/700 Benchmark using optimized Settings

*Bench marked using these settings on one of the most graphically intense maps
*Shangri-La, 20bot full round session:



Overclocked 500/1250/800 Profile Benchmark using optimized Settings (performance ~ 9600m gt ddr3)



Overclocked 665/875 Profile Benchmark using optimized Settings (roughly the performance you'll expect from a 8700m gt)



These benchmarks should tell you the rough frame rates you can expect if you have a different card. A 9600m gt ddr3 will do quite well here, with performance in the high 30s. A 8700m gt will definitely run this game smoothly seeing how benchmark shows low 40s all around.

These benchmarks are also testaments to the incredable performance increase from overclocking. Frame Rates jump ~10fps, nearly a 33% increase from stock 8600m gt on my overclocked profile. There are many options to optimize performance for this game, overclocking should be a good bet.

Further Optimization

Go to UTEngine ini file and change the following entries

StaticDecals=False
DynamicDecals=True
DynamicLights=True
DynamicShadows=True
LightEnvironmentShadows=True
CompositeDynamicLights=False
DirectionalLightmaps=False
MotionBlur=True
DepthOfField=True
Bloom=False
QualityBloom=False
Distortion=False
DropParticleDistortion=True
SpeedTreeLeaves=True
SpeedTreeFronds=True
OnlyStreamInTextures=False
LensFlares=False
FogVolumes=False
FloatingPointRenderTargets=True
Trilinear=True
OneFrameThreadLag=True
UseVsync=False
UpscaleScreenPercentage=True
Fullscreen=True
AllowD3D10=False
EnableHighPolyChars=False
SkeletalMeshLODBias=0
ParticleLODBias=0
DetailMode=0
ShadowFilterQualityBias=0
MaxAnisotropy=0
MaxMultisamples=0
MinShadowResolution=32
MaxShadowResolution=512
ResX=1280
ResY=800
ScreenPercentage=100.000000
SceneCaptureStreamingMultiplier=1.000000
FoliageDrawRadiusMultiplier=1.000000
ShadowTexelsPerPixel=2.000000

These tweaks disable some in game visual effects to maximize frames and visibility. Specifically setting detialmode to 0 instead of 0 removes fog and various water/ice effects. This reduce atmosphere but provides greater clarity. There is a game play advantage as well as performance advantage to these changes. So use based on your preference.

Performance Verdict:

This game needs at least a constant 35-40fps to be enjoyable. This makes it harder for even performance hardware to play it on max settings without the occasional fps dip.

Game setting is very scalable however. Most people will see close to a 10fps increase moving down from 5/5 settings to 4/5 settings. And you would give up very little quality for the frame rate increase.

The stock 8600m gt runs this game alright, averaging ~32 fps near max settings, with occassional dips toward the low 20s during heavy fights. It is quite possible to disable anistropic lighting entirely instead of leaving it on @ 2x as I did. In the end after tweak with game settings a bit more, you'll be playing this game smoothly with 35 fps + on this card. The game will still look gorgeous. ​

 

This may be too much to ask, but can you do the benches at the default clocks 475/950/700. your card is oced higher than a 8700m gt!

 

stock benchmarks up!

 

Very nice! +rep.

 

Did you card underclock during long time play?

 

Great Review! Rep +

 

I hope this is not completely off topic. I've recently been trying to get this game running smoothly on Gateway M6864.
Its relatively easy to get the game running at 30fps +.

However, there is significant mouse lag unless the game runs at 45+. This is obviously with all mouse, framerate smoothing disabled, with d3d9 forced.


For a game like this its extremely frustrating so I'm back on UT2004.

 

not at all. Stock clocks were doing fine for entire time. 665/875 is completely stable as well,

 

I experience mouse lags too, and it only happens for me when i die in game, even if im average 40 fps as oppose to 30. So its not as much of a big deal. World detail has alot to do with it. Turning it down to 3 will disable some of the combat effects such as motion blur, screen flash, shake, etc and will significantly reduce mouse lag.

 

nice review, had UT3 running on my 8400gs as well, on low settings its not that bad. wish I had a better card so I can play UT3 in my boring lectures

 

i think this game proves how useless dx10 is. Just look at the visuals difference and performance difference. Having slightly more atmosphere does not justify an instant 5 fps drop.

 

There isn't enought people using dx10 at the moment for them to use it efficiently I think. It's not worth the effort.

 

look@ fps increase when overclocked. stock 32 avg fps--> 43 fps : ~33% performance net.

Same thing when overclocked to 9600m gt ddr3 stock clocks 475/950/700 --> 500/1250/800 33avg fps -> 38 avg fps ~ 17% performance net.

amazing what you can do with overclocking.

If anyone has a 9600m/8700m gt gt ddr3 and can benchmark this game please post your scores. Im wondering if a 8600m gt ddr3 overclocked to 9600m gt ddr3 speeds will give the exact same performance. This might just prove that the 9series and 8 series are exactly the same.

 

One question... Just wondering, i don't know why, but when i go to advanced settings the only option i get, besides the sliders, is v-sync... I dont have "framerate smoothing" or "motion blur", not even the FOV slider...

Anyone knows a possible reason to this?

 

yeh you need to update unreal tournament 3 to 1.3, the official website have this patch

 

free bump of the day

 

nice review, kudos.

I get the same results, not sure if the higher 3dmark06 scores mean anything. I get 4600 and almost exactly the same framerates in UT3 demo. Great review anyways, your effort is appreciated and hopefully you come out with a Crysis review, and a bioshock/Cod 4 review...just kidding but seriously would be nice.

 

eazy_e how much are you overclocking btw and can you post up your results?

you said you get the same results, are you talking about my benchmark @ dx10 5/5 settings?

 

i cant find this file now that i have applied the 1.5 patch . i really need to tone down the water effects.