Benchmarking with Fraps

[TX-EcoDragon]

For anyone who doesn't know the latest versions of FRAPS are pretty darn cool.  not only does it capture video and give fps output. . but it has a benchmark feature built in now too!

I used Fraps 2.2.5 (available below) and configured it for detailed benchmark information that I am able to import into Excel to generate graphs, and also a simple max fps, min fps, avg fps output for a given time interval. I set it up to just use F12 as the benchmark hot key, then at a given time point in the black death track (for me it was 0:12) I press f12, and let it run untill a later time (I used 2:35, but should have done a few seconds earlier as that is a few miliseconds before the track ends!) Here is the simplest format of the information that I have, with the information that I compiled on my various settings.

IL-2:FB Benchmark Results

Settings:
 2x Anti-aliasing, 2x Anisotropic Filtering
 Image Quality slider=Quality,
 Vsync is off,
 Digital Vibrance is on Low

In Game Video Mode:
 1280x960x32 FUll Screen
 Attempt Stencil Buffer enabled
 Open GL
In Game Graphics settings: -->
 Excellent (simple)
Advanced->
 High,
 High,
 Excellent,
 Excellent,
 Excellent,
 Detailed Clouds
Black Death Track no manual view or time, benchmark recorded from time 0:12 to 2:35 of the track

Frames: 1260 - Time: 143266ms - Avg: 8.795 - Min: 4 - Max: 18

Frames: 1264 - Time: 142952ms - Avg: 8.842 - Min: 4 - Max: 18

Frames: 1266 - Time: 142353ms - Avg: 8.893 - Min: 4 - Max: 18

Frames: 1257 - Time: 142782ms - Avg: 8.804 - Min: 4 - Max: 18

Overall Average of four runs is 8.8335 frames per second.



Now same settings as above but with 4x AA

Frames: 842 - Time: 143149ms - Avg: 5.882 - Min: 1 - Max: 14



Now same settings as above but with 4x AA and 4X AF

Frames: 622 - Time: 143821ms - Avg: 4.325 - Min: 2 - Max: 12




Get FRAPS here: http://www.fraps.com



S!

TX-EcoDragon

[TX-EcoDragon]

I did this to keep myself busy, the darn FedEx guy came right when I went upstairs to get the phone ( I guess) and when I went back down there was a door tag listing that they attempted to deliver my new video card  :-(Anyway, at least now I can generate some good benchmark info in prep for the new card. . . obviosuly the above listed fps are really low, I wanted to turn all the eye candy so that I could give the new card the same exact settings, and then the new CPU when it arrives.S!TX-EcoDragon

[TX-EcoDragon]

Now using the eVGA 6800 (nVidia FX 6800)These are the same settings as above except I went up to Perfect mode to keep the pressure on (in the black death track this is pretty intense). Settings:2x Anti-aliasing, 2x Anisotropic Filtering Image Quality slider=Quality, Vsync is off, Digital Vibrance is on LowIn Game Video Mode:1280x960x32 FUll ScreenAttempt Stencil Buffer enabled Open GLIn Game Graphics settings: --> Excellent (simple)Advanced->High,High,Excellent,Excellent,Perfect,Detailed CloudsFrames: 6343 - Time: 306056ms - Avg: 20.725 - Min: 4 - Max: 54Flight Sims are all are very CPU instensive.Now, just to demonstrate that my processor is limiting the game performance and not the card, here is my 6800 Overclocked at the value determined as the optimal settings in the Drivers tab. Settings here are exaclty the same as the last test other than the overclock. Here the Core is clocked at 401.6 MHz and the Memory is clocked at 855MHz. That is a hefty overclock on the memory, but the core will do 425 comfortably with very little temperature increase. But will it make any difference on my machine?? Also I was running RivaTurner's hardware monitor graphing in the background, to verify the cards temps and comfort at those clocks (I have heard this may will lower fps a bit) and I didn't have a fresh restart as I did before. . .but this is close enough I am sure.Frames: 3064 - Time: 142996ms - Avg: 21.427 - Min: 3 - Max: 54How is that for a great example of being CPU limited! only .702 average fps better  than the stock clocks!!!!!!S!TX-EcoDragonBlack1TX-Squadron XO

[TX-EcoDragon]

And here is the plot of the temps for this run. Here you see the Core and memory clocks, the core temp, and the ambient temp over time.S!TX-EcoDragonBLACK1TX-Squadron XO

[TX-EcoDragon]

Now here is the above two tests with my new P4 2.8 GHz cpu installed.Standard clock on 6800 (325/700):Frames: 3820 - Time: 143095ms - Avg: 26.696 - Min: 6 - Max: 63 Overclocked 6800 (401/855):Frames: 4074 - Time: 142963ms - Avg: 28.497 - Min: 8 - Max: 69Now the overclock results in an increase of 1.801 fps average for the run.So the CPU upgrade (2.2 to 2. gave me an increase of 5.971 average fps at the stock clocks, and 7.07 average fps more at the overclocked setting.The nature of flight sim CPU usage suggests that CPU dependance is less obvious at higher resolutions which will tax the card more. Same goes for higher values of Anisotropic Filtering and Anti-Aliasing. One of these days I will put that to the test on my machine by running the above test at 1600X1200 resolution/or 4xAA and 4xAF with standard and then overclocked frequencies on the video card. I should see a larger spread between the overclock and default clock at the higher res.S!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX-Squadron XO

[TX-CUDA]

.....Eco, what in the heck are you trying to say here!..LOL From what I see here it seems that I ought to go ahead and invest in the NO2 cooling system and bump my processor/mb up to the AMD3000+ w/MSI MB that I saw advertised at Fry's today for $189...of course there is a good argument for just waiting for the X64's to drop a bit and go for that.Keep up the good work on the testing Eco!.........gonna go back and re-read that post again to make sure I get it this time!..TX-Cudaon the slow machine as the fast one has been commandeered!!