GPU Benchmarks

Graphics is going to be a bit more challenging than the CPU tests. Games that test both the CPU and the GPU to the limits are going to find different tradeoffs with each of these systems.

The ASUS Zephyrus G14 is smaller and more thermally limited. It doesn’t have an AMD GPU, so it can’t take advantage of AMD’s new features like SmartShift that can manage power between the CPU and GPU. It technically has the stronger CPU, and while the graphics card is the same, ASUS has the Max-Q version of the RTX 2060, which is optimized for power and efficiency, and exhibits lower clocks. Technically the base frequency of this configuration is higher, at 975 MHz, the turbo is lower at 1185 MHz, and the GDDR6 memory is a lot lower at 1375 MHz (11Gbps/pin).

The Razer Blade 15 has the bigger chassis, and we assume is built for a larger overall TDP. While it has the ‘weaker’ CPU of the two, with fewer cores and lower frequency, it is paired with a full-fat GTX 2060 graphics card. We looked at the data for this card, and it exhibits a lower 960 MHz base frequency, it has the higher 1200 MHz turbo, 1750 MHz memory, and has a direct PCIe 3.0 x16 connection with the processor, while the ASUS system is only an x8.

For our tests, I’ve taken an older test (CS:Source), a couple of modern tests (Civ 6, FFXV) and a new test in Borderlands 3. We used the following settings:

  • Final Fantasy, 1080p Fullscreen, Standard Quality
  • Borderlands 3, 1080p, Medium Pre-Set
  • Civilization 6, 1080p Maximum Preset No MSAA / 1K Occlusion Textures
  • Civilization 6, 1080p Maximum Preset 8x MSAA / 2K Occlusion Textures
  • Counter Strike Source, 1080p Maximum

Final Fantasy XV (1080p Standard)

In Final Fantasy, the results were around 10% different, favoring the AMD system.

Borderlands 3 (1080p Medium)

Borderlands 3 was actually fairly close, with less than 5% between them, but still favoring AMD. I did notice that we were fairly close to the cutoff here between being CPU limited and GPU limited.

Civilization 6 (1080p Max, No MSAA)

Civilization 6 is well known for constantly updating and being optimized, and here it seems the more powerful GPU wins out by a large 10 FPS margin.

Civilization 6 (1080p Max, 8x MSAA)

However, if we add in some more compute and detail, we move to a more GPU limited scenario where the results are essentially equal.

Counter Strike Source (1080p Max)

Counter Strike is an odd one, given how old the game is. Here the game favors the Intel machine, with a ~10% advantage.

Like in the CPU tests, I did some of these gaming tests with the power cord removed and on battery saver mode. Results were interesting, to say the least, and can be found on the next page.

ASUS Zephyrus G14 (Ryzen 9) vs Razer Blade (Core i7): CPU ASUS Zephyrus G14 (Ryzen 9) vs Razer Blade (Core i7): Low Power Performance
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  • Curiousland - Sunday, April 12, 2020 - link

    US is adding more restrictions on TSMC to ship chips to Hwawei which is one of the biggest 7nm and 5nm customers of TSMC. So like it or not TSMC will have a lot more capacity and to rely on AMD's business. So, yeah, TSMC and AMD will work more closely ever before.

    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/27/us-prepares-crackd...
  • Namisecond - Tuesday, April 14, 2020 - link

    Like your article link says, that's more likely to hurt TSMC and it's western customers like AMD, Nvidia and Apple more than it will Huawei. At this point, I don't think it's going to happen. Even if it does, it won't affect contracts already in place and products already in production. Remember, 18 month lead time.
  • JayNor - Sunday, April 12, 2020 - link

    this is partially an Intel product, and they thank you.

    " a 1 TB Intel 660p NVMe SSD, and an Intel Wi-Fi 6 solution."
  • dguy6789 - Tuesday, April 14, 2020 - link

    What do you mean? Intel's 9900K is faster than anything AMD has in gaming including AMD's 4 grand CPU. And that is just 14nm vs 7nm.

    AMD won't have a better gaming CPU than the 9900K 2 years from now.
  • Qasar - Tuesday, April 14, 2020 - link

    and the 9900k only has the performance lead for one reason, clock speed, which is the only reason intel has any performance lead right now, while using more power to get that performance. clock the cpus at the same speed, and see what happens.
  • schujj07 - Tuesday, April 14, 2020 - link

    Outside of gaming, the 3700X performs as good or better than the 9900k more often than not, all while the 9900k draws a massive 60% more power. In gaming benchmarks the 9900k is ahead by about 5% at 1080p using a 2080Ti. At that point it is the difference between 300fps & 315fps. No way that you or I will ever be able to tell the difference.
  • schujj07 - Tuesday, April 14, 2020 - link

    Edit: The 9900k has a 3.6GHz base and 5GHz boost clock. 3700X has 3.6GHz base and 4.4GHz boost. Even with a 13.5% higher boost clock, see typically in single threaded applications, the 9900k is only barely able to beat out the 3700X in some single threaded applications. Difference is usually 3% on average. Normalized for clock speed Zen 2 has about an 8% IPC advantage over Sky Lake and its derivatives.
  • marrakech - Sunday, November 8, 2020 - link

    https://www.dell.com/en-nz/work/shop/workstations/...
    https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/Intel-Xeon-W-...
  • marrakech - Sunday, November 8, 2020 - link

    nice prediction ,
    just as an information i seen some dude soend 6000 $ for an intel xeon w workstation the best 8 core mobile intel and its still slower then my 4800H cpu
    total cost of laptop after ram upgrade 1180$
  • jgood13 - Monday, February 22, 2021 - link

    I don't think this is going to prove to be true...

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