Starcraft 2

Starcraft 2 can vary wildly from being very CPU limited to very GPU limited. As a result we've had to create two separate benchmarks. Heavy battles are often CPU limited, while scrolling around a map tends to stress the GPU more.

Starcraft 2 - GPU Bench

Starcraft 2 - GPU Bench

Starcraft 2 - GPU Bench

SC2 shows us a smaller advantage over Sandy Bridge - generally around 20%. Llano is able to maintain a much larger 40 - 50% advantage as a result.

Intel HD 4000 Performance: DiRT 3 Intel HD 4000 Performance: Skyrim
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  • The0ne - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link

    "There's not enough of an improvement to make existing SNB owners want to upgrade, but if you're still clinging to an old Core 2 (or earlier) system, Ivy will be a great step forward."

    Basically all the laptops in the last few years for business have been bought with C2D. I think with Ivy, it's a great time to upgrade them all and see a good improvement. Same for family members too. I can't wait to try them out! Thanks for the review Anand.
  • benjaminbldp - Thursday, March 8, 2012 - link

    maybe intel should drop the graphics all together, i don't like it, let the pro take care of it. just too much.
  • dr/owned - Thursday, March 8, 2012 - link

    This article blows because there's no overclocking results. We're not looking for a fine tuned overclock. Just give us the rough and dirty! My money is on 5 ghz with minimal effort using an air cooler.
  • dagamer34 - Thursday, March 8, 2012 - link

    It's a preview, not a review.
  • dr/owned - Thursday, March 8, 2012 - link

    It seems like Intel has the tick-tocks backwards. The i7-920 is arguably the greatest cpu to come out in recent years and it was "just" a tick.
  • Wardrop - Thursday, March 8, 2012 - link

    I'm afraid you have it backwards.

    The i7-920 is a Nehalem processor (it's a 45nm chip). It's a tock. Why is this concept so hard to grasp?
  • bigboxes - Thursday, March 8, 2012 - link

    Look at the chart. Nehalem (i920) was a tock.
  • just4U - Thursday, March 8, 2012 - link

    I have to disagree with you on the i920 being such a huge leap. As someone who goes thru virtually every cpu line up for AMD/Intel I'd have to say the C2D (or quad) 6x series was the biggest leap forward in the past decade. Before that it was the A64 and X2 variants (altho.. we didn't get alot of use out of those secondary cores)
  • IntelUser2000 - Thursday, March 8, 2012 - link

    LOL, this must be the most hilarious argument I've heard in a while.

    How do you relate 30+ % graphics gain as being ALL CPU? Don't be ridiculous, and that's an understatement.
  • Silma - Thursday, March 8, 2012 - link

    Are low-res testing really relevant for graphics?

    Most players play at 1920x1080 or higher.
    1368x720 or 1680x1050 does not seem relevant to me at all for most people, especially those purchasing a computer with this processor.

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