Battlefield 3

Its popularity aside, Battlefield 3 may be the most interesting game in our benchmark suite for a single reason: it’s the first AAA DX10+ game. It’s been 5 years since the launch of the first DX10 GPUs, and 3 whole process node shrinks later we’re finally to the point where games are using DX10’s functionality as a baseline rather than an addition. Not surprisingly BF3 is one of the best looking games in our suite, but as with past Battlefield games that beauty comes with a high performance cost.

Battlefield 3 has been NVIDIA’s crown jewel; a widely played multiplayer game with a clear lead for NVIDIA hardware. As a result the GTX 670 has another great showing here, easily outperforming AMD’s best. At 2560 with FXAA (and 1920 with MSAA) the GTX 670 has just enough performance to crack 60fps, which means it should be able to keep above 30fps even in larger firefights.

Interestingly enough however this is another game that the GTX 670 does very well at compared to the GTX 680. At 1920 with MSAA in particular the GTX 680 only leads by 3%, reinforcing the fact that as a consequence of giving the GTX 670 all of the GTX 680’s memory bandwidth that the GTX 680 doesn’t have very many tricks up its sleeve to lead with. This also means that the GTX 670 does particularly well here compared to the GTX 570, leading by 55% or more at every resolution and setting.

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  • Blackchild1101 - Thursday, May 10, 2012 - link

    I'll take two please!
  • Ryan Smith - Thursday, May 10, 2012 - link

    You'll get nothing and like it!

    (Sorry, was watching Caddyshack last weekend)
  • Wreckage - Thursday, May 10, 2012 - link

    To think a few months ago you could have gotten a pair of 7970s for $1100.

    I'm betting there are a lot of sad AMD fans out there. Their viral marketing group in the forums is going to have a rough year for sure.
  • retrospooty - Thursday, May 10, 2012 - link

    I doubt anyone that places happiness in their preferred companies products being #1 is all too happy to begin with ;)
  • RampantAndroid - Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - link

    Sure, but realizing that waiting a few months could have saved them serious $$$.

    Same probably goes for GTX680 owners.
  • CeriseCogburn - Monday, May 28, 2012 - link

    The partners of nVidia are going to be happy, because what comes out of the 680 and 670 is an auto overclock and an overclockable card, with locks on power increases, and therefore far, far less chance of anything burning out.

    Overclock to your hearts desire - you won't be burning these up while the amd cards will still be a housefire and cost the partners plenty to replace.

    nVidia's partners are very, very happy.
  • JlHADJOE - Saturday, July 21, 2012 - link

    They would if they have stocks invested though.

    /putting money where fanboy mouth is
  • Lazlo Panaflex - Thursday, May 10, 2012 - link

    Waaaaaah waaaaah I can't post in the forums waaaaaaaah waaaaaaaaah

    btw, your mom says 'hi' & said to get back in the basement
  • wut - Thursday, May 10, 2012 - link

    Oh no, YOUR MOM.
  • Lazlo Panaflex - Thursday, May 10, 2012 - link

    bwahahahahahahahaha :D

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