Digital Foundry - 6700k vs 5820k vs 5960x Gaming Shootout

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http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2016-what-is-the-fastest-gaming-cpu

Really interesting article from DF. Finally someone compares these CPUs overclocked in gaming scenarios!

 

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Would have loved more detail on minimum frame rates and frame times too. That's where CPU upgrades make their impact.

Pity there aren't any DX12 or Vulkan tests.

 

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Yeah big shame they didn't do the minimum frame rates.

Arguably this (and frame rate stability) is more important for VR than average frame rate.

It's arguably more important full stop.

 

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Besides anything else, being totally GPU bound and thus the CPUs drawing is also a legit outcome, never mind there is no opportunity for the higher-end stuff to actually flex it's legs.

DigitalFoundry should have thought of this and run a more likely setup for the CPUs - sure, have one set of tests be one card if you really want, but at a higher resolution, also try 2 / 3 / 4 card options as that's where the biggest difference lies.

Fair enough, but how many of their readers or prospective buyers are likely to run a system like that?

 

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One of the biggest advantages x99 has over skylake is ability to handle many GPUs so avoiding the scenario is avoiding the time they should really shine. Skylake can do 2 GPUs then runs out of lanes - and I'd imagine most of those getting a 5960X for gaming are likely to be trying some quad graphics card fun.

Edit: To me quad cards sounds a horrible idea, but then I'd also not get a 5960X. Looking at the benchmark threads on here and there are a few who do use this combo.

To repeat: Avoiding involving the GPUs to test 'only the CPU' isn't testing how well the CPU will do in a real situation where it has to feed the GPUs. CPU-only benchmarks have always been a poor measure of gaming performance. If games are totally GPU-bound then two CPUs drawing is the *right* outcome for which is the right purchase - don't massage the scenario into the realms of fantasy to try and make up a difference.



Not many. But then, how many people are buying the 5960X for gaming in the first place? I'd imagine those two small numbers would overlap heavily, though I can't prove it either way.

The reviewer owns a 5960x, so that explains why it was included. Dual GPU setups were tested, and the 6700k ironically won that test. Useful info for the small number of users in that space.

As for 3 or 4 card setups, the vast majority of us in the real world couldn't give a monkey's which CPU is better. We need tests and benchmarks that represent the kind of PCs that we'll actually build and use in practice.