Watch Dogs 2: Performance Analysis

[W1zzard]

Watch_Dogs 2 is Ubisoft's latest open-world game, featuring a new and improved game engine with tons of options to adjust graphics settings. We took a closer look at the game's performance using a wide spectrum of graphics cards and also tested its video memory usage, with and without the high-res texture pack.

Show full review

 

[EarthDog]

I love these w1z!!!

They would be even bethere (and more time consuming, ugh...) if there was testing for cpu in there as well. techspot used to do this, but has since dropped back to a single intel and amd..

 

[W1zzard]

if there was testing for cpu in there as well

I just have a single VGA test system, not worth the trouble maintaining several boxes

 

[EzioAs]

Thanks for the article. I was waiting to see how demanding this game is.

I love these w1z!!!

They would be even bethere (and more time consuming, ugh...) if there was testing for cpu in there as well. techspot used to do this, but has since dropped back to a single intel and amd..

Guru3D has the CPU test. It shows the FX 8370 and the i7-5960X pretty much neck and neck except when they paired the CPUs with a GTX 1080, and even then, the performance difference is still insignificant. http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/watch-dog-2-pc-graphics-performance-benchmark-review,8.html

 

[EarthDog]

Thanks!

For reference I was speaking in general, not just for this game. It can be a big 'hits' article. And I am talking on this level: http://www.techspot.com/review/991-gta-5-pc-benchmarks/page6.html

Where it compares i3, i5, i7 and AMD quad, hex, and octo, across a couple of gens. Monumental PITA but they are (were) the only site that did it. Now, they chopped it back. I frequently find myself referring back to that site for support of CPU bottlenecks in gaming.

I digress...

 

[abundantcores]

Predictably shocking performance from another GameWorks game.

This Youtuber got 23 to 30 FPS in large parts of it at 1080P with a GTX 1080.

When will they stop using Gameworks, all it does is render games unplayable

 

[Fluffmeister]

You don't need GameWorks to cripple performance, Deus Ex: MD is proof of that.

Game looks good anyway and it's getting solid reviews on Steam, I'll pick it up at some stage in the distant future, soo much to play in the meantime.

 

[birdie]

where all new cards above $200 have 8 GB VRAM

w1zzard, I guess you meant 6GB as with the GTX 1060, and also ... it has 3GB models.

 

[Dammeron]

Game looks good anyway(...)

Check screenshot no. 4 - that's one badass texture placement. But that's how You build pavements in real life, right?

That's why people mod games - cause at least They care!

 

[Joss]

in three key display resolutions - 1080p, 2K (2560x1440 pixels), and 4K Ultra HD (3840x2160)

If 4k refers to horizontal resolution on the order of 4000 pixels (as per Wikipedia) shouldn't
1920x1080 be 2k
2560x1440 be 2.5k

 

[the54thvoid]

Predictably shocking performance from another GameWorks game.

This Youtuber got 23 to 30 FPS in large parts of it at 1080P with a GTX 1080.

When will they stop using Gameworks, all it does is render games unplayable

You must have missed this bit...

What's also worth mentioning is that gameplay feels very smooth, even at sub-60 FPS rates.

It's better for a lower fps game with smoother feel than a higher fps game with stutter. Frankly, high fps is overrated when the frames aren't smoothed out.

 

[abundantcores]

You must have missed this bit...



It's better for a lower fps game with smoother feel than a higher fps game with stutter. Frankly, high fps is overrated when the frames aren't smoothed out.

Would that be the "Cinematic 30 FPS" Ubisoft spoke of?"

I did not miss it, lots of people and reviewers say this or that game despite low FPS is smooth and then my experience is motion micro-stutter, just as you expect with frame rates below about 50 FPS, 30 FPS is never smooth unless your using Free-Sync or G-Sync.
Smoothness perception is very subjective.

I have a GTX 970, a GTX 1080 is getting frame rates as low as 23, i'm not even going to be able to play it above 20 unless i turn everything down to minimum and off, then i might get lows of 35, still way too low.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Predictably shocking performance from another GameWorks game.

This Youtuber got 23 to 30 FPS in large parts of it at 1080P with a GTX 1080.

When will they stop using Gameworks, all it does is render games unplayable

That sure sounds a lot different than W1zzard's GTX 1080. Maybe he has one of the super-secret special ones that us common folk don't get?

Um yeah. Every new game that comes out lately I read "reviews" and see youtube "reviews" that are all hysterical about crappy performance. I have yet to see any of these myself, so I tend to disbelieve this video about this game too.

 

[W1zzard]

Maybe he has one of the super-secret special ones that us common folk don't get?

GTX 1080 FE from NVIDIA

 

[rtwjunkie]

GTX 1080 FE from NVIDIA

I was being sarcastic, because I know you've got a regular 1080. I basically was debunking his post because it is SO far outside what you average benchmark AND your description of the gameplay sound like.

If you had drastic drops like that or could barely have played with a 1080 at 1080p, you would have told us..

 

[the54thvoid]

I was being sarcastic, because I know you've got a regular 1080. I basically was debunking his post because it is SO far outside what you average benchmark AND your description of the gameplay sound like.

If you had drastic drops like that or could barely have played with a 1080 at 1080p, you would have told us..

The internet is a cesspit of misinformation from 3rd rate, no 4th rate bloggers and egotists that believe they are due respect. I haterz the interwebzes, it simply is awful in the main.

 

[W1zzard]

If you had drastic drops like that or could barely have played with a 1080 at 1080p, you would have told us..

I'm playing 1600p on a GTX 980 Ti and it's very playable despite FRAPS telling me I got only 40 FPS

 

[abundantcores]

That sure sounds a lot different than W1zzard's GTX 1080. Maybe he has one of the super-secret special ones that us common folk don't get?

Um yeah. Every new game that comes out lately I read "reviews" and see youtube "reviews" that are all hysterical about crappy performance. I have yet to see any of these myself, so I tend to disbelieve this video about this game too.

Like it or not Youtube reviews are becoming mainstream because you can actually see the gameplay, there isn't much you can get from a slide with some numbers on it, to many people slides with numbers are meaningless twaddle.
Given that its common knowledge hardware vendors dictate how reviewers test their products people want more than just a reviewers claims in writing.

With Videos you can see the actual performance you are getting, where, why and how.

The performance looks shocking and stutter perception with low FPS is subjective, I think even W1zzard would agree what looks fine to him may not look fine to everyone.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Like it or not Youtube reviews are becoming mainstream because you can actually see the gameplay, there isn't much you can get from a slide with some numbers on it, to many people slides with numbers are meaningless twaddle.
Given that its common knowledge hardware vendors dictate how reviewers test their products people want more than just a reviewers claims in writing.

With Videos you can see the actual performance you are getting, where, why and how.

The performance looks shocking and stutter perception with low FPS is subjective, I think even W1zzard would agree what looks fine to him may not look fine to everyone.

Whatever dude. You mean YouTube has become a cesspit of people who think they can do reviews without any idea of the testing standards which need to exist.

I'm moving on to more rational and enlightened conversation now.

 

[hapkiman]

If 4k refers to horizontal resolution on the order of 4000 pixels (as per Wikipedia) shouldn't
1920x1080 be 2k
2560x1440 be 2.5k

No - technically 2k is 2048 x 1080 and you don't see any screens this size.

 

[renz496]

Like it or not Youtube reviews are becoming mainstream because you can actually see the gameplay, there isn't much you can get from a slide with some numbers on it, to many people slides with numbers are meaningless twaddle.
Given that its common knowledge hardware vendors dictate how reviewers test their products people want more than just a reviewers claims in writing.

With Videos you can see the actual performance you are getting, where, why and how.

The performance looks shocking and stutter perception with low FPS is subjective, I think even W1zzard would agree what looks fine to him may not look fine to everyone.

and you have to be careful with some of them. i have seen few example where some of youtube review did not reflect most reputable review site result. and sometimes they give end up giving false impression as well. even with you tube videos you can't see 100% what's going on. that's why i have my reservation when it comes to youtube videos. stuff like minor stutter probably not noticeable on videos. that's why i still prefer reviewer to explained it all even if there is no video.

 

[refillable]

Where on earth is BF1? Gears of War?

 

[mark84]

Is there a reason you test games with the Titan X for VRAM usage but then don't include it in the performance results for each resolution?

Would like to see where it sits in these tests.

 

[askep3]

Something interested is the difference in performance between the 1080 and 1070

1080p: ~15 FPS
1440p: ~10 FPS
4K: ~5 FPS

 

[EzioAs]

Something interested is the difference in performance between the 1080 and 1070

1080p: ~15 FPS
1440p: ~10 FPS
4K: ~5 FPS

Serious question, why do you find that interesting? Seems normal to me.