Excellent gaming performance in 7

I've just built a new Windows 7 pc dedicated to games and I'm installing games on it. So far Crysis Warhead works perfectly at the following specs:

SYSTEM:

CPU: AMD Phenom II 550 Black Edition @ 3.1GHz w/6MB L3 cache & 7MB total (stock)
COOLER: Stock
RAM: 8GB Kingston DDR3 1333MHz 9-9-9-24 2 4GB kits (2x2GB) x2
GPU: Sapphire ATI Radeon 4890 1GB GDDR5 (stock)
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB 7200RPM w/ 32MB cache SATA II configured as AHCI (AMD drivers)
MOTHERBOARD: Gigabyte MA-790GPT-UD3H
OPTICAL DRIVE: LG GH 22 series SATA configured as AHCI (AMD drivers)
PSU: Xigmatek NRP-MC651 80 Plus 650w Certified 87% efficiency modular
CHASSIS: Antec Two Hundred
OS: Windows 7 x64 Ultimate OEM
MONITOR: BenQ M2200HD Full HD 2ms GTG response time

MOUSE: Razer Salmosa
KEYBOARD: Generic

INSTALLED APPS:

• Microsoft Security Essentials
• EA Download Manager
• HWInfo32
• Driver + Updates

BENCHMARKS:

• 3d Mark Vantage v1.1: P8537 marks
• PC Mark Vantage v1.1: 5659 marks

GAME:

• Crysis Warhead patched to v1.1 hotfix
• 1920x1080 resolution
• All settings set to "Gamer"
• No AA
• x64 executable
• NO compatiblity mode
• Run as adminstrator

Compatibility mode caused more stuttering so stay from it if you don't need it. Running as admin I do usually by force of habit. I've also not installed practically any apps except as above as this is solely for games.

I'll try to keep this thread updated, but everything looks perfect.

I'll second that! My games are absolutely flying in Windows 7.

Hi, Frostmourne.

When I upgraded from Windows Vista to Windows 7, I noticed a huge speed improvement - not just in games, but in general use. This was expected as that was the initial idea of Windows 7. As far as speed goes, I think it's more efficient than Windows XP and definitely Vista.

As for Crysis, you've got some impressive specifications. It's no wonder that you're able to play the game with ease. I think having Windows 7 instead of Vista definitely impacts on gaming conditions.

The Witcher: Enhanced Edition

• Patched to v1.5
• All settings maxed to "High"
• Depth of Field checked
• AA 2x
• AF 2x

This is fine too. Turn up the AA and it slows down, but then rendering a huge living world is difficult enough. Higher resolutions should be fine too, but if you want higher settings a 5870 should do it. This would give Crysis a run for its money.

Lol, you must try playing Crysis at a higher resolution and you'll notice a huge FPS dropoff. Ati's 5970 card can play it at 35 FPS in 1600p mode

superjose said:

Lol, you must try playing Crysis at a higher resolution and you'll notice a huge FPS dropoff. Ati's 5970 card can play it at 35 FPS in 1600p mode

Click to expand...

No - I've just upgraded to a Full HD panel and I'll expect at least 40fps with all settings on high.

Good to hear it's going well for you

I noticed some improvements too, a few games just felt a lot smoother to play on 7 than on Vista.

Resident Evil 5:

• Compatiblity set to Vista SP2 and Run as Administrator
• 1920x1080
• All settings maxed and turn on to High
• 2xAA
• Vsync Off

No problems here, except for a tendency for the cutscenes to disappear on occasion although SP2 mostly fixes that.


Bioshock:

• Patched to v1.1
• Compatiblity mode set to Vista SP1 and Run as Administrator
• VSync On
• All settings turned on and maxed to "High"
• DirectX 10 on
• 1920x1080 widescreen

Excellent performance, but turning VSync off results in an unplayable mess.


Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway

• No need for any compatibilty settings
• All settings maxed to high - there are only 3!
• 1920x1080 resolution

Excellent performance from this DirectX 9.0c game.


Call of Juarez

• Patched to v1.1 something.
• DirectX 10
• 1920x1080
• Trilinear filtering
• VSync Off
• AA off
• All other settings maxed.

Smooth although the screen throws up glitches occasionally - VSync might fix this.


Condemned: Criminal Origins

• Every setting set to max - high for all textures and lighting.
• VSync off
• 16X AF
• 4x AA FSAA

Excellent performance considering the settings.


Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion

• Patched to v1.1
• Every setting and slider maxed out to high except for HDR (High Dynamic Range lighting disabled with AA on.
• VSync off
• 2x AA
• 1920x1080
• No compatibility settings yet.

Slight stuttering here - I might try VSync as FRAPS maintains the FPS is roughly 70+.

Hitman Contracts:

Had some issues here. Basically, the right resolution wasn't detected, so I copied the configuration.ini file to desktop saved it and overwrote the original with the right graphics and resolution. If you do this, don't touch graphics ingame as the resolution will reset. I also couldn't enable AA manually otherwise the game loaded to a black screen. Finally, this came in a double pack with Hitman: Blood Money and like the other one I had to start the game twice. The second process caused Blood Money to crash and for each session I'm killing the first process so it doesn't interfere and crash the game. Haven't tested if this is the cause but it works so I'
ll leave it at that.

SETTINGS:

• Everything maxed to high (I think) and no AA. Its a 2004 game so the visuals are OK.
• Compatibility to XP SP3 and Run As Administrator.

Hitman: Blood Money

As above with the process issue, I load up to the menu and then end the other process. No compatibility mode, may try running as administartor as there very slight occasional stuttering.

SETTINGS:

• 1920x1080
• Everything maxed to high
• 4xAA
• 4xAF

This may be due to the Mastertronics installer.

Update for Bioshock, finished the game and had slight sound cutouts close to the end for an hour of so. Only it seems in one section, but anyway buy the game - its exceptional.

Dead Space

• 1920x1080
• All settings maxed to high and turned on including AA which cannot be manually adjusted
• VSnc Off

The mouse is a little wacky but its worse with VSync on, so keep it off if you experience this issue.

I find W7 is degrading graphics quality (even on highest settings) to be faster - it's not much but noticeable!

Doom 3:

Playable in that it runs fine but the resolution is off even with the 1.3.1. patch that adds vista compatiblity - if you play at 1920x1080 you know when a game doesn't look right - so it works but even with modifying the config file I uninstalled it.

The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion UPDATE

• Patched to v1.2.0214
• All settings maxed except
• View Distance @ 70%
• AA 2x although HDR needs to be disabled
• 1920x1080
• Running in XP SP2 and as admin

Most of the stuttering is gone although Oblivion has crashed twice - after applying compatibility settings everything seems fine now - still occasional stutter on a horse in some regions, but very playable.

Frostmourne said:

superjose said:

Lol, you must try playing Crysis at a higher resolution and you'll notice a huge FPS dropoff. Ati's 5970 card can play it at 35 FPS in 1600p mode

Click to expand...

No - I've just upgraded to a Full HD panel and I'll expect at least 40fps with all settings on high.

Click to expand...

LOL not with Crysis. I run a I7 at 3.8 and Nividia 280s in SLI and I get get Crysis lag and frame drops at Higher resolutions. Seriously Your machine is "OK" but it is not a Crysis killer.

Lens Pirate said:

Frostmourne said:

superjose said:

Lol, you must try playing Crysis at a higher resolution and you'll notice a huge FPS dropoff. Ati's 5970 card can play it at 35 FPS in 1600p mode

Click to expand...

No - I've just upgraded to a Full HD panel and I'll expect at least 40fps with all settings on high.

Click to expand...

LOL not with Crysis. I run a I7 at 3.8 and Nividia 280s in SLI and I get get Crysis lag and frame drops at Higher resolutions. Seriously Your machine is "OK" but it is not a Crysis killer.

Click to expand...

Wrong - the Crysis benchmark reports a stable average framerate of 42FPS with all settings at high and no AA. Your Crysis lags are due to unoptimized SLI performance - nothing here like that.

MyWin7 said:

I find W7 is degrading graphics quality (even on highest settings) to be faster - it's not much but noticeable!

Click to expand...

That 4850 is a fine card, I had one, but it's not a 4890 that the OP is using. Also don't know what res your running your games in, but if your trying 1920x1080 with that card on high settings, well...

Frostmourne,

Have you tried that new Windows 7 killer... Fallout 3? I hear Windows 7 can't handle that game :sarc:

Far Cry 2:

• All settings maxed to Ultra High, Very High, or High
• DirectX 10
• Widescreen enabled
• AA off
• 1920x1080 @ 60Hz
• Patched to 1.03

Excellent performance with FRAPS highlighting FPS from 34-50 on average with higher spikes over a 3hr period. This game even looks better than Crysis in some scenes with dappled sunlight breaking over your rifle among other effects.

Company of Heroes:

• DirectX 10 (I think)
• All settings maxed to Ultra High/Very High/High
• 4x AA
• 1920x1080
• Game of the Year Edition v 2.5000

I haven't patched this to 2.6 yet, so I'll reserve judgement, despite the fact that the game engine crashed, but the game continued playing, so wait for further updates.

Call of Duty: World at War

• Unpatched retail seeing as the patches are huge and mostly for multiplayer.
• All settings maxed to High
• Textures unlocked and maxed to Extra
• Filtering unlocked and set to Trilinear
• Corpse amount set to Insane
• AA off
• AF off
• 1920x1080 widescreen

Smooth here with FRAPS giving FPS of 45+ although the game rarely could stutter for a bare second. Very playable.

Manhunt 2 AO version:

• All settings maxed
• Still fiddling with AA 4x to 8x sample
• 1920x1080

This is the uncut version of Manhunt 2 - everything else is banned and censored. All executions are shown although they have an understandable red tint as you repeatedly stab the hunters in the chest/throat/back etc. The graphics are good enough considering this came out on the PS2 - models are a bit rough but its OK. You also cannot move the camera or your sight up and down and Daniel seems abnormally tall but its worth a play through.


Mass Effect:

• All settings maxed with Ultra High textures etc.
• Filtering set to Linear.
• 1920x1080
• Patched to v1.02
• Includes first DLC - Bring Down the Sky

FRAPS gives smooth performance - over a 3hr period the FPS were pushing 50-60+. A cap seems to exist at 62FPS even with VSync off. There is a bit of stutter, and the game pushes the Phenom to 100% but its easily playable. Only the filtering is lowered as anything higher and the stuttering really increases. The second DVD has extra languages, if you are wondering.

Mass Effect 2:

• All settings maxed (well, turned on)
• 2x AF
• 1920x1080 16:9 widescreen
• First Windows 7 compatible game!

Eclipsing the first, this is the game to buy if you have the first - decisions and freindships in the first carry on and need to be maintained and the graphics look a bit sharper. There are also other numerous improvments. Overall, on the technical side, its a shame there is no DirectX 10 support, only DirectX 9.0c, and no x64 enhancements. Still, a must have if you have the first.

No stutter except for one section on Level 3 of the Normandy SR2, but jacking up the AF to 4x results in hitching. Either way, very smooth. This is also the first Windows 7 compatible game I have!

Hardware Upgrade:

• Installed another 4GB kit for a total of 8GB - 7 is liquid.
• Ran Memtest86+ for just under 3 hours and 2 passes - all clear.
• RAM shown properly in 5 different programs - the Windows Experience Index, Msinfo32.exe, Dxdiag, HWInfo32, Process Explorer.
• Case/PSU still dust free.

Bioshock 2:

• All settings maxed out and turned on.
• 1920 x1080p Widescreen
• VSync Off
• 4x AF forced in CCC

If you have 2GB or less RAM, don't buy this game - the recommendation is 3GB and it supports x64. The graphics are fine although textures are a bit low reolsution until I forced anisotropic filtering. Performance is perfect although I had one crash - and a quick deciphering of Event Viewer showed it was the game's process, not a window's dll or a C++ redistributable issue. That being said, ME2 crashed once (technically twice) so its OK. No game is perfect.