GTA V Stuttering Mystery Pt 2 - R5 & i5 Frametime Choppiness
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#### Introduction to the Series
In today's video, we are introducing a new type of series that focuses on discussing challenges, updates, and behind-the-scenes details related to our testing processes. Joined by Senior Editor Patrick Lathan, we delve into issues we've encountered with specific games, such as GTA 5, and explore solutions for these problems. The coverage is brought to you by the Ten ATSC, which has a new MSRP available at 1080i and 1060 SD cards, featuring games like For Honor or Ghost Recon Wildlands. You can learn more about this by visiting the link in the description below.
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#### Closing the GTA 5 Storyline
One of the most significant issues we faced with GTA 5 was visible stuttering on high-end modern Intel CPUs, specifically the i5 and i7 (non-Hyper-Threading) models like the Core i7-7600K. This problem was particularly noticeable when running at very high frame rates (cap around 180 FPS), leading to poor performance metrics in our tests. After extensive discussions and testing, we concluded that this issue was likely an engine constraint rather than a problem with our testing methodology.
Interestingly, viewers who commented on our video mentioned similar stuttering issues at higher frame rates, which helped us confirm that this was not isolated to our setup. The problem seemed to be tied to thread count, as disabling Hyper-Threading or using older CPUs (like the FX-8273) did not reproduce the issue. We decided to resolve this by excluding test results with erroneous data from our benchmarks.
The conclusion of this story is that GTA 5's engine struggles with very high frame rates on systems with lower thread counts, leading to stuttering issues. This raises philosophical questions about whether such high frame rates are realistic for gaming and whether the game should be used as a benchmark in these scenarios. As a workaround, turning off VSync or adjusting graphic settings can mitigate the issue.
Due to these challenges, we have started phasing out GTA 5 from our benchmarks and replaced it with other games like Total War: Warhammer for more reliable testing.
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#### Updates on Total War: Warhammer
The next topic brings us to recent improvements in Total War: Warhammer. We noticed significant performance enhancements after updates to the game, particularly with AMD Ryzen CPUs. These updates coincided with Windows build 1709 and were confirmed to be due to game patches rather than changes in hardware or Windows itself.
One of the most notable improvements was the reduced necessity for disabling Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) on Ryzen CPUs. Previously, disabling SMT provided a significant performance boost, but with the updated game, this improvement was minimal (only a few percentage points). This change aligns with our expectations that Total War: Warhammer would optimize better for multi-core processors.
We retested several AMD and Intel CPUs after the update, including the Ryzen 7 2600K, Ryzen 7 1700X, and Intel's Core i5-6600K. All showed consistent performance improvements across the board. For Ryzen users, this means that newer games are now better optimized for multi-core CPUs, offering a more balanced experience.
However, we also observed slight improvements in Battlefield 1 with these updates, though they were less impactful compared to Total War: Warhammer.
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#### Memory Testing Challenges
As part of our rise and revisit testing, we explored pushing memory speeds beyond the standard 2400 MHz. With recent EFi updates, achieving higher frequencies became more manageable. We successfully tested 3200 MHz DDR4 memory kits without issues, though some instability was observed at higher speeds (e.g., 3466 MHz).
For those interested in overclocking memory, we recommend starting with stable frequencies like 3200 MHz and using high-quality modules from brands like G.Skill or Samsung. While pushing beyond 3200 MHz is possible, it requires careful adjustment of timings and voltages. Our testing showed that even modest gains at higher frequencies are worth the effort for gaming purposes.
We also noted that DDR4 prices remain relatively affordable, making 3200 MHz memory a worthwhile investment for gamers seeking better performance without sacrificing capacity (8GB per channel is sufficient for most gaming needs).
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#### Plans to Update CPU Benchmarking Methods
In recent months, we have encountered issues with GTA 5 and other games like Metro Last Light, which are aging but still relevant for maintaining historical performance data. Moving forward, we plan to update our CPU benchmarking suite to include newer titles while retaining a few older games to preserve relative performance metrics.
New synthetic testing methods are also in development, though we anticipate that updating our test suite will require discarding previous data. This means some historical comparisons may be limited for new games added to the bench.
We have several upcoming CPU reviews on the horizon, including Ryzen 1400 and Intel's latest offerings. These will likely be tested with the current benchmarking setup before transitioning to the updated methods.
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#### Introducing a New CPU Cooler
To wrap up the video, we hinted at an exciting new product: a $35 CPU cooler that could potentially "blow the socks off" the sub-$35 market. While details are limited, we recommend keeping an eye out for this release, as it is priced to compete with fan-favorites like the Thermaltake iCX 240 and Noctua's NH-D15.
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#### Conclusion
Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this type of content, please let us know in the comments or on our social media channels. We are always looking for feedback to improve our coverage. Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes discussions and updates as we continue to evolve our testing methods and gear reviews.
For more in-depth analysis, consider supporting us on Patreon, where you can help fund our extensive testing efforts, including future test bench upgrades.
Finally, visit our website at [cameranexus.net](https://cameranexus.net) for exclusive merchandise and updates. We'll see you next time!
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