The Games of Christmas '08: GPU Performance Part II

Dead Space: GPU Performance

To benchmark Dead Space, we used a timed 10 minute gameplay session around in Chapter 2: Intensive Care on Hard Difficulty in which we battle a few necromorphs and enter a zero-G environment. Seriously, what good is a benchmark without action sequences? “Walkthroughs” are unacceptable around here… Once again FRAPS was used.

1440 X 900



1680 X 1050


Dead Space is one of those games where ATI is seriously suffering in the driver department but let’s look at this realistically: nearly every single card here is able to provide adequate performance all the way up to 1680 resolution with AA turned on. Considering how good this game looks, this is an achievement in and of itself.

On the other hand, seeing the HD 4830 running literally neck and neck with yesteryear’s HD 3870 is a shot of cold water to the face. Luckily, the HD 4830 is able to pull away a bit but only at the very end. The 9600 GSO also proves itself to be a very good competitor against ATI’s like-priced offerings.