Project CARS - PC performance graphics benchmarks of Graphics Cards
BASIC GAME INFORMATION |
developer: Slightly Mad Studios
Publisher: Slightly Mad Studios
Game genre: Racing
Platform: PC PS4 Xbox One
Project CARS is a racing simulator from Slightly Mad Studios. Project CARS features a variety of game modes that allow you to compete in almost any type of motor sport, from go-kart racing to Formula 1. Project CARS features over a hundred authentic cars and dozens of real-life race tracks located in Milan, Wisconsin, Florence and others. In addition, Project CARS has an integrated level editor with extensive capabilities.
THE GRAFICAL PART |
This subsection of our review highlights the main graphical aspects of this game. Particular attention is paid to the version of the graphics engine used, the version of the API used, graphic settings and the quality of development of the main visual aspects.
Supported OS and graphics API |
Project CARS is supported by the major Windows operating systems, which include Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. Other operating systems are not currently supported by the developers and will not receive support.
The priority and main graphics API for Project CARS is DirectX 11.
Game engine |
The cross-platform Madness engine became the technical basis of Project CARS. Despite the fact that the main audience of the project is “hardcore” players, fans of the hardcore series Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport will have various control assistants at their disposal.
Project CARS uses a completely redesigned Madness graphics engine, known from the Need for Speed Shift series, but the physics model was written from scratch and, as a result, the game lacks the floaty controls and input lag that have become a major source of frustration in the racing community.
Thanks to modern computing power, the game will offer a fully dynamic “SETA” tire model, which distinguishes it from most modern simulators that use a static model, as well as a system of dynamic changes of day and weather conditions.
Advanced Game Settings |
Project CARS has a very wide range of graphic settings, so the user should not have problems selecting performance for the appropriate configuration. The game can be customized for both low-end and high-end gaming PC configurations.
Below we have provided screenshots of the game at various graphics settings, where our readers can see the difference between the minimum, medium and maximum graphics quality settings.
Various quality modes |
As we can see, the picture quality between different graphics settings is quite significant.
Comparison of FullHD and 4K |
In 4K, Project CARS looks much more realistic and detailed.
Comparison of anti-aliasing modes |
Activating anti-aliasing in any mode cannot remove so-called surface irregularities. In our opinion, the most attractive, both in terms of quality and performance, is the MSAA mode.
General visual design and game physics |
Well, even several years after the release of the first alpha version, Project CARS remains the most realistic and visually advanced car simulator ever released in the gaming industry. Of course, the development took a very long time, but it was worth it - the game turned out to be very, very colorful.
Next, we will move directly to gaming tests and determine what impact this game has on modern computer hardware.
TEST PART |
Test configuration |
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test stands |
Test bench No. 1 based on the Intel Socket 2011 platform v3 Test bench No. 2 based on the Intel Socket 2011 platform Test bench No. 3 based on the Intel Socket 1155 platform Test bench No. 4 based on the AMD Soket AM3+ platform Test bench No. 5 based on the Intel Socket 1150 platform
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Multimedia equipment |
Dell U3010 Monitor Monitor ASUS PQ321QE |
Software configuration |
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Operating system |
Microsoft Windows 8.1 |
Graphics driver |
Nvidia GeForce/ION Driver Release 350.12 AMD Catalyst 15.4 |
Monitoring program |
MSI Afterburner v4.1 FRAPS |
GPU test |
All video cards were tested at maximum graphics quality using MSI Afterburner. The purpose of the test is to determine how video cards from different manufacturers behave under the same conditions. The average and minimum FPS were taken as performance indicators. Below is a video of a test segment for video cards:
Our video cards were tested at different screen sizes of 1920x1080, 2560x1600 and 3840x2160 at the maximum graphics quality settings allowed by Project CARS. AMD CrossFireX and SLI currently have sufficient game support. The video cards were tested in the most difficult mode for them in the game, namely during a thunderstorm.
Testing at 1920x1080 resolution |
Testing at maximum quality settings 1920x1080
With these settings An acceptable FPS indicator was shown by video cards of the Radeon HD 7970 or GeForce GTX 680 level. The optimal solutions will be Radeon R9 280X or GeForce GTX 960.
Testing at 2560x1600 resolution |
Testing at maximum quality settings 2560x1600
With these settings An acceptable FPS indicator was shown by video cards of the Radeon R9 280X or GeForce GTX 780 level. The optimal solutions will be Radeon R9 290 or GeForce GTX 780.
Testing at 3840x2160 resolution |
Testing at maximum quality settings 3840x2160
With these settings An acceptable FPS indicator was shown by video cards of the Radeon HD 7990 or GeForce GTX 970 level. The optimal solutions would be ARES II or GeForce GTX 980.
Testing of video memory consumed by the game was carried out by the program MSI Afterburner. The indicator was based on results on top video cards from AMD and NVIDIA with separate screen sizes 1920x1080 and 2560x1600 with different anti-aliasing settings.
Testing at maximum memory GPU quality settings
The recommended amount of video memory usage for a resolution of 1920x1080 will be 1536 MB of video memory, for a resolution of 2560x1600 - 2048 MB of video memory, and for a resolution of 3840x2160 about 3076 MB of video memory.
CPU test |
We tested processor dependence on 16 models of basic configurations that are relevant today. The test was carried out in those places where the value of video cards for the game is minimal and its load was less than 99%, this time at a resolution of 1920x1080 with maximum graphics quality settings. Below is a video of a test segment for processors:
Testing at maximum quality settings 1920x1080
CPU performance in the game is quite sufficient for all models. Although it is clear that Intel has a noticeably higher frame rate.
Loading of processor coresat maximum quality settings 1920x1080 Intel%
Loading of processor cores at maximum quality settings 1920x1080 AMD%
Project CARS is capable of supporting up to 8 computing threads, but fully utilizes 4 computing cores.
RAM test |
The test was carried out on the basic configuration of Core i 7 5960X@4.6 GHz with 16GB DDR4 2400 MGz pre-installed memory. The entire used operational memory was taken as an indicator. The RAM test on the entire system was carried out on various test benches without launching third-party applications (browsers, etc.).
Testing the game's RAM consumption at various quality settings
As we can see, with various quality settings, the amount of RAM consumed in Project CARS is at the level of 2700-3800 megabytes.
Testing system RAM consumption
On a 6GB system, Project CARS consumes about 5.3GB of RAM. In the presence of a system with 8 gigabytes, the RAM consumption of all RAM was 5.8 gigabytes. With a 16 GB system, the total memory consumption was almost 5.9 GB. And with 32 gigabytes of RAM, the system consumes 6.2 gigabytes of RAM.
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