by Rob Williams on June 21, 2015 in Graphics & Displays
Finding a good graphics card for a small form-factor PC can be tough, but Sapphire helps make the decision a bit easier with a series targeting ITX builds. While we’re taking a look at the outgoing R9 285, it’s nearly identical to the R9 380, and as we find out, it’s worth a look.
For about as long as GPU-accelerated games have existed, an ideal performance target has been 60 frames-per-second. Owing thanks to this is the standard 60Hz monitor, which delivers its best result when the framerate matches its refresh rate. To make sure the monitor’s refresh rate and game’s framerate keep aligned, to avoid visible tearing, VSync should be enabled.
While I believe our Best Playable results will appeal to any gamer, they could especially prove useful to those intrigued by livingroom gaming or console replacements. The goal here is simple: With each game, the graphics settings are tweaked to deliver the best possible detail while keeping us as close to 60 FPS on average as possible.
Because our Metro Last Light and Total War: SHOGUN 2 tests are timedemos, and because this kind of testing is time-consuming, I am sticking to six out of the eight games I test with for inclusion here.
Given how close in performance both the GTX 960 and R9 285 are, I shared the settings between all of the games here.
|
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag |
|
Minimum |
Average |
EVGA GTX 960 SSC |
51 |
59 |
Graphics Settings
& Ingame Screenshot
Resolution: 2560×1440 |
Sapphire R9 285 ITX |
53 |
61 |
Graphics Settings
& Ingame Screenshot
Resolution: 2560×1440 |
The R9 285 is off to a great start here, outperforming the GTX 960 from EVGA I took a look at a couple of weeks ago – despite that card being factory overclocked.
|
Battlefield 4 |
|
Minimum |
Average |
EVGA GTX 960 SSC |
55 |
71 |
Graphics Settings
& Ingame Screenshot
Resolution: 2560×1440 |
Sapphire R9 285 ITX |
51 |
65 |
Graphics Settings
& Ingame Screenshot
Resolution: 2560×1440 |
The 285 came ahead in Black Flag, but in Battlefield 4, the GTX 960 reigns supreme. Both cards still deliver excellent performance, however.
|
Crysis 3 |
|
Minimum |
Average |
EVGA GTX 960 SSC |
50 |
68 |
Graphics Settings
& Ingame Screenshot
Resolution: 1920×1080 |
Sapphire R9 285 ITX |
42 |
62 |
Graphics Settings
& Ingame Screenshot
Resolution: 1920×1080 |
Once again, the GTX 960 pulls well ahead, especially with regards to the minimum framerate.
|
GRID 2 |
|
Minimum |
Average |
EVGA GTX 960 SSC |
52 |
61 |
Graphics Settings
& Ingame Screenshot
Resolution: 2560×1440 |
Sapphire R9 285 ITX |
61 |
67 |
Graphics Settings
& Ingame Screenshot
Resolution: 2560×1440 |
It’s not the most intensive game out there, but GRID 2 is still gorgeous – and, it’s able to be run at 60 FPS with an R9 285 at 1440p resolution just fine.
|
Sleeping Dogs |
|
Minimum |
Average |
EVGA GTX 960 SSC |
64 |
80 |
Graphics Settings
& Ingame Screenshot
Resolution: 2560×1440 |
Sapphire R9 285 ITX |
68 |
81 |
Graphics Settings
& Ingame Screenshot
Resolution: 2560×1440 |
As beautiful as Sleeping Dogs is, it’s one setting in particular that obliterates performance: anti-aliasing. Once that’s dropped down to normal levels, both cards deliver excellent framerates at 1440p.
|
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist |
|
Minimum |
Average |
EVGA GTX 960 SSC |
55 |
65 |
Graphics Settings
& Ingame Screenshot
Resolution: 2560×1440 |
Sapphire R9 285 ITX |
51 |
66 |
Graphics Settings
& Ingame Screenshot
Resolution: 2560×1440 |
Wrapping up with Blacklist, both cards once again deliver great performance.