People wanted to know more so I thought I would give them more! I jumped on last night during peak times
and tweaked some video setting macros and this is what I whipped up:
YouTube description: All Windows @ 1920 x 1080 (Custom Video Settings)
Using ISBoxer (Increased swap times due to my window swapping macro!)
Finally got a chance to hit Stormwind at peak times with this 10 boxing test setup to see what I should be
expecting performance-wise and to play around with my video settings to get tolerable FPS. I had to use
FRAPS's DWM recording feature to capture the Windows Task Manager, GPU-Z, RealTemp, and ISBoxer's
Video FX. The DWM recording feature adds a large amount of CPU processing overhead while in use so I
decided to cap the recording to 30 FPS -- I felt this gave more accurate readings across the board instead of
using 60FPS and having the FPS erratically jump around.
If you're considering 10 boxing World of Warcraft this was just an initial test to see where my hardware
stood performance-wise. Actual PvP and PvE raiding may require additional tweaking or lower settings than a
simple major city walk through and I obviously cannot test either of those at the moment... maybe one day.
Note: The big words "File Change" (in both videos) are for those who are curious where the FRAPS files split
themselves. Some people experience frame rate dips during the file creation and I was trying to show all
angles of performance here.
Both videos are recorded and rendered in a resolution of 1920x1080 and should be viewed at that
resolution in full screen if you want to see everything that was happening.
This discussion is open to any and all that feel the need to ask any questions about 10 boxing or whatever.
Sam was most interested in trying to decode certain things with VRAM and what-not but it'd be nice to see
some 10 boxers post their specs and add to this.
This thread is not bound to World of Warcraft and anyone who has useful information on other
games (i.e. RIFT, EQ, etc.) should feel free to post as well. I do ask that if you're going to post
about hardware-related information that you at least provide some actual benchmarks
(screenshots and/or video as I have done throughout this thread) pertaining to your system as
opposed to just stating what you think you might be getting.
However, this thread is bound to legitimate game servers (i.e. no private servers). Anyone who
posts any benchmarks or tests in this thread that come from private servers will have their posts
deleted without warning. In addition to private servers being against the rules of discussion here
on this message board, private servers can run modified, altered, or old patches of content or
code which can easily skew any real and up-to-date information.
Still, it's a pity you didn't buy a GPU with enough RAM :)
06-09-2011, 04:40 AM
MiRai
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alge
Nice work!
Still, it's a pity you didn't buy a GPU with enough RAM :)
No kidding, I'm a sucker for good looking video settings though. I need one of these to perform further tests
for comparison but I don't exactly want to drop $800 on a video card for a "test" and the built-in Crossfire will
most likely hinder test results.
06-09-2011, 11:05 AM
Sajuuk
Pheh. Pop another 580 3GB in and rock on.
06-09-2011, 11:51 AM
ebony
the 2nd video peektime on your realm?
06-09-2011, 06:15 PM
Ualaa
I like the video feed use.
Stormwind doesn't seem that busy, for a peak hours.
I'm used to far more people crowding its streets.
Ten boxing is even neater than five boxing.
06-09-2011, 07:24 PM
MiRai
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sajuuk
Pheh. Pop another 580 3GB in and rock on.
I've never been able to use the second GPU's VRAM while attempting to split the load between cards. If
someone has been successful in doing so I'd like to know (A GPU-Z screenshot would be great).
Quote:
Originally Posted by ebony
the 2nd video peektime on your realm?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ualaa
I like the video feed use.
Stormwind doesn't seem that busy, for a peak hours.
I'm used to far more people crowding its streets.
Ten boxing is even neater than five boxing.
The time in the video is 23:33 which would have been 21:33 server time so it could have been a bit
"peakier" so to speak for a week day. Orgrimmar's population is much more concentrated compared to
Stormwind's... perhaps I should have created a Horde team instead (I like my Human Females, though).
Kil'jaeden is listed as "High" almost 24 hours a day and we have a very good H:A ratio compared to most of
the High populated realms, although Horde does have more among their ranks.
It is funny you mention it, because when I went over towards The Canals I was going to head over to the
second Auction House and see how many people were over there; but, I decided I didn't want to walk that
far and put a transition in the video if the venture wasn't worth it.
06-10-2011, 03:16 PM
Sam DeathWalker
Excellent. I am amazed that you can render 10 screens at the full resolution with a single gpu, although a very good one.
Clearly the 3G option is paying off as well.
Your switching is still a bit (not much though) worse then my alt/tab method but then again you can see all 10 of your characters whereas I can only see 6 of mine at a time (one per computer). But I can see in full screen and don't have to pip in and out to do things with those characters. But my system requires 6 1920X1200 monitors whereas yours only needs one or two.
Ya well I guess there isn't much more to be said, for 10 boxing the 580 3G is the best (and I don't think that duel gpu is going to help you that much in wow, nor will duel cards).
1 Box: 460 2G (might not get all effects though)
5 Box: 6950 2G
10 Box: 580 3G
As you can see with you superior equipment you did much better then me (but there are more people in Org):
Spin / Fly around Test (all about the same) Nvidia440 3GVideoRam 5 Clients (4 in background on lowest options); I play full screen 1920 X 1200.
5 Clients: Low Options: 13fps Ultra: 9fps
1 Client: Low Options: 27fps Ultra: 14fps (63/361 ms ping)
Spin / Fly Around / Stationary Test (all about the same) Nvidia460 1GVideoRam 5 Clients (4 in background on lowest options); I play full screen 1920 X 1200.
5 Clients: Low Options: 22fps Ultra: 14fps
1 Client: Low Options: 35fps Ultra: 19fps
Its fairly clear that going over 10 boxing on one computer isnt going to happen, as you were close to the 3G max as it is.
I notice that the GPU and Memory controller loads are relativly low, meaning it might be possible to get by with a bit weaker gpu (although we need to know if you were runniing full ultra in the main), if you can find one with 3G. And it does seem like the CPU is getting a real workout as well so maybe CPU needs be stonger then what I would have thought.
06-10-2011, 03:23 PM
MiRai
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam DeathWalker
Excellent. I am amazed that you can render 10 screens at the full resolution with a single gpu, although a very good one.
Too many people are giving me crap about peak times for the Alliance that night so I've decided that I'll create
10 new Horde tonight and take them into Orgrimmar... this should be exciting. :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam DeathWalker
Clearly the 3G option is paying off as well.
I am definitely happy I went with the 3GB route.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam DeathWalker
Your switching is still a bit (not much though) worse then my alt/tab method
I am going to do my best (depending on Orgrimmar lag) to adjust my settings accordingly to show a nice quick
swap instead of that delayed one. It's mainly the Texture Resolution and Shadows that I will need to adjust.
06-10-2011, 05:01 PM
Sam DeathWalker
Ok after spending the last couple of hours looking up video cards it seems there is little choice for 5 or 10 boxing.
