Wednesday, February 13, 2019
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antarvasna - Creative's Sound BlasterX G6 Review - Boost Your Audio
Creative's Sound BlasterX G6 Review - Boost Your Audio
Sound is one of the most underappreciated aspects of just about any form of media. While most people rattle on for days about visuals, framerates, resolution, and other buzzwords (whether they actually understand them or not), audio tends to get left by the wayside. In fact, a majority of great looking and expensive TVs still have terrible audio from their speakers. Many gamers get by with a cheap soundbar, whatever headphones they happen to have, or maybe even a “home theater in a box.” Very few are willing to put in the effort and expense it requires to get truly immersive and high-quality audio. In fact, it seems like very few are even aware that there are options out there that can improve the listening experience, and even give you a leg up while gaming. Creative’s Sound BlasterX G6 can give you the better audio you deserve.
Now I know, you game on a console and you’re thinking “why do I need extra accessories for my audio output?” Truth is, I was and am you. I play on a console because of its simplicity and out of the box nature. I don’t need to worry about the compatibility of devices, upgrading hardware, tons of accessories, or any of those other things that tend to dominate the conversation in PC gaming. I’ll be honest, I scoffed a little bit at the idea of a sound card for my PS4, but as someone who cares a great deal about good audio, curiosity got the better of me and I expressed my interest in reviewing the Sound BlasterX G6.
Sound BlasterX G6 Review – Why Should You Care?
The majority of you reading this probably aren’t audiophile nerds to the point where you’re going to care about specs like 32 bit 384kHz PCM and ultra-high 130dB DNR, so here’s what you get with the Sound BlasterX G6 in layman’s terms. This is a headphone amp that will boost your audio signal. The G6 takes the lossy, compressed audio from the source and essentially unpackages it and dresses it up for you. It’s an equalizer of the highest order, adding more fidelity and depth to your sound, the way that adjusting contrast on a picture does to visuals. There’s a whole lot more to it than that, but that’s the basic function of a headphone amp. It’s designed as an intermediary between the source and the output to really boost and get the most from your audio.
It’s about a lot more than just making your sound louder (though it certainly does do that). The Sound BlasterX G6 provides a level of clarity and definition that is often lost otherwise. Plugging a set of headphones into the DualShock 4 might bring the sound to your ears, but a headphone amp the DualShock 4 is not, and audio definition is being lost and smoothed out if you listen to your games this way. PCs are usually the platforms that get first dibs on audio quality improvements, whether from expensive internal sound cards or equally expensive external audio equipment. In fact, I’ve already got multiple audio interfaces for audio recording and other home production applications, but I’d never thought of the technology’s potential uses on my console.
Using the Sound BlasterX G6 with your PS4 is going to depend largely on your home console setup. Console manufactures have spent a long time trying to get away from having cords draped across your room, tethering the console to controllers or headphones. The latest consoles even allow you to plug headphones right into the controller, which again, eliminates that long cord that is a tripping hazard, risking harm to children, pets, inattentive adults, and maybe worst of all, your expensive hardware. The G6’s wired configuration creates something of a difficulty for the modern living room, where we’ve made efforts to hide all of our cables away and clean up the room as much as possible.
If you game at a desk or in an environment that’s much closer to your TV or PS4, the cabled sound card is far less of an issue. Wherever you decide to place the G6, it should stay put, thanks to an entirely rubber bottom that provides a grippy surface. The build of the device is sturdy, using metal housing and a sleek design that doesn’t look out of place in the typical modern techie environment. If you’re one to care about audio quality, the aesthetics of the Sound BlasterX G6 will likely fit in with your style.
The biggest setup problem I ran into wasn’t an issue with the G6 itself, but rather how I have my current surround sound setup on the PS4. My home theater in a box doesn’t have an HDMI input for some crazy reason (yes, it’s a tad old), so I have to run all of my audio via the optical output. In order to do full in game and chat audio functionality with the G6, you need to use the included optical cable as well as the USB input. (You can also use either/or, but USB allows for the chat function, and optical will give you full Dolby processing, so to get the most, you’ll want to use them both together.) It’s a benefit that you won’t get on the Switch or the Xbox One, but it also makes it difficult for certain audio setups. There is an optical throughput so that I can run my sound out to my home theater system, but I had to grab an extra cable off of Amazon to make that function.
Once everything was all set up though, it was off to the races. I was listening to my PS4 games like I never had before.
Sound BlasterX G6 Review – Scout Mode, SBX, and Improved Audio
I have a bunch of headsets, ranging from low-end $30 in-ear monitors to expensive cans with a huge variety of qualities and features. The Sound BlasterX G6 improved every single one. Interesting to note: the improvements were more noticeable on the high-end headsets. Sure, the G6 made those low end ones sound better to a certain extent, but they’re also limited by being low-end accessories. The better the headphones that I used got, the more pronounced the improvement in audio clarity, definition, and depth.
Most headphone amps are a single amp to boost the signal which is then split to each ear and set to the headphones. The Sound BlasterX G6 has two independent amps working on each ear, which makes an incredible difference for the panning 3D audio that games need to provide. Even on headphones without simulated surround, the G6’s audio processing output positional audio that replicated the sound’s output in a 3D space.
There are three levels of audio improvement. Across all three of them, the G6 smartly boosts audio, not like your typical audio bro that thinks cranking up the bass frequencies is the way to “better” sound. Good audio is about replicating the intent of the creator and maintaining the integrity of the source. Standard is just a basic boost to the audio, giving you volume and definition like an 80s hair-metal rockstar. SBX dives into the amp’s internal equalizer, which can be set up through included computer software (you’ll obviously have to plug it into a PC to adjust that). Finally, the Scout Mode is the true hero for gaming, and changed the very way I was able to play.
Scout mode dynamically separates panned audio signals that exist within a 3D space in the game and boosts them. So tiny audio cues like footsteps, gunshots, and other positional audio will actually provide a distinct advantage if you let it. Turning Scout mode on and off is as easy as tapping a button, so I was easily able to tell the clear difference between the basic boost the G6 provided and the Scout mode’s enhanced positional audio cues. Having all of those options is important because Scout mode tends to be comically bad when used out of context, amplifying sounds that weren’t meant to be at high levels in the mix. Try watching a movie or playing a more cinematic game with Scout mode on and you’ll find that really loud footsteps and other ambient sounds completely take over, again, to almost comedic effect. Switch back to basic or SBX though and you’re in good hands.
It might not be a main feature of the G6, but added sidetone functionality allows you to hear your own voice in real time when connected to the headphone amp, which makes voice chat so much easier, especially with headphone that block external sound. I used to often find myself playing with one side of my headphones askew to allow for my voice to filter into my ears so that I didn’t feel like I was talking inside my own head. Sidetone is an important feature I look for on headphones, but the G6 allows me to have it on any set of headphones whether it natively has that function or not.
I took on the review of the Sound BlasterX G6 with the intent of focusing on its usefulness for the PlayStation audience, but I’d be remiss not to mention the wonders it can work on other consoles and PC audio as well. A USB connection means it’s an easy and quick setup. The portability of it means you aren’t stuck with it just for a single function. If you do both PC and console gaming, you can easily swap it between the two (or more, for use with multiple consoles, or hell, even your phone), getting enhanced and high-end audio wherever you decide to play. While marketed for gaming, you can use it for other applications as well, but features like the Scout Mode really tip this headphone amp towards the gamers in particular. Because we focus on PlayStation here, I don’t want to dive too deep into the PC side of things, but using it there opens up a wealth of additional options and functions.
If your plan is to use the Sound BlasterX G6 to improve a cheap set of headphones, the investment probably isn’t worth it. At that point, you’d just be better off buying a nicer headset for the money. But if you’ve already got a good headset and your intention is to continue to improve your gaming audio, the Sound BlasterX G6 will take your sound places you didn’t even know it could go. It’s great that console gamers finally have a good option for improving their audio, an aspect of gaming that has long gone under the radar in favor of visual fidelity.
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bf video - Max Factory Unveils the First Look at Its Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Figma
Max Factory Unveils the First Look at Its Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Figma
Over the weekend, Max Factory showed off a prototype image of its Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice figma. Distributor Good Smile Company shared an image of the figure on its Twitter account. Currently, the prototype lacks the color that will be on display in the final product, but the detail still deserves applause. Check it out below:
From From Software’s upcoming title “SEKIRO” comes a figma of Sekiro! Stay tuned for more info coming soon!
WHL4U29 Gallery: https://t.co/rpDIqjGjFB#sekiro#figma#maxfactory#goodsmilecompany#wf2019w#whl4u29pic.twitter.com/RQIRwKq2JU
— GoodSmile_US (@GoodSmile_US) February 10, 2019
Details about the figure’s dimensions, when it will launch, and its price are not presently known. However, Max Factory’s figma line typically features figures that are approximately five inches tall. Figures of this kind also have many points of articulation and comes with a range of accessories, depending on the character they’re based upon.
While news about the Max Factory figma remain under wraps, FromSoftware fans will get their hands on the full Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice experience soon enough. Of course, the anticipation for it continues to swell, too. Recently, the studio released a new trailer for the title, teasing more of its story and the main character’s mysterious background.
In addition to a stronger emphasis on story, players should expect Sekiro’s gameplay to differ from the Souls series. Fortunately, the wait to see how the overall experience plays out is nearing an end.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will come to the PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One this spring on March 22, 2019.
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djpunjab - Fortnite, Overwatch, and Apex Legends: how to follow a huge week for e-sports
Fortnite, Overwatch, and Apex Legends: how to follow a huge week for e-sports
It’s a good time to be a fan of competitive gaming. This week is going to be absolutely packed with things to watch, with a range of competitions spread out across some of the hottest games in the world. In fact, it’s likely one of the busiest e-sports weeks of the year, despite the fact that we’re still only in February. The major events include the debut of the Overwatch League’s second season, a secretive Fortnite tournament that could provide a glimpse at the game’s upcoming World Cup, and the very first Apex Legends competition.
It’s a lot to keep track of. Here’s what’s coming up and how to follow it all.
Twitch Rivals Apex Legends Challenge
February 12th and 19th
Apex Legends just launched last week, but the game has already proved to be a huge hit, carving out its own space in the busy battle royale genre. And while we don’t have anything resembling a professional competitive circuit for the game just yet, you can get an idea of what it’ll be like in the latest Twitch Rivals event. The tournament — a collaboration between Twitch and Apex developer Respawn — will feature 48 streamers divided into 16 three-person squads and a prize pool of $200,000. Big-name battle royale players like DrDisrespect and Myth will be among the participants.
The event will be spread across two days: it debuts on February 12th and then continues on the 19th. According to Twitch, streamers will be representing North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. And much like in Fortnite tournaments, entrants will earn points for winning matches and getting kills. (You can check out the rules in more detail here.) Given that this is the first proper Apex Legends competition, it might be a little messy, but it should provide an early glimpse at the game’s potential for high-level play.
Fortnite Secret Skirmish
February 14th–15th
Competitive Fortnite has been something of a work in progress since last summer, with developer Epic trying different ideas and formats. It’s almost like an e-sports beta. The ultimate goal, it seems, is the upcoming Fortnite World Cup, of which we currently know nothing. But there’s a good chance we’ll have a clearer picture after this week.
Starting on February 14th, Epic is kicking off a two-day competition called Secret Skirmish. As the name implies, there’s much we don’t know about it. There will be 100 competitors and a total of $500,000 in prizes, but the format is still a mystery. Thursday will begin with a duos competition at 1PM PT before a still-unannounced competition at 6:30PM. Friday will follow the same schedule, only with solo in place of duos for the lead battle.
What makes the Secret Skirmish particularly interesting, however, is that Epic says it will take place “at an undisclosed testing facility.” Aside from an E3 tournament at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, all of the major Fortnite events have taken place online. It seems likely that we’ll see a proper, dedicated studio or arena at Secret Skirmish that could potentially be home to the World Cup.
Overwatch League season 2, week 1
February 14th–17th
Blizzard’s ambitious e-sports league is returning, and there are a lot of changes in store for season 2. The Overwatch League has expanded from 12 to 20 teams, it features a more condensed schedule to ease the strain on players, and it will begin experimenting with home and away matches throughout the season. For all-access subscribers, there’s also a robust tool for viewing matches from different angles and perspectives.
Just like in season 1, all OWL matches are available to watch for free on Twitch, but the league has also expanded its viewing options quite a bit. You can watch every game within the ESPN app, for instance, and three matches per week will air on Disney XD. Blizzard also says that “select” games will air on ABC and ESPN2, including the stage finals and all-star game.
Kicking things off will be a rematch of last season’s championship game, with the London Spitfire taking on the Philadelphia Fusion at 7PM ET on February 14th, which will be followed by the typically dominating New York Excelsior against the Boston Uprising. The next day, meanwhile, will be a great chance to see some of the brand-new teams, with Toronto, Atlanta, Chengdu, and Guangzhou all in action for the first time.
Over the course of the season, four OWL matches will take place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening. You can check out the complete schedule on the league’s official site.
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filmywap - 2018 Steam Awards sees PUBG win game of the year
2018 Steam Awards sees PUBG win game of the year
While it wasn’t the first Battle Royale game, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds popularized the genre following its full release back in December 2017. It’s been living in the shadow of Fortnite and Apex Legends in recent times, but PUBG was still the top-earning premium game last year, generating $1.028 billion—a figure that doesn’t include the mobile version. It beat Monster Hunter: World, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Hitman 2, and Assassin's Creed Odyssey—most of which have graced our Best PC Games (You Should Be Playing) feature—to take the top honor.
Probably the most divisive winner was in the ‘Labor of Love’ category, where GTA V was voted number one. While there's no doubting the amount of work put into the most profitable entertainment product of all time, many argue that Stardew Valley, which was made by one person, should have won. Even No Man’s Sky, which managed to turn one of the biggest disasters in video game history into a success, might have been a worthier winner.
Valve said one of the most highly-contested categories was Best Developer, leading it to increase the number of nominations to ten. In the end, it was won by CD Project Red, which released Gwent: The Witcher Card Game and the excellent Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales last year. The studio's most popular title, 2016’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, walked away the Best Environment award.
Check out the full list of nominees and winners:
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live cricket score - UK Sales Chart: RDR2 Overtakes Kingdom Hearts III as Number 1
UK Sales Chart: RDR2 Overtakes Kingdom Hearts III as Number 1
After having the most successful launch in series history, Kingdom Hearts III has been usurped by Red Dead Redemption II. This isn’t the first time this western sequel has made its way back to the top of the charts. In fact, this is the sixth time RDR2 has came in at number one since its initial release back in October 2018. Once again, this list only accounts for physical sales.
Meanwhile, FIFA 19 hit the crossbar and came in at the number two spot, dropping Kingdom Hearts III down to number three just a week after its launch. A few other major releases from 2019 were represented on the charts, including Resident Evil 2 and Nintendo’s Wii U port, New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe.
As usual, a few titles can’t seem to ever leave the charts for long, including Mario Kart 8: Deluxe and Spyro Reignited Trilogy. But with Jump Force, Far Cry New Dawn, and Metro Exodus all coming out on February 15, 2019, there will be plenty to shake up the charts when it comes to next week’s top ten.
Below are the current top ten games on the UK sales chart for the week ending on February 9, 2019.
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- FIFA 19
- Kingdom Hearts III
- Resident Evil 2
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
- New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe
- Mario Kart 8: Deluxe
- Spyro Reignited Trilogy
- Super Smash Bros Ultimate
- Grand Theft Auto V
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tamilrockers - AMD's Radeon VII is a hot, loud, powerful answer to Nvidia
AMD's Radeon VII is a hot, loud, powerful answer to Nvidia
AMD’s Radeon VII is the company’s eagerly anticipated response to the RTX 2080 graphics cards that Nvidia launched last fall. Priced the same as the RTX 2080, the $699 Radeon VII is the first graphics card underpinned by a 7nm process, potentially giving AMD the ammunition to deliver a competitive high-end graphics card for the first time in years.
The VII is the direct successor to AMD’s Vega 64 and shares a similar architecture to that card, with specific improvements in clock speeds and VRAM. But with Nvidia’s cards dominating the conversation and loaded with unique features not available on the Radeon, the VII will have to prove its merit based on pure performance: can this card actually play modern AAA games at 4K resolutions and a steady 60 frames per second?
In addition, one of the main concerns of any high-end graphics card is supply and demand. PC gamers are all too familiar with fluctuating GPU prices and a lack of retail availability, whether it’s a change in market trends or a sudden interest in mining cryptocurrency. Nvidia suffers from this, too: supply is so low that it’s basically impossible to find an RTX 2080 Ti listed without a considerable markup. If AMD can’t produce and ship enough units, you won’t be able to find it for that $699 price — and its value proposition against Nvidia’s cards will completely fall apart.
I can’t help but feel some uncertainty about giving AMD the benefit of the doubt, because history has not been in its favor. When the Vega 64 launched in 2017, it also had comparable performance to Nvidia’s top-tier GTX 1080, but it wasn’t readily available in large numbers and its price spiked as a result. It’s not yet clear that will happen again, but the fact that AMD’s card went on sale late last week and is already out of stock doesn’t inspire confidence.
Over the past week, I tasked myself to test games in 4K and 1440p on the Radeon VII, looking for any indication that AMD’s card will be a competitive alternative for Nvidia’s RTX GPUs. The short answer? Yes, it is. The long answer: it’s complicated.
7Verge Score
Good Stuff
- Decent 4K gaming performance
- Excellent QHD performance
- Can stream and game without too much performance penalty
Bad Stuff
- Fans get very loud under load
- High average temperatures
- Doesn’t support as many features as Nvidia’s cards
Buy for $699.00 from AMD
The Radeon VII is powered by AMD’s second-generation Vega architecture and is designed to tackle the steadily increasing memory requirements of games, as well as the plethora of high-resolution displays that gamers and creative users work with. It actually has fewer cores than the Vega 64 did, but comes with a 300MHz higher boost clock speed and double the HBM2 memory, at 16GB.
A smaller 7nm process and double the memory since last generation
That’s twice as much RAM as found in the 2080, and a full 5GB of RAM more than even in the top-tier 2080 Ti. AMD’s RAM also offers twice the bandwidth of Nvidia’s. The new 7nm manufacturing process is part of what gives the Radeon VII its name — AMD confirmed it also stands for “Vega II” — and it, too, is ahead of Nvidia’s current 12nm processes.
These improvements come at a cost, however. The Radeon VII is a power-hungry GPU, even though it’s using the most power-efficient manufacturing process to date. It requires two eight-pin connections and sips up to 300 watts of power, around five more watts than the previous generation’s requirement and 75 more than Nvidia’s RTX 2080.
The Radeon VII doesn’t quite look like any of AMD’s recent graphics cards, because its cooling system doesn’t work like them either. Instead of a blower design with a single fan that pushes the GPU’s hot air outside of your case, AMD has a new open-air, triple-fan design that’s different than some of the third-party coolers we’re used to seeing. Like Nvidia’s RTX cards, the Radeon VII is vapor chamber cooled, using a graphite thermal cooling pad instead of thermal paste to stay cool under load.
But even with the triple-fan design and vapor chamber cooling, the Radeon VII runs hot and loud. Whether I was using the card with an eGPU enclosure or inside of a desktop, the Radeon VII’s fans always sang a song of high RPM while it was under load.
4K test machine:
- Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core
- CPU Cooler: Corsair H115i PRO
- Motherboard: Asus ROG STRIX Z370-G Micro ATX LGA1151
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance LED 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3333
- Storage: Kingston UV500 480GB M.2-2280 SSD
- Case: Corsair Crystal 280X MicroATX
- PSU: Corsair 850W 80+ Gold Semi-Modular ATX
It’s often difficult for my co-workers in the Verge office to figure out what I’m doing in front of some newfangled gaming monitor. But with the Radeon VII, it’s a different story: “Are you playing games?” is usually followed by “Is that the AMD card?” Having a quiet desktop gaming PC and using this graphics card (at least with AMD’s reference cooler, which all of its partners are currently shipping) are mutually exclusive.
Those fast and loud fans didn’t keep temps down as much as expected, either. I could feel the heat emitted by the GPU across my desktop’s chassis and through its air vents, making my mATX-sized case hotter than any RTX series card did. If you prefer having a quiet setup or keeping your GPU cool at all times, the Radeon VII might make that difficult for you.
It runs hot and loud.... all the time
What’s actually going on with the heat is a bit complicated, though. At first, it seemed like the Radeon VII was burning up: I measured a peak temperature of 105 degrees Celsius playing Black Ops IIII, at 4K resolution and ultra settings, which is a really hot peak temperature.
But AMD told me that’s not only within normal operating temperatures, but that this card measures temperature very differently than before, so it’s not really comparable with other GPUs. The Radeon VII uses junction temperature — the highest operating temperature of the actual semiconductor and not the surrounding exterior — to better gauge and throttle performance under load, and it’s also doubled the number of temperature sensors since the last Vega card (64 in total).
AMD can actually run the card a little bit hotter than before to give you better performance, because it can more accurately see when you’re approaching the redline. AMD says that the Radeon VII will start throttling when the junction temperature reaches 110 degrees Celsius. I did not see temps that high in my tests, so the card was apparently performing as designed.
AMD also includes software with its display drivers called Radeon Chill, which has a power-saving feature that drastically decreases the fan noise and heat the card produces. But it also throttles performance, which makes it harder to play games at 4K resolutions.
Over the next few weeks and months, we’ll see different versions of the Radeon VII from OEMs like ASUS, MSI, and others. It’s possible that thermal management and noise could be slightly better addressed in those models.
To understand why the Radeon VII is consuming all that power, I had to test its capability to consistently reach 60+ fps in popular PC games.
To see how this card performs with a setup reflective of PC gaming gear in 2019, I tested the Radeon VII with both QHD and 4K monitors. Both displays feature high refresh rates — 120Hz on the 4K Acer Predator and 144Hz on the 1440p AOC display — and HDR, and were connected to the Radeon VII through DisplayPort. But if you’re wondering if this GPU is a perfect fit for your 120 / 144Hz monitor, my immediate response would be “no.” The Radeon VII only got past 120 fps in two out of the five demanding games I tested.
Radeon VII Benchmarks (4K/1440p)
| Benchmark | 4K w/ Radeon VII | 4K w/ RTX 2080 Founder's Edition | 4K w/ RTX 2080TI Founder's Edition | QHD w/ Radeon VII | QHD w/ RTX 2080 Founder's Edition | QHD w/ RTX 2080TI Founder's Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benchmark | 4K w/ Radeon VII | 4K w/ RTX 2080 Founder's Edition | 4K w/ RTX 2080TI Founder's Edition | QHD w/ Radeon VII | QHD w/ RTX 2080 Founder's Edition | QHD w/ RTX 2080TI Founder's Edition |
| 3DMark Time Spy | 4,025 | 4,687 | 5,536 | 8,409 | 9,363 | 11,384 |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra | 6,550 | 6,365 | 8,009 | 11,669 | 11,652 | 14,347 |
| Black Ops 4 | 81 fps average | 90 fps average | 112 fps average | 149 fps average | 124 fps average | 154 fps average |
| Rainbow Six: Siege | 96 fps average | 105 ps average | 121 fps average | 109 fps average | 113 fps average | 130 fps average |
| Battlefield V | 65 fps average | 73 fps average | 84 fps average | 116 fps average | 129 fps average | 137 fps average |
| Forza Horizon 4 | 84 fps average | 97 fps average | 109 fps average | 110 fps average | 114 fps average | 121 fps average |
| Destiny 2 | 91 fps average | 92 fps average | 105 fps average | 130 fps average | 135 fps average | 140 fps average |
The Radeon VII has strong performance when playing 4K games without ray tracing. I was able to play Battlefield V in 4K ultra settings at an average of 65 fps. But the RTX 2080 manages at 73 fps in the same game, and the considerably more expensive RTX 2080 Ti hits an average of 84 fps. With real-time ray tracing turned on, the Nvidia cards’ performances do take a hit, but that option isn’t even available on the Radeon VII.
The Radeon VII excels at 1440p and just barely makes the cut for 4K
Moving from a first-person shooter to displaying the gorgeous racetracks of Forza Horizon 4 at 4K and ultra settings, the Radeon VII clocked in an average of 84 fps. This still doesn’t best the RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Ti cards, which averaged 97 fps and 109 fps, respectively.
The first time we tested the RTX cards at launch, we didn’t see 4K performance results anywhere near what we’re seeing today. The improvements can be attributed to the many updates and game optimizations released in the months since their launch. That means AMD might also be able to catch up, but it has plenty of work to do.
The RTX 2080 has better 4K performance overall
In short, while the Radeon VII’s performance falls slightly behind the Founder’s Edition RTX card, you’ll still be able to play demanding AAA titles in 4K, holding strong at around 60 fps, while reaching higher values for less demanding games.
On my lower-resolution QHD monitor, the Radeon VII crushed every game running in 1440p that I threw at it. For example, I clocked 116 fps while playing Battlefield V at ultra settings. Similarly, Black Ops IIII is considered light work for the Radeon VII, hitting 149 fps on ultra settings at 1440p.
While testing gaming and streaming at the same time, I only lost ~5 fps on Rainbow Six: Siege at 1440p. Streamers should be able to record in 1440p (or 1080p for that matter) without worrying at all about having the performance headroom to simultaneously handle streaming and gameplay.
Based on my experience with the Radeon VII, it is indeed a very capable high-end graphics card for modern, high-resolution gaming. It remains stable under heavy loads, without any crashes or shutdowns on any of the machines I tested it with. But even with twice as much memory and that fancy new 7nm manufacturing process, the Radeon VII doesn’t beat the RTX 2080 in gaming performance, despite that card being built on a 12nm process and with just 8GB of RAM.
The Radeon VII is close, but not close enough
Creatives might be able to get more use out of the Radeon’s extra VRAM, but gamers aren’t likely to yet, as many games are just unable to use all 16GB on tap. The RTX card also runs cooler, uses less power, and has support for options like real-time ray tracing and DLSS, which aren’t available on the Radeon. Admittedly, we’re still waiting on enough games with real-time ray tracing to actually justify buying a card for that feature.
Much like how Nvidia was able to improve performance on its RTX cards with a series of software updates, AMD has a shot at redeeming the Radeon VII in the long term. Game optimizations and driver updates released after the card’s launch could slightly improve the Radeon VII’s performance, and could make it more competitive on a performance level compared to Nvidia’s cards.
The card is still sold out online
But it all hinges on whether AMD is actually able to produce enough cards to meet demand and keep prices steady. A representative for the company told me that “[AMD] believes we are well positioned to satisfy demand and, in addition to selling on AMD.com for customers in the U.S. and Canada. [We] are also working with e-tailers and AIB partners to support global sales for this exciting new product.” Furthermore, “Ongoing supply for the Radeon VII is expected to arrive on a weekly basis to meet demand.” However, during time of publication, the Radeon VII is still sold out on AMD’s website and most online retailers.
Overall, the Radeon VII is certainly the best card AMD has released in some time, and is capable of modern gaming at 4K resolutions. But if I were buying a new GPU today, I’d have a hard time choosing the Radeon VII over the more capable RTX 2080 for the same price.
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