DOOM 3 is a game that needs no introduction, and continues in a long line of id Software Quake and DOOM first-person shooters. This latest installment is one serious 3D game test, including potentially the highest-end graphics yet seen on the PC. It is also a different type of game benchmark, especially compared to Quake 3, as it has a greater reliance on the 3D video card for high-end framerate results. This makes it less-than an optimum current CPU performance test, but may still bear fruit as newer and faster processors make an appearance.
The DOOM 3 benchmark results are bunched together more than prior games, because of some reliance on the graphics card, but even so, the Athlon 64 FX-57 is once again the top performer. We also see the same basic patterns emerge, as the Intel Pentium 4-3.73 GHz EE comes the closest to unseating the Athlon 64 FX-57, while dual core and multi-threading pay virtually no dividends with DOOM 3. The real-world gameplay is excellent on the latest AMD processor, and when combined with a high-end video card, it simply powers through the toughest single threaded games.
Unreal Tournament 2003 includes a benchmark program that automatically tests in two separate modes. The one we're going to be looking at is Flyby, which takes a canned tour of the UT game world and then offers up a framerate score and really hammers both the CPU and video card. The Botmatch results are no longer shown, instead leaving that for the improved Unreal Tournament 2004 to supply.
In Unreal Tournament 2003, the story remains the same - another game benchmark, and another performance victory for the Athlon 64 FX-57. The Intel Pentium 4-3.73 GHz EE and Pentium 4 670 are not in the same area code, and only the Athlon 64 FX-55 can provide any real competition.
Unreal Tournament 2004 is an upgraded version of the popular UT series, and also includes support for Botmatch demos. This is the next evolution for Unreal Tournament graphics and performance, and is yet another serious test for current PC hardware. Botmatch performance is also more reflective of CPU power than Flyby, giving UT 2004 special significance in processor testing. For this benchmark, we've used the UMark GUI interface with the following options and settings: 3 botmatch maps, 12 players and maximum detail graphics.
In terms of pure gaming power, what more can we say about the Athlon 64 FX-57? In Unreal Tournament 2004, we're back to the standard trend, with Intel Pentium 4 models staying well back from the 2.8 GHZ powerhouse. We see another nice record-breaking performance, as the Athlon 64 FX-57 is the first desktop processor to surpass the 200 fps mark.
