GTX 1080 Ti vs. the most demanding PC games available
19.4.2017
Translation: machine translated
The GTX 1080 Ti is said to be the fastest graphics card on the market - apart from the new Titan Xp for the super-rich. Let's take a look at that. We pit an Asus Strix against the biggest hardware guzzlers of all time and find out whether 4K gaming is finally possible without compromise.
"Do you want to test a GTX 1080 Ti?" my colleague from the hardware department asks me. "Sure, give me that thing," I say without hesitation. I didn't catch his last word, but that doesn't matter. I'll just write another test. I'm happy to make such sacrifices for digitec users. And what better test could there be than to pit Nvidia's new flagship against the most hardware-intensive games of all time - and yes, "Crysis" should of course not be missing.
Installation and test system
I had Asus' overclocked ROG Strix GTX 1080 Ti OC at my disposal for the test. 11 GB RAM and 1569 MHz clock frequency. That makes the heart smile. So out with my ancient, dusty Gigabyte 1080 G1 Gaming. It's been in my PC for MONTHS.
Before installing it, you should definitely measure whether the Strix fits in your case at all. Of course, I didn't do that, otherwise my colleague would have chosen someone else to test it. What strikes me when comparing it with the Gigabyte is that Asus' card is a good deal longer. It's thicker too, but that doesn't matter in most cases. I've long been used to graphics cards covering an extra slot. I'm more concerned about the length: it's 29.8 centimetres long. Is that still possible? How could it have been otherwise - the card is too big for my case. I briefly consider trying to force it, but I can already see my colleague's horrified face in front of me and shoo the idea away. Fortunately, I can easily unscrew the hard drive bay on my NZXT H440 medium tower. The Strix fits as if nothing had happened.
The second thing to consider before buying a GTX 1080 Ti is the power consumption. The Strix is supplied with power from your power supply unit via two 6-pin or 8-pin connectors. Although the Ti models are generally more economical than their 1080 counterparts, the overclocked models still need a good bit of power. The Asus Strix draws up to 300 watts at full power. You should therefore install a power supply with at least 600 watts.
The high performance is fortunately not noticeable in the corresponding noise level. The card is relatively quiet even under full load. Definitely quieter than my GTX 1080 Gigabyte G1 Gaming.
My test system
- OS: Windows 10 Pro
- CPU: Intel i7 4770K @ 3.9 Ghz
- RAM: 16 GB DDR3 Corsair Vengeance
- Mainboard: Asrock Z97 Extreme6
Let the games begin
Of course, you could also use the GTX 1080Ti to really push your 144Hz monitor to the limit. In the following test, however, I am interested in the performance at maximum pixel splendour. Does the 1080 Ti also manage resolutions of up to 3840 x 2160 pixels with a consistently smooth frame rate or does it have to bow to the supreme discipline? To find out, I serve my test candidate particularly hard-to-digest fare. I have selected ten games that demand a lot from most systems even at Full HD.
The candidates
- "Crysis"
- "GTA V"
- "Hitman"
- "The Division"
- "Far Cry Primal"
- "The Witcher 3"
- "Battlefield 1"
- "Deus Ex Mankind Divided"
- "Rise of the Tomb Raider"
- "Ghost Recon Wildlands"
I tested with maximum details and 4K resolution where possible. Unless otherwise mentioned, without V-Sync and supersampling, but with anti-aliasing. For games without an integrated benchmark, I used the Fraps programme for help.
"Crysis"
"But can it run Crysis?" Ten years after the game was released, it is still considered THE graphics benchmark. When it came out, there was practically no PC that could run the game smoothly with all the details. But even back then I didn't want to lower the details and instead I put up with jerky cutscenes. The main thing was pretty. And it's still pretty today. While most games age more badly than right, "Crysis" still looks very good today. The Cryengine demands a lot even from current top systems. To a certain extent, this is probably due to a lack of optimisation, but the result in such an old game surprised me. With all details and in 4K, 60 fps is not possible even with a GTX 1080 Ti. The gameplay is still wonderfully smooth, but not quite enough for the crown.
3840 x 2160, maximum details, 8x AA, average 55 fps minimum 42 fps
"Hitman"
The Glacier 2 graphics engine that powers "Hitman" is very well optimised, but still requires a decent machine at maximum detail. As the levels are often populated by a large number of characters, a powerful processor is also required. Nevertheless, the GTX 1080 Ti shows its best side in "Hitman" even with my slightly older CPU and a very high frame rate.
3840 x 2160, maximum details, SMAA, average 75 fps minimum 45 fps
"GTA V"
The huge game world with its scurrying inhabitants is an endurance test for any PC. The game scales very well on systems with weaker components. But if you switch on all the details, such as Nvidia's improved PCSS shadow technology and edge smoothing, Rockstar's gangster epic will bring many a box to its knees. Incidentally, "GTA V" runs on Rockstar's own engine Rage, which was also used in older versions of "Red Dead Redemption" and "GTA IV". Like "Hitman", "GTA V" also benefits from a powerful processor. I set MSAA to 4x so that I could add Nvidia's FXAA. With 8x MSAA, the performance collapsed too much. The weather effects in particular have a strong influence on performance. Overall playable, but still some way off 60 fps.
3840 x 2160, maximum details, 4xSMAA, average 46 fps minimum 35 fps
"The Division"
With dense snow flurries and impressive lighting effects, "The Division" is one of the most visually impressive games. Of course, this is also reflected in the requirements. Especially when the flamethrower guys unpack their toys and a whole troop of enemies rush towards you, you need decent performance reserves. The Snowdrop engine also makes full use of Nvidia's Gameworks functions: HFTS, HBAO+, PCSS and all the rest. All this comes at a price. The integrated benchmark is not necessarily the most representative, as there are much more intense scenes in the game. Overall, however, "The Division" is quite playable with a 1080 Ti and in 4K.
3840 x 2160, maximum details, 1xSMAA Ultra, average 53 fps minimum 30 fps
"Far Cry Primal"
The Stone Age adventure impresses with expansive levels crammed with animals and humans. Like other Ubisoft games, the Dunia engine relies on various Nvidia technologies. Although visually still a real eye-catcher, the overall demands on the graphics card remain within reasonable limits. Nevertheless, the Strix also narrowly misses the 60 brand here.
3840 x 2160, maximum details, SMAA, Ultra HD textures, average 56 fps minimum 49 fps
"The Witcher 3"
Even two years after its release, this is still one of the most beautiful games out there. Visibility far into the distance, trees rustling in the wind, stormy rain and detailed faces demand a lot of power at the highest level of detail. Nvidia's Hair Works feature alone, which is supposed to animate Geralt's hair realistically, eats up a mountain of performance. However, the game scales very well, so that even weaker PCs are not left behind. Without Hair Works, the game runs at an average of 58 fps.
3840 x 2160, maximum details, AA, average 47 fps minimum 42 fps
"Battlefield 1"
"Battlefield" games have always been known for their impressive graphics. The latest instalment is no exception. The Frostbite 3 engine conjures up eerily beautiful explosions and lighting effects on the screen. When 64 players go head-to-head, tanks are firing from all cylinders and the weather changes, the PC case is boiling. Nevertheless, "Battlefield 1" is also one of the better optimised games and can still be played well on weaker systems. The 1080 Ti manages to jump above 60 fps with my CPU on the "St. Quentin Scar" map. Here you clearly benefit from a stronger CPU
3840 x 2160, maximum details, SMAA, average 68 fps minimum 53 fps
"Deus Ex Mankind Divided"
Saturated with details, shiny surfaces and razor-sharp textures, "Deus Ex Mankind Divided" delivers a convincing depiction of a dark sci-fi future. The crisp graphics are also a huge drain on your performance reserves. Certainly not one of the best optimised games, but a respectable one. I had to leave out MSAA for this test, as it makes the game absolutely unplayable. However, as 4K makes edge smoothing practically superfluous, this is bearable. Nevertheless, my PC couldn't really cope with the wealth of features such as dynamic lighting, tessellation and clothing physics. You'll have to reduce a few details here if you want to play in 4K.
3840 x 2160, maximum details, without AA, average 39 fps minimum 31 fps
"Rise of the Tomb Raider"
Snowy mountain peaks, blooming valleys and wondrous ruins are depicted in breathtaking splendour in "Rise of the Tomb Raider". The Foundation engine produces some of the most impressive graphics. Here too, the developers make use of Nvidia's effects box called Game Works. The lighting technology VXAO (only with DX11) or Pure Hair require a lot of power. Without edge smoothing and with all other tricks switched on, Lara jumps around at almost 60 fps.
3840 x 2160, maximum details, without AA, average 57 fps minimum 36 fps
"Ghost Recon Wildlands"
A gigantic game world, lush vegetation and really beautiful weather effects ensure that you can still have fun in "Ghost Recon Wildlands" even with somewhat monotonous gameplay. The open-world game is extremely detailed and the range of vision is amazing. Thunderstorm effects in particular will send shivers down your spine. If you want to play with all details at maximum, you need a powerful graphics card. However, if you do without edge smoothing, your PC will soon achieve a stable frame rate even in 4K.
3840 x 2160, maximum details, SMAA, average 39 fps minimum 32 fps
The results at a glance
How the GTX 1080 Ti performs with an i7 5960X @ 4.3 GHz against other graphics cards
Conclusion: Yes, that fits
The Asus ROG Strix 1080 Ti OC can handle even the most intensive games - and in the top 4K class. However, it does not manage this unscathed. It rarely reaches the target value of 60 fps with my system. A stronger CPU helps to a certain extent, but this is primarily due to poorly optimised games or enthusiastic graphics options. Game Works in particular is a problem for every system. You will also have to switch off edge smoothing in many cases if you want to play smoothly. With a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, however, this is easy to get over. Overall, I'm impressed by the GTX 1080 Ti. I would prefer to keep it, but my colleague will know how to prevent that. With minor compromises or a faster CPU, Nvidia's new flagship is ready for 4K gaming. And if higher fps are more important to you or you want to make the most of your 144Hz monitor, you're also well served.
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Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
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