List of Games with Built-in Benchmarks: A Gamer's Guide to Performance Testing
Choosing the right gaming PC can be a daunting task. One crucial aspect is ensuring your hardware can handle the games you want to play. Thankfully, several games include built-in benchmark tools, offering a convenient way to test your system's performance before diving into the full experience. This list explores some popular titles known for their integrated benchmarks, helping you gauge your system's capabilities and optimize settings for the best gaming experience.
What is a Built-in Benchmark?
A built-in benchmark is a feature within a game that runs a pre-defined sequence, testing various aspects of your system's performance such as CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage. The results provide a numerical score or graphical representation, showing how well your hardware performs under specific game conditions. This is significantly more accurate than generic benchmark tools as it tests the game engine directly.
Popular Games with Built-in Benchmarks
Several game developers include benchmarks to assist players in optimizing graphical settings for their specific hardware. Here's a list of some popular titles:
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3DMark (While not a game, it's crucial): While technically a benchmarking tool and not a game, 3DMark is a staple for PC gamers. It offers a variety of tests tailored to specific hardware and DirectX versions, providing a comprehensive performance overview. Results are easily comparable across different systems.
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Shadow of the Tomb Raider: This action-adventure title boasts a built-in benchmark that allows you to test your system's performance before launching the full game. The benchmark showcases the game's beautiful graphics and demanding physics engine, providing realistic performance expectations.
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Far Cry 5 and Far Cry 6: These open-world first-person shooters contain integrated benchmarks that gauge your hardware's capabilities under stress. It provides a realistic representation of the game's performance, particularly taxing on the GPU.
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Unigine Heaven & Valley Benchmarks (Not strictly games, but included for completeness): Similar to 3DMark, these are powerful synthetic benchmarks using detailed 3D environments, allowing for comprehensive testing of graphics cards. Many consider them close approximations to real-world gaming performance.
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Final Fantasy XIV: This massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) features an in-game benchmark. While not as comprehensive as dedicated tools, it gives a good indication of how well your system will handle the game's demanding visuals and large-scale battles.
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Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition: This enhanced edition of the popular survival shooter incorporates a benchmark that tests the performance under Ray Tracing settings. This is a fantastic way to see how your hardware handles the advanced graphical features.
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Various Games with Integrated Options: Many newer games, while not explicitly advertising a "benchmark," often include options to run a performance test or measure FPS during gameplay. Checking the settings menus in your favorite games might reveal hidden benchmarking capabilities.
How to Use Built-in Benchmarks
The process of running a built-in benchmark varies depending on the game. Generally, you'll find the option in the game's settings menu, often under "Graphics," "Options," or "Benchmark." The benchmark typically runs a predefined sequence, usually a short cinematic or gameplay loop, providing performance metrics such as frames per second (FPS), average frame time, and minimum/maximum FPS.
Beyond Built-in Benchmarks: Other Ways to Gauge Performance
While built-in benchmarks are helpful, they offer a snapshot of performance under specific conditions. For a more holistic view, you can utilize:
- Fraps or MSI Afterburner: These third-party tools allow you to monitor your system's performance (FPS, GPU/CPU usage, etc.) in real-time during gameplay, offering a more comprehensive picture than a single benchmark run.
By utilizing both built-in benchmarks and additional monitoring tools, you can effectively assess your PC's capabilities and ensure a smooth, enjoyable gaming experience. Remember always to update your graphics drivers for optimal results.
