Benchmarking for Fun (Or for Info.)

So if you frequent tech forums, you might hear something along the lines of "...only matters in synthetic benchmarks." or "You can't tell the difference without a benchmark." And, if you like the idea of having a slightly overpowered system, you may just want to know how to go about those benchmarks. Even if that's not the case, you may be wondering what will help your performance in a particular game the most, or wanting to find out just how effective your CPU or GPU is for a certain game.

If you read a lot of reviews, you've probably seen all the methodology, all the different names of software, and seen tons of numbers with pretty bars and graphs. Well, I hate to tell you this, but generally, the pretty bars and graphs don't just come with the software. Luckily, it's the numbers that matter anyway.

 So, for starters, lets discuss benching for fun. The most commonly used benches for gaming performance are Futuremark's 3DMark series. The "standard" comparison points are the default settings, which you can get in the free trial version. Lets you get a better database of scores going.

If you're going to bench for fun, the most important thing to remember is that you need a consistent set of benching processes. The best way to do this is to have a secondary account on your PC with the absolute minimum of automatic services, to make sure memory use is consistent. Keep drivers updated, although you usually won't want to use Beta drivers unless you need a specific feature. (Always test beta drivers prior to sustained use, some graphics drivers have been known to cause thermal issues.)

So, now that you have your consistent stuff, you get a baseline. That's just at your normal settings, how does it work. After that, you can try tweaking things to see if they gain you performance. Whatever you decide to tweak, make sure you test with the same processes as before. It really can make a huge difference in scores, or enough to skew data to the point of unreliability.

Generally, the GPU is the easiest thing to tweak, since there's simple GUI based OC utilities that work reasonably well, like MSI Afterburner, or (to a point) EVGA Precision. Remember to push it up a little at a time, and test for stability before starting the benchmark. If you raise your GPU OC and suddenly lose performance, you either need to raise your GPU voltage (at your own risk), or lower the clock back down a bit. Generally, in graphics cards, RAM clock will be less performance for the voltage than core clock and shaders, so you generally won't want to bother with it.

The CPU, is, of course, one of those things people really think about overclocking, and a lot of people are scared of it. If you do your homework, have the right components, and do it carefully, it can be a perfectly safe way to gain performance. You only void your warranty if you do damage that can definitely be attributed to overclocking, so usually you're safe if you keep the OC within the CPU manufacturers specified voltage range.

This isn't an overclocking guide, but I will say that in recent i7's, it's usually best to raise clock to the desired level first, then see if you can squeeze hyperthreading back on safely. Hyperthreading will raise your score in 3DMark, but less than most clock speed gains. RAM speed and timings can also affect it, as can IMC clock, and basically all the usual culprits.

But now, I'm sure, you're wondering about the benching for information thing. After all, E-peenery is fun, but there's only so much you can say about it. If you want to learn something through benchmarking, you're going to need a few things.

1: Consistent Monitoring. Be it FRAPS for FPS/Frametimes, HWMonitor for temps, or something else, you must use software. Eyeballing it is worse than useless.

2: Consistent Playthrough. You need a replay, or a specific save file, or something that you always use for benchmarking. If you're getting an FPS recording of different things, it doesn't tell you much.

3: Objectivity. This is the key. If you aren't objective, you're useless. You need to be willing to get results you didn't want or expect.

Well, as for methodology, it depends a bit, based on what exactly you're wanting to test, but essentially you need to isolate a component. For CPU/RAM testing, graphics settings not requiring the CPU should be turned down, to include resolution. This ensures that the limiting factor will be your CPU. For RAM, you just get a baseline at a "Typical" setting, like CL9 1333 for DDR3, and work from there, using the same CPU clock.

If you want to isolate GPU, you crank the desired graphics settings, turn down anything you can involving the CPU, and hope you aren't trying to isolate the graphics card on an RTS. Won't happen unless you have a really screwy rig.

If you want to monitor temps, you need a consistent ambient temperature, and consistency in everything except what you're testing. Including what you use to heat up the PC, and how long you run it prior to measuring.

I know this hasn't really been long on details, but it's really more to get you thinking the right way.

Piracy: Or, Biting the Hand That Feeds You.

Ok, I've heard all the completely retarded excuses for stealing software, movies, music, and whatever else happens to tickle your fancy. They're all bullshit. You aren't some nifty political movement, sticking it to the evil corporate empire. You aren't protesting intrusive DRM, and if they released a demo, you'd still steal the full game.

Notice I'm saying steal. Not pirate, not copy, not download, not torrent. I've heard that load of crap too, and you make Downs seem smart if you think people are buying the arguments about it not being stealing. Shall we check the definition of steal, and see?

1.

to take (the property of another or others) without permission or right, especially secretly or by force: A pickpocket stole his watch.

2.

to appropriate (ideas, credit, words, etc.) without right or acknowledgment.

First two definitions for steal. Neither of those mentions physical possession. Intellectual PROPERTY. Rocket science, much? Hell, the second one even covers non-physical stuff, like ideas, or credit... So, apparently, you can steal without denying the rightful owner a physical object. All you have to do is to take something without permission or right. That sounds like what you call Piracy, to me.

So, my next question. If it's a protest of whatever, for whatever (made up) reason, you pretty much acknowledge you're getting it the wrong way, or else the act of getting it wouldn't be a protest, right? The only other way to protest would be to not get it at all. So, if you succeeded in justifying it as just being a copy, and not stealing, it would actually remove any value from the notion of protesting, because your action wasn't wrong at all, and you got the product.

Let's face it. The majority of people aren't stealing a game to play for free to see if they want to buy it. How do I know? Because that's moronic. There's other ways to find out if you want to play a game, especially in this day and age. You aren't stealing it because of intrusive DRM, either. I'd guess something like 0.001% of the people who steal a product to get around intrusive DRM have encountered an issue and known it at the time. Even counting me and all my friends, the worst issues I've seen with DRM have been occasional new CDs not playing in old players. I've never had China take over my computer to sell to the Daleks or whatever, as a result of installing a game.

The only thing you're really protesting is the right of people to earn money by selling games. Yes, you deny money to greedy stockholders. Those game companies wouldn't exist without greedy stockholders, you idiot. The greedy stockholders are all rich and can move their money anyways, so the people you're hurting are the people who lose jobs. The people who make it happen. The common people. So, you're just a prick, you thief.

Long story short, you're making the games industry less profitable than it should be, and now we get nothing but shitty console ports for PC. Thanks a lot, assholes. Rot in whatever hell is most applicable to your religious preference. Yes, they still make money off the buyers, the honest people. But we pay MORE for games, they put worse and worse DRM in place, and everything you claim to be fighting comes as a direct result of your actions. Or at least is justified by them. So go fuck yourselves.

Mac, Why I Hate It, and Why That's OK.

So, there's this funny misconception amongst Mac users. Apparently, there's something wrong with people hating Mac. Even for those of us with a legitimate reason. After all, disliking Mac is clearly a personal attack against all Mac users, or that's how they respond. Now, I'll admit, there's PC users who exacerbate the problem, and I've been one of them. But these days, I'd say that my reasons to hate Mac are legit, and people who disagree should be willing to accept them.

For starters, iMac. Take it out of the box, plug it in, and turn it on. Great. But it's a laptop GPU pushing more display than it should be. You can't open the case, you can't stick in a new GPU, you can't do anything with it. Aside from turn it on and maybe set it on your coffee table as some sort of centerpiece. But it is decorative. Can't change anything, can't tinker... yuck.

Second, OpenGL and game support. You just can't game on a Mac. Now I know not everybody plays a lot of games, and since most Valve and Blizzard games are available for Mac, some people don't need more. I do, and I need it to look good. DX11 with a high framerate doesn't happen on a Mac.

Pricing. The most frequently cited reason, and the least understood. Mac comes with good support, good build quality, good cooling, and good displays. But me, I'm fine with manufacturer warranty for components, and I can arrange good cooling. As far as displays? I don't need perfect color, just decent color and low response times. That's it. I can do that without a Mac, and get the stuff I do want with it.

Hardware... Yeah, you can't upgrade it, you can't customize it much, and it costs a fortune for what you get, from a pure performance standpoint.

Now, to revisit that feature thing. Can't tinker, but it just works. That's good for some people. Expensive, but you get awesome customer service. Can't upgrade, but you get amazing build quality. OpenGL and game support? Not everybody needs that, and for what Mac does, it's awesome. It just doesn't game.