Half-Life 2 CPU Shootout: AMD versus Intel
 

We received plenty of feedback on the last processor scaling piece and we tried to consider it all for this story. Thus, we’ve added an intermediate resolution, presenting 800x600, 1280x1024, and 1600x1200. Each setting corresponds to a different set of quality options, reflecting a wide range of visual experiences.

The tests at 800x600 employ low model detail, low texture detail, no anti-aliasing, no bilinear filtering, simple water reflections, low shader detail, low shadow detail, and the DirectX 9.0 code path.

At 1280x1024, those settings rise to medium model detail, medium texture detail, 2x anti-aliasing, 2x anisotropic filtering, world reflective water detail, high shader detail, high shadow detail, and again, the DirectX 9.0 code path.

Then, 1600x1200 steps in to represent Half-Life 2 at its pinnacle. Here you’ll find high model detail, high texture detail, 4x anti-aliasing, 16x anisotropic filtering, world reflective water detail, high shader detail, high shadow detail, and naturally, DirectX 9.0.

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/...ut/default.asp

AMD Athlon 64 FX-55
AMD Athlon 64 FX-53
AMD Athlon 64 4000+
AMD Athlon 64 3800+
AMD Athlon 64 3500+
AMD Athlon 64 3200+
AMD Athlon 64 3000+
AMD Athlon XP 3200+
AMD Athlon XP 2800+
AMD Athlon XP 2100+
Intel Pentium 4 3.46GHz Extreme Edition
Intel Pentium 4 3.4GHz Extreme Edition
Intel Pentium 4 570J 3.8GHz
Intel Pentium 4 560J 3.6GHz
Intel Pentium 4 550J 3.4GHz
Intel Pentium 4 540J 3.2GHz
Intel Pentium 4 520J 2.8GHz