Guild Wars 2 - CPU and GPU Benchmarks

[Xuvial]

---Updated 5th March 2013---

Recommended GW2 build ($1000):
Note - Aimed at running GW2 on "Best Appearance" and holding 60 fps average @ 1080p. GPU can be switched to a GTX660 Ti, HD7970 or GTX670 for even higher framerates or if you play other demanding titles. Includes a a 128GB SSD to install GW2 (and OS + Programs + other games obviously) for super-fast load times and greatly increased overall system performance.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek GAIA ($28.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" SSD ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition ($239.99 @ Newegg) / Asus GTX 660 Ti DCII ($289.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 450W ($55.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DVD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $997.89 - 1047.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)


Budget GW2 build ($500):
Note - Aimed at running GW2 using a combination of "Best Performance" and "Balanced" settings to hold above 60fps average @ 1080p. GPU can be upgraded to HD7850, HD7870 or GTX660 Ti for higher framerates.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz ($129.99 @ Newegg) /// AMD FX-6200 3.8GHz ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M M-ATX ($69.99 @ Newegg) /// Asus M5A78L-M LX PLUS M-ATX ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition ($115.38 @ Newegg) / MSI GeForce GTX 650 Ti ($133.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec VP-450W ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DVD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $520 - $545
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

Remember, in the above build if you want to use the AMD CPU you have to use the corresponding motherboard (Asus M5A78-M) with it.

- BENCHMARKS REMOVED, THEY WERE UTTERLY OUTDATED -

[c0rnel]

1280x1024 is low res. Don't the have a 1920x1080 benchmark?

[Unknown User]

Of course they are using low resolutions for cpu tests. They don't want the gpu bottlenecking the tests. The first graph (the gpu test) is 1920x1080

[Xuvial]

@mods do you guys mind if I re-post this in the Guild Wars 2 section under Video Games?

1280x1024 is low res. Don't the have a 1920x1080 benchmark?

1920x1080 is covered in the GPU benchmark chart.

They used 1280x1024 in the CPU tests to avoid any chance of GPU bottlenecking, at such low resolutions it's pretty much up to the CPU to carry the framerates any higher so it's excellent for comparing performance.
Similarly, they used an i7 3930X @ 4.25ghz (massive overkill) for the GPU tests to avoid any potential CPU bottlenecking.

Understand?

[Deleted]

Great post and nice builds Xuvial *thumbs up*

[c0rnel]

Ya makes sense. I was going the graphs really fast. You're right though. Thanks.

[ridantez]

i want to follow that build but i dont have enough money yet to buy all the parts

im planning to buy the video card first "gtx 660 ti" but my mother board is kinda old.

here is my mother board:
ww.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131615

its not pci 3.0 will it work? will it slow down the video card performance?

my current pc has 4gb memory and i want to guild wars 2 on 1920x1080p resolution.

also. does gtx 660 ti need a different power supply?

Thanks in advance.

[Deleted]

Yes PCI-E 3.0 is backwards compatible

also. does gtx 660 ti need a different power supply?

660ti isn't very power hungry. Since you're not really telling us which PSu you have currently it's kind of hard to give you an answer.

[ridantez]

oh well i dont know the brand of my power supply... its built in with the casing of the PC. and the casing is really cheap and generic maybe around $20. im also planning to change the Case if its needed. i guess the case isnt really that expensive compared to the other parts.

thanks

[Paultimate]

Those FPS speaks mean very little if its not telling me performance in a 40+ man zerg. Because that is most of endgame. Even if youre in a small seperate group, zergs will be all over, and even if they are in the distance it will effect your framerate hugely.

[Xuvial]

Yeeeah these benchmarks are growing more and more irrelevant. Not only were they done during Beta, all parties involved (ANet, nvidia, AMD) have done tweaks/changes and impacted performance.

[Skarsguard]

Is my HD7850 not even worth putting on benchmarks .

Edit: I know you didn't do the benchmarks I just mean Toms and other big sites seem to overshadow the 7850 in benchmarks for some reason.

[iAmburnJ]

Hey. I am considering purchasing the parts you listed for the budget GW2 rig, but the case seems to be out of stock/discontinued. I do not know much about tower cases, and what optimally fits in what. I was hoping you had another recommendation that would work well with the MoBo/PS you listed. Cosmetics are not an issue. Just something reliable. Thanks for your time.

[chazus]

I feel like the CPU benchmark is a bit misleading. Did they downclock the CPU's to 3.0ghz? To me that seems like a good way to confuse people and expect those differences, when the actual stock CPU may perform differently.

[Xuvial]

Guys I posted this 6 months ago, I also said above that the benches done would be mostly irrelevant due to GW2 being in a beta state at that time.

The budget build has been updated with i3 3220 due to being the new i3. Also feel free to change the 7870 Ghz in the "recommended" build to a 660 Ti DCII if you prefer the green team.
I will also add AMD cpu+mobo alternatives to the OP, great bang for the buck.

Hey. I am considering purchasing the parts you listed for the budget GW2 rig, but the case seems to be out of stock/discontinued. I do not know much about tower cases, and what optimally fits in what. I was hoping you had another recommendation that would work well with the MoBo/PS you listed. Cosmetics are not an issue. Just something reliable. Thanks for your time.

Sure thing, that case is outdated anyway.

Here are the best two I can think of that fit in the same price range as the Antec:
CoolerMaster HAF912
Corsair Carbide 300R

Great budget cases manufactured by great companies.

[chazus]

Ugh, sorry. Didn't realize the poster before me necro-d this.

[Xuvial]

In any case, OP fully updated to reflect today's prices and products.

Feedback/etc is welcome, aaaaand off I vanish for another 6 months.

*poof*

[neuk]

What would be your recommend @1200? I'm looking to buy this, http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...id=510&subcat=

[Xuvial]

What would be your recommend @1200? I'm looking to buy this, http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...id=510&subcat=

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 ($58.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB ($56.07 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($115.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB ($74.97 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 ($369.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Arc Midi ($104.37 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 650W ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1250.34
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

Soz I went over the budget, but it's a REALLY well-rounded build, some kickass parts in there on good deals.

[neuk]

Thanks, just got a 670. the monitor will be bought next month.