Battlefield 3 Performance - 2,560 x 1,600

As the highest single-display resolution possible, playing at 2,560 x 1,600 is the ultimate challenge for any GPU. As such, we've only tested the most powerful cards at this resolution; both dual-GPU options, and both the GTX 580 1.5GB and the HD 6970 2GB.


As we've already seen, the application of anti-aliasing sees the GTX 590 3GB pip the HD 6990 4GB at Ultra detail settings, with the GTX 580 1.5GB similarly outpacing the HD 6970 2GB. However, none of the cards are able to offer a minimum frame rate of 60fps and the single-GPU cards are unable to reach minimum frame rates of 30fps, with the HD 6970 falling short of even 25fps.


Dropping to High detail sees the AMD cards rally thanks to the lack of anti-aliasing, and the HD 6990 2GB responds by coming out on top. The HD 6970 2GB is even able to (just) pip the GTX 580 1.5GB, albeit only by a single fps on the minimum frame rate. Both the dual-GPU cards offer smooth minimum frame rates of 50fps+, but again the performance of single-GPU cards is much lower at 33/34fps.


With much of the post processing, anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering disabled, performance improves markedly at the Medium settings, with both dual-GPU cards able to surpass minimum frame rates of 60fps. The high-end single-GPU cards also rally well, both managing minimum frame rates of above 40fps. Performance between the GTX 580 1.5GB and HD 6970 2GB is very close still, although the GeForce card just sneaks ahead here.


Running BF3 at such a high resolution with such low detail settings is a compromise we wouldn't recommend, but if you absolutely have to run at native res, it's a sure fire way to generate great frame rates, Both dual-GPU cards manage silky smooth minimum frame rates of 77fps and above, and even the single-GPU cards manage highly playable frame rates above 48fps. You didn't buy a £300+ graphics card and a £600+ monitor to play games at Low detail, though, did you?