Test Setup

Our GPU test rig uses Intel's Z370 platform. Specifically, we use the Asus ROG Maximus X Hero paired with an Intel Core i9-9900K. With eight cores and 16 threads via Hyper-Threading, the CPU ensures even the most multi-threaded games won't be bottlenecked, and we've overclocked it to 4.9GHz as well with a base clock of 100MHz, a multiplier of 49, and a vcore of 1.315V, further alleviating CPU bottlenecks. The CPU is paired with 32GB (4 x 8GB) of Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR4 clocked at 3,200MHz and cooled by a Corsair Hydro Series H115i Pro RGB.

The rig is powered by the Corsair AX1500i, which has enough wattage and eight-pin PCIe power connectors to deal with any multi-GPU set-up we care to throw at it. It's all housed inside a Corsair Carbide Series Air 740, which is spacious enough for any card. The final component is a Corsair Force Series MP510 960GB PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 SSD, giving us plenty of space for game installs and keeping load times down.

Our results come from a mix of built-in benchmarks and custom, manually played sections, depending on the game. All game benchmarks are repeated at least three times to ensure consistency. We test at 1,920 x 1,080 (1080p), 2,560 x 1,440 (1440p), and 3,840 x 2,160 (4K), though some resolutions are excluded if they are deemed inappropriate for a certain card. The operating system is an up-to-date copy of Windows 10 64-bit.

As well as the average frame rate, we report the 99th percentile frame rate that is a better representation of the "minimum" frame rate in terms of experience than the single slowest frame of the entire benchmark. Obtaining this figure involves using software (currently OCAT - the Open Capture and Analytics Tool) to record the render time of every single frame in a benchmark, meaning poor performance has nowhere to hide. Such software typically gives you a 99th percentile frame time in milliseconds. Dividing 1,000 by this figure converts it into a frame rate measurement.

Test System

• CPU Intel Core i9-9900K at 4.9GHz (49 x 100MHz)
  
• Motherboard Asus ROG Maximus X Hero
  
• Memory 4 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance RGB 3,200MHz DDR4
  
• PSU Corsair AX1500i
  
• SSD Corsair Force Series MP510 960GB
  
• Case Corsair Carbide Series Air 740
  
• CPU cooler Corsair Hydro Series H115i Pro RGB
  
• Operating system Windows 10 64-bit

AMD Graphics Cards

• Sapphire Radeon RX 5700 XT Nitro+ 8GB - 1,770MHz GPU (1,905MHz Game Clock), 14Gbps GDDR6 (Radeon Software Adrenalin 19.9.1)

• AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB - 1,605MHz GPU (1,755MHz Game Clock), 14Gbps GDDR6 (Radeon Software Adrenalin 19.7.1 press drivers)

• AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB - 1,465MHz GPU (1,625MHz Game Clock), 14Gbps GDDR6 (Radeon Software Adrenalin 19.7.1 press drivers)

• PowerColor Radeon RX 5600 XT Red Dragon 6GB - 1,560MHz Game Clock, 14Gbps GDDR6 (Radeon Software Adrenalin 20.1.1)

• AMD Radeon VII 16GB - 1,400MHz GPU (1,750MHz boost), 2Gbps HBM2 (Radeon Software Adrenalin 19.6.3)

• AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 8GB - 1,274MHz GPU (1,546MHz boost), 1.89Gbps HBM2 (Radeon Software Adrenalin 19.6.3)

Nvidia Graphics Cards

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition - 1,350MHz GPU (1,635MHz boost), 14Gbps GDDR6 (GeForce 431.16, 436.48 for SotTR)
  

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Founders Edition - 1,650MHz GPU (1,815MHz boost), 15.5Gbps GDDR6 (GeForce 431.56 press drivers, 436.48 for SotTR)
  

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition - 1,515MHz GPU (1,800MHz boost), 14Gbps GDDR6 (GeForce 430.86, 436.48 for SotTR)
  

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super Founders Edition 8GB - 1,605MHz GPU (1,770MHz boost), 14Gbps GDDR6 (GeForce 436.48)

• Palit GeForce RTX 2070 Dual 8GB - 1,410MHz GPU (1,620MHz boost), 14Gbps GDDR6 (GeForce 430.86, 436.48 for SotTR)

• Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060 Super Gaming OC 8GB - 1,470MHz GPU (1,815MHz boost), 14Gbps GDDR6 (GeForce 431.60, 436.48 for SotTR)

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super Founders Edition 8GB - 1,470MHz GPU (1,650MHz boost), 14Gbps GDDR6 (GeForce 431.16 press drivers, 436.48 for SotTR)

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Founders Edition 6GB - 1,365MHz GPU (1,680MHz boost), 14Gbps GDDR6 (GeForce 430.86, 436.48 for SotTR)