For gamers, knowing your system's performance is crucial for a smooth, lag-free experience. While external benchmarking tools exist, many games now include built-in benchmarks, offering a convenient and accurate way to assess your hardware's capabilities. These internal tests often simulate real-game scenarios, providing a more realistic performance indicator than generic synthetic benchmarks. This guide explores games featuring built-in benchmarks and how to utilize them effectively.
What are Built-in Benchmarks and Why Use Them?
Built-in benchmarks are performance tests integrated directly into a game's settings. They typically run a short, pre-defined sequence, measuring your system's frame rate (FPS), minimum FPS, average FPS, and sometimes other metrics like GPU and CPU usage. Unlike generic benchmarks, these tests use the game's actual assets and engine, providing a much more accurate prediction of in-game performance. This is invaluable for:
- Troubleshooting performance issues: A low benchmark score can pinpoint hardware bottlenecks.
- Optimizing graphics settings: Experiment with different settings to find the best balance between visual quality and performance.
- Comparing hardware: See how different components affect performance within the same game.
- Overclocking verification: Check the stability and performance gains after overclocking your CPU or GPU.
Games with Built-in Benchmark Tools: A Selection
While not every game includes a built-in benchmark, many popular titles offer this feature. Some noteworthy examples include:
- Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition: Known for its demanding visuals, this title offers a comprehensive benchmark that tests various settings and resolutions.
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Provides a benchmark that accurately reflects the game's performance under different graphical presets.
- Unigine Heaven/Valley benchmarks: While technically not games, these are popular synthetic benchmarks that use game engines, offering a good indication of your system's prowess and are sometimes integrated into game launchers.
- Many others: Numerous other games, particularly those released in recent years, often feature built-in benchmarks or performance testing options within their settings menus. It's always worth checking the game's options before resorting to third-party tools.
How to Run a Built-in Benchmark
The process varies slightly depending on the game, but generally involves:
- Locate the benchmark option: This is usually found within the game's settings menu, often under a section labeled "Graphics," "Performance," or "Options."
- Configure settings: Adjust the resolution, graphics quality, and other settings to match your desired configuration. You might want to run the benchmark at your intended in-game settings or at maximum settings to stress test your system.
- Start the benchmark: Once configured, initiate the benchmark from within the settings menu.
- Review the results: The game will typically display the results upon completion, showing your FPS, minimum FPS, average FPS, and other relevant metrics.
What Factors Influence Benchmark Results?
Several factors impact the results of your built-in benchmark scores, including:
- Hardware specifications: The most significant factor, encompassing the CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage speed.
- Drivers: Outdated or corrupted drivers can significantly impact performance.
- Operating system: The OS itself can affect performance.
- Background processes: Running other applications concurrently can reduce available resources.
- Cooling: Overheating can lead to thermal throttling, which will impact performance.
Are Built-in Benchmarks Sufficient?
Built-in benchmarks are excellent for assessing in-game performance, but they aren't a complete replacement for external benchmarking tools. External tools can provide a more comprehensive analysis, including detailed breakdowns of CPU and GPU usage, temperature, and other metrics. However, for a quick and convenient assessment of real-world performance, built-in benchmarks are highly effective.
What about games without built-in benchmarks?
If your favorite game lacks a built-in benchmark, don't despair. Third-party tools like MSI Afterburner or FRAPS can help you monitor frame rates and other performance metrics during gameplay.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of games with built-in benchmarks, their value, and how to use them effectively. Remember to always check your game's options for this handy feature!
