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F1 2013 Benchmarked

Top speed. Codemasters once again invites motor sport fans to the Formula 1 circus. The 2013 edition's highlight is the brand new “Classic Mode”. Did the developers make some modifications to the graphics too? Have the hardware demands changed? Our review reveals the answers.
F1 2013

For the original German article, see here.

Graphics

What do F1 2013 and the recently released Fifa 14 have in common? Answer: In terms of graphics, little has changed since last year's editions. The EGO engine developed by Codemasters does score points for its highly detailed Formula 1 race cars that realistically reflect objects in their environment, but the race track's surroundings still fail to impress.

Despite the vast audiences swarming the bleachers, the Formula 1 courses feel rather empty. That stems partly from the dearth of animated objects and partly from the fact that the textures no longer meet our expectations for a 2013 video game. Other games like Hitman: Absolution or Metro: Last Light are examples of what is theoretically possible nowadays. But for a racing title, F1 2013 still looks good.

Low Settings
Low Settings
Medium Settings
Medium Settings
High Settings
High Settings
Ultra Settings
Ultra Settings

We do want to praise Codemasters for the game's graphics settings in particular. Alongside five well-measured presets, there are numerous specific controls in the “Options” menu (“My F1”, “Settings”, “Graphics”) that allow the user to make changes to individual aspects of the graphics. The gamma value, resolution, aspect ratio and frame rate can also be altered.

Players who don't mind a 60 FPS limit should definitely activate vertical synchronization to prevent screen tearing. F1 2013 offers the anti-aliasing options MSAA and EQAA. Excellent: The game adopts all changes without requiring a restart.

As our screenshots reveal, the lowest preset should be avoided at all costs. The lack of audience and weak shadows do considerable damage to the atmosphere. From the medium setting on up, the title looks relatively good, though when anti-aliasing is deactivated some jaggies do show up. Graphics improvements on the high and ultra high settings often require closer observation to detect.

Low Settings
Low Settings
Medium Settings
Medium Settings
High Settings
High Settings
Ultra Settings
Ultra Settings
Low Settings
Low Settings
Medium Settings
Medium Settings
High Settings
High Settings
Ultra Settings
Ultra Settings

Benchmark

We based our speed measurements on the integrated benchmark hidden near the bottom of the graphics menu. Because the test course is identical to last year's, it's quite easy to compare this game's performance to that of its predecessor.

The game simulates about two minutes of racing, in which more than 20 high-class race cars puff exhaust through a detailed course. After the sequence, the benchmark reveals the minimum and average frame rate, as well as the total frames. We think it's a bit of a shame, though, that F1 2013 is not capable of measuring anything less than 12 fps (GRID 2 has a similar problem).

Results

Surprising: Depending on a computer's hardware and driver version, F1 2013 runs more fluidly than last year's. While Intel's HD Graphics 3000 has trouble even at minimum settings (34 fps @ 1024 x 768, Ultra Low), the newer HD Graphics 4000 and 4600 can even handle medium details and 1366 x 768 pixels (over 40 and 50 fps, respectively).

For high details and 2x anti-aliasing, we recommend a model from the lower middle class (ex. the GeForce GT 630M). Maximum details, 4x MSAA and 1920 x 1080 pixels are not too much for a GeForce GTX 660M to handle.

As we have recently seen more and more often, at moderate graphics settings the influence of the CPU becomes much greater. This phenomenon is especially apparent when you look at the Radeon HD 7770 and HD 7660G. These GPUs should be slower than the GTX  780M and GT 630M, respectively.

In case you are wondering about the HD 7970M and HD 8970M results: As was also true of the 2012 F1 release, this game has problems on some AMD notebooks. According to Task Manager, the .exe file started running, but the game refused to open. We assume that future drivers will solve this problem.

Benchmark Table: F1 2013
Benchmark Table: F1 2013

Verdict

With or without the “classic mode”, F1 2013 doesn't quite feel like a brand new Formula 1 game. It seems the developers only made the updates necessary to justify the release of a new edition. Graphics enthusiasts will be frustrated with the stagnating graphics quality. With the next generation of gaming consoles on their way to the market, there is no reason not to massively improve the engine in time for next year's eventual F1 title.

F1 2013
F1 2013
F1 2013
F1 2013
F1 2013
F1 2013

Test Systems

Our four main test devices are courtesy of Schenker Technologies (mysn.de):

  • W503 (Core i7-4700MQ, 8 GB DDR3, GeForce GTX 765M, GTX 770M, GTX 780M, Radeon HD 8970M & HD Graphics 4600)
  • M503 (Core i7-4702MQ, 8 GB DDR3, GeForce GT 750M)
  • XMG P502 (Core i7-3610QM, 8 GB DDR3, GeForce GTX 660M, GTX 670MX, GTX 675MX, GTX 680M, Radeon HD 7970M & HD Graphics 4000)
  • Xesia M501 (Core i7-2630QM, 8 GB DDR3, GeForce GT 630M & HD Graphics 3000)

A further thank you goes to Micron for providing the 480 GB Crucial M500, on which Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit is installed.

GPU drivers used: Nvidia 331.40 Beta, AMD 13.10 Beta 2, Intel 9.18.10.3257 and 9.17.10.3223

From left to right: Schenker Xesia M501, M503, XMG P502 & W503
From left to right: Schenker Xesia M501, M503, XMG P502 & W503

Overview

Show Restrictions
PosModel< PrevNext >F1 2013
 F1 2013 (2013)
low
1024x768
Ultra Low Preset
med.
1366x768
Medium Preset
high
1366x768
High Preset
2x MSAA
ultra
1920x1080
Ultra Preset
4x MSAA
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M SLI
117
117
114
95
AMD Radeon R9 290X
115n2
98n3
AMD Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
118
98
96
86
AMD Radeon R9 280X
133
129
124
112
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680
163.5n2
125.5n2
125n2
109n2
AMD Radeon HD 7970
137
130
108
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M
118
115
108n2
93n2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti
188
139
130
110
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M
169
125
117
95
NVIDIA Quadro K5100M
118
119
119
107
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M
118
111
102n2
81.5n2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M SLI
119
115
111
96
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M
157
121
115
91
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M
170
128
115n2
84n2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M
118n3
112n3
107n5
83n5
NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M SLI
101
90
69
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX
155
120
114
73
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M
116n3
97n4
92n5
69n5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M
171
125
109n4
67n4
PosModel< PrevNext >F1 2013
low med. high ultra
AMD Radeon HD 7770
172
132
118
52
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX
154
120
111
61
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M
119
111
105n2
64n2
AMD Radeon R7 250
133
127
110
42
NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M
97
93
47
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M
154
112
102
41
AMD Radeon R9 M265X
91
88
42
NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M
131
100
88
39
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
120
81
41
31
NVIDIA GeForce 840M
105n2
85.5n2
77.5n2
36.5n2
NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M
105
94
38
AMD Radeon R7 512 Cores (Kaveri Desktop)
94
73
61
30
Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
105
65
55
25
NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M
114
82.5n2
73n2
29n2
NVIDIA GeForce 830M
71
63
60
34
NVIDIA GeForce GT 735M
93
75
64
27
NVIDIA GeForce 825M
80
70
28
AMD Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8750M Dual Graphics
54
39
36
NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M
110
73.5n2
64.5n2
26.5n2
AMD Radeon HD 8750M
86n2
60n2
48.5n2
26n2
PosModel< PrevNext >F1 2013
low med. high ultra
NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M
65
61
62
31
AMD Radeon HD 8670D
104
53
58
25
AMD Radeon R6 (Kaveri)
35
25
23
13
AMD Radeon HD 8570D
94
54
35
20
AMD Radeon HD 8650G + HD 8670M Dual Graphics
56
40
38
AMD Radeon HD 8650G + HD 8570M Dual Graphics
28
19
18
14
AMD Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8670M Dual Graphics
55
40
36
AMD Radeon HD 8670M
46
28
25
AMD Radeon R6 M255DX
30
24
25
AMD Radeon HD 8650G
45.5n2
29n2
25n2
17
NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M
99n2
61n2
47n2
17n2
AMD Radeon HD 7560D
91
57
41
16
NVIDIA GeForce 820M
105
64
57
21
NVIDIA GeForce GT 720M
64
58
51
Intel Iris Graphics 5100
60
38
29
15
Intel HD Graphics 4600
50n3
31n3
25n3
13n2
NVIDIA GeForce 710M
89
61
51
AMD Radeon HD 7660G
48.5n2
34.5n2
31.5n2
16
Intel HD Graphics 5000
51
34
28
12
AMD Radeon HD 8550G
60
38
34
16
PosModel< PrevNext >F1 2013
low med. high ultra
Intel HD Graphics 4400
36.5n8
22n8
18n7
12n4
AMD Radeon HD 7480D
42
30
26
12
Intel HD Graphics 4000
48n5
30.5n4
25.5n4
12n3
AMD Radeon R5 (Beema/Carrizo-L)
35
26
22
AMD Radeon R4 (Beema)
28
19
18
12
AMD Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema)
19
14
13
Intel HD Graphics 4200
31
21
16
12
AMD Radeon HD 6450 GDDR5
48
38
20
12
AMD Radeon HD 8450G
36
26
23
13
AMD Radeon HD 8400
37.5n2
26n2
18n2
12
AMD Radeon HD 8350G
33
22
20
12
AMD Radeon HD 8330
34n3
25n3
21.5n2
12
Intel HD Graphics 400 (Braswell)
28
17
AMD Radeon HD 7420G
18
15
Intel HD Graphics (Haswell)
27
18
14
AMD Radeon HD 8280
27
20
19
Intel HD Graphics 3000
30n2
21.5n2
16n2
12
AMD Radeon HD 8210
12n2
12
12
Intel HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)
20
14
Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
24
16
PosModel< PrevNext >F1 2013
low med. high ultra
Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)
12
(-) * Smaller values are better. / n123 Number of benchmarks for this median value / * Approximate position

 

Legend
5Stutters – This game is very likely to stutter and have poor frame rates. Based on all known benchmarks using the specified graphical settings, average frame rates are expected to fall below 25fps
May Stutter – This graphics card has not been explicitly tested on this game. Based on interpolated information from surrounding graphics cards of similar performance levels, stutters and poor frame rates are expected.
30Fluent – Based on all known benchmarks using the specified graphical settings, this game should run at or above 25fps
40Fluent – Based on all known benchmarks using the specified graphical settings, this game should run at or above 35fps
60Fluent – Based on all known benchmarks using the specified graphical settings, this game should run at or above 58fps
May Run Fluently – This graphics card has not been explicitly tested on this game. Based on interpolated information from surrounding graphics cards of similar performance levels, fluent frame rates are expected.
?Uncertain – This graphics card experienced unexpected performance issues during testing for this game. A slower card may be able to achieve better and more consistent frame rates than this particular GPU running the same benchmark scene.
Uncertain – This graphics card has not been explicitly tested on this game and no reliable interpolation can be made based on the performances of surrounding cards of the same class or family.
The value in the fields displays the average frame rate of all values in the database. Move your cursor over the value to see individual results.
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Florian Glaser, 2013-10-10 (Update: 2021-05-18)