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FIFA 13 Benchmarked

Time for King Football. Every year Electronic Arts knits a fresh layer of the immensely popular FIFA series. The current 13th installment is largely based on the strengths of its predecessors. In this article we will specifically highlight the technology and hardware requirements.

For years there has been a fierce competition among the football simulators FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer, PES for short. Both series have their unique features and both series have their sworn fanbase. EA's biggest asset is of course the fat license package. Dozens of leagues are available. Hundreds of teams are represented with real player names and jerseys. Although PES 13 is, to our liking, a bit more realistic, FIFA 13 scores points with its excellent gameplay.

Technology

At first glance the technology is very similar to the 12-month old brother. As with the predecessor, the PC platform possibilities are not even close to being fully utilized. The reasons lay not only with the low hardware requirements, but also with the weak 2D audience, which resembles a pixel wallpaper upon close inspection. Overall, the texture quality could have been significantly better in many places. Only the players look very detailed and authentic.

There is little to complain about the atmosphere. The professional commentators and emotional chants and cheers give FIFA 13 a proper football mood. Another highlight is the player animations: tackling, slide tackling, and other movements look very credible.

Also praiseworthy: FIFA 13 can also be played easily with a mouse and keyboard. The excessive menu navigation did annoy us a bit (a simplification is needed). But good handling and atmosphere or not: Electronic Arts should throw the dusty engine overboard. With the new console generation (2013/2014), this problem should be solved.

Beautiful view of the stadium backdrop.
Beautiful view of the stadium backdrop.
FIFA is the best with the licenses.
FIFA is the best with the licenses.
Before the kick-off there are nice camera angles.
Before the kick-off there are nice camera angles.

Benchmark

As already mentioned, we are using the FIFA 13 demo version. This of course has the popular note »not representative of the quality of the final product«. Since there were no differences between the demo and final product of FIFA 12, we decided to use the free trial version. Should the performance change with the final version, this article will be updated.

As a basis for the benchmark we use a simple »Kick Off« game, which we recorded with Fraps for about 60 seconds (15 minutes in-game time). In order to keep the refresh rate at a fairly constant level, we avoided goals and fouls. The reason: The performance drops considerably during replays. Our YouTube video provides a glimpse into the test sequence.

Settings

The graphics menu is largely the same as the predecessor, but has been expanded with a couple of options. Thus the user can not only change the vertical synchronization (prevents ugly image tearing), but also the transparent Windows design called Aero, which has little impact on performance.

Low (1.024 x 768)
Low
Medium (1.366 x 768)
Medium
High (1.366 x 768, 2x MSAA)
High
Ultra (1.920 x 1.080, 4x MSAA)
Ultra

In addition, the refresh rate can be locked at 30 or 60 fps (reduces noise levels in some notebooks since the video cards works less). The resolution options, as well as the hardware based MSAA anti-aliasing (reduces unattractive jagged edges), are identical to the predecessor.

Low (1.024 x 768)
Low
High (1.366 x 768, 2x MSAA)
High
Medium (1.366 x 768)
Medium
Low (1.024 x 768)
Low
Ultra (1.920 x 1.080, 4x MSAA)
Ultra
High (1.366 x 768, 2x MSAA)
High
Medium (1.366 x 768)
Medium
Low (1.024 x 768)
Low
Ultra (1.920 x 1.080, 4x MSAA)
Ultra
High (1.366 x 768, 2x MSAA)
High
Medium (1.366 x 768)
Medium
Ultra (1.920 x 1.080, 4x MSAA)
Ultra

The render quality now ranges from Very Low to High (formerly Low to High). Given the lower illumination and reduced shadows, one should avoid the lower settings (see pictures). On the other hand, FIFA 13 looks properly good at medium settings. Even at the highest settings the graphics could not really amaze us.

Low (1.024 x 768)
Low
High (1.366 x 768, 2x MSAA)
High
Medium (1.366 x 768)
Medium
Low (1.024 x 768)
Low
Ultra (1.920 x 1.080, 4x MSAA)
Ultra
High (1.366 x 768, 2x MSAA)
High
Medium (1.366 x 768)
Medium
Low (1.024 x 768)
Low
Ultra (1.920 x 1.080, 4x MSAA)
Ultra
High (1.366 x 768, 2x MSAA)
High
Medium (1.366 x 768)
Medium
Ultra (1.920 x 1.080, 4x MSAA)
Ultra

Results

FIFA 13 proved to be even less demanding than the recently benchmarked Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Even low-end models, such as the Intel Ivy Bridge integrated HD Graphics 4000, can play the game decently at 1366 x 768 pixels and high details (average 52 fps, 2x anti-aliasing). For 1920 x 1080 pixels and high details even a middle-class GeForce GT 630M suffices (66 fps with 4x MSAA).

Since the refresh rate often drops during replays, some reserves are not a bad idea (at least 40 fps in our benchmark). The last FIFA game had very similar CPU and GPU requirements.

Benchmark-Tabelle FIFA 13

Verdict

With the FIFA 13, EA delivers a routine development of the series. Although some details are improved, you should not expect any major changes. Still, FIFA 13 is a highly successful football simulator that is on par with the major competitors. The main criticism is the second-rate technology.

Some players look very much like the real ones.
Some players look very much like the real ones.
All the major teams are represented.
All the major teams are represented.
The exercise sequences remind us of the fun events in Virtua Tennis.
The exercise sequences remind us of the fun events in Virtua Tennis.

Test Systems

Most of the benchmarks were ran on devices provided by Schenker (mysn.de): 

  • XMG P502 (Core i7-3610QM, GeForce GTX 660M, GTX 670M, GTX 675M, GTX 680M & Radeon HD 7970M, 8 GB RAM)
  • XMG A502 (Core i5-3360M, GeForce GT 650M & HD Graphics 4000, 8 GB RAM)
  • Xesia M501 (Core i7-2630QM, GeForce GT 630M & HD Graphics 3000, 8 GB RAM) 

The GPU driver versions used were: 306.23 (Nvidia), 8.951.6.0 (AMD) and 8.15.10.2761 (Intel).

Towards the end of the month we will also benchmark Borderlands 2 and F1 2012.

From left to right: Schenker XMG A502, Xesia M501 & XMG P502
From left to right: Schenker XMG A502, Xesia M501 & XMG P502

Overview

Show Restrictions
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 Fifa 13 (2012)
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1024x768
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med.
1366x768
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high
1366x768
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2xMSAA
ultra
1920x1080
High
4xMSAA
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Qualcomm Adreno 304
AMD Radeon Pro 560
Qualcomm Adreno 302
AMD Radeon HD 6850M
AMD Radeon HD 6830M
AMD Radeon HD 6310
AMD Radeon HD 6320
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low med. high ultra
AMD Radeon 760M
AMD Radeon 680M
AMD Radeon HD 6775G2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M
NVIDIA RTX A5500 Laptop GPU
AMD Radeon Pro 455
AMD Radeon Pro 555X
AMD Radeon HD 6650M
AMD Radeon Pro 5500M
AMD Radeon Pro 5300M
AMD Radeon HD 6680G2
AMD Radeon HD 6690G2
AMD Radeon HD 6480G + HD 7450M Dual Graphics
AMD Radeon HD 6250
AMD FirePro W5130M
AMD Radeon HD 7430M
AMD Radeon HD 7350M
AMD Radeon HD 7370M
AMD Radeon HD 7340
26.4n4
25.9n2
AMD Radeon HD 7290
4.6
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low med. high ultra
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
NVIDIA GeForce Go 6200
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 SLI (Laptop)
Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs (Alder Lake 12th Gen)
NVIDIA GeForce 9200M GS
Nvidia RTX 1000 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
Intel UHD Graphics 630
NVIDIA GeForce 920M
Intel HD Graphics 2500
99n3
51.5n4
29.6n4
14.5
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX
146
97
52
NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT SLI
NVIDIA GeForce Go 6250
NVIDIA RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
NVIDIA RTX 3000 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
NVIDIA Quadro T2000 Max-Q
NVIDIA Quadro T1000 (Laptop)
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PowerVR SGX543MP3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M SLI
PowerVR SGX535
NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
NVIDIA Titan RTX
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low med. high ultra
AMD Radeon HD 6730M
Qualcomm Adreno 225
AMD Radeon HD 6450 GDDR5
72
40
AMD Radeon HD 6480G
AMD Radeon Graphics (Ryzen 7000)
AMD Radeon 780M
AMD Radeon 630
AMD Radeon 625
AMD FirePro M8900
AMD FirePro W5170M
AMD Radeon 520
AMD Radeon HD 6630M
AMD Radeon HD 7500G
AMD Radeon HD 6450M
AMD Radeon HD 6290
AMD Radeon 740M
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AMD FirePro W4190M
AMD Radeon 540X
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M
AMD Radeon Pro 460
AMD Radeon HD 6540G2
AMD Radeon HD 6545G2
AMD Radeon HD 6870M
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low med. high ultra
AMD Radeon HD 6530M
AMD Radeon HD 7640G
AMD Radeon HD 6950M
AMD Radeon HD 7640G + HD 7610M Dual Graphics
132.25n2
93.9n2
83.8n2
48.6
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AMD Radeon HD 6550M
NVIDIA T600 Laptop GPU
NVIDIA GeForce 920MX
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low med. high ultra
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q
NVIDIA Quadro P4200
AMD Radeon HD 6620G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics
120.5
90.5
88.9
54.2
AMD Radeon HD 6520G + HD 7450M Dual Graphics
AMD Radeon HD 6550D
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AMD Radeon Pro 555
NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 GT
AMD Radeon Pro 5600M
AMD Radeon Pro 560X
AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16
AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20
AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100
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AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100
NVIDIA GeForce GT 445M
AMD Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire
AMD Radeon HD 6990M
AMD Radeon HD 6970M
AMD Radeon HD 6970
AMD Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
ATI Radeon HD 5570
AMD Radeon HD 7660G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics
ATI Mobility Radeon X800
ATI Radeon IGP 340M
ATI Mobility Radeon X700
ATI Radeon IGP 320M
NVIDIA GeForce GT 435M
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low med. high ultra
NVIDIA GeForce GT 430
NVIDIA GeForce 8400M G
NVIDIA GeForce 830M
NVIDIA Quadro NVS 320M
NVIDIA GeForce MX450
NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M
NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation
NVIDIA GeForce 825M
NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M
NVIDIA GeForce GT 415M
NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960
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low med. high ultra
NVIDIA GeForce GT 625M
NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M
380.2
208
185.3
138.4
NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M
298n4
181.65n4
138.75n4
91.9n3
NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M
229.35n2
182.9n2
164.6n2
110.85n2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 735M
137.9
81.4
NVIDIA Quadro P5000
NVIDIA GeForce GT 720M
191
131.1
101.6
58.1
NVIDIA Quadro P3200
AMD Radeon HD 6720G2
AMD Radeon HD 6515G2
AMD Radeon HD 6510G2
PowerVR GE8300
NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 (Laptop)
Qualcomm Adreno 205
NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 Max-Q
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NVIDIA Titan X Pascal
NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Max-Q
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PowerVR GXA6850
PowerVR GX6450
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 13
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PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 13
low med. high ultra
PowerVR GM9446
PowerVR GE8322 / IMG8322
PowerVR SGX544
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 13
low med. high ultra
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 13
low med. high ultra
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 13
low med. high ultra
AMD Radeon R5 M420
AMD Radeon HD 6520G
AMD Radeon HD 6470M
AMD Radeon HD 6750M
AMD Radeon HD 6490M
AMD Radeon 660M
AMD FirePro W4170M
AMD FirePro W2100
AMD Radeon HD 6370M
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low med. high ultra
AMD Radeon HD 6350M
AMD Radeon HD 6330M
AMD Radeon 620
AMD Radeon 610
AMD Radeon 610M
AMD FirePro W4100
AMD FirePro M5950
AMD FirePro M4000
AMD FirePro M6100
AMD FirePro M3900
AMD FirePro M4100
AMD Radeon 530
AMD FirePro M2000
AMD Radeon HD 6770M
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low med. high ultra
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 13
low med. high ultra
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 13
low med. high ultra
AMD Radeon HD 6790
AMD FirePro M6000
AMD Radeon Pro W6800
NVIDIA RTX A4500 Laptop GPU
AMD FirePro M5100
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low med. high ultra
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M SLI
AMD Radeon HD 6645G2
AMD Radeon HD 6760G2
NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS
ATI Radeon HD 5850
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop)
NVIDIA Quadro P3000 Max-Q
AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
AMD Radeon HD 6870
AMD FirePro W7170M
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low med. high ultra
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 13
low med. high ultra
AMD Radeon HD 6430M
AMD Radeon HD 6380G
AMD Radeon R6 (Kaveri)
AMD Radeon R6 (Carrizo)
AMD Radeon HD 7310
6.7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M SLI
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M
AMD Radeon HD 6620G + HD 7450M Dual Graphics
AMD Radeon R5 M335
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 13
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PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 13
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PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 13
low med. high ultra
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 13
low med. high ultra
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low med. high ultra
AMD Radeon PRO W6600M
AMD Radeon R5 M430
NVIDIA Quadro NVS 150M
AMD Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
362.3
266.2
213
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low med. high ultra
PowerVR SGX545
9.25n4
AMD Radeon HD 8970M
456.4
316.3
308.9
205.2n2
AMD Radeon HD 6640G2
AMD Radeon Pro 450
AMD Radeon HD 6620G
Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580
(-) * 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, 2012-09-20 (Update: 2021-05-18)