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The Crew Benchmarked

Ride Across the USA. After Assassin's Creed Unity and Far Cry 4, Ubisoft is now launching its third large project at the end of 2014. The Crew appeals to freedom junkies and multiplayer enthusiasts alike with its free world concept. Can the game engine meet the expectations of its fans?
The Crew Logo

For the original German article, see here.

Game Engine

The Crew was developed by the little known studio, Ivory Tower, which is comprised of racing game experts who were involved in the production of games like Test Drive Unlimited. The team, based in France, employs the Babel engine for their first game. As expected for a game of 2014, the engine uses DirectX 11.

The graphics quality is good considering the size of the world. Although a few textures could be sharper and some of the passersby could be more detailed, we believe that The Crew delivers an immersive world. The beautiful day-night change and many small details (dirt and scratches on the car) contribute to the appeal of the game. Of course, there is no dearth of effects: whether it be particles, reflections or shadows - the graphics are always appealing. The cutscenes and detailed landscape round off an already impressive package.

The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew

Overall, the game seems to have been produced with a clear goal in mind. In contrast to Assassin's Creed Unity and Far Cry 4, the engine gives us a good, clean impression. At medium settings, the details are quite nice, but we were surprised to find out that even at high AA settings, the borders are not very smooth and at max settings the picture still flickers. The game engine supports FXAA, MSAA and the Nvidia exclusive TXAA. Also on-board are modern features like Ambient Occlusion and HBAO+ (which is reserved for Nvidia chips, but should work with AMD). The graphics menu reveals various options, whether it be for resolution, vertical synchronization, brightness or picture mode. Top: all settings are accepted without a restart.

The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew

We do not like the fps limit built into the game, like in Need for Speed Rivals. Depending on the settings, the game runs at 30 or 60 fps. The latter should suffice even demanding games. A note about Rivals: the controls and menus are not great. For example, to get to the menu, you have to press U or +, which is not very intuitive. Overall, the game feels a lot like an arcade game and the control of most cars is easy.

The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew

During our benchmarks, most of the servers were online. Now and then, the game had to be turned off due to updates or other tweaks (mistakes logging in). We did not have any crashes. Lags or performance drops during online play was not noticeable.

The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew

Benchmark

As you can see in the video below, the benchmark consists of a 45 second race to Detroit. The performance in the benchmark hints to how the game will run on average and as such we should achieve at least 30-35 fps and it really gets to be fun above 40 fps.

Low Video Preset
Low Video Preset
Medium Video Preset
Medium Video Preset
High Video Preset
High Video Preset
Ultra Video Preset (@Nvidia)
Ultra Video Preset
Low Video Preset
Low Video Preset
Medium Video Preset
Medium Video Preset
High Video Preset
High Video Preset
Ultra Video Preset (@Nvidia)
Ultra Video Preset

We use the "Low", "Medium", "High" and "Ultra" presets. The Nvidia GPUs have slightly different settings: the highest settings for TXAA and HBAO+ are used. For better comparisons and to have a level playing field, we switched to 4x MSAA and SSAO+, which is standard for both Intel and AMD. Due to the varying illumination (day-night cycle) and the fluctuating traffic, the benchmark results are not always consistent. Depending on the conditions, the fps score changes by a few points.

Results

The hardware hunger of open world games is neither low nor too high. Although a high-end GPU is required for max settings (GeForce GTX 870M or Radeon R9 M290X) but a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels and high details can be run with a GTX 765M or a GTX 850M quite fluidly. At normal details and a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels, the system requires a middle-class GPU like the GT 750M. Weaker GPUs like the GeForce GT 740M are more suited for the "Low" preset (1,280 x 720 pixels). Pity: the DirectX-11 Intel IGPs are far too slow (HD Graphics 40004600 etc.).

The Crew
    1920x1080 Ultra Video Preset (modified) AA:4x MS     1920x1080 High Video Preset AA:FX     1366x768 Medium Video Preset AA:FX     1280x720 Low Video Preset
GeForce GTX 980, 3770K
Desktop-PC
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
Radeon R9 290X, 4790K, Intel SSD 530 Series SSDSC2BW240A
Sapphire Radeon R9 290X Tri-X OC
59.9 (56min) fps ∼100%
60 (0min) fps ∼100%
60 (0min) fps ∼100%
60 (0min) fps ∼100%
GeForce GTX 980M, 4700MQ
Schenker W504
59.7 (54min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
Radeon R9 280X, 3770K
Desktop-PC
52.3 (43min) fps ∼87%
59.6 (54min) fps ∼99%
59.9 (57min) fps ∼100%
59.9 (57min) fps ∼100%
GeForce GTX 880M, 4700MQ
Schenker W504
48.6 (40min) fps ∼81%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
GeForce GTX 970M, 4700MQ
Schenker W504
47 (39min) fps ∼78%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
GeForce GTX 780M, 4700MQ
Schenker W503
41.7 (35min) fps ∼70%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
Radeon R9 M290X, 4700MQ
Schenker W504
40.5 (33min) fps ∼68%
59.9 (57min) fps ∼100%
59.9 (57min) fps ∼100%
60 (57min) fps ∼100%
GeForce GTX 870M, 4700MQ
Schenker W504
36.3 (31min) fps ∼61%
59.8 (54min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
GeForce GTX 770M, 4700MQ
Schenker W503
29.7 (21min) fps ∼50%
47.1 (40min) fps ∼79%
60 (57min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
GeForce GTX 860M, 4700MQ
Schenker W504
25 (19min) fps ∼42%
44.8 (37min) fps ∼75%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
GeForce GTX 765M, 4700MQ
Schenker W503
18.2 (15min) fps ∼30%
30.4 (25min) fps ∼51%
59.4 (54min) fps ∼99%
60 (58min) fps ∼100%
GeForce GTX 850M, 4340M
Schenker M504
17.9 (14min) fps ∼30%
30.4 (27min) fps ∼51%
59.8 (56min) fps ∼100%
59.9 (57min) fps ∼100%
GeForce GT 750M, 4702MQ
Schenker M503
11.1 (8min) fps ∼19%
19.2 (16min) fps ∼32%
38 (31min) fps ∼63%
50.4 (41min) fps ∼84%
Radeon R7 512 Cores (Kaveri Desktop), A10-7850K, Samsung SSD 470 Series MZ-5PA256/EU
A10-7850K Asus A88-XM-PLUS
16.1 (13min) fps ∼27%
30.6 (25min) fps ∼51%
41 (34min) fps ∼68%
Iris Pro Graphics 5200, 4750HQ, Intel SSD 525 Series SSDMCEAC180B3
SCHENKER S413
9.4 (6min) fps ∼16%
16.2 (13min) fps ∼27%
31 (25min) fps ∼52%
45 (35min) fps ∼75%
GeForce GT 640M, 2637M, Lite-On LMT-256M3M
Acer Aspire M3-581TG
16.4 (13min) fps ∼27%
27.6 (18min) fps ∼46%
42.2 (33min) fps ∼70%
GeForce GT 740M, 4200M
HP Envy 15-j011sg
7.7 (5min) fps ∼13%
12.9 (11min) fps ∼22%
27 (24min) fps ∼45%
36.6 (32min) fps ∼61%
GeForce GT 720M, 4200M, WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-22JC3T0
MSI CX61-i572M
10.2 (0min) fps ∼17%
21.6 (0min) fps ∼36%
28.9 (0min) fps ∼48%
GeForce GT 630M, 3720QM, Seagate Momentus 7200.5 ST9750420AS
Asus N56VM
20.7 (17min) fps ∼35%
29.9 (20min) fps ∼50%
HD Graphics 4600, 4700MQ
Schenker W503
5.3 (2min) fps ∼9%
10.2 (7min) fps ∼17%
20.1 (16min) fps ∼34%
29 (20min) fps ∼48%

Test Systems

Four of our test models are from Schenker technologies (mysn.de):

  • W504 (Core i7-4700MQ, 8 GB DDR3, GeForce GTX 860M, GTX 870M, GTX 880M, GTX 970M, GTX 980M, Radeon R9 M290X)
  • W503 (Core i7-4700MQ, 8 GB DDR3, GeForce GTX 765M, GTX 770M, GTX 780M)
  • M504 (Core i5-4340M, 8 GB DDR3, GeForce GTX 850M)
  • M503 (Core i7-4702MQ, 8 GB DDR3, GeForce GT 750M)

These notebooks all use Windows 7 64 bit.

Other test models provided by Nvidia:

Intel provided:

  • Schenker S413 (Core i7-4750HQ, 8 GB DDR3, Iris Pro Graphics 5200)

The desktop PCs use the CPUs/APUs from Intel and AMD, SSDs from Micron, Intel and Samsung, mainboards from Intel and Asus and graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD.

The GPU drivers: Nvidia 344.75, AMD 14.11.2 Beta, Intel 10.18.10.3960

Overview

Show Restrictions
PosModel< PrevNext >The Crew
 The Crew (2014)
low
1280x720
Low Video Preset
med.
1366x768
Medium Video Preset
FXAA
high
1920x1080
High Video Preset
FXAA
ultra
1920x1080
Ultra Video Preset (modified)
4x MSAA
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M SLI
60
60
60
60
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
60
60
60
60
AMD Radeon R9 290X
60
60
60
59.9
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M
60n2
60n2
60n2
59.75n2
AMD Radeon R9 280X
59.9
59.9
59.6
52.3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
60n2
60n2
60n2
49.65n2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M
60
60
60
48.6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M
60
60
60
41.7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M
60
60
59.2
34.2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M
60
60
59.8
36.3
AMD Radeon R9 M290X
60
59.9
59.9
40.5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M
59.9n3
59.9n3
51.7n3
33.2n3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M
60
60
47.1
29.7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M
55.65n2
50.65n2
40.85n2
26.15n2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M
60
59
32
16.3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M
59.8n3
59.6n3
29.4n3
17.9n3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M
60
59.4
30.4
18.2
AMD Radeon R9 M265X
60
44.5
20.9
11.4
NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M
50.4
38
19.2
11.1
PosModel< PrevNext >The Crew
low med. high ultra
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
43.4
36.7
17.2
9.8
NVIDIA GeForce 940M
39.75n2
32.05n2
15.7n2
8.5n2
NVIDIA GeForce 840M
41.9n2
31.6n2
14.15n2
7.55n2
AMD Radeon R7 512 Cores (Kaveri Desktop)
41
30.6
16.1
Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
45
31
16.2
9.4
NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M
36.6
27
12.9
7.7
NVIDIA GeForce 930M
34.7
26.4
17.8
7.5
NVIDIA GeForce 830M
39.3
29.4
11.9
6.1
NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M
42.2
27.6
16.4
AMD Radeon R7 M360
26.4
20.7
11
8.1
NVIDIA GeForce 920M
27.85n2
21.65n2
11.65n2
7.75n2
AMD Radeon R7 M260
25.5
20.2
10.3
AMD Radeon R6 M255DX
21
9.3
NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M
29.9
20.7
AMD Radeon R5 M330
21.1
16
AMD Radeon R5 M255
24.6
12.9
6.3
NVIDIA GeForce 820M
26.4
19.5
NVIDIA GeForce GT 720M
28.9
21.6
10.2
AMD Radeon R5 M240
26.1
19.4
Intel HD Graphics 4600
22.9n2
16.45n2
10.2
5.3
PosModel< PrevNext >The Crew
low med. high ultra
Intel HD Graphics 5500
15.3n3
11.2n3
6.2n3
2.95n2
Intel HD Graphics 5000
15.8
10.6
Intel HD Graphics 4400
14.1n2
10.6n2
5.9
Intel HD Graphics 4000
15
AMD Radeon R4 (Beema)
15.5
10.9
AMD Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema)
13.6
10
Intel HD Graphics 4200
7.8
AMD Radeon HD 8330
11.3
7.7
Intel HD Graphics (Haswell)
9.7
8.4
Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)
8.1
4.7
(-) * 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, 2014-12-17 (Update: 2021-05-18)