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Ashes of the Singularity Notebook and Desktop Benchmarks

DirectX 12 warfare. Ashes of the Singularity is a resource-intensive DirectX 12 strategy game with large-scale battle sequences, which jumps on the same bandwagon as Supreme Commander. What type of notebook and desktop hardware is necessary to allow stutter-free gameplay?

For the original German article, see here.

Ashes of the Singularity is an RTS game with massive battles and the option to zoom way out of the battlefield. At the time of writing, Metacritic awards the game with a Metascore of 70 (mixed or average reviews). The first mission in the Single Player Campaign is pretty solid, but not really outstanding. The graphics are very convincing, however. Especially when viewed from a distance, the maps and the battle units look pretty spectacular. 

Benchmark

For our test, we rely on the integrated GPU benchmark, which happens to be - when compared to the campaign itself - fairly demanding. Although we recorded 30 fps for the benchmark sequence, we were able to play the first campaign mission without major stutters at an average of 40 fps (determined during a spot-check). The performance is likely going to take a hit during extensive multi-player battles, so for those scenarios we recommend higher frame rates. Above 40 fps during the benchmark should be enough of a cushion, however.

We use the pre-defined settings from 1280 x 768 (not all notebooks can handle 1280 x 800) "Low" up to 3840 x 2160 (4K) "Crazy". For the benchmark tests we used the retail version of the game, since the beta-version still had quite a few issues on notebooks.

Results

Ashes of the Singularity is without a doubt one of the most hardware-intensive titles we've had on our test bench. The RTS title requires at least a dedicated GeForce GTX 950M or similarly fast graphics card to be playable. With the resolution increased to Full-HD, the GTX 950M lost 4.6 fps and dropped to 27.6 fps (-14%). In single-player mode, the game ran basically stutter-free, although it didn't look particularly great. The GeForce 940MX-equipped notebook produced an interesting result, as the integrated HD Graphics 530 (same system!) actually managed to outperform it. Since the GeForce 940M - which is based on the same chip and features similar clock speeds as the 940MX - didn't have any issues, the likely reason is the fact that we are using a pre-production sample. 

Medium details ("standard" setting) in Full-HD required a GTX 965M (refresh) respectively a Radeon R9 370 (desktop) for satisfying performance. The "high: setting didn't impact performance much during our test, so less demanding users can certainly select it if they so desire. For enough performance headroom, we suggest powerful GPUs like the desktop graphics card GeForce GTX 970 (and therefore also the GTX 980M). 

4k at maximum details requires top-of-the-line graphic cards like a Radeon R9 Fury or a Geforce GTX 980 Ti. 

Our overview below lists all of the notebooks and desktops we used to conduct our test. We continually maintain and expand this table. Please also take a look at our benchmark list of graphic cards (notebook and desktop).

Ashes of the Singularity
    1280x768 low     1920x1080 Standard     1920x1080 high     3840x2160 extreme     3840x2160 crazy
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (Desktop), 4790K
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition
51.1 fps ∼63%
41.6 fps ∼50%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K
MSI Gaming Z GeForce GTX 1070 OC Bios Desktop PC
76.5 fps ∼76%
36.5 fps ∼44%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti, 4790K
Asus Strix GTX 980 Ti Desktop PC
76 fps ∼72%
74 fps ∼74%
38.5 fps ∼48%
31.2 fps ∼37%
AMD Radeon R9 Fury, 4790K
XFX Radeon R9 Fury Pro
76.8 fps ∼73%
71 fps ∼71%
37.9 fps ∼47%
32.6 fps ∼39%
AMD Radeon R9 Nano, 4790K
AMD Radeon R9 Nano Reference Desktop PC
81.8 fps ∼72%
75.6 fps ∼71%
69.3 fps ∼69%
32.4 fps ∼39%
AMD Radeon RX 480 (Desktop), 4790K
AMD Radeon RX 480 8 GB Reference
65.5 fps ∼62%
57 fps ∼57%
31.4 fps ∼39%
25 fps ∼30%
AMD Radeon R9 290X, 4790K
Sapphire Radeon R9 290X Tri-X OC
67.8 fps ∼64%
62.2 fps ∼62%
26.5 fps ∼32%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970, 4790K
MSI Gaming Z GeForce GTX 970 Desktop PC
80.8 fps ∼72%
60.8 fps ∼57%
54.8 fps ∼54%
27.9 fps ∼34%
20.6 fps ∼25%
AMD Radeon R9 280X, 4790K
Asus Z97 Deluxe Desktop i7-4790K, R9 280X
44.4 fps ∼42%
40.9 fps ∼41%
10.1 fps ∼12%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ
MSI GE72 965M Ti
39.8 fps ∼35%
30.4 fps ∼29%
26.5 fps ∼26%
3.4 fps ∼4%
AMD Radeon R7 370, 4790K
MSI Gaming R7 370 2GB
29.8 fps ∼28%
26.9 fps ∼27%
4.8 fps ∼6%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, 6700HQ
MSI PE60 2QD
33.2 fps ∼29%
17.3 fps ∼16%
15.6 fps ∼16%
NVIDIA GeForce 940M, 5700HQ
MSI GP62 2QD
19.2 fps ∼17%
9.6 fps ∼9%
8.6 fps ∼9%
AMD Radeon R9 M280X, FX-7600P
Asus N551ZU-CN007H
17.9 fps ∼17%
NVIDIA GeForce 920M, 2970M
MSI CX61 2QC 2970M MS-16GD
12.7 fps ∼11%
6.9 fps ∼7%
6 fps ∼6%
NVIDIA GeForce GT 720M, 4200M
MSI CX61-i572M
10.2 fps ∼9%
Intel HD Graphics 530, 6700HQ
MSI GE72 965M Ti
5.2 fps ∼5%
Intel HD Graphics 530, 6700HQ
MSI CX72 6QD
6.5 fps ∼6%
Intel HD Graphics 5600, 5700HQ
MSI GP62 2QD
5.8 fps ∼5%
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, 6700HQ
MSI CX72 6QD
4.2 fps ∼4%
3.7 fps ∼3%

Overview

Show Restrictions
PosModel< PrevNext >Ashes of the Singularity
 Ashes of the Singularity (2016)
low
1280x768
low
med.
1920x1080
Standard
high
1920x1080
high
4K
3840x2160
crazy
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (Desktop)
89.4
83.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Desktop)
87.5
58.4
NVIDIA Titan X Pascal
91.3
81
82.5
58.3
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (Desktop)
64.9
53
52.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (Desktop)
69.5
71.65n2
41.6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
112.4
102
98.6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
82.5
80.7
81.3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
52.6
64.95n4
44.2
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
60.2
53.1
52.6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile
71.1
65.4
64.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop)
77.05n2
34.75n2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
69.1n2
59.1n3
65.5n5
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q
100.4
72.8
66.8
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti
76
74
31.2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q
67.5n3
65.2n3
AMD Radeon R9 Fury
76.8
71
32.6
AMD Radeon R9 Nano
81.8
75.6
69.3
32.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q
42.4
40.7
AMD Radeon RX 480 (Desktop)
65.5
57
25
PosModel< PrevNext >Ashes of the Singularity
low med. high 4K
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
67.9n3
58.6n5
52.6n13
24
AMD Radeon RX 580 (Laptop)
35.3
30
29.2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
46.4
40.3n2
36.25n2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
80.8
60.8
54.8
20.6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q
75.8
61n2
53.05n2
20.9n2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q
60.3
42.5
36.9
AMD Radeon R9 290X
67.8
62.2
26.5
AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH
80.2
50.8
45.1
AMD Radeon R9 280X
44.4
40.9
10.1
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
52.3n3
41.5n3
36.95n4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (Desktop)
42.9n3
38.5n2
12.8
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q
63
41.3
35.8
15.7
AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870
54.9n3
37n3
32.5n3
AMD Radeon Pro WX Vega M GL
50.3
34.8
16
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (Desktop)
37.4
33.2
3.5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
52.4n6
34.25n10
29.5n12
AMD Radeon R7 370
29.8
26.9
4.8
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q
53.8
33.5
29.1
18.9
AMD Radeon RX 460 (Desktop)
54.5
32.8
28.7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M
39.8
30.4
26.5
3.4
PosModel< PrevNext >Ashes of the Singularity
low med. high 4K
AMD Radeon RX 560X (Laptop)
44.5
31.7
24.2
AMD Radeon RX 460 (Laptop)
24.2
21
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M
31.2
23.1
20.5
AMD Radeon RX 550 (Laptop)
41.9
25.4
22
AMD Radeon Pro 555
38.1
22.8
AMD Radeon Pro 455
33.8
21.3
19.3
NVIDIA GeForce MX250
34.6
16.1
5.7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150
28.9n5
17.8n5
15.2n4
AMD Radeon RX 540
36
16.25n2
14.7n2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M
33.2
17.3
15.6
AMD Radeon 540X
26.7
15
AMD Radeon R9 M280X
17.9
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10
20.5
11.7
10.2
NVIDIA GeForce MX230
18.4
10.6
9
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 4000/5000)
19.5
16.8
AMD Radeon RX Vega 7
30.2
15.4
13.7
NVIDIA GeForce MX130
20.1
12.4
10.5
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
19.4n5
14
12.1
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
14.6n2
NVIDIA GeForce 940M
19.2
9.6
8.6
PosModel< PrevNext >Ashes of the Singularity
low med. high 4K
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
19.4
11.3
10.5
NVIDIA GeForce 930M
17.5
AMD Radeon 530
16.5
8.9
NVIDIA GeForce MX110
17.7
10.5
9.2
NVIDIA GeForce 920MX
13.7
7.3
Intel Iris Graphics 540
13.3
AMD Radeon R7 (Bristol Ridge)
8
AMD Radeon R7 M460
14.7
5.1
AMD Radeon R7 M360
14.8
6.9
6.1
NVIDIA GeForce 920M
12.7
6.9
6
AMD Radeon 520
11.6
5.9
AMD Radeon RX Vega 6 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
11
5.7
4.1
Intel HD Graphics 630
10.95n2
6.7
Intel HD Graphics 530
6.5
5.2
AMD Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)
8
5
Intel UHD Graphics 620
11.05n2
Intel HD Graphics 620
10.1n2
6.55n2
6
AMD Radeon R6 (Carrizo)
11.4
Intel HD Graphics 5600
5.8
AMD Radeon R5 M430
9.9
PosModel< PrevNext >Ashes of the Singularity
low med. high 4K
AMD Radeon R5 M255
14.1
6.7
5.8
NVIDIA GeForce GT 720M
10.2
AMD Radeon R5 (Stoney Ridge)
7
Intel HD Graphics 4600
10.3
Intel HD Graphics 615
8.2
AMD Radeon R4 (Stoney Ridge)
7.3
(-) * 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.

Test Systems

Desktop PCs Custom Nvidia Custom AMD
Mainboard Asus Z170-A Asus Z97-Deluxe
Processor Intel Core i7-6700K (Skylake) Intel Core i7-4790K (Haswell)
GPU Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 (4 GB GDDR5)
PNY GeForce GTX 950 (2 GB GDDR5)
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 (8 GB GDDR5X)
Asus GeForce GTX 980 Ti (6 GB GDDR5)
XFX Radeon R9 Fury (4 GB HBM)
Sapphire Radeon R9 290X (4 GB GDDR5)
Sapphire Radeon R9 280X (3 GB GDDR5)
MSI Radeon R7 370 (2 GB GDDR5)
RAM 2 x 8 GB DDR4-2133 2 x 4 GB DDR3-1600
Storage Crucial MX100 SSD (256 GB)
Crucial M500 SSD (480 GB)
OCZ Trion 100 SSD (480 GB)
OCZ Trion 150 SSD (960 GB)
Intel SSD 530 (240 GB)
OCZ Trion 100 SSD (480 GB)
Operating System Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Schenker Notebooks Schenker W504 Schenker XMG A505 Schenker S413
Mainboard Intel HM87 Intel HM87 Intel HM87
Processor Intel Core i7-4700MQ (Haswell) Intel Core i7-4720HQ (Haswell) Intel Core i7-4750HQ (Haswell)
GPU Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M (8 GB GDDR5)
GTX 970M (6 GB GDDR5)
GTX 880M (8 GB GDDR5)
GTX 870M (6 GB GDDR5)
GTX 860M Kepler (4 GB GDDR5)
Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M (2 GB GDDR5) Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
RAM 2x 4 GB DDR3-1600 2x 4 GB DDR3-1600 2x 8 GB DDR3-1600
Storage Samsung SSD 840 EVO (250 GB)
Seagate Laptop Thin SSHD (500 GB)
Micron M600 SSD (128 GB)
HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HDD (1.000 GB)
Intel SSD
Operating System Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit Windows 10 Home 64 Bit Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
MSI Notebooks MSI GE72 MSI PE60 MSI GP62 MSI CX61 MSI CX61
Mainboard Intel HM170 Intel HM170 Intel HM86 Intel HM86 Intel HM86
Processor Intel Core i7-6700HQ (Skylake) Intel Core i7-6700HQ (Skylake) Intel Core i7-5700HQ (Broadwell) Intel Celeron 2970M (Haswell) Intel Core i5-4200M (Haswell)
GPU Nvidia GeForce GTX 965M 2016 (2 GB GDDR5) Nvidia GeForce GTX 950M (2 GB GDDR5) Nvidia GeForce 940M (2 GB DDR3) Nvidia GeForce 920M (2 GB DDR3) Nvidia GeForce GT 720M (2 GB DDR3)
RAM 1 x 8 GB DDR4-2133 2 x 4 GB DDR4-2133 1 x 8 GB DDR3-1600 1 x 8 GB DDR3-1600 1 x 8 GB DDR3-1600
Storage Toshiba THNSNJ128G8NU SSD (128 GB)
WDC WD10JPVX HDD (1.000 GB)
OCZ Trion 100 SSD (480 GB)
Toshiba MQ01ABF050 HDD (500 GB) WDC Scorpio Blue HDD (1.000 GB)
Operating System Windows 10 Home 64 Bit Windows 10 Windows 10 Windows 10 Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
Other Notebooks HP Envy 15 Asus N551ZU
Mainboard Intel HM87 AMD K15.1
Processor Intel Core i5-4200M (Haswell) AMD FX-7600P (Kaveri)
GPU Nvidia GeForce GT 740M (2 GB DDR3) AMD Radeon R9 M280X (4 GB GDDR5)
RAM 1 x 8 GB DDR3-1600 2 x 4 GB DDR3-1600
Storage Samsung SSD 830 (256 GB) Samsung SSD 830 256 GB
Operating System Windows 10 Home 64 Bit Windows 10 64 Bit
4K Monitor Nvidia driver AMD driver Intel driver
2 x Asus PB287Q ForceWare Crimson
static version load dynamic
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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Ashes of the Singularity Notebook and Desktop Benchmarks
Klaus Hinum, 2016-08- 9 (Update: 2022-01-21)