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FIFA 15 Benchmarked

New engine, renewed appeal. After years of getting less attention, the 2015 version of the PC game boasts nicely improved graphics. Our review takes a look at how various notebook graphics card perform when playing the game.
Fifa 15 Logo

 For the original German article, see here.

Technology

Compared to its predecessor, Fifa 15 has significantly higher demands on the hardware. Of course that shouldn't be a surprise, since the new version uses the powerful Ignite Engine (Playstation 4, Xbox One) and not the older Impact Engine (Playstation 3, Xbox 360), which was already behind the times last year. Fifa 15 finally has spectators in the stands worth taking a look at, as the characters are a lot more life-like than they used to be. The players look better, too - not only as far as the sharpness of the textures is concerned, but also because of their realistic appearance: some of the virtual players now look strikingly similar to the human counterparts they are modeled after. We also can't find many faults with the lighting, the grass, the number of polygons in use, and the general atmosphere.

Fifa 15
Fifa 15
Fifa 15
Fifa 15
Fifa 15
Fifa 15

From a technical standpoint, the performance is quite decent, although there's still room for improvement. We especially liked the animations. Although the main competitor PES offers a slightly more realistic gaming experience, Fifa 15 is definitely stepping up to the first division this time around. The commentators are also convincing and describe the game play on the field nicely.

Fifa 15
Fifa 15
Fifa 15
Fifa 15
Fifa 15
Fifa 15

Unfortunately, the graphics menu only contains a handful of options. Aside from the resolution and the rendering quality (medium details are missing), the user can only adjust anti-aliasing. At least EA doesn't use FXAA, but the higher-quality MSAA for this purpose. The framerate can be reduced as well, which might decrease the notebook noise level in some cases. Should micro-stutters become an issue, Windows Aero can be turned off as well (see screenshots down below).

We didn't experience the ominous bug that has all players, including the goalkeepers, charge towards the ball (supposedly, this issue can be remedied by choosing a longer name for the PC). We did notice, however, that load times are significantly longer with Intel GPUs. If Fifa 15 runs suspiciously slow, graphics switching can be the culprit. In this, case, changing the preset in the Nvida driver to "high-performance processor" (the default is "auto-select") solves  the issue and the game then starts with the GeForce GPU every single time.

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

Benchmark

We use the same benchmark process we followed when evaluating the predecessor: we use a kick-off game between FC Bayerna and Borussia Dortmund in the Allianz Arena. To be as fair as possible, we use identical options (6 min half time length, semi-professional difficulty, Fall, 3 PM, fair weather...). We start recording using the tool Fraps as soon as the referee blows the starting whistle. After exactly seven minutes of game time (that's not equivalent to "real" time), we stop the test.

The performance can drop by half or even 2/3 during replays (Fifa 14 had the same issue), so it's best if the frame rate is at least 50 or even better 60 fps from the start. We try to avoid replay situations altogether or at least shorten them with a mouse click should they occur. Because of the mediocre replay performance, the minimum fps can fluctuate as well. This is why some weaker graphics cards can at times seemingly outperform their more powerful siblings. The average frame rates vary slightly from pass to pass as well, but at least they are more consistent (+/-10 %).

Results

Unlike Fifa 14, which was very playable even with low-end GPUs at medium to high settings, Fifa 15 can push bargain notebooks to their limits. Case in point: the HD Graphics 4600 graphics card integrated into the current Intel processor generation. With a frame rate of about 52 fps at 1280 x 720 pixels and details on low, there is not much headroom for higher-end settings. Those who'd like to run Fifa 15 with the details set to high, a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, and 2x anti-aliasing, will have to make sure that they have a dedicated GPU from AMD or Nvidia (~62 fps @ GeForce GT 740M) at their disposal. Middle-class graphics cards like the GeForce GT 750M can handle a resolution of 1920 x 1080 Pixel and 4x MSAA. High-end GPUs are not going to be tasked much: a Geforce GTX 860M allowed us to play at frame rates of above 100 fps. Hopefully EA will continue to improve the engine for the next version.

Fifa 15
    3840x2160 High Preset     1920x1080 High Preset AA:4x MS     1366x768 High Preset AA:2x MS     1280x720 Low Preset
GeForce GTX 780 Ti, 3770K
Desktop-PC
268.7 (168min) fps ∼90%
284.4 (237min) fps ∼80%
326.1 (284min) fps ∼72%
Radeon R9 290X, 2600K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
Sapphire Tri-X R9 290X Desktop
204 (0min) fps ∼69%
GeForce GTX 880M, 4700MQ
Schenker W504
189.3 (163min) fps ∼64%
227.9 (168min) fps ∼64%
280.8 (254min) fps ∼62%
GeForce GTX 760, 3770K
Desktop-PC
181.3 (126min) fps ∼61%
219 (187min) fps ∼61%
309.8 (264min) fps ∼68%
GeForce GTX 780M, 4700MQ
Schenker W503
166.1 (109min) fps ∼56%
208.3 (113min) fps ∼58%
251.8 (196min) fps ∼56%
GeForce GTX 870M, 4700MQ
Schenker W504
157.4 (68min) fps ∼53%
210.6 (169min) fps ∼59%
267.8 (178min) fps ∼59%
Radeon R9 280X, 3770K
Desktop-PC
147.8 (106min) fps ∼50%
269.8 (134min) fps ∼75%
301.1 (254min) fps ∼66%
GeForce GTX 750 Ti, 3770K
Desktop-PC
134.8 (92min) fps ∼45%
178.1 (105min) fps ∼50%
253.2 (228min) fps ∼56%
GeForce GTX 860M, 4700MQ
Schenker W504
119.5 (47min) fps ∼40%
173.9 (135min) fps ∼49%
246.8 (211min) fps ∼54%
GeForce GTX 770M, 4700MQ
Schenker W503
115.7 (63min) fps ∼39%
173.2 (156min) fps ∼48%
224.4 (178min) fps ∼50%
Radeon R9 M290X, 4700MQ
Schenker W504
111.3 (63min) fps ∼37%
184.9 (170min) fps ∼52%
194.4 (173min) fps ∼43%
GeForce GTX 850M, 4340M
Schenker M504
95 (44min) fps ∼32%
141.6 (124min) fps ∼40%
180.1 (161min) fps ∼40%
GeForce GTX 765M, 4700MQ
Schenker W503
92.6 (42min) fps ∼31%
139.9 (120min) fps ∼39%
206 (189min) fps ∼45%
GeForce GT 750M, 4702MQ
Schenker M503
55.6 (49min) fps ∼19%
84.6 (71min) fps ∼24%
112.7 (87min) fps ∼25%
Iris Pro Graphics 5200, 4750HQ, Intel SSD 525 Series SSDMCEAC180B3
SCHENKER S413
16.9 (14min) fps ∼10%
40.7 (35min) fps ∼14%
67 (55min) fps ∼19%
92 (73min) fps ∼20%
GeForce GT 640M, 2637M, Lite-On LMT-256M3M
Acer Aspire M3-581TG
42 (36min) fps ∼14%
Radeon R7 512 Cores (Kaveri Desktop), A10-7850K, Samsung SSD 470 Series MZ-5PA256/EU
A10-7850K Asus A88-XM-PLUS
29 (23min) fps ∼10%
61 (58min) fps ∼17%
81 (73min) fps ∼18%
GeForce GT 740M, 4200M
HP Envy 15-j011sg
36.2 (30min) fps ∼12%
61.9 (36min) fps ∼17%
76.1 (50min) fps ∼17%
GeForce GT 720M, 4200M, WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-22JC3T0
MSI CX61-i572M
30.3 (0min) fps ∼10%
47.2 (0min) fps ∼13%
66 (0min) fps ∼15%
Radeon HD 8650G, A10-5750M, Samsung SSD 470 Series MZ-5PA256/EU
Pumori Test Platform (A10-5750M)
20.6 (18min) fps ∼7%
36.6 (31min) fps ∼10%
52 (42min) fps ∼11%
GeForce GT 630M, 3720QM, Seagate Momentus 7200.5 ST9750420AS
Asus N56VM
28.7 (24min) fps ∼10%
42 (34min) fps ∼12%
59 (48min) fps ∼13%
Iris Graphics 5100, 4258U, Apple SSD SM0256F
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 13 inch 2013-10
25.8 (21min) fps ∼9%
42 (36min) fps ∼12%
56 (47min) fps ∼12%
HD Graphics 4600, 4700MQ
Schenker W503
20.9 (18min) fps ∼7%
36 (31min) fps ∼10%
52.3 (45min) fps ∼12%
HD Graphics 4000, 3720QM
Asus N56VM
15.7 (12min) fps ∼5%
24.6 (19min) fps ∼7%
32.4 (24min) fps ∼7%

Review Systems

Four of our review notebooks are courtesy of Schenker Technologies:

  • W504 (Core i7-4700MQ, 8 GB DDR3, GeForce GTX 860M, GTX 870M, GTX 880M, 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)

All these notebooks feature 64-bit Windows 7. Thanks to Micron for supplying a 480 GB Crucial M500 SSD.

One additional review notebook is from Nvidia:

  • HP Envy 15-j011sg (Core i5-4200M, 12 GB DDR3, GeForce GT 740M)

We used the following drivers for our tests: Nvidia 344.11, AMD 14.7 RC3, Intel 10.18.10.3907

We've also included benchmark results from other notebooks, which potentially could have different drivers installed.

Übersicht

Show Restrictions
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 15
 Fifa 15 (2014)
low
1280x720
Low Preset
high
1366x768
High Preset
2x MSAA
ultra
1920x1080
High Preset
4x MSAA
4K
3840x2160
High Preset
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M SLI
453.2
334.3
265.1
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
306.4
245.6
244.6
167.9
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M SLI
380.3
288.1
211.7
96
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti
326.1
284.4
268.7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
419.6
357.7
297.2
150.5
AMD Radeon R9 290X
204
159
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M
293.3n3
244.7n3
232.4n3
104.4
AMD Radeon R9 280X
301.1
269.8
147.8
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960
332.8
259.7
210.6
103.3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
266.55n2
249n3
211.7n3
82.2
AMD Radeon R9 M295X
199
188.3
104.2
57.9
AMD Radeon R7 370
272
228
129
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M
280.8
227.9
189.3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950
324
248.3
187.6
82.3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760
309.8
219
181.3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M
251.8
208.3
166.1
NVIDIA Quadro K5100M
299.7
213.2
153
77.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M
249.35n2
212.2n2
150.05n2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M
267.8
210.6
157.4
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 15
low high ultra 4K
AMD Radeon R9 M290X
194.4
184.9
111.3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M
201n4
182.95n4
128.5n4
63.1
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti
253.2
178.1
134.8
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M
224.4
173.2
115.7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M
185.4n2
143.85n2
101.95n2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M
161.85n2
132.7n2
91.3n3
41.6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M
180.1n3
135n3
95n3
AMD Radeon R9 M280X
53
44.7
53.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M
206
139.9
92.6
NVIDIA Quadro K3100M
182.4
122
95.5
44.4
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
140.9
98.5
57.9
NVIDIA GeForce 845M
64.1
41.2
AMD Radeon R9 M265X
80.65n2
46.3n2
NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M
112.7
84.6
55.6
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
96.3
72.7
47.9
NVIDIA Quadro K1100M
98.7
71.4
49.9
NVIDIA GeForce 940M
95.3
71.85n2
47n3
AMD Radeon R9 M375
66.3
32.7
NVIDIA GeForce 840M
85.6n2
71.1n2
46.55n2
AMD Radeon R7 M275DX
58.1
52.5
34.9
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 15
low high ultra 4K
AMD Radeon R7 512 Cores (Kaveri Desktop)
81
61
29
Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
89.95n2
63.45n2
38.85n2
16.9
NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M
76.1
61.9
36.2
NVIDIA GeForce 930M
66.75n2
45.4n2
NVIDIA GeForce 830M
70.5
62.8
42.1
AMD Radeon R7 M260X
55.3
29.4
NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M
42
AMD Radeon R7 (Kaveri)
49.75n2
40.95n2
22.4n2
AMD Radeon R8 M365DX
15.1
17.7
12.1
AMD Radeon R7 M360
52
49.5
23.1
NVIDIA GeForce 920M
69.95n2
53.8n2
33.65n2
AMD Radeon R7 M260
73.1
47.4
20.6
Intel HD Graphics 530
65.2
46
25.8
AMD Radeon R6 (Carrizo)
54.7
32.4
17.2
AMD Radeon R6 (Kaveri)
26.7
18.3
8.2
Intel HD Graphics 5600
65.3
45.7
24.7
AMD Radeon R6 M255DX
35.8
29.4
AMD Radeon HD 8650G
52
36.6
20.6
NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M
59
42
28.7
AMD Radeon R5 M330
33
15.6
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 15
low high ultra 4K
AMD Radeon R5 M255
75
56.2
27.5
NVIDIA GeForce 820M
57.4
47.9
27.1
Intel HD Graphics 520
35.6
21.3
Intel Iris Graphics 6100
57.75n2
46.15n2
26.75n2
NVIDIA GeForce GT 720M
66
47.2
30.3
AMD Radeon R5 M230
44
27.7
Intel HD Graphics 6000
50
35.7
23.3
Intel Iris Graphics 5100
56
42
25.8
Intel HD Graphics 4600
45.65n2
30.8n2
18.5n2
Intel HD Graphics 5500
36.6n9
28.8n7
17n7
AMD Radeon R5 (Kaveri)
21.3
17.6
AMD Radeon HD 7660G
32
18.7
Intel HD Graphics 5000
36.2
28.1
17.4
AMD Radeon HD 8550G
48
31.1
16.9
Intel HD Graphics 515
38.3
29.6
15.1
Intel HD Graphics 4400
30.1n3
20.8n3
13.85n2
Intel HD Graphics 5300
21.1n3
16.2n3
8.3
Intel HD Graphics 4000
32.4
24.6
15.7
AMD Radeon R5 (Beema/Carrizo-L)
24.1
20.3
AMD Radeon R4 (Beema)
28.3
20.8
PosModel< PrevNext >Fifa 15
low high ultra 4K
AMD Radeon R4 (Kaveri)
14.4
4.5
AMD Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema)
25.3
18.5
Intel HD Graphics 4200
15.3
10.9
AMD Radeon HD 8400
24.7
17.4
9.3
AMD Radeon HD 8350G
29
AMD Radeon HD 8330
21.8
15.7
8.2
Intel HD Graphics (Haswell)
16.4
11.3
Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail)
15.6
AMD Radeon HD 8210
1
Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)
12.4
8.5
(-) * 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, 2014-10- 7 (Update: 2021-05-18)