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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Benchmarks

Editorial Team, 11/15/2011

In the following article we will present you benchmarks of the huge role playing game The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.

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How We Test

We benchmark the beginning sequence of the single player campaign. The recording with Fraps starts as soon as the Skyrim text disappears (do not move the mouse) and stops as soon as you drove through the gate.

1920x1080 Ultra Preset
1920x1080 Ultra Preset
1366x768 High Preset
1366x768 High Preset
1366x768 Medium Preset
1366x768 Medium Preset
1280x720 Low Preset
1280x720 Low Preset

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Analysis of the Benchmarks

Elder Scrolls 5 is quite demanding and needs a high end laptop graphics card for full detail settings. Fast desktop graphics cards as the HD 6870 are able to render more than 40 fps on average.

Reducing details allows mid range laptop graphics cards to achieve fluent framerates. However, the popular GeForce GT 540M for example is only able to render low-medium details fluently. Integrated graphics cards from Intel like the HD Graphics 3000 wont achieve playable framerates (altough you can adjust the settings a bit below the "low preset" for better performance).

 

Framerate of the benchmark sequence (i5-2400, HD 5850).
Framerate of the benchmark sequence (i5-2400, HD 5850).
9 minute of actual gameplay (village, cage, open area)
9 minute of actual gameplay (village, cage, open area)

An overview of the games we have tested can be found here.

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Show Restrictions
Pos      Model                                     The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
low
1280x720
Low Preset
med.
1366x768
Medium Preset
4xAA		high
1366x768
High Preset
8xAF 8xAA		ultra
1920x1080
Ultra Preset
16xAF 8xAA
 33NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Laptop)
87
 70NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680
79
 71AMD Radeon HD 7970
100.4
80.3
62.3
 85NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M
176.2
165.2
95.1
64.3
 90NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti
90
65
 92NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M
942
67.154
 97AMD Radeon HD 7870
90.4
80.4
55.7
 102AMD Radeon HD 8970M
90.4
48.82
 108NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M
88
83.33
54.25
 112AMD Radeon HD 7970M
97
88.3
872
57.054
 133NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M
97.32
763
493
 136NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M
84.5
49.6
 142NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX
95.4
74
44
 147AMD Radeon R9 M385X
57.3
49.8
43.2
35.5
 148NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M
107.3
81.2
66.82
35.252
 155AMD Radeon HD 6870
71
66
53
43
 156NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470
63
44
 157NVIDIA GeForce 945M
50
48
40
 158NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M
85.94
63.15
35.74
Pos      Model                                     The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
lowmed.highultra
 166ATI Radeon HD 5850
64.4
60.5
51.1
40.8
 167NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M
89.452
91.93
71.43
413
 168NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M
61.1
56.1
47.1
32.9
 169AMD Radeon HD 6990M
56.1
52.3
43.7
34.3
 173AMD Radeon HD 7770
88.2
63.7
36.1
 174NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M SLI
90.4
73.4
45.4
 184NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX
81.8
58.652
33.052
 186NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M
78
57
33
 188NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M
97
76.652
58.654
32.84
 192AMD Radeon HD 6970M
51.5
48.4
40.8
30.6
 194AMD Radeon HD 8870M
74.9
662
52.12
31.72
 197NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570M
66.32
62.052
47.252
25.752
 207NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M
74.862
60.674
48.556
28.25
 209AMD Radeon HD 8850M
48.8
37.5
23.6
 211AMD Radeon R9 M265X
94.8
69.52
47.052
26.22
 221NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M
72.82
49.23
37.054
20.854
 227*AMD Radeon RX Vega 8
60
49.1
35.8
21
 228NVIDIA GeForce 940M
413
383
333
173
 236NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
753
56.83
41.96
24.15
 239NVIDIA GeForce 840M
70.7
44.5
32.7
17.3
Pos      Model                                     The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
lowmed.highultra
 241NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M
62.242
47.763
34.183
19.123
 243NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M
59
55.4
40.8
21.3
 244*AMD Radeon R7 (Bristol Ridge)
28
19
13
 245AMD Radeon R7 512 Cores (Kaveri Desktop)
68
45.4
33.1
18.9
 246Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
70
36.6
21.4
12.1
 248NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M
529
36.689
27.629
13.894
 253AMD Radeon 530
46.1
31
22.9
 254NVIDIA GeForce 830M
64.952
41.92
31.42
17.12
 257NVIDIA GeForce 920MX
81.2
57
43.1
23.3
 262NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
42
22
 264NVIDIA GeForce GT 735M
42.32
31.722
21.222
12.22
 266NVIDIA GeForce 825M
57.2
38.3
27.1
 278NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M
49.52
37.862
28.742
15.892
 279NVIDIA GeForce GT 645M
62.9
45.9
34.1
18.7
 282AMD Radeon HD 8750M
62.852
42.652
30.42
18.1
 284AMD Radeon R7 M270
67.1
43.3
31.6
19.1
 285AMD Radeon R7 M265
55.14
38.51
28.67
16.65
 289NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M
57.67
42.37
31.37
17.156
 290AMD Radeon R7 (Carrizo)
32.6
24.2
16.7
9.1
 291AMD Radeon R7 (Kaveri)
36
29.1
21.4
Pos      Model                                     The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
lowmed.highultra
 294AMD Radeon HD 7730M
63
42
16
 298NVIDIA GeForce 920M
54.82
35.552
23.42
13.952
 308AMD Radeon R7 M260
44.652
33.752
23.452
16
 310AMD Radeon 520
44.8
29.4
19.8
10.6
 314Intel HD Graphics 630
61.7
32.7
20
 319AMD Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)
36.2
25.9
18.8
 320Intel UHD Graphics 620
52.1
29.5
17.3
9
 330AMD Radeon HD 8670D
64
39.8
30.1
15.9
 331AMD Radeon HD 7690M XT
66.62
44.7
30
18
 333NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE
475
34.655
26.325
14.493
 334AMD Radeon R6 (Kaveri)
32.4
27.1
18.4
 336AMD Radeon HD 8730M
58
44
30
 337AMD Radeon HD 6770M
59
41.42
29.72
152
 338NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M
45.815
32.655
23.795
12.833
 339NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M
44.52
35.52
25.52
13.4
 352AMD Radeon HD 7690M
45
38
28
15
 359AMD Radeon HD 8670M
39.8
26.2
17.4
 379AMD Radeon HD 8650G
382
27.82
20.452
11.9
 383AMD Radeon HD 7670M
49.67
357
23.47
123
 384NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M
4312
3113
2313
13.074
Pos      Model                                     The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
lowmed.highultra
 388AMD Radeon R5 M330
41.7
27.6
18.2
 390AMD Radeon R5 M255
31.9
23.4
13.9
 393NVIDIA GeForce 820M
47.12
31.752
22.552
 394*AMD Radeon RX Vega 3
51.5
32.7
23.5
13.6
 395Intel HD Graphics 520
36.3
20.1
12.3
6.1
 396Intel Iris Graphics 6100
41.4
23.9
15.2
8.3
 397NVIDIA GeForce GT 720M
46.33
323
22.93
 398AMD Radeon R5 (Stoney Ridge)
32.7
22.2
15.4
 400AMD Radeon R5 M240
35.5
28.9
19.6
 402AMD Radeon R5 M230
38
25.2
17.1
 411AMD Radeon HD 8550M
20.9
19
15.9
 412Intel Iris Graphics 5100
38.2
19.1
11.7
6.3
 413NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
41.152
28.452
192
12
 414*AMD Radeon HD 8610G
24.7
16.9
10.5
 416AMD Radeon HD 6650M
26.7
24.8
20.1
11.1
 417Intel HD Graphics 4600
335
15.55
10.724
5.652
 419Intel HD Graphics 5500
28.354
14.44
8.53
4.43
 430AMD Radeon R5 (Kaveri)
27.4
18.5
12.9
 433NVIDIA GeForce 710M
40.2
28.5
 434AMD Radeon HD 7660G
38
29
20
10
Pos      Model                                     The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
lowmed.highultra
 437Intel HD Graphics 5000
29.5
18.4
11.6
 444AMD Radeon HD 6630M
50.452
32.42
19.552
10
 445AMD Radeon HD 7650M
45.913
31.963
21.43
11.162
 450ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650
34
29.2
19.2
10
 453AMD Radeon HD 8550G
42
29.4
19.7
 456NVIDIA GeForce GT 620M
37.43
27.13
19.53
 460AMD Radeon HD 7610M
40
27
17
 462AMD Radeon HD 8470D
43
30.4
21
10.7
 463AMD Radeon HD 7640G
28.36
16.66
11.59
 469Intel HD Graphics 515
31.1
18.7
11.6
7.1
 470Intel HD Graphics 4400
31.697
17.27
10.65
 471*Intel HD Graphics 610
27.8
18.6
13.6
 475AMD Radeon HD 7550M
33.352
21.852
14.652
 483AMD Radeon HD 7600G
19.9
12.4
8.6
 501Intel HD Graphics 5300
19.5
9.2
5.8
3.2
 502*Intel UHD Graphics 605
19.9
12.3
7.5
 503*Intel HD Graphics 505
21.1
11.6
7.1
 511AMD Radeon HD 7480D
34.5
24.2
16.1
 512Intel HD Graphics 4000
27.124
13.423
8.816
5.53
 515AMD Radeon HD 6620G
23.352
162
10.952
Pos      Model                                     The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
lowmed.highultra
 516AMD Radeon R4 (Stoney Ridge)
25.7
16.5
11.3
 520AMD Radeon R5 (Beema/Carrizo-L)
28.7
13.2
10.2
4.7
 521AMD Radeon R4 (Beema)
26.1
17.2
11.8
5.5
 522AMD Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema)
17
11.3
7.2
 523AMD Radeon R2 (Stoney Ridge)
24.7
16.3
10.8
 524Intel HD Graphics 4200
24.4
10.2
5.7
2.9
 526AMD Radeon HD 6450 GDDR5
32
22
15
 530AMD Radeon HD 7500G
21
18
13
 533AMD Radeon HD 8450G
21.6
15.8
11.6
 534AMD Radeon HD 7470M
24.252
16.652
11.3
 537AMD Radeon HD 8400
15.72
10.6
 540NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX
31.352
21.92
15.42
 541AMD Radeon HD 7520G
27.23
22.352
15.252
 550AMD Radeon HD 8350G
33.2
24
16.1
8
 551AMD Radeon HD 8330
18.25
13.44
8.42
 553Intel HD Graphics 500
11.2
7.6
 568AMD Radeon HD 7450M
29.5
20.2
13.1
 569NVIDIA GeForce 610M
25.5
16.9
11.1
 573Intel HD Graphics 405 (Braswell)
21.8
10.4
6.5
 574Intel HD Graphics (Braswell)
16.5
8.2
5
Pos      Model                                     The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
lowmed.highultra
 575Intel HD Graphics 400 (Braswell)
19.8
9.5
 576AMD Radeon HD 6470M
17.9
 578NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M
26.352
17.62
11.452
 579AMD Radeon HD 7420G
23.652
15.152
10.52
 584Intel HD Graphics (Haswell)
21.952
11.252
6.8
 597AMD Radeon HD 7400G
19
13
 598*AMD Radeon HD 6480G
21.8
12.2
8.9
 605Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail)
17.22
7.852
 607AMD Radeon HD 8280
18.1
12.9
 615AMD Radeon HD 8240
14.8
11.1
 617AMD Radeon HD 8250
14.4
9.2
5.9
 623Intel HD Graphics 3000
18.713
9.412
7.752
 641AMD Radeon HD 8210
10.052
9
6.1
 645Intel HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)
17.154
9.43
4.55
 671Intel HD Graphics 2000
14
 679*Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
14.454
7.73
 686Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)
11.42
10
 690AMD Radeon HD 7340
14.812
9.432
7.52
 691*AMD Radeon HD 6320
11.4
8.3
 692AMD Radeon HD 7310
9.3
Pos      Model                                     The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
lowmed.highultra
 694AMD Radeon HD 8180
8.9
 704AMD Radeon HD 7290
8.7
 705AMD Radeon HD 6290
8
5.6
4.4
2.1
* Smaller values are better. / * 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
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.
123Uncertain – 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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Editorial Team, 2011-11-15 (Update: 2013-06- 6)