Game developer Naughty Dog celebrated the discharge of The Last of Us Part 1 on PC lower than per week in the past, however primarily based on early suggestions, maybe they need to have spent extra time fine-tuning the port than planning their victory laps.
Today we’re looking on the sport’s GPU efficiency despite the fact that controversy facilities round poor efficiency, with many players taking the time to precise their disappointment within the type of a unfavourable Steam assessment (over 10k unfavourable opinions as of writing), and that is uncommon as a result of us players are usually a extremely optimistic bunch.
The main complaints from players have been horrible stuttering and fixed crashing, and having now run 26 completely different graphics playing cards by means of the sport, we predict the rationale for that is fairly apparent: it seems to be a VRAM problem.
In The Last of Us Part I, you may rapidly run out of VRAM on graphics playing cards with simply 8GB, even at 1080p.
Most players prefer to dial up the standard settings and when doing so in The Last of Us Part I, you may rapidly run out of VRAM on graphics playing cards with simply 8GB, even at 1080p. Those working a GeForce RTX 3070, for instance, are most likely accustomed to maxing out video games at 1080p and nonetheless receiving a easy excessive refresh expertise, however that will not be the case right here.
The Last of Us Part I’ll fortunately devour over 12 GB of VRAM at 1080p utilizing the Ultra high quality preset, and this is not simply allocation, quite the sport seems to really use that a lot reminiscence, and this implies bother for these of you with 8GB graphics playing cards making an attempt to play utilizing the extremely high quality settings.
We can perceive the confusion round this problem although because the builders’ personal beneficial PC specs do not say you need to use an 8GB graphics card at 1080p utilizing the extremely preset. Rather they supply extremely preset suggestions at 4K, although they do suggest 8GB graphics playing cards for 1080p excessive.
Anyway, it is not tremendous clear, in order that’s why we’re right here to give you an in depth GPU benchmark. Granted, it is solely about half as detailed as we might like with 26 graphics playing cards quite than 50+. That’s as a result of we have wasted round 10 hours watching the sport construct shaders, and that ate fairly closely into our benchmark time.
For testing we’re utilizing The Woods part of the sport, as this seemed to be one of many extra graphically demanding areas with a whole lot of foliage. VRAM utilization is excessive right here, we would not say it was notably greater than different sections of the sport although, which makes our outcomes just a little unusual when in comparison with different opinions.
To get that out of the best way, we have seen a number of different reviewers benchmark this sport displaying cheap minimal or 1% low efficiency for 8GB graphics playing cards when utilizing the extremely preset at 1080p, and even 1440p. Yet, our 1% lows are a blowout on 8GB playing cards, and this seems to be according to person experiences and photographs from players on YouTube, displaying horrible 1% lows with in any other case succesful GPUs such because the RTX 3070, so let’s check out that.
Here’s a facet by facet comparability of the RTX 3070 (8GB) and the Radeon RX 6800 (16GB). The footage does not line up precisely, it is simply the identical part of the sport, however we will clearly present you the way dangerous the 1% lows are on the GeForce with much less VRAM. In this single instance, we’re taking a look at 1% lows of round 20 fps on the RTX 3070, whereas the RX 6800 is up round 80 fps. You can even see stuttering on the GeForce facet, and this is a fast take a look at the body time graph the place you’ll be able to see the 6800 is easy whereas the RTX 3070 is a multitude.
For a greater illustration of picture high quality comparisons, try the HUB video beneath:
If you come throughout a unique benchmark displaying significantly better 1% lows than we’re going to present for 8GB graphics playing cards, it is probably as a result of the scene they used was much less demanding (or another change in {hardware} we’re not accounting for).
For our testing we’re utilizing the Ryzen 9 7950X3D with the second CCD disabled – that is to make sure most gaming efficiency, primarily testing with the but to be launched 7800X3D. This CPU has been examined on the Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master utilizing 32GB of DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence. On the drivers entrance, we used AMD Adrenalin 23.3.2 and Nvidia Game Ready 531.41 drivers.
VRAM Usage
First, this is a fast take a look at VRAM utilization at varied resolutions and presets. From 4K excessive to any decision utilizing the extremely high quality preset, we’re working effectively over 12 GB of VRAM and the recommended VRAM necessities within the sport menu have been bang on with what we noticed in our benchmark cross.
At 1440p utilizing excessive settings we dropped all the way down to round 10 GB of VRAM utilization in our benchmark cross, whereas the sport recommended it might use as much as 11.3 GB. Once we dropped to 1080p with the prime quality preset, the VRAM utilization dipped slightly below 10 GB.
With medium high quality settings, we’re taking a look at VRAM utilization between 9.5 and 11 GB relying on the decision. Based on what, it will appear as if as much as round 11 GB of VRAM utilization is usually okay on an 8GB graphics card, however going past 12 GB kills efficiency.
Ultra Quality Benchmarks
Here’s the 1080p extremely knowledge and we’ve got a number of fascinating issues to notice. First, there seems to be some sort of system bottleneck, limiting 1% low efficiency on the RTX 4090, most likely a CPU limitation, or it might simply be a problem with the sport that must be addressed. In any case, the RTX 4090 pumped out 161 fps at 1080p, although with 107 fps for the 1% lows it was similar to the RTX 4080 and Radeon RX 7900 XTX in that regard.
The RTX 4070 Ti and 7900 XT delivered comparable outcomes because the GeForce GPU was simply 4% sooner, and so they have been cut up by the RTX 3090 Ti. The RTX 3090 and 6950 XT have been neck and neck, as have been the 6800 XT and RTX 3080.
Where issues get messy for Nvidia are earlier era mid-range comparisons. The Radeon RX 6800, for instance, averaged 77 fps whereas the RTX 3070 managed simply 56 fps, making the Radeon GPU 38% sooner. But worse than that was the horrible and albeit unplayable 1% lows of the 8 GB RTX 3070.
This means players will obtain a greater gaming expertise with the Intel Arc A770, RTX 3060, or specifically the Radeon 6700 XT and 6750 XT, as all these fashions characteristic 12 GB of extra VRAM.
Meanwhile, any Radeon or Arc GPU with 8 GB of VRAM or much less struggled, leading to fixed stutters. This graph clearly demonstrates why so many customers are complaining about stuttering points in The Last of Us Part I: 28% of all steam customers run a graphics card with 8 GB of VRAM with the second largest bracket being 6 GB. Just 10% of all Steam customers have a 12 GB graphics card, 3% have 10GB, lower than a p.c have 16 GB and 1.5% have 24 GB. This is kind of clearly the problem for these making an attempt to play the sport utilizing extremely high quality settings.
Moving to 1440p permits the RTX 4090 to drag away from the RTX 4080, even when trying on the 1% lows. The RTX 4080 was barely sooner than the 7900 XTX once more, although they’re shut, as is the 4070 Ti and 7900 XT.
The GeForce RTX 3080 10 GB nonetheless carried out fairly effectively although 1% lows did slip when in comparison with the Radeon 6800 XT, and that is with out query a VRAM problem.
Then at 4K you may ideally desire a GeForce RTX 4090 – the flagship GeForce GPU actually shined right here with a powerful 81 fps. The RTX 4080 was the one different GPU to achieve 60 fps because the Radeon 7900 XTX fell quick with 58 fps. The RTX 3090 Ti managed 53 fps after which we drop all the way down to 47 fps with the 7900 XT, which is definitely playable however not a fascinating body fee for a $800 GPU.
High Quality Benchmarks
Now lowering the graphics high quality preset to excessive, we discover all examined graphics playing cards labored fairly effectively at 1080p, at the very least from the RTX 3050 and up. For some motive, the Intel Arc A750 is fairly damaged right here, it was examined with the identical driver because the A770, so perhaps this can be a VRAM problem, maybe reminiscence administration is not as effectively optimised on Arc as it’s GeForce and Radeon, or it might simply be a bug…
The excellent news is you’ll be able to play the sport utilizing both a GeForce RTX 3050 or Radeon RX 6600 and for extra constant efficiency the RX 6600 XT/6650 XT or RTX 3060 will work effectively. Then if you wish to hold 1% lows above 60 fps the RTX 3060 Ti or 6700 XT will do the trick.
Moving to 1440p would require fairly a bit extra GPU energy. Realistically you may need an RTX 3060 Ti or 6700 XT for round 60 fps on common. Then if you wish to hold 1% lows above 60 fps, you may want both a Radeon 6800 XT or GeForce RTX 3080.
For enjoying at 4K with excessive settings we’re as soon as once more working into VRAM points with 8 GB graphics playing cards, however the 10GB RTX 3080 appears wonderful with 1% lows of 34 fps and a mean body fee of 47 fps. Not precisely mind-blowing efficiency, but it surely’s definitely playable.
Ideally you want an RTX 3090 Ti, 4080, 4090 or 7900 XT. We discovered stunning how poorly the RTX 4070 Ti carried out, solely simply edging out the 6950 XT, although this solely meant the 7900 XT was 8% sooner.
Medium Quality Benchmarks
Let’s now check out efficiency utilizing the medium high quality preset and principally every part is playable right here, apart from the Radeon RX 6500 XT which might solely handle 29 fps at 1080p. By the best way, utilizing the bottom potential high quality settings at 1080p noticed the 6500 XT render simply over 40 fps, what a rubbish product.
For a mean of 60 fps you may solely require a Radeon RX 6600 at 1080p, and to maintain 1% lows over 60 fps the 6600 XT or RTX 3060 will suffice. The sport nonetheless appears to be like very spectacular utilizing the medium high quality preset, so in case you are affected by stuttering points, we might definitely suggest making an attempt the medium preset.
Even at 1440p, it is simple to attain 60 fps efficiency, a GeForce RTX 3060 Ti or Radeon 6700 XT will work and body time efficiency was wonderful, even with 8GB of VRAM. Oddly although, the Arc A750 tanked in efficiency, so we’re undecided what the problem there’s.
And in fact, this is a take a look at 4K. The GeForce RTX 4090 pumped out over 100 fps on common, making it 31% sooner than the 7900 XTX. Meanwhile, the flagship Radeon GPU was a number of frames sooner than the RTX 4080, which was simply 8% sooner than the RTX 3090 Ti.
The Radeon 7900 XT and GeForce RTX 3090 have been good for 65 fps, whereas the RTX 3080 Ti additionally snuck previous 60 fps.
What We Learned
Using barely dialed-down high quality settings, The Last of Us Part I seems fairly straightforward to run, and supplied you’ll be able to handle the sport’s VRAM necessities, you should not have any points. It’s exceptional how effectively a earlier era GPU such because the Radeon RX 6800 performs this sport, it is buttery easy and that is most likely not one thing you’d anticipate finding in spite of everything the net controversy.
Of course, you can definitely argue that the sport should not require greater than 8 GB of VRAM and level to different video games that look nearly as good or higher with much less excessive necessities, you are definitely welcome to that opinion. That mentioned, we do not agree with that. The sport appears to be like beautiful, the feel high quality is great, the geometry is spectacular, and we’re speaking about VRAM necessities for the best high quality preset.
The sport does scale effectively utilizing decrease high quality settings and we might say it is foolish to restrict VRAM utilization for high-end GPUs. If you’ll be able to enhance visuals by means of greater high quality textures, and excessive ranges of element, then by all means accomplish that.
It’s not like the sport does not work on 8 GB graphics playing cards, it does, and really effectively, however not with the extremely high quality preset. This is not the primary time we have seen this occur and it will grow to be commonplace – 8 GB of VRAM is entry-level now, and whereas we really feel for many who spent massive on an RTX 3070 Ti, for instance, the writing was on the wall and we have been warning of this for some time now. Then once more, sacrifice just a little texture high quality and the sport will run effectively in this type of GPU.
If you’re experiencing stuttering points, test the recommended VRAM necessities within the menu and be sure you’re not exceeding them, doing so can even result in crashing. If you keep inside your VRAM finances, have a half-decent CPU and at the very least 16 GB of RAM, the sport ought to play very effectively.
Shopping Shortcuts:
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti on Amazon
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 on Amazon
- AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT on Amazon
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 on Amazon
- AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX on Amazon
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D on Amazon
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700X on Amazon
