update 1/12/13:So I took some time tonight to record additional benchmarks using my new Dell U2713HM monitor (formerly 27" Auria that I returned to Micro Center). Just like before, these benchmarks were done on 64 player maps with a 5 minute recording using FRAPS. Please take note of the universal and conditional settings used for all benchmarks.
Before we get into the numbers, here's a pic I took tonight of my new monitor standing next to my old 23" Sammy. The image quality on this Dell is insane! I cannot believe how much better it looks when compared to the Auria and my old monitor. I also must add that Dell did a heck of a job with the AG coating, I don't even know it's there!
My test system:
CPU: i5 2500k at 4.3ghz
ASrock z68 pro3m motherboard
8Gb Crucial DDR3 1600 RAM
128GB Crucial m4 OS drive
256GB Liteon OEM SSD Game drive (location of BF3 install)
Corsair 650W PSU
Sapphire Radeon 7950 3GB OC'd @ 950/1300
Universal Settings Used:
Resolution: 2560x1440 @ 60hz
V-Sync: Off
Field of view: 90
Motion blur: Off
Graphics quality: Custom
Texture quality: Ultra
Shadow quality: Ultra
Effects quality: Ultra
Mesh quality: Ultra
Terrain quality: Ultra
Terrain decoration: Ultra
Anisotropic filter: 16x
Ambient Occlusion: HBAO
Conditional Settings Used
Post and Deferred Anitaliasing Off or On, please reference charts.
And here are my results:
Azadi Palace was crazy with 64 players! Enabling AA didn't impact playability in my opinion, and I didn't experience any significant frame rate drop.
I spent the majority of the time in this stage inside a vehicle, figuring that's what the majority of players will do anyways. I did notice some FPS dips here and there when inside a tank, other than that it was ok.
Caspian Border is an oldie but goodie! I mixed it up here: on foot, in a tank / jeep, and sniping. As you can see AA definitely takes it's toll on the framerate at times.
Operation Firestorm is one of my favorite stages in BF3 since it offers everything; space to fly, spaces to snipe, and plenty of space to get sniped! Seeing same results as Caspian here.
Karkand shows more of the same, Framerate dips into the 30's with AA enabled.
That's all I have right now. I would have loved to benchmark a 64 player close quarters map but I couldn't find one tonight! I'll update this post once I do.
I also took some in game screenshots for some of the maps using the conditional settings. This will give you an idea of the differences in image quality. That said, I honestly can't recommend having AA enabled in this game at this resolution. Sure the edges look smoother when looking at the screenshots, but who plays this game standing in place looking at edges!? When playing, I'm too busy running around like a headless chicken to notice the imperfections, and I'll gladly take the smoother framerate any day of the week.
BF3 Game Pic links
Azadi Palace
No AA:
http://i1.minus.com/iefUirfmaKJOl.bmp
AA Enabled:
http://i2.minus.com/ilSctZ2nGrjLr.bmp
Caspian Border
No AA:
http://i3.minus.com/iet5jaDtNWJOI.bmp
AA Enabled:
http://i5.minus.com/iY47EVNzRqqZC.bmp
If you guys have any questions, please let me know!