Benchmarking your Windows 11 PC is a crucial task for understanding its performance capabilities. Unlike traditional benchmarking tools that can present abstract scores that are hard to interpret, certain video games can offer tangible insights into how your hardware performs under real-world conditions. This article explores five games that can effectively benchmark your system, giving you a clearer picture of its capabilities.
Why Benchmark with Games?
Benchmarking with games offers several advantages:- Realistic Performance Metrics: Games can simulate a variety of workloads, helping you observe how your PC handles real gaming scenarios.
- Free and Accessible: Most games are readily available for download, often for free.
Variety of Testing Scenarios: Different genres and styles of games can provide diverse insights into hardware performance. In my experience, here are five games that have proven effective for benchmarking my Windows 11 setup.
1. Fortnite
Overview: Fortnite is a globally popular battle royale game known for its well-optimized structure.- Benefits:
- Accessibility: Being free-to-play, anyone can download and run Fortnite.
- Mainstream Optimization: If your PC can handle Fortnite at decent frames per second (FPS) and resolution, it should manage other similar online titles just as well.
- Latency Testing: As an online game, it highlights latency issues during gameplay.
- How to Benchmark: While there’s no built-in benchmark tool, you can enable the FPS counter in the settings. This allows you to see how your system performs during matches.
2. Red Dead Redemption 2
Overview: This is a highly acclaimed action-adventure game known for its stunning visuals and expansive open world. - Challenges:
- The built-in benchmarking tool is only available in Story mode; it cannot be accessed if you only have Red Dead Online.
- Benchmarking Process:
- Switch to Story Mode and navigate to Settings > Graphics to find the benchmarking option.
- The tool provides a performance summary at the end, detailing your peak, average, and lowest FPS during simulated sequences.
3. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Overview: An older yet impressive AAA title that features a comprehensive benchmarking tool. - Why Use This Game:
- You can access the benchmark tool without needing to purchase the full game by downloading the free demo available on Steam.
- Benchmark Steps:
- Once the demo is installed, go to Options > Display and Graphics, where you can run the benchmark.
- It offers detailed performance analytics for both CPU and GPU, making it an excellent option for older hardware.
4. Call of Duty: Warzone
Overview: A free-to-play battle royale game that's part of the Call of Duty franchise, known for its high-quality graphics and gameplay. - Benchmarking Features:
- You can test various game modes to assess your system's performance under different scenarios.
- Like Fortnite, it helps gauge latency with its online multiplayer setting.
- Performance Tracking: Use the Windows Game Bar to monitor FPS and performance throughout your play sessions.
5. Black Myth: Wukong Benchmarking Tool
Overview: A newer title making waves in the gaming community, Black Myth: Wukong offers a standalone benchmarking tool. - Highlight of the Tool:
- Downloadable for free on Steam, the benchmark assesses FPS and VRAM usage across beautifully rendered scenes.
No Game Purchase Required: You don't need to own the game to utilize the benchmarking tool, making it a perfect way to evaluate your system's capabilities for upcoming titles.
Additional Benchmarking Tips
Monitor Temperature and Usage: Use software like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner alongside gaming benchmarks to ensure your system runs optimally without overheating.
Conclusion
Using these five games to benchmark your Windows 11 PC can provide a well-rounded perspective on how your system handles gaming workloads. By combining the realism of gameplay with traditional metrics, you can better understand the capacity of your hardware and its capabilities in various gaming scenarios. Overall, whether you’re an avid gamer or just wanting to ensure your system runs efficiently, these benchmarks will guide you in optimizing your PC for the best performance.
Benchmarking not only ensures your gaming experience is smooth; it also helps in identifying potential upgrades, thus creating a tailored gaming environment that meets your specific needs. Source: MakeUseOf 5 Games I Use to Benchmark My Windows 11 PC
