Doc Overclock · 01-26-2009 · Category: Tech-planations

Performance in Mirror's Edge

To test the game I decided to focus on performance with a NVIDIA video card the GTX 280 in single card mode, with two cards (SLI mode) and PhysX mode. The performance will be tested using FRAPS on each of four levels. The levels chosen use a variety of PhysX effects including glass, cloth, smoke and wind. To give a sense of performance of ATI products, I tested a HD 4850 and a HD 4870 1GB without PhysX enabled.

Heat B has the most glass in the game with a whole office building full of PhysX driven glass. Flight B has a lot of interaction between glass and cloth. Jacknife C has a whole level of interactive smoke where you can slide around and see the impression by looking behind you. Ropeburn D has a train that interacts with the subway banners.

Test System

• Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 Running at 3.2GHz
• 2GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3-2000MHz memory running at 1333MHz
• 2 74GB WD Raptor SATA HDDs in RAID 0 Mode
• LG 16X DVD-RW Drive
• ATI Radeon HD 4870 1GB
• ATI Radeon HD 4850 1GB
• NVIDIA GTX280 Running Forceware 181.20
• NVIDIA 8800GTS 320MB in PhysX mode SLI running 181.20

Tests

• FRAPS Walkthrough Mirror's Edge 1280x1024, 1920x1200 4x AA 16x AF Heat B level
• FRAPS Walkthrough Mirror's Edge 1280x1024, 1920x1200 4x AA 16x AF Flight B level
• FRAPS Walkthrough Mirror's Edge 1280x1024, 1920x1200 4x AA 16x AF Ropeburn D level
• FRAPS Walkthrough Mirror's Edge 1280x1024, 1920x1200 4x AA 16x AF Jackknife C level

Contents

1. Introduction
2. PhysX Features
3. Mirror's Edge PhysX Effects
4. Performance in Mirror's Edge
5. Conclusion