Not necessarily, I wouldn't make that assumption yet. If we start seeing vastly improved scores on full screen mode then maybe there is something to that.
For the lulz I ran the new benchmark on my media center system, which is 6 years old and has an nVidia 8400 GS in it (cheapest card I could get with an HDMI out.) I think it's an AMD Athlon x2 with 4 GB of RAM. (Hey, six years ago that was a decent system.)
I scored a whopping 485 on it with the warning message of "Insufficient" on medium HD settings. It looked worse than the videos of un-optimized PS3. I think it was getting 2 FPS.
So I dropped it down to 1024x768 and turned off EVERYTHING in the settings. No shadows, no effects at all, not even any kind of quality grass. (You can turn that off, amusingly enough.) Hit 635 this time, but it's still officially "insufficient."
TL;DR: SE's minimum required specs are pretty accurate. An 8800 would probably make a big difference here.
SLI is not yet supported, or so the benchmark page says.
I imagine that, just like they're working with Sony on get the PS3 version ironed out, they've got a small team from nVidia and from AMD getting paid an outrageous consulting fee to work with them on making XIV look its best on those cards, too. SLI and Crossfire support will eventually be part of that.
I ran the benchmark four different times with four different options to see how they changed my results. Please note, these results are on my laptop. Also, the custom settings I use in the second batch are from suggestions that can be found here. I started with the game on Max settings, then made these adjustments. The visual difference is barely noticeable.
Maximum Settings, Full Screen: 4053 FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn Official Benchmark (Exploration) Tested on:3/14/2013 7:50:44 PM Score:4053 Average Framerate:32.894 Performance:High -Easily capable of running the game. Should perform well, even at higher resolutions.
Screen Size: 1920x1080 Screen Mode: Full Screen Graphics Presets: Maximum General -Improve overall graphic quality. : Enabled -Disable rendering of objects when not visible. (Occlusion Culling) : Disabled -Use low-detail models on distant objects to increase performance. (LOD) : Disabled -Cache LOD data only when necessary. (LOD Streaming) : Disabled -Smooth edges. (Anti-aliasing) : Enabled -Increase transparent lighting quality. : Enabled -Grass Quality : High Shadows -Use low-detail models on shadows to increase performance. (LOD) : Disabled -Display : All -Shadow Resolution : High: 2048 pixels -Shadow Cascading : High -Shadow Softening : High Texture Detail -Texture Filtering : High -Anisotropic Filtering : High Effects -Naturally darken the edges of the screen. (Limb Darkening) : Enabled -Blur the graphics around an object in motion. (Radial Blur) : Enabled -Effects While in Motion : Display All -Screen Space Ambient Occlusion : High -Glare : Normal Cinematic Cutscenes -Enable depth of field. : Enabled
System: Windows 8 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (9200.win8_gdr.130108-1504) Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3630QM CPU @ 2.40GHz 8084.832MB Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000(VRAM 1664 MB) 9.17.0010.2849
Benchmark results do not provide any guarantee FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn will run on your system.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn Official Website http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com (C) 2010-2013 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.
Tweet http://sqex.to/ffxiv_bench_na #FFXIV Score:4053 1920x1080 Maximum Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3630QM CPU @ 2.40GHz Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
Maximum Settings, Full Screen Windowed: 3668 FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn Official Benchmark (Exploration) Tested on:3/14/2013 7:56:53 PM Score:3668 Average Framerate:29.387 Performance:High -Easily capable of running the game. Should perform well, even at higher resolutions.
Screen Size: 1920x1080 Screen Mode: Borderless Windowed Graphics Presets: Maximum General -Improve overall graphic quality. : Enabled -Disable rendering of objects when not visible. (Occlusion Culling) : Disabled -Use low-detail models on distant objects to increase performance. (LOD) : Disabled -Cache LOD data only when necessary. (LOD Streaming) : Disabled -Smooth edges. (Anti-aliasing) : Enabled -Increase transparent lighting quality. : Enabled -Grass Quality : High Shadows -Use low-detail models on shadows to increase performance. (LOD) : Disabled -Display : All -Shadow Resolution : High: 2048 pixels -Shadow Cascading : High -Shadow Softening : High Texture Detail -Texture Filtering : High -Anisotropic Filtering : High Effects -Naturally darken the edges of the screen. (Limb Darkening) : Enabled -Blur the graphics around an object in motion. (Radial Blur) : Enabled -Effects While in Motion : Display All -Screen Space Ambient Occlusion : High -Glare : Normal Cinematic Cutscenes -Enable depth of field. : Enabled
System: Windows 8 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (9200.win8_gdr.130108-1504) Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3630QM CPU @ 2.40GHz 8084.832MB Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000(VRAM 1664 MB) 9.17.0010.2849
Benchmark results do not provide any guarantee FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn will run on your system.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn Official Website http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com (C) 2010-2013 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.
Tweet http://sqex.to/ffxiv_bench_na #FFXIV Score:3668 1920x1080 Maximum Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3630QM CPU @ 2.40GHz Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
Custom Settings, Fullscreen: 5812 FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn Official Benchmark (Exploration) Tested on:3/14/2013 8:03:30 PM Score:5812 Average Framerate:47.266 Performance:Very High -Easily capable of running the game. Should perform exceptionally well, even at higher resolutions.
Screen Size: 1920x1080 Screen Mode: Full Screen Graphics Presets: Custom General -Improve overall graphic quality. : Enabled -Disable rendering of objects when not visible. (Occlusion Culling) : Enabled -Use low-detail models on distant objects to increase performance. (LOD) : Enabled -Cache LOD data only when necessary. (LOD Streaming) : Enabled -Smooth edges. (Anti-aliasing) : Disabled -Increase transparent lighting quality. : Enabled -Grass Quality : High Shadows -Use low-detail models on shadows to increase performance. (LOD) : Enabled -Display : All -Shadow Resolution : Mid: 1024 pixels -Shadow Cascading : Normal -Shadow Softening : Low Texture Detail -Texture Filtering : High -Anisotropic Filtering : High Effects -Naturally darken the edges of the screen. (Limb Darkening) : Enabled -Blur the graphics around an object in motion. (Radial Blur) : Enabled -Effects While in Motion : Display All -Screen Space Ambient Occlusion : Off -Glare : Normal Cinematic Cutscenes -Enable depth of field. : Enabled
System: Windows 8 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (9200.win8_gdr.130108-1504) Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3630QM CPU @ 2.40GHz 8084.832MB Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000(VRAM 1664 MB) 9.17.0010.2849
Benchmark results do not provide any guarantee FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn will run on your system.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn Official Website http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com (C) 2010-2013 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.
Tweet http://sqex.to/ffxiv_bench_na #FFXIV Score:5812 1920x1080 Custom Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3630QM CPU @ 2.40GHz Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
Custom Settings, Full Screen Windowed: 5216 FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn Official Benchmark (Exploration) Tested on:3/14/2013 8:08:47 PM Score:5216 Average Framerate:41.867 Performance:Very High -Easily capable of running the game. Should perform exceptionally well, even at higher resolutions.
Screen Size: 1920x1080 Screen Mode: Borderless Windowed Graphics Presets: Custom General -Improve overall graphic quality. : Enabled -Disable rendering of objects when not visible. (Occlusion Culling) : Enabled -Use low-detail models on distant objects to increase performance. (LOD) : Enabled -Cache LOD data only when necessary. (LOD Streaming) : Enabled -Smooth edges. (Anti-aliasing) : Disabled -Increase transparent lighting quality. : Enabled -Grass Quality : High Shadows -Use low-detail models on shadows to increase performance. (LOD) : Enabled -Display : All -Shadow Resolution : Mid: 1024 pixels -Shadow Cascading : Normal -Shadow Softening : Low Texture Detail -Texture Filtering : High -Anisotropic Filtering : High Effects -Naturally darken the edges of the screen. (Limb Darkening) : Enabled -Blur the graphics around an object in motion. (Radial Blur) : Enabled -Effects While in Motion : Display All -Screen Space Ambient Occlusion : Off -Glare : Normal Cinematic Cutscenes -Enable depth of field. : Enabled
System: Windows 8 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (9200.win8_gdr.130108-1504) Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3630QM CPU @ 2.40GHz 8084.832MB Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000(VRAM 1664 MB) 9.17.0010.2849
Benchmark results do not provide any guarantee FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn will run on your system.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn Official Website http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com (C) 2010-2013 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.
Tweet http://sqex.to/ffxiv_bench_na #FFXIV Score:5216 1920x1080 Custom Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3630QM CPU @ 2.40GHz Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
These scores are a good chunk higher than my last test.
3383 @ 1920x1080 max settings on my old rig. In the middle of modding my case for my new rig so won't be able to try it with all my new toys for a week or two.
7845 on max @ 1920 x 1080 while in full screen. 965 BE OC'd to 3.9 8gb 1033 ram xfx 7950 7200 rpm hdd
I'm planning on building a new gaming pc in May. I will be keeping the 7950 for that and giving the rest of this current build to my son to take with him to college. My new build will be an 8 core amd, 16gb ram, and 2x 256gb SSD running dual 24" monitors in 1080. I'm wondering if FFXIV will support 3D?
FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn Official Benchmark (Exploration) Tested on:3/18/2013 8:06:30 AM Score:8768 Average Framerate:75.628 Performance:Extremely High -Easily capable of running the game on the highest settings.
Screen Size: 1680x1050 Screen Mode: Full Screen Graphics Presets: Custom General -Improve overall graphic quality. : Enabled -Disable rendering of objects when not visible. (Occlusion Culling) : Enabled -Use low-detail models on distant objects to increase performance. (LOD) : Disabled -Cache LOD data only when necessary. (LOD Streaming) : Disabled -Smooth edges. (Anti-aliasing) : Enabled -Increase transparent lighting quality. : Enabled -Grass Quality : High Shadows -Use low-detail models on shadows to increase performance. (LOD) : Disabled -Display : All -Shadow Resolution : High: 2048 pixels -Shadow Cascading : High -Shadow Softening : High Texture Detail -Texture Filtering : High -Anisotropic Filtering : High Effects -Naturally darken the edges of the screen. (Limb Darkening) : Disabled -Blur the graphics around an object in motion. (Radial Blur) : Disabled -Effects While in Motion : Display All -Screen Space Ambient Occlusion : High -Glare : Normal Cinematic Cutscenes -Enable depth of field. : Enabled
System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120830-0333) Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3570K CPU @ 3.40GHz 8140.004MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670(VRAM 4042 MB) 9.18.0013.1407
For me, it depends on if I can alt+tab. If it doesn't crash the application, Fullscreen for me. If it's like 1.0, then... I guess I'll be doing the borderless windowed mode as well.
Tested all 3 modes but they don't make much difference, so didn't post all the scores. ^^ Personally like boarderless windowed mode best, cuz its mixture of windowed and full screen.