Comparing GSdx SSE2/SSSE3/SSE4.1/AVX/AVX2

[Blyss Sarania]

You are comparing it like this:

SSE2 no extra threads: 20 FPS

versus

SSE2 with 2 extra threads: 31.2FPS.

That's NOT what I'm comparing, nor was it the purpose of this test.

I am comparing:

SSE2 2 extra threads: 31.2 FPS

versus

SSSE3 2 extra threads: 31.3 FPS.

[markyrocks69]

Where can I get avx2 plugin?

[Nobbs66]

the new GIT builds have it

[tsunami2311]

the difference between instructions sets has always been with in 5% of each other none of them ever out right performed each been like for while too. which is common knowlage by this point to or atlest should be imo

[Blyss Sarania]

First, in the case of AVX2 with multiple threads, it's actually a 15% boost. And on my CPU with no extra threads, AVX is 16% faster than SSE2. 16% is a significant boost. It could easily mean the difference between playable and not.

Second, I don't think it's common knowledge that SSE 4.1 is faster in hardware mode. Most people just say the instruction sets help with software only. I had heard on the forums one single time that SSE 4.1 was faster in Hardware, and that is indeed the case. AVX2 and SSE4.1 both show improvements over all the others in HW. This is not common knowledge.

Anyway, "common knowledge" seems to be to set the plugin to the highest instruction set your PC supports and leave it alone. But the tests shows that if the highest set you support is AVX, you should use AVX for software but SSE4.1 for hardware.

[Nobbs66]

In my opinion I think you should just leave it at the highest supported instruction set possible unless you have a dualcore, in which extra rendering threads is pointless.

[Blyss Sarania]

^ I disagree. Let's say I set mine at AVX and leave it(which is what I've done til now). Take Xenosaga I as an example. Cutscenes regularly drop to ~55FPS for me in HW mode. Switching to SSE4.1 causes them to stay at 60FPS. So if you are using something other than SSE4.1/AVX2, and you have a game that's going ~10% slow, switching to SSE4.1 or AVX2 will bring it to full speed.

[Nobbs66]

If I'm dropping 5 fps, I normally disable effects processing and set the audio to linear.

[Blyss Sarania]

That's an option as well, but I'd change plugins first. Since the plugin change causes no loss of quality for either video or audio.

[Nobbs66]

yeah, except somthing like Burnout 3 where SSE2 actually does cause graphics issues.