Tweak2G: Virtu MVP 2.0 on DiRT Showdown

Lucid’s patented Virtu Software embeds technologies for enhanced gaming and professional graphics user experience. With Virtu MVP 2.0 software, PCs based Intel Core™ processor platforms will dynamically balance the media features of Intel’s processor graphics with the high-end features of discrete GPU’s such as DirectX 11 3D and anti-aliasing. Lucid assures optimized simultaneous performance in 3D gaming and video functions like Intel QuickSynctranscoding and HD playback without the need to swap video cable connections between GPUs with their MVP 2.0.

Virtu MVP 2.0 sports HyperFormance and Vsync which enables superior gaming experience through unconstrained virtual FPS and improves performance and image quality, providing gaming performance maximization and smooth image quality without tearing. Virtu MVP 2.0 supports platforms based on Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge and Haswell Intel Core Processorsand works seamlessly with leading Graphics Cards from Nvidia and AMD.

Here’s a list of products that are currently bundled with MVP 2.0:

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MSI (Micro-Star International)

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1. Z87 MPOWER
2. Z87 XPOWER
3. Z87-GD65 GAMING
4. Z87-G45 GAMING
5. Z87 MPOWER MAX

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EVGA

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1. Z87 Stinger
2. Z87 FTW
3. Z87 Classified

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BIOSTAR (Biostar Microtech International Corp)

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1. Hi-Fi Z87X 3D Ver. 5.x

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ECS (Elitegroup Computer Systems Co., Ltd)

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1. Z87H3-A2X EXTREME

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MYTHLOGIC

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1. Pollux 1313
2. Pollux 1413
3. Pollux 1513
4. Nyx 1413
5. Nyx 1713-Black

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Now recently, Lucid gave users a free upgrade to 2.0 for all people who bought products that are bundled with Lucid MVP 1.0 but that promo ended last January 31, 2014. We got our hands on one and we will test it on DOTA 2.

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Testing System:

• i5-3570k @ 4.2ghz
• Asrock Pro3 Z77
• G.Skill Ripjaws X 1600mhz DDr3 CL9
• Asus HD 7850 930/4840
• Vertex 4 120gb / Seagate HDD 1tb.

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Game Settings:

• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Multisampling: 8 x MSAA
• Refresh Rate: 60
• Vsync: Off
• Aspect Ration: Auto
• Gamma: 1.0
• Preset: Ultimate
• Global Illumination: Off
• Stereo Rendering: Off

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* Result will vary on system to system and component to component.

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MVP 2.0 Enabled With Hyperformance

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Average FPS: 118.97

Minimum FPS: 89.65

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MVP 2.0 Disabled

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Average FPS: 84.90

Minimum FPS: 70.41

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With MVP 2.0 Hyperformance enabled, we got a total of 41.6% performance boost for average framerate and 27.3% boost for minimum framerate which is pretty amazing. Although personally I find extra frames that are exceeding the minimum 60 framerate unnecessary for a 60 Hz refresh rate monitor. Also with humanly limitations, a human eye cannot perceive more than 60 frames per second. So you won’t appreciate that boost if you’re already exceeding the 60 frame per second standard unless if you’re using a monitor that has a refresh rate of 100 Hz and above.

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Conclusion

MVP 2.0 does its job in making your iGPU and dGPU work together for greater performance but only on selected games. Also, there are times that it might cause a game to crash unexpectedly. We’ve got to hand it to them that there’s actually a performance boost though. Is it worth it? well if you need that FPS boost then yes but theoretically, with a minimum of 60 fps, answer is no. UNLESS you are using a 100 Hz+ refresh rate monitor.

Another thing worth mentioning is that the game does not support Intel HD does why I wasn’t able to test if how much percentage of each GPU are being scaled. Also, the performance boost will be greater for i7-3770 and 3770k up to Haswell processors.