Conclusion

We have been waiting long for Mass Effect 2 and our expectations haven’t been disappointed. The second Mass Effect is not only a treat to the eye but also a real pleasure for every fan of science fiction. Like the famous first part, the second offers a detailed world, an engaging plot and lots of gameplay options. The merits of the sequel have been highlighted in numerous positive reviews some of which already claim Mass Effect 2 to be the best of 2010 even though the year has just begun. The game is doomed to be a bestseller and we will use it in our reviews of graphics cards as a benchmarking tool.

The visual aspect of the game is nearly blameless. We can only cavil at the simplified textures, which are expected from a multiplatform project, and the nontrivial way of turning FSAA on with Nvidia’s cards. On the other hand, the aliasing defects are masked by clever post-processing effects and the game runs much faster without FSAA.

You don’t have to pay a few hundred dollars for a graphics card like Radeon HD 5970 to enjoy the beauties of Mass Effect 2. The game runs well even on such modest solutions as Radeon HD 5770. Based on Unreal Engine 3.5, Mass Effect 2 is predisposed to the superscalar architecture of Nvidia’s GPUs, but AMD’s Radeon HD 5x00 is so superior to the GeForce series from a technical point of view that they easily make up for the game’s preferences with their more effective architecture. So, it is the different Radeon HD models that are the best choice for playing Mass Effect 2 in nearly every price category, from the dual-processor monster Radeon HD 5970 to the popular hit Radeon HD 4850. Yes, the latter card, announced nearly 2 years ago, is quite capable of running one of the best games of 2010 at the highest settings together with 4x FSAA and at resolutions up to 1920x1200!

Although we recommend ATI Radeon HD solutions for Mass Effect, Nvidia’s products should also be given credit for coping with Mass Effect 2 successfully. The only exception is the architecturally and technically outdated GeForce GTS 250. Thus, the choice of the particular GPU brand depends on your personal preferences as well as on what other games you are going to play. For some people a GeForce GTX 275/285 is going to be a better buy than a Radeon HD 5850. Nvidia’s flagship GeForce GTX 295 will also be able to cope with its job even at 2560x1600.

Mass Effect 2 does not need a top-end CPU. Our test showed no difference between a Core i7-975 Extreme Edition and a Core i7-920. We expect that popular inexpensive models of Intel’s Core i5 processors for LGA1156 will also suffice for Mass Effect 2. AMD’s similar products will do, too.

So, Mass Effect 2 is yet another high-quality title that is ready to please any sci-fi fan. It is good that this undoubtedly exciting game does not call for a super-fast gaming platform or an expensive upgrade. A graphics card of the Radeon HD 5750 class will be perfectly enough. You don’t have to worry even if you’ve already got a Radeon HD 4850 or GeForce GTX 260. These time-tested solutions will serve you well in Mass Effect 2, too.