If Pascal isn't a MASSIVE leap in performance, I will be so extremely disappointed I won't know where to begin.
There is
1 legitimate reason why it could appear as if 16nm HBM2 GPUs aren't a massive leap -- a glut of outdated, CPU limited, non-GPU intensive PS4/XB1 console ports skewing benchmarks and hiding the true potential of advanced next generation GPU architectures meant for
next gen games.
HD7970 launch is the perfect example of this scenario.
At 1080P, 7970 appeared to be just 11% faster than a GTX580 at launch, and only 19% at 1440P:
It would be easy to conclude that HD7970 was a garbage release but it would have been a flawed conclusion since the GPU utilization in a lot of those games tested was probably nowhere near 100%!
We are actually already starting to see this scenario play out in many 'modern' PC games today at 1080P:
^It would be easy to conclude here that the Titan X and Nano CF are just
1.5% apart in performance and that Nano CF is only
27% faster than the 980. But I bet any $ if we look at the GPU usage data, those Nano GPUs are barely sweating (i.e., they are underutilized). Eventually we will have 16nm GPUs like Pascal that would have the performance approaching that of dual Nanos in 1 chip. However, if we continue testing them in outdated game engines/games, at low resolutions like 1080P, with hardly much of a stress, they are also going to be bottlenecked.
Turn on the GPU load (4K) and suddenly the Nanos are
38% faster than the Titan X and
82% faster than the 980!
Similarly, if you just look at 1080P comparison of 980 vs. 980Ti, you'd think hmmm..well the 980Ti is only 21% faster, but that's because it's CPU limited in many of those 1080P game tests. Throw in a GPU demanding title, and 980Ti really flexes its muscle.
That means we have to be cognizant of the fact that to show a true potential of a powerful next generation 2016-2017 GPU, we have to look at either high resolution gaming benchmarks for old/less GPU demanding games, or hope that much more GPU demanding games come out in 2016-2017 to allow Pascal to fully utilize all the extra texture, shader, ROP units, etc. Otherwise, I think it's about time that sites like TPU switch on SSAA/VSR/DSR at 1080P/1200P resolutions. It's becoming stupid to test many games at 1080P at 100-200+ fps because a lot of gamers on 60Hz monitors will start turning on SSAA/VSR/DSR if they have that much extra performance.
I hope professional reviewers start thinking about this for next generation GPUs because otherwise it's akin to buying LaFerrari and driving within the speed limit on the highway and stating that after reaching 70 mph speed limit, it's not any faster than a Honda Civic.