HDR mode significantly reduces graphics performance

One of the foremost developments in screen technology that creates a visual delight has undoubtedly been HDR. High resolutions in all glory, the greater dynamic range of colors that HDR adds can create a powerful impressive visual experience when used correctly. However, it comes with a performance cost that is not entirely negligible, it turns out.

The German technology site Computerbase.de has carried out a number of performance tests where graphics cards from both AMD and Nvidia have been tested with HDR mode activated. The average performance loss for Nvidia’s graphics chips was about 10 percent, while the corresponding figures for AMD’s equivalents were about 2 percent.

As an example, the image update between graphics cards based on Geforce GTX 1080 and Radeon RX Vega 64 differed by only one to two frames per second without HDR enabled, but with mode enabled, the result for Geforce GTX 1080 was almost ten frames per second slower. Even frametimes showed almost exactly the same difference in performance.

► Samsung C32HG70QQ – 32 inches with Freesync 2 in 144 Hz and HDR

Exactly why the difference is so great between the two camps is unclear, and the results also differ between the twelve games that Computerbase.de tested. It remains to be seen if updated drivers are all that is needed to fix the Geforce family’s performance lag or if the problem is hardware related.