Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this shader tutorial, I show the most accurate way to measure shader performance with Unreal 5 and Unity - by running the shader on the target hardware. First I show how to create a very simple test scene with just a camera pointed at a flat plane with the shader applied. Then I show how to build the scene so it can run outside the editor. And finally, we run the scene and measure how long it takes to render using either a frame-rate counter or Microsoft PIX. Measuring how long it takes to render works best if you can do it on the hardware that your game will ship on.
Creating a build of your simple project in Unreal 5 requires a couple of extra steps that can be found in these two links:
reddit.com/r/unrealengine/comments/nm6nuz/are_you_unable_to_package_windows_projects_in_ue5
youtube.com/watch?v=xFY4CV6dpbI
If you'd like to add a framerate counter to your project, you can use these links to learn how to do it:
Unreal: couchlearn.com/show-fps-counter-in-unreal-engine-4
Unity: youtube.com/watch?v=RTfMWE-NDTE
Here's the link to download PIX:
devblogs.microsoft.com/pix/download
Here's last week's video that explains why using Instruction Count is not accurate for measuring shader performance:
youtu.be/E82XxlXMJs4
And here's the playlist for the whole series:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL78XDi0TS4lEBWa2Hpzg2SRC5njCcKydl
Learn More!
youtube.com/watch?v=4TbvHqf0U04
youtube.com/watch?v=EbXakIuZPFo
youtube.com/watch?v=y0QASid1v8w
Resources on the web:
docs.unity3d.com/Manual/shader-performance-debugging.html
developer.apple.com/documentation/metal/shader_authoring/optimizing_performance_with_the_shader_profiler
developer.android.com/agi/frame-trace/shader-performance
Shader Book Recommendations
bencloward.com/resources_books.shtml
------------------------------
Theme Music
Peace in the Circuitry - Glitch Hop
teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=1526
Background Music
Speo - The Little Things
youtube.com/watch?v=aoc9v_TRBqc
#UnrealEngine #shadergraph #Unity
In this shader tutorial, I show the most accurate way to measure shader performance with Unreal 5 and Unity - by running the shader on the target hardware. First I show how to create a very simple test scene with just a camera pointed at a flat plane with the shader applied. Then I show how to build the scene so it can run outside the editor. And finally, we run the scene and measure how long it takes to render using either a frame-rate counter or Microsoft PIX. Measuring how long it takes to render works best if you can do it on the hardware that your game will ship on.
Creating a build of your simple project in Unreal 5 requires a couple of extra steps that can be found in these two links:
reddit.com/r/unrealengine/comments/nm6nuz/are_you_unable_to_package_windows_projects_in_ue5
youtube.com/watch?v=xFY4CV6dpbI
If you'd like to add a framerate counter to your project, you can use these links to learn how to do it:
Unreal: couchlearn.com/show-fps-counter-in-unreal-engine-4
Unity: youtube.com/watch?v=RTfMWE-NDTE
Here's the link to download PIX:
devblogs.microsoft.com/pix/download
Here's last week's video that explains why using Instruction Count is not accurate for measuring shader performance:
youtu.be/E82XxlXMJs4
And here's the playlist for the whole series:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL78XDi0TS4lEBWa2Hpzg2SRC5njCcKydl
Learn More!
youtube.com/watch?v=4TbvHqf0U04
youtube.com/watch?v=EbXakIuZPFo
youtube.com/watch?v=y0QASid1v8w
Resources on the web:
docs.unity3d.com/Manual/shader-performance-debugging.html
developer.apple.com/documentation/metal/shader_authoring/optimizing_performance_with_the_shader_profiler
developer.android.com/agi/frame-trace/shader-performance
Shader Book Recommendations
bencloward.com/resources_books.shtml
------------------------------
Theme Music
Peace in the Circuitry - Glitch Hop
teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=1526
Background Music
Speo - The Little Things
youtube.com/watch?v=aoc9v_TRBqc
#UnrealEngine #shadergraph #Unity
