EVGA 400W + Spire Maverick/MS Phoenix + R7 250X. You can probably snag that 2GB DDR2 card for about $100$40, but honestly, you might be better off saving that cash for a whole new platform . This setup could likely run on a generic, unbranded power supply without any issues, provided it's actually functioning correctly (in which case, grab it if you're certain you aren't planning to upgrade your CPU anytime soon)
What’s your total budget for all three components? Regarding eDigital, the real headache starts when you need to file a warranty claim. They recently pulled out of the US market, so I'd much rather stick with a reliable, fast-shipping retailer—someone like Amazon or Newegg
It’s worth the investment if you actually plan on gaming. What kind of setup are you running right now? Just a heads-up: your CPU is going to be a major bottleneck for any modern graphics cards, though you can always swap out the whole platform (CPU, motherboard, and RAM) down the road.
Unfortunately, that GPU isn't even close to being worth that much money. You're better off picking up a used card for around $350—$133though keep in mind those pull more power, so you won't be able to rely on some generic, off-brand power supply. Do you need a case? For that price point, you could actually get a decent, reliable power supply instead.
I might eventually bump it up to 6 or 8GB of RAM and grab an 840 or 860k, or maybe even an FX 4300 from a local shop. I'm just typing this on my phone right now, but it's definitely on the table.
Look, I’m not trying to be difficult; I’m just saying I wouldn't want to drop a massive amount of cash only to end up disappointed by performance issues that stem more from the game engine than the actual hardware. As for RAM, honestly, anything over 8GB isn't really necessary for gaming these days anyway.
Did you catch what I quoted in post #5? The guy is claiming you won't even get a stable frame rate in this game even if you're running an i7. For titles like this, honestly, the best and most cost-effective way to go is just grabbing a Pentium G3258 and overclocking the hell out of it.
Even though there’s been some confusion regarding the +12V ratings—since they seem to have several different versions floating around—if I were looking at the 560w gp3, I’d still go for it. In my experience, these units are much more rugged and reliable than anything you'll find from Apevia or Smart Tchefteca (there have even been several local reviews from sites like PCMag or Tom's Hardware that noted the same thing), and everyone who tested them was pleasantly surprised. Right now, it’s easily the strongest power supply option available $133 in most US retail stores .
That’s true, but there will be plenty more games like this down the road. That's why I hate making bold predictions about everything running at ultra settings with sky-high FPS when even current titles struggle to hit those marks. Plus, you see all these benchmarks being run without MSAA, and then some geniuses crank up MSAA x8 and act completely shocked when the performance tanks.
Unfortunately, running everything at Ultra settings—especially if you're cranking up MSAA—isn't going to happen. In fact, we're already seeing titles out there that struggle to hit 1080p click, but you can rest assured that any game from this current generation will definitely run
Exactly what I mean is—if a rebranded R9 290 ends up priced at around $200, hardly anyone is going to bother looking at a GTX 970 for over $300. Though, I suppose if those higher-end models drop below the $300 mark, we might see some interest there again. 🤷
Yeah, they're right—your PC is well above the recommended specs (Core 2 duo E8400 or Intel Core 2 Quad, GeForce GTX 260) 🤷
Since this is a simulation, you have to expect poor optimization. You’ll likely see low FPS even while CPU and GPU usage sits around 30%. These types of games often run better on Intel due to superior IPC, though it still won't feel as smooth as something like Arma 3.
First, check if your CPU or GPU is overheating. That CPU definitely needs an aftermarket cooler; the stock one simply won't cut it. You can monitor temps in-game using something like PlayClaw or MSI Afterburner, but it might be better to test both outside the game using a tool like OCCT. For that CPU, you want to stay under 61-62°C, and based on reviews, the GPU should hover around 56-57°C, maybe a bit higher during a stress test.
Please post specs, as it will allow us to possibly help you, but be aware that this game can be erratic in performance. I can be comfortably at 60fps and I can do certain acts that drop frames to sub 10FPS (rare). I've learned to deal with it, and am quite happy down to about 20 FPS.
One of the main factors regarding performance of this game is CPU clock speed. I've currently set mine at 4GHz (Intel Core i7). The reason for this is that the game uses mostly only one core (sound being offset to a second). This means that raw speed actually makes a big difference, as it's calculating a lot of variables.
I'm at work so I can't remember the proc exactly. i5 (clocked at under 3GHz I think), HD5850, 12 gigs of ram, slow ♥♥♥ HDD.
If the game's performance is normally that erratic I may have to pass as I can't stand playing like that. Microsoft Flight Simulator.
It's frustrating because even if you drop a massive amount of cash on a new rig, it might still crawl along like a snail. Even characters running overclocked i7s struggle, and an i5 doesn't fare much better... I don't know, unless this game is absolutely essential to your life, I'd say just uninstall it and find something else to play. 😬
Why go for an i7 non-K if you aren't planning on overclocking?
Look, if you want an Intel Core i7, here’s the play: grab an ASUS H97 motherboard—you could opt for a B85 board, but the better-equipped H97 models end up costing nearly the same anyway. Pair that with an Intel Core i7-4770 or a 4790 (the non-K versions), and definitely pick up a decent cooler since that Intel Core i7 is going to run pretty hot during rendering tasks. Something like a Corsair H100i should do the trick, and you're all set.
Do you even have a motherboard that actually supports SLI properly? You'd need one with an extra PCI Express 2.0 x4 slot to handle it—those are usually the higher-end models.
It’s not a suction issue. A case without any ventilation simply lacks airflow, plain and simple. If you install an aftermarket cooler for that CPU, the PC will run perfectly fine; it shouldn't be hitting overheating territory because of that alone.
They’ll probably be pricey. There’s been talk that the AMD Radeon R9 380X might just be a rebrand of the AMD Radeon R9 290, and rumors are flying about all these new GPUs being nothing more than rebranded old tech, so who knows? Honestly, if the 380X ends up significantly cheaper than the current AMD Radeon R9 290—similar to how the 280X compared to the 7970—then it’s a win. The only thing we can be certain of is that those high-end cards utilizing High Bandwidth Memory will definitely be entirely new architectures.
Let’s face it, all the current platforms are getting pretty outdated. Word on the street is that Socket 1150 is only getting two more Broadwell chips before it's done, and we're already hearing rumors that Skylake is hitting the market as early as Q3 this year.
That said, that Pentium would actually beat out an Athlon II in quite a few games, but the real question is how many upcoming titles it can actually handle given the two-core limitation. So, if he isn't planning on a quick upgrade from the Pentium, the Athlon II is the safer bet. Of course, there aren't any meaningful upgrade paths there; it's more of a "run it until it dies" type of platform, after which he'll just need to swap out the whole motherboard.
So, the non-K version of the Athlon has finally arrived. $165 - interesting. Honestly, grabbing this 860K isn't worth the money anyway since you can pick up an FX 4300 for even less right now (currently under $200) + at least you actually have a decent upgrade path ahead of you.
Look, Intel is going to swap out sockets every two or three generations, but honestly, that i5 will probably still be a workhorse for you. The focus for new Intel processors seems to be more about beefing up integrated graphics and shrinking the manufacturing process; rumors suggest Skylake might only offer a 5% bump in performance. Well, rumors are just rumors, but that’s pretty much how it’s played out over the last three series anyway.