Upgrade decision

[llama]

Hey all, KitchComm (Kitchencommand ;) ) authorized the requisition of new computer components. I definitely am planning on new GPU, but I am not sure about CPU and mobo. I am currently running an i5-2500K at stock speeds (socket 1155, rest of specs in sig), but I don't know if the cost of the mobo/cpu would be justified given the performance increase. I am currently getting about 20-30 FPS in Huey. Can some of you share your specs that are getting 60fps average, with no lower than 30? I am hoping to upgrade to 3 monitors at 1920x1080 soon, but that is not in the immediate plan, but it will happen before I upgrade my PC after this upgrade. Any thoughts and advice are greatly appreciated =)

[blackbelter]

I think intead of ditching your current CPU+mb, it is more cost effective for you to get a decent cooler for you CPU if you don't already have one, and OC it.

[cichlidfan]

Get the new GPU and see where that gets you first. Since you haven't said what graphics you have now or what you are considering it is hard to judge what sort of gain you might get.

 

Overclocking is obviously going to cost less than a new CPU/MEM/MOBO setup (unless you cook something, that is ;) ) so it is probably worth considering even if a new cooler is indicated.

[Rhinox]

With decent cooler all 2500Ks can be overclocked to ~4.5GHz. I think it is still very good CPU, not worth the upgrade.

 

I'd go for new GFX instead. Exact model depends on your budget, but as of now NVidia-GFX work better in DCS than AMD/ATI (might change in EDGE).

[Gerg]

Yea id just overclock the cpu and get a new gpu. Overclocking is what the K series cpu was designed for so dont let it go to waste lol, its 30%+ extra performance for nothing.

 

The 2500k is still a decent cpu and the performance gap between it and the newest Haswell cpu is under 10% difference in most apps.

[llama]

Thanks for the input guys, next question is this. Which card? I play a lot of different games (BF3, SWTOR, various shooters, etc) but DCS seems to be the beast because of the amount of textures that load(plus the possibility of 3 monitors). Any specific recommendations on a card? I am looking in the $300 to $350 (USD) price range. So far I have been debating between Nvidia 770 because of the slightly higher clock speeds and more cuda cores and the Nvidia 760 because I can get one with 4GB of VRAM. I just don't know which would perform better for DCS. Thanks again folks =)

[danilop]

Get GTX 770, it's faster card. 2GB is enough for single monitor gaming, I'm on 2GB and 1920x1200 with plenty of memory in reserve.

 

Or better yet, save some (about 50$ more), get 4GB version and you're covered for all eventualities and future display expansion.

[Cedaway]

Get GTX 770, it's faster card. 2GB is enough for single monitor gaming, I'm on 2GB and 1920x1200 with plenty of memory in reserve.

 

Or better yet, save some (about 50$ more), get 4GB version and you're covered for all eventualities and future display expansion.

 

 

+1. I changed from AMD HD5870 to NVidia GTX770OC 4Gb and I've seen massive improvement in DCS World. I can now put all the sliders to the far right and use custom High.lua (ultra.lua) without any problem.

You can find a GTX770 for less than 300€ (less than 400$)

 

As well as you can see in my signature, I also have a 2500k, OC'ed to 4,2GHz without a problem. It's cooled by a Noctua NH-U12P-SE2

(but you can find similar product maybe cheaper).

Edited February 14, 2014 by Cedaway

[pacotito]

I use the hyper 212 evo cooler on both mine and my kids systems. For ~$30usd its a great cooler. I'm on a 2500k @ 4.6 @ 1.26v and I get around 70-75c on prime. Usually around 60 when gaming for extended periods. I just upgraded my gpu to a gtx 780. I was originally looking at an r9-290 but prices are so inflated right now 600-650 so the price/performance isn't there right now for the last 2 generations of AMD gpus. So I'd recommend the 770 for you.

[llama]

what kind of FPS are you gettin Paco? Just for grins, I used the auto-OC settings in my bios (mobo is ASRock z68 extreme4 gen3) just used the 4.0 GHZ settings, didn't go higher than 69 degrees fahrenheit on stock cooler. Looks like I need to pick up a noctua or something to REALLY have some fun...lol. Completely off topic, but I used to have a blue and gold macaw named paco. Best pet I ever had =) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-and-yellow_Macaw

Edited February 15, 2014 by llama

[pacotito]

The worst I've seen so far is 45+. That was with F15 in stormy weather. The Huey missions I've been locked at 60 but I haven't flown the Huey much so it was less than 5 mins.

[howie87]

I bought a 2GB GTX 770 last month and run a pretty mild 4GHz OC on my 2500k with a coolermaster TX3 Evo cooler. I'm using a -0.60 voltage offset which gives me about 1.225v at load and temps of 66°C in prime.

 

DCS is happily sitting at a locked 60fps most of the time but I can drag it down to 40 if I park at Krasnodar and look towards the city. That's with all the sliders to max.

[Kemozor]

llama, alot of people been saying to OC your CPU thats the best advice really.

Easily Clock it to 4.5, i went for the Corsair H80 and Temps are great, cant remember what temp off hand though

 

A single GTX 770 may have a hard time @ 5760x1080. may have to decrease some graphic settings.

[danilop]

llama, you should consider getting an SSD for system drive. 120GB is enough for the OS and you already have dedicated SSD for DCS.

 

Of all the improvements, this one is the most obvious. Highly recommended.

[coconutjo]

If it's just for dcs, throw everything at the proc, 4770k at 4.4ghz. Am just building this now and seeing a huge improvement over i7 920 @ 4ghz. RAM disk or SSD is also advised. EDGE will hopefully make good use of a decent graphics card when released

[Gerg]

If it's just for dcs, throw everything at the proc, 4770k at 4.4ghz. Am just building this now and seeing a huge improvement over i7 920 @ 4ghz. RAM disk or SSD is also advised. EDGE will hopefully make good use of a decent graphics card when released

 

Changing cpu would be pointless as there is only a tiny bit difference in performance over last few generations, under 3% difference in gaming between a 2500k and 4770k.

 

The 2500k will probably overclock higher than a 4770k too so would end up with a worse performing cpu for $400 outlay.

[Rogue Trooper]

I Think the I5 is a pretty good CPU, especially the K. As mentioned before clock it to 4.5.

I use the I5 3570K and clocked it to 4.5, it gives me an almost constant 70 - 75 fps in the Huey. (but please note: I play with low water, no cockpit shadows and medium model detail to give absolutely maximum fps I can get, everything else maxed).

 

A few months ago I took the gamble that edge would off load allot of work from the CPU to the GPU so I upgraded this instead of the CPU.

In fact I threw everything into the GPU upgrade.

 

If... and this has not been discussed by ED... IF Edge goes multi core and uses all 4 cores you will have the equivalent of a CPU upgrade for free.

[llama]

Awesome advice guys, thanks =) I am trying to get kitchcomm to let me bump up the budget a bit (She wanted me to spend <$300, I got her bumped to $350, but I just got word of this deal, http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=8556626&sku=KNY-101804153 , so need a few more bucks....not gonna be a fun sell....lol) And I am going to try the OC route. Hopefully I don't fry anything, I have very limited OC'ing exp so will be visiting some OC specific sites =). I will let you know the results hopefuly in the next 2 weeks or so!

[coconutjo]

Changing cpu would be pointless as there is only a tiny bit difference in performance over last few generations, under 3% difference in gaming between a 2500k and 4770k.

 

The 2500k will probably overclock higher than a 4770k too so would end up with a worse performing cpu for $400 outlay.

 

For gaming sure, spend your money on the card, but for DCS you will see a significant boost in you average frame rate under load. A haswell 4770 at 4.4/4.5 ghz will help, particularly when the simulation becomes more complex and more units are active. If you don't want to shell out then overclock what you have for now.