New System Advice

[B2Blain]

I was hoping to run DCS World on my old rig but encountered too many issues so I am planning to upgrade. I'd like to take advantage of the visual improvements in DCS World 2.0 but I have a self imposed budget. I have tried to do some research on this forum as well as other sites but I need confirmation and/or advice regarding some of the components.

 

CPU - Core i5 4690.

 

Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3. The main features that I am looking for are four memory slots and the ability to do SLI or Crossfire.

 

Memory: 8GB Kingston Hyper Fury DDR3 1866 MHz. My understanding is that 8GB should be enough.

 

Video Card: ?

I'd like to turn on a lot of the graphic features in the game. But I assume that the video card I choose will dependent on the monitor. I will be using a single Dell E2211H, running a 1920x1080. Will a GTX970 or an R9 290 provide the performance I need?

 

Thanks!

[dburne]

CPU - Core i5 4690.

 

Would do well. I suggest you consider the 4690K processor, would give you unlocked multiplier and you could easily push it over 4 ghz by just upping the multi.

 

Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3. The main features that I am looking for are four memory slots and the ability to do SLI or Crossfire.

 

Should do well.

 

Memory: 8GB Kingston Hyper Fury DDR3 1866 MHz. My understanding is that 8GB should be enough.

 

Highly suggest 16 gb. You will need more than 8gb with 2.0 fairly soon imho, 16gb would be a nice cushion.

 

Video Card: ?

I'd like to turn on a lot of the graphic features in the game. But I assume that the video card I choose will dependent on the monitor. I will be using a single Dell E2211H, running a 1920x1080. Will a GTX970 or an R9 290 provide the performance I need?

 

I recommend the GTX 970. Will run your 1920x1080 very well, and is economical considering new architecture due out later this year. I run 2.0 with all graphics mostly maxed out, on 1920x1080, with great framerates - 80 fps over Vegas, well over 100 in other areas. EVGA GTX 970 FTW, great card.

 

Hope this helps, and good luck!

[OnlyforDCS]

What dburne said. 8GB of RAM wont cut it, not in 2.0. Yes it will work, but just barely.

 

The 970GTX is a great card. It will easily push 1920x1080 and is probably good up to 1440p.

[Demon_]

I think the Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 don't support sli. http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4955#ov

[Wrecking Crew]

Yep, 16 GB,,, get the fastest you can afford.

 

WC

[B2Blain]

I think the Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 don't support sli. http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4955#ov

 

Thanks! I wasn't sure if I should get a GTX970 or R9 390. I'll make to sure get an SLI compatible Mobo.

[=DECOY=]

Thanks! I wasn't sure if I should get a GTX970 or R9 390. I'll make to sure get an SLI compatible Mobo.

 

TBH do you need to SLI ?? are you going to be using multiple monitors or a VR headset

 

AS for the GTX970 i have the Msi version see my spec in my Sig- and the settings im using are :

 

FPS wise i get this:

In Cockpit

External

Edited January 28, 2016 by =DECOY=

[B2Blain]

Thanks to everyone for their advice!

[B2Blain]

TBH do you need to SLI ?? are you going to be using multiple monitors or a VR headset

 

AS for the GTX970 i have the Msi version see my spec in my Sig- and the settings im using are :

[ATTACH]133754[/ATTACH]

 

FPS wise i get this:

In Cockpit

External

 

Thanks for providing you settings. I'd like to option of doing SLI. Likely would not go in that direction, though.

[=DECOY=]

the Msi gaming 5 I have can take Sli and it has the M.2 ssd port

 

it's a good board

 

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

[Gladman]

Do not go SLI.

 

I currently have 2 GTX 780's. SLI is not supported and has always been flaky with DCS, even in 1.2.

Given Nvidia's lack of interest in creating profiles specific to DCS (not sure about Crossfire) and ED lack of interest in addressing the SLI issue you are far better off to go with one big mother vid card.

 

Now, I do use my system for other games and yeah, SLI is the shit but for DCS specific, just don't bother.

 

I will always run 2 cards given I run an insane setup with 3 monitors and 2 more 8" for MFD's (soon to be 3 for Hornet I hope) so the need is there but I could do that with one bad mother card and a GTX 480.

 

I should also state that with one GTX 780 in 2.0 I average around 50fps anyway. Now low over Vegas I take a hit (SLI or no) down to about 20fps but I don't forsee a lot of missions taking me there anyway so no big deal. If I had the one bad mother vid card, (GTX 970 or better), it wouldn't be an issue.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited January 28, 2016 by Gladman

[Demon_]

Note: In crossfire setup (Series 300), you will need a big power supply:

http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

Edited January 29, 2016 by Demon_

[OnlyforDCS]

Have to agree about SLI not being the smartest option unless VR is something that will interest you down the line and IF (and thats a big IF) Nvidia eventually manages to do something on the driver level that will get the VR kits to use both cards to independently draw scenes for both eyes. Something like this apparently is already supported in OpenGL but AFAIK, DCS runs on DirectX and so do most other games.

 

My next upgrade will most definitely be in the monitor department, since a proper IPS monitor with a good 1440p resolution is a must have for any kind of meaningful within visual range combat, my crappy 1080p Samsung LED 22' is simply not up to the task and I keep losing bogeys in the ground clutter way too much and way too often for dogfighting to be any kind of fun.

[B2Blain]

Have to agree about SLI not being the smartest option unless VR is something that will interest you down the line and IF (and thats a big IF) Nvidia eventually manages to do something on the driver level that will get the VR kits to use both cards to independently draw scenes for both eyes. Something like this apparently is already supported in OpenGL but AFAIK, DCS runs on DirectX and so do most other games.

 

My next upgrade will most definitely be in the monitor department, since a proper IPS monitor with a good 1440p resolution is a must have for any kind of meaningful within visual range combat, my crappy 1080p Samsung LED 22' is simply not up to the task and I keep losing bogeys in the ground clutter way too much and way too often for dogfighting to be any kind of fun.

 

Thanks for the information!

 

I took a look at Oculus Rift. It looks interesting. So I assume since it cannot take advantage of SLI in DCS that it runs off of one card.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but if I did get two GTX970s it would be mainly to run multiple monitors at this point. 3 or more? I am not sure if it would be worth it to have that many.

 

Regarding other hardware the might be good for DCS. Besides a HOTAS system which I already have, it seems Track IR is must.

 

What about voice recognition? I used game commander in the past. Is there something that is better?

 

Thanks again!

[lazduc]

IS there any support in 1.5 or 2.0 for SLI? I have read that ED was/is supporting SLI and stated their intention to do such. I do not know what programming needs to be done for a game to have SLI support. There has been finger pointing at the video card drivers. Motherboard developers make a big deal of having dual video card support...even triple card support...so what does it take to be able to use two video cards in SLI or Crossfire in DCS games/sim?

 

Is it the game, or is it the driver, or is it the video card or is it the motherboard compatibility with the game?

What about VR? How about 4K monitors...or having 2 or 3, 4k monitors. And a few additional small touch screens?

 

If you need two video cards to run several video displays, shouldn't they be in SLI/Crossfire? Say 2 980TI's are needed to run your video setup. Will DCS games take advantage of both cards? Since they will be in SLI? Does 2.0 with NTR take advantage of this kind of setup?

 

I purchased 2 780's in anticipation 2 years ago just for DCS. They are gathering dust. Thought about up-grading to 980's but since supposedly new video cards will be out in several months and I do not know if DCS will/is, taking advantage of duel cards I am still in a quandary. I am going to wait.

[Rangi]

IS there any support in 1.5 or 2.0 for SLI? I have read that ED was/is supporting SLI and stated their intention to do such. I do not know what programming needs to be done for a game to have SLI support. There has been finger pointing at the video card drivers. Motherboard developers make a big deal of having dual video card support...even triple card support...so what does it take to be able to use two video cards in SLI or Crossfire in DCS games/sim?

 

Is it the game, or is it the driver, or is it the video card or is it the motherboard compatibility with the game?

What about VR? How about 4K monitors...or having 2 or 3, 4k monitors. And a few additional small touch screens?

 

If you need two video cards to run several video displays, shouldn't they be in SLI/Crossfire? Say 2 980TI's are needed to run your video setup. Will DCS games take advantage of both cards? Since they will be in SLI? Does 2.0 with NTR take advantage of this kind of setup?

 

I purchased 2 780's in anticipation 2 years ago just for DCS. They are gathering dust. Thought about up-grading to 980's but since supposedly new video cards will be out in several months and I do not know if DCS will/is, taking advantage of duel cards I am still in a quandary. I am going to wait.

 

As stated by Wags, multi GPU support is still being worked on.

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=2661532&postcount=209

[bullettweak]

my r9 390 plays this in 4k and is about the same price as the 970gtx, just saying......