Graphics Cards, Monitors. What A Headache

[tmansteve]

Hi All

As the title says, there are so many choices these days and your left not buying anything. Getting the best for your buck!!

I have built many PCs in the past and now looking to upgrade when or if any graphics cards become available.

I will be getting a new PSU to run the new graphics card etc and will only be using 1920x1080p. I know that monitor size will be approx 24". The problem is wether I need 75hz, 144hz or more, will there be a huge benefit? Then graphically, it would be nice to straighten out the jagged lines and better settings all round as I only use MSSA at the moment. Been with DCS for a good few years and really enjoy it. The rest of my PC is OK.

Anyone with any info would be great. I have some ideas on the above but would like to hear any other comments.

Cheers

 

Edited November 29, 2021 by tmansteve

[Bossco82]

Hi mate,

It would be useful to know the rest of your spec to be honest. That way whatever is suggested will not cause a bottleneck in your PC. Regarding the monitor, I dont use DCS above 60fps so a simple 60hz monitor would be fine in my opinion. Using 144hz monitors tends to be just for FPS games. There are a lot of Freesync monitors avaiable now they are usually shown as 75hz monitors. Thats because that is there maximum refresh rate. They should be advertised as Freesync 48-74hz variable refresh rate monitors to make that clear. These can have their Freesync turned off and in that case can be switched between 60hz or 75hz. Freesync simply offers more options. 

So I would say either get a 60hz monitor or one with Freesync 75hz max. It does not really matter for DCS too much. 

As for your GPU I know that at the moment, some members might mention the upcoming Vulkan release, however its not here now. Nvidia really does outperform AMD for DCS. I know from experience using both cards this year. Now you mention jagged lines. I play DCS at 1440p and using MSAAx4 really sorts out the jagged lines for me. I would say that for 1080p and using 4xMSAA a 3060ti would be the minimum when using this alongside high settings. 

To add a little more information I know users playing with 3440x1440 are using 3080's 3080ti's and 6800xt's to be able to turn up the higher settings and maintain a solid 60fps. Scaling that down led me to suggest a 3060ti, however DCS is very graphically demanding, if you wanted to use supersampling you might need a 3070. 

[Svsmokey]

Better to stick with 60hz if you are running TrackIr .

[Bossco82]

Yeah if its not broke dont fix it. I recently got a 1440p freesync monitor and it was actually a headache to get my sims running at 60fps smoothly. This was because it has a 48-75hz variable refresh rate. 

If it was me and I played fps games seriously I might get a monitor that had a 144hz refresh rate then use a 60 limiter for my flight sims. I dont do that though so for flight sims a 60hz monitor is fine.

As long as DCS looks good enough for you at 60fps just get a 60hz monitor and save yourself some hassle.

[tmansteve]

Thanks for the info Svsmokey and Bossco.

I am still using my gtx960 4gig card. I get between 38 and 48 fps with many High settings, plus flying with my brother and still not bad. Its when I make missions with many explosions that slows everything down. I can have quite a bit going on with many AI in the air without stutters so with just a bit more umph in the graphics department would help a little bit. I was looking at a larger monitor for my eyes. I use a 21 inch and thought about a 24 as pixilisation might be a problem past that. I sit approx 3ft from monitor, so will that help with size?

I use trackir so will look at another 60 to 75hz monitor. The prices for graphics cards are off the scale at the mo and it seems they can hold us to ransom. I think no matter what you do for DCS, you will always be chasing your tail for perfection. I have done so much research that its nice to get honest comments.

My problem has always been about buying something that will do the job for me and the settings I like.

 

Many Thanks

Edited November 30, 2021 by tmansteve

[Hector45]

That 960 is definitely long in the tooth and sits just above the minimum specs for low graphic settings for DCS 2.7. If you're going to stick with 1920x1080p, Id look into a second hand GTX 1070Ti or RTX 2060 super. Both will handle 1080p at mostly high settings quite well. I had a 1070Ti when I was still using a 1080p panel and it performed very well.

Edited November 30, 2021 by Hector45

[tmansteve]

Thats interesting Hector

I have to see larger icons as small icons go blurred for me. In DCS, its not a problem. Must be the colour or something. It would be nice to have better settings.

 

Cheers

Edited November 30, 2021 by tmansteve

[Bossco82]

What Hector said, I had a 2060 super when I was using 1080p, fantastic GPU.

[tmansteve]

Been on the lookout for graphics cards but nothing available. Everything "Coming Soon". Secondhand is like gold dust and the prices are through the roof. Will have to wait and get new if at all possible. Plenty of monitors to choose from but will wait until graphics are in stock.

 

Cheers for the info

[Hector45]

If you are in the US and have a Microcenter near by that will be your best bet getting a new GPU. Otherwise I would recommend subbing to a GPU stock alert discord channel so you can be notified right away when Best Buy is dropping. I was able to get my current GPU at Microcenter, and I was able to score a 3080 for my brother on a Best Buy drop (online website not in store).

[tmansteve]

Hey Hector, that would be great but I live in the Highlands of Scotland. Sometimes its quicker to go by donkey to get anything ha ha.

Its about time we brought back some manufacturing to this country instead of selling it off.

I have placed my email alert to many companies and keep fingers crossed.

 

Cheers

[Boosterdog]

At risk of starting an argument here as well, If you are using TIR on a rig incapable of acheiving very high fps, Id stick to a 60hz monitor.  That said you seem happy with your experience at frame rates below 60 fps so perhaps that isnt an issue for you. 

The GPU market isnt likely to settle down soon (if it ever really does). Nvidia is predicting supply issues throughout 2022 and AMD is saying until at least Q4 of 2022. Recent events have shown both companies the people will always pay the price so even if they aint getting the lions share of the silly 3X price multiplers now, Im sure they will be looking at their wholesale MSPs with one eye on the future and going "hmmmm". 

Personally I wouldnt purchase a 3060ti card for £700 but thats about your only regularily available Nvidia option in the UK right now although there are some 3070tis knocking about for £1100.  

CEX offer second hand GPUs with 24 months warranty and, although they are not exactly cheap, they often end up in the ball park of what ebay sellers acheive without such warranties. 1080ti are an "on par with new" price of £600. 1080s are £460. Sadly the market is such that, even second hand, a 1080 like mine is selling for what I bought it new for some 3 or 4 years ago £480) which is ridiculous.  

Meanwhile DCS marches on with ever increasing demands and no firm guarantees for future improvements to perfomance (and only a fool would make them). Its probably a good time to keep your powder dry and see what mid to late 2022 brings in terms of DCS and the GPU market. 

[tmansteve]

Nicely written boosterdog,

I will not be doing anything until things start moving again next year and hope that we see a flood instead of a trickle.