Looking for feedback on a potential build

[Oddball52]

It’s been some years since I’ve done any sim flying.  Was in DCS, IL-2, and Rise of Flight…  But just didn’t have the time to give it what it needed…

Now that I’m retired (Yea!!)  I want to build a new system dedicated to flight simming, single player and MP.

I’ve built my game systems before but it’s been a while.  I spent the last couple of days on Tom’s Hardware, Newegg, and Amazon, just to get familiar with some of the new stuff.  Then wondered if there’d be anything in the DCS forums that might help.  Wow, looks like there’s quite a bit of advice available here. 

So, based on what I’ve been reading, I’ll try to provide the info that will help you help me.

I’m in the USA (Utah), I’m thinking of a budget of $2k to $2.5k for the computer and monitor.  Haven’t had a new system in years (Intel i5-4670k, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB) and I intend to get a lot of use out of this, so I'm not going to quibble over a few bucks if it’d make a worthwhile difference…

I’m not planning on going to VR.

I use TrackiR.  I’m hoping I can get my old Saitek X65f working on the new OS as I love that hotas.  I’m a little worried about the drivers to use for it, it seemed happiest in Win7.  I have Saitek Combat rudder pedals.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is a curved monitor a positive?

32” monitor, 27” or ?

Is a monitor with IPS a positive?

Is AMD Freesync a plus for DCS?

Win 10 or 11?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here’s what I’ve come up with so far, but none of this is carved in stone.

Dell S3221QS 32 Inch Curved 4K UHD, VA Ultra-Thin Bezel Monitor, AMD FreeSync = $450

Or LG 32QN600-B 32-Inch QHD (2560 x 1440) IPS Monitor with HDR 10, AMD FreeSync = $280

Or HP M27fq QHD Monitor - Computer Monitor with 27-inch IPS Display (1440p) - AMD Freesync Technology = $300

MSI Mech Radeon RX 6600 8GB PCI Express 4.0 Video Card RX 6600 MECH 2X 8G = $460

Or MSI Gaming Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB GDDR6 PCI Express 4.0 Video Card RX 6700 XT GAMING X 12G = $900

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X - Ryzen 5 5000 Series Vermeer (Zen 3) 6-Core 3.7 GHz Socket AM4 65W Desktop Processor = $290

ASUS ROG Strix B550-XE Gaming WiFi AMD AM4 (Zen 3/3rd Gen Ryzen) ATX Gaming Motherboard = $315

Or ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (WiFi 6) AMD AM4 Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 & 3rd Gen Ryzen ATX Gaming Motherboard = $200

G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3600 = $116

CORSAIR RMx Series (2021) RM850x CP-9020200-NA 850 W ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Power Supply = $120

Fractal Design Meshify C Black ATX High-Airflow Compact Light Tint Tempered Glass Mid Tower Computer Case = $100

WD Blue 3D NAND 1TB Internal SSD - SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5"/7mm Solid State Drive - WDS100T2B0A = Quan: 2 @ $100 ea.  (one for OS, one for sims)

Windows 10 (11?) Pro = $150

Cooling

DVD, CD, burner/player

Any advice or opinions would be gratefully received.

 

[HansPeter1981]

Hello.

I have a 32" curved Monitor running at 4k 2x MSAA, Terrain Shaddows off. I am using TrackIR so 60fps is what I would like to see 99.9% of all times. So here is what I think.

 

32" Curved in combination with Track IR, absolutely love it.

4k on this screensize for me a must I would prefer 6k I like details on the MFDs and also on the small dials without needing to zoom in.

6800XT is minimum for 4k DCS if you want 60 fps "stable" flying low over trees while having stuff shown on your MFDs i.e. harrier & K-50 or flying the Viggen and using the radar to identify targets.

Here is a toppic I started when debating between 2 Monitors, maybe it helps:

 

I had also considered the Dell 4k curved but read too much negative feedback about its response time and it was quite a bit more expensive back then, so I ended up with this one https://pcmonitors.info/reviews/philips-328e1ca/  I use it on the fastest response time with some overshoot but It feels the best when  panning around with Track IR. Maybe the Dell is very similar but I had no chance to test it. If you want even faster and cleaner response times you may need to buy something like this:

https://pcmonitors.info/samsung/samsung-s32bg85-odyssey-neo-g8-240hz-4k-va-with-mini-led/ 

 

Also 6700 is not good enough for 4k. So at least 6800XT better 6900XT or 3080 or 3080TI

 

If you want to enjoy your retirement to the fullest by flying an immersive high fidelty flight simulator for the next 5-6 Years without upgrading right away again I would invest another extra 500-1000$ to do so. Flying a Cessna in a flyingclub costs you 100-200$ an hour - no dogfights, no low level bombing runs,  no ejecting when you can't pull up in time and the best thing no drinking beer while lining up on RWY 06  in Sochi together with your friends for your next mission . 

 

 

Edited January 24, 2022 by HansPeter1981

[LucShep]

FWIW and IMO, and as of today, a new system built for sim/gaming (and especially for DCS) would be something like this:
 

• CPU (Processor): Intel 12th gen "Alder Lake", either the i5 12600K or i7 12700K (these two also have the "KF" versions without onboard graphics, slightly less expensive). 
   
• CPU cooler: important for any "K" processor of Intel 12th gen, before buying make sure whatever you get is newer version with LGA 1700 compatibility (launched in 4th quarter of 2021). Some coolers are not LGA 1700 compatible but have kits for compatibility provided separately - confirm with vendor/shop before acquiring it. 
  If you prefer air cooling - Noctua NH-D15 (now also available in black, Chromax Black version).
  If you prefer liquid cooling - Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 or 360 (RGB or non-RGB) .
   
• Motherboard: Z690 DDR4 (so, for Intel 12th gen, but with support for DDR4 memory) - so long as it's MSI, ASUS or Gigabyte none of them are bad.
   
• RAM (Memory): 64GB of DDR4, 3200 CL14 or 3600 CL16 - GSKILL FlareX, RipjawsV or TridentZ (4x 16GB kit) or CRUCIAL Ballistix (2x 32GB kit)
   
• Storage: NVMe gen4, either 1TB (minimum) or 2TB (ideal) - Any will be good for the OS (Win 10 or 11, Pro x64) and intensive sims/games like DCS -  the Corsair MP600 Core M.2 is perhaps the best one at lower prices, it's worth a look.
   
• GPU (graphics card): This will depend on availability, budget, and the resolution of the PC monitor screen that you're going to use. 
  If with 4K resolution (or for VR), then you'll really want the best ones available - Nvidia RTX3080 or RTX3080Ti, or the equivalent AMD RX6800XT or RX6900XT.
  Unless it's an uncommon good deal, the "BFG" RTX3090 is out of the question, just too darn expensive.
  If with 1440P resolution, you can spend a little less - Nvidia RTX3060Ti, RTX3070 or RTX3070Ti, or the equivalent AMD RX6700XT or RX6800.
  Unless it's for 1080P resolution, don't even bother with Nvidia RTX3050, RTX3060, or the equivalente AMD RX6600, because they underperform - instead of these, better get a RTX2080Super or GTX1080Ti in the used market.
   
• PSU (Power Supply Unit): ≥ 850W top rated model from renowned manufacturer -  preferentially "80+ Platinum" label (Seasonic Prime, Corsair AXi and HXi, etc), though there are some good "80+ Gold" available (for example, Corsair RM850X is pretty good).
   
• PC Monitor: This is really a matter of personal preference (consensus is difficult), of budget, and also of what GPU in use. 
  Personally, I prefer 16:9 format with big 48'' or 55'' screen size and 2160P resolution (3840x2160, aka "UHD" or "4K") but it's hard to drive, requires a top of the line GPU. 
  After testing pretty much all sizes, formats and resolutions, curved and non-curved, my own opinion is that 16:9 format at 32-inch size and 1440P resolution (2560x1440, aka "QHD" or "2K") still provides the best balanced choice for most people - it's "big without being too big" and, at that 32'' size, 1440P is still excelent (very clean and clear image), and now fairly easy to drive with modern graphics cards (so, less demanding than superwide 21:9 and ultrawide 32:9 fomats of 1440 pixel height), which is another nice plus. For these, according to expert reviews, the following models will be among the top pics:
  - SAMSUNG Odyssey G7 Series C32G75T 32'' 1440P (2560x1440, 16:9 format), VA (QLED), 240Hz, 1ms, G-Sync and FreeSync compatible, Curved (1000R radius).
  - ASUS ROG Swift PG329Q 32'' 1440P (2560x1440, 16:9 format), IPS, 175Hz (Supports 144Hz), 1ms, G-Sync compatible, non-curved.
  - GIGABYTE M32Q 32" 1440P (2560x1440, 16:9 format), IPS, 165Hz, 0.8ms, HDR Ready, FreeSync compatible, non-curved.
   
• Computer Case: Best overall quality and airflow for the lowest price, I still haven't found anything better than the Lian Li Lancool II Mesh and Fractal Design Meshify C TG.
   
• Head Tracking: for DCS this is a must for anyone using 2D screen (non VR). Various choices available, there's the popular TrackIR5 (most expensive but perhaps easiest to config) but also TrackHat and also GrassMonkey bundles. They're all equally good.

 

Edited January 31, 2022 by LucShep

[Svsmokey]

I normally recommend building your own pc if at all possible , for several reasons . But in the current market , i do feel that buying a prebuilt is probably the better way to go , particularly because you can get a better gpu for the same or less money . 

This does require careful research , however (just as building your own does) . Many big names in prebuilts do not offer a good value . Gamer's Nexus on YouTube has been doing a series on prebuilts , with a comprehensive analysis of value , quality , performance and cooling .

[Oddball52]

Thanks for the replies, they're appreciated and informative.

Based on those, and doing some more looking, I'm revising my budget figures upwards to $3k to $3.5.  Seems like I'll need to to put it up into that next level.

I'm leaning toward the AMD RX6800XT @1440, but still open to suggestions.  One reason I was thinking AMD is Freesync (if I match that with a monitor that has Freesync).  Does it enhance DCS?

I took a look at some of Gamers Nexus videos but I think I'll stick with putting my own together.  It's part of the fun. 

[Svsmokey]

Yeah , I get that . I very much enjoyed building my own and knowing corners were not cut anywhere . 

[Bossco82]

HI Oddball, love the avatar! great film.

I play DCS at 1440p using the settings in the screen shot below....

I have that LG 1440p monitor, LG 32QN600-B I love it. I also down graded from 4k and I still love it. I dont feel like I am missing out at all.

Straight off the bat if you want a good experience at high setting using 4k in DCS as DCS is now. (I know Vulkan is planned but its not here yet). You will need a Nvidia 3080/3080ti or a 3090. Nothing else will do it without screwing about tuning graphics settings. AMD graphic cards have a limitation at this resolution.

I use an AMD 5600x/ X570 MSI Gaming Edge/ Gskill DDR4 3200Mhz C14, 32gb/ AMD 6800XT, freesync works perfect with this at 1440p/ 2 separate Nvme 1tb drives, 1 is OS the other my flight sims. That is all using Win 10 pro. For cooling something as cheap as the Vetroo V5 air cooler will be fine or go upto a 240 AIO.

Bear in mind if you go Intel they run hotter so get an AIO. 

With Intel in mind you could go 12600k/Z690 DDR4 mobo/32gb 3200Mhz C14-16 DDR4/Nvidia 3070 or upwards/ Nvme drives to suit your needs. 

I will add that a 6800xt with a dedicated 1440p Freesync monitor while using the Radeon Target framerate control has given me the best DCS experience with Track IR I have had so far. Its close to flawless. However if I wanted to go up a stage to 4k it would be a 3080ti or nothing. So I am sticking with my 6800xt at 1440p on a 32" monitor.

 

[Oddball52]

Thanks so much for the help.  Making this a lot less stressful.    

Finalized (hopefully) component list and a question...

It's been a while since I've built one.  For the OS, I'm looking at Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, DVD – OEM $148 vs Microsoft Windows 10 Pro - Full Retail Version (USB Flash Drive) $200   I'd kind of prefer the full retail version, the question is can I use a flash drive to install on a new system that doesn't have an OS already?  (and I wasn't planning on putting in a DVD player)

Here's the list, let me know if you see anything I'm missing, or that isn't compatible, or if there's a better way to go.

LG 32QN600-B 32-Inch QHD (2560 x 1440) IPS Monitor with HDR 10, AMD FreeSync with Dual HDMI Inputs, Black  $280 Amazon

ASRock Radeon RX 6800 XT Phantom Gaming D Gaming Graphics Card with 16GB GDDR6, AMD RDNA 2 (RX6800XT PGD 16GO)   $1400 Newegg

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler    $270 Amazon

ASUS ROG Strix B550-XE Gaming WiFi AMD AM4 (Zen 3/3rd Gen Ryzen) ATX gaming motherboard (PCIe 4.0, WiFi 6, 2.5Gb LAN, 16(90A) power stages, bundled ASUS Hyper M.2 x16 Gen 4 Card, Addressable Gen 2 RGB  $324 Amazon

G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3600 (PC4 28800) Intel XMP 2.0 Desktop Memory Model F4-3600C16D-32GVKC  $144 Newegg

Corsair Force Series MP600 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 2 SSD (Up to 4,950MB/s Sequential Read and 4,000MB/s Sequential Write Speeds, High-Density 3D TLC NAND, Up to 1,800TB Written) Black  $150 Amazon

Corsair RMX Series, RM850x, 850 Watt, 80+ Gold Certified, Fully Modular Power Supply (Low Noise, Zero RPM Fan Mode, 105°C Capacitors, Fully Modular Cables, Compact Size) Black  $128 Amazon

Vetroo V5 Black CPU Air Cooler w/ 5 Heat Pipes 120mm PWM Processor 150W TDP Cooler for Intel LGA 1700/1200/115X AMD Ryzen AM4 Socket w/Addressable RGB Sync  $27 Newegg

LIAN LI LANCOOL II MESH C PERFORMANCE BLACK Tempered Glass ATX Case -Black Color ,Type C Included-LIAN LI LANCOOL II MESH C PERFORMANCE -X  $120 Newegg

Edited January 25, 2022 by Oddball52

[LucShep]

Looks good!  

However, if I'm allowed the suggestions that is, there are only two things I feel strongly inclined to correct (note, others may disagree, even correct me).

The following suggestions will save you about ~300$, which perhaps you can, for example, put instead in an even better(!!) graphics-card.  
Do as you feel better, but don't just discard these ideas right away...

1. That motherboard is overkill (IMO).

There are excelent B550 motherboards out there for 2/3 the price (or less!) of the ASUS ROG Strix B550-XE Gaming WiFi . 
For example, the following ones (which are priced around 200$):

• Asus ROG STRIX B550-F GAMING WIFI II
• Asus ROG STRIX B550-A
• MSI B550 Gaming Edge WiFi

2. Please don't spend ~200$ in a copy of Windows!

Instead, you can simply download the latest Win10 ISO from Microsoft, use their Media Creation Tool (USB app thingy for the USB pen), install in your new computer, and then get a valid, legit, legal license for Win10 Pro x64 on the cheap (and I mean really cheap, see HERE).

Another advantage by doing it this way, is that the ISO from Micro$oft is the most up-to-date version (Home, Pro, and Ultimate, X64 or X86, etc, whatever you prefer) and only the very latest, smaller, updates are not included. 
Which means, the frustrating (utterly annoying!) long downloading plus updating procedures of a new installation of Windows are shortened to a minimum.

Once using the USB pen for Win10 installation, you just have to select the corresponding Win10 version for that key you have, and your legit key (when asked).

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-installation-media-for-windows-99a58364-8c02-206f-aa6f-40c3b507420d
 

.....Afterwards, once Win10 updates are done (and IMO), to use O&O ShutUp10 is a must: https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10
It's a two-clicks thing procedure plus reboot (apply recommended settings, or adjust as desired) - it cuts out all the unnecessary crap from Windows 10 (widely known to eat resources in background), which can be appreciated in any regular system also used for gaming.

Edited January 26, 2022 by LucShep
added another motherboard

[Oddball52]

Ok, looks like one difference between the two is the ASUS ROG Strix B550-XE  has two PCIe 4.0x16 slots and the 550-A has one 4.0 and one 3.0...

Does that make a difference?

I've never used a USB stick to load an operating system on a brand new computer that doesn't have an OS.  that works?

The Corsair Force Series MP600 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 2 SSD doesn't specify 4.0 or 3.0 for the PCIe connection, but it does say it is Guaranteed for Gen4 compatibility with AMD Ryzen 3000-series CPUs and X570 motherboards.  Is there an issue with this?  The CPU I've got on the list is a 5000 series, and the motherboard is a 550....

Edited January 25, 2022 by Oddball52
added the last paragraph

[LucShep]

18 minutes ago, Oddball52 said:

Ok, looks like one difference between the two is the ASUS ROG Strix B550-XE  has two PCIe 4.0x16 slots and the 550-A has one 4.0 and one 3.0...

Does that make a difference?

For games? Not really.
PCIe 3.0 is way beyond any sim/game's hardest requirements, so you're good if you're getting a second NVME for that second slot (now or later) for games.

I forgot this other motherboard (sorry!).
Also check the Asus ROG STRIX B550-F GAMING WIFI II: https://rog.asus.com/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-b550-f-gaming-wifi-ii-model/

 

18 minutes ago, Oddball52 said:

I've never used a USB stick to load an operating system on a brand new computer that doesn't have an OS.  that works?

Yep! 
Personally, haven't done it any other way for years now.

Just for example, this tutorial:

 

 

Edited January 25, 2022 by LucShep

[Oddball52]

Wow, things have changed, but it has been some years since I built my last one...

Great video, thanks for the heads up.  I'll be doing it that way.

Something else very new to me is a hard drive that installs onto the motherboard like that...  I was envisioning it needing to plug into a long slot like a graphics card. 

Really appreciate the helpful advice LucShep.

[BitMaster]

Once you have it all together, make a cross-check as to what SVSMOKEY said and ( by breaking all our rules to DIY and such... ) compare it to a similar PreBuild system, as close as possible with Apples to Apples.

With the current GPU pricing going steeply UP again it may really make sense. If you have a big enough difference in pricing you can exchange any part later on and still have saved some money. Tho there are pitfalls in PreBuilds, usually mid-tier motherboard and PSU, RAM latency, etc..   but with current pricing I have to 2nd svsmokey, they are all nuts and why not at least check if it makes sense. 

Buy fast, GPU are going up in price again ...https://www.guru3d.com/news-story/nvidia-has-officially-raised-the-prices-of-its-rtx-30-series-gpus-in-europe.html

..not only in Europe btw.

Edited January 25, 2022 by BitMaster

[Bossco82]

Hi Oddball,

Your choices all look sound to me. Regarding the Nvme M2 drives. There is not much difference in Gen3 Vs Gen4 when it comes to DCS. 

I have only DCS installed on a Sabrent Gen 3. The peak read speed I have seen so far is about 1550mb. The drive can go up to about 2850mb.

One other thing just make sure you have enough usb connectors for everything you need. 

Best of luck mate.

Edited January 26, 2022 by Bossco82

[_Hoss]

I have a LG 32" monitor, and it has G-Sync compatibility, paired with an MSI RTX3080Ti. It runs at 61°C while running DCS. Get a 2Tb M.2 SSD. I havea 1Tb with IL2, IL2 Beta, DCS & DCS open Beta on it, there is very little room left on it. Get a 2Tb........

[LucShep]

18 hours ago, Oddball52 said:

The Corsair Force Series MP600 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 2 SSD doesn't specify 4.0 or 3.0 for the PCIe connection, but it does say it is Guaranteed for Gen4 compatibility with AMD Ryzen 3000-series CPUs and X570 motherboards.  Is there an issue with this?  The CPU I've got on the list is a 5000 series, and the motherboard is a 550....

Corsair Force Series MP600 is a gen4 NVMe.

PCIe 4.0 refers to a Gen 4 expansion card or slot, for which NVMe Gen4 is designed.
PCIe 3.0 refers to a Gen 3 expansion card or slot, for which NVMe Gen3 is designed.

There's some overhead with PCIe NVMe and, as far as I know, both PCIe slots and devices are backwards compatible.
For example, an NVMe Gen 4 will work on a PCIe 3.0 slot, it will perform then about the same as a similar NVMe Gen3, i.e, just limited by the slot's capabilities.
Likewise, an NVMe Gen 3 will work on a PCIe 4.0 slot, but it won't perform as a faster NVMe Gen4, i.e, being limited (slower) by its own capabilities.
As to say, you would get the max speed of an NVMe Gen3 regardless if it's on a PCIe 3.0 or PCIe 4.0 slot. But an NVMe Gen4 will run faster (as designed) on a PCIe 4.0 slot.

And I agree with others, better get an NVMe Gen4 (as main drive) with 2TB storage capacity instead of 1TB if possible, because you'll fill 1TB quite soon. 

If not possible (budget, etc), then perhaps also get a second separate drive meant for all the other regular archives libraries, like pictures, music, movies, downloads, etc, to save precious space on the NVMe for the OS and games only.
Something affordable like a SATA III 7200rpm 3.5'' HDD (Hard Drive) of, say, 2TB or 3TB storage capacity, is a good solution for this "general archiving", though it is very slow if compared to any NVMe. 
If interested in doing it that way, the Toshiba P300 Hard Drives are excelent for this use case, and reasonably affordable.

Edited January 26, 2022 by LucShep

[Zeagle]

As far as head tracking goes, I am quite happy with my Tobii eye Tracker. I have always used TrackIR. But my mark 1 mod 0 eyeballs and progressive lenses aren't happy with the head angles necessary for TrackIR. The Tobii lets me see everything clearly because it tracks my head and eyes. I love it.  (I only upgraded to Tobii after my old TrackIR actually died....I used it up)

Also, if you are going to build a new machine, get the best motherboard and processor, you can.  I highly recommend the X570 and Ryzen combinations.

32GB memory is a minimum going forward. DCS and the maps are getting more detailed. 

Edited January 26, 2022 by Zeagle

[Thinder]

19 hours ago, Oddball52 said:

Ok, looks like one difference between the two is the ASUS ROG Strix B550-XE  has two PCIe 4.0x16 slots and the 550-A has one 4.0 and one 3.0...

Does that make a difference?

I've never used a USB stick to load an operating system on a brand new computer that doesn't have an OS.  that works?

The Corsair Force Series MP600 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 2 SSD doesn't specify 4.0 or 3.0 for the PCIe connection, but it does say it is Guaranteed for Gen4 compatibility with AMD Ryzen 3000-series CPUs and X570 motherboards.  Is there an issue with this?  The CPU I've got on the list is a 5000 series, and the motherboard is a 550....

 

If you're to use an 5600X you'd gain a lot by using a cheaper motherboard such as the MSI B450 and splash a little more money into Cl14 RAM, basically this combination will give you a higher CPU speed under load at 4K than a Cl16 RAM kit with a Ryzen  7 5800X, your CPU will not throttle back under load, the Cl16 kits all come with this bottleneck.

In any case make sure you respect the CPU controller limitation by sticking to the RAM recommanded frequency limit and no more than 4 ranks in total.

Edited January 26, 2022 by Thinder

[BitMaster]

I successfully run a 4 module kit as a 4x2 Rank setup and it only got faster when tested under full load when overclocked. If there was a slowdown at least one of the tests should have stated that but none did. The more I pushed the RAM the more performance it delivers.

XMP is 3200 14-14-14-34-1T ; G.Skill F4-3200C14-16GVK 64GB, 4x16 module, 2R.

I can just UP the Volts to 1.45v and crank the speed to 3600MHz while keeping the nice CL values.

I can also do 3600-16-16-16-36-1T @ 1.40v but latency drops anyother 4-5ns below 60ns if I stick with 1.45v and CL14-14... and 3600MHz

at CL16 vs CL14. There is a difference but very small, mostly latency drops as said above and throughput stays above 53GB/sec for r/w/c which is slightly higher than the CL16 values.

 

Also, there is no way you can go above 64GB ( 128GB is supported !!! ) if you dont want to break the 4-Rank limit

It is supported and does work and I did not see a critical performance hit when I tested the RAM.

 

Defacto, till today, not a single BSOD since Oktober, no matter how I push the RAM. I often use up 98% RAM in VMware for hours...not a single glitch yet, rock solid and FAST.

 

 

 

[Bossco82]

Hi Oddball,

If you do go AMD and get a 6800xt with that LG monitor. Feel free to send me a PM or start a thread. I'll help to get the software/hardware setup right. 

Remember there is a benefit to having your flight sims on their own Nvme drive. They don't load any faster. However if anything goes wrong with Windows. They are not affected. When picking drive speeds, I have seen DCS go up to a read speed of about 1500mb/s. So not absolutely necessary to get the fastest Nvme for a flight sim only drive.

 

[Leg2ion]

Hi @Oddball52, as I think Bossco alludes to in his post, it may be worth investigating a separate boot drive - I have a separate M2 drive for Windows, Office and such like, another M2 for DCS only, and then a further SSD for all other games. It might be seen as total overkill - but I like to be able to separate things out if they start going wrong.

In addition - just so you are aware - the drive you are looking at has cooling fins on the top (I think) - so you wont be able to refit the M2 slot 'lid'.  I have an Asus Rog, and the M2s are fed by a cooling fan which pushes air through the M2 chamber - so not sure how this would affect the cooling of the drives with a built in heat sink - I am guessing not by much - and sure someone will chip in if there are any adverse affects?

[Bossco82]

Yeah that is sort of what I am suggesting there. Windows can be effected by a lot of things. Your motherboard could develop a fault or there can be a corrupted update etc etc etc...

DCS, if you buy a few modules can take a long time to do a full re-download and an install. I have 2x Sabrent Rocket drives because I bought one on sale and one used. Most drives available will do the job.

So if the budget allowed I would probably get a Gen4 Nvme for Windows and general Steam games and programs. This I would put in the first slot of the motherboard and use the motherboards cooling. However for DCS, my install is now 324gb in size I would get a Gen3 Nvme for the second motherboard slot. Then I would use a basic heatsink, it does not have to be fancy at all. Mine has a cheap single sided heatsink and it never throttles. I have DCS and IL-2 on it. Sabrent, Crucial, Corsair, Western Digital and Seagate Firecuda are all good drives. Get what is on offer around the time you buy. Dont be limited by sticking to a brand too much. If its Nvme you probably wont need the fastest available either. 

As for your motherboard itself. If you can find one for a decent price I cant recommend the MSI X570 gaming edge wifi enough. Plenty of rear usb slots, no worries with Nvme drives nice and simple. Good bios with fan control. Good DDR4 compatibility. Also you can occupy all four DDR4 slots and fit that Vetroo V5 cooler with clearance. Obviously if you find a B550 cheaper go with one of those. 

The DDR4, G.Skill Trident Z 3200Mhz C14 kits pop up on eBay every so often for decent prices. Keep an eye out as its an excellent kit. If you cant find this the Crucial/Corsair DDR4 3200Mhz C16 kits will do the job just fine.

Finally just make sure your GPU has the graphical power of a small nuclear reactor and your good to go..........

Remember Oddball its not like 5-10 years ago, most of the kit out there now is so capable, you can put together a really good system for DCS quite simply

[Oddball52]

Good arguments there.  I'm thinking I'll just add a second Corsair Force Series MP600 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 2 SSD to the list.

Bossco82, I am going with the 6800xt and that LG Monitor (like yours), so I'll be taking you up on your offer of assistance to get it tweaked just right.

Feeling kind of like a kid on Christmas eve.       Can't wait to get back in the air...

[Bossco82]

Well those drives will be more than enough. If the budget allows I would usually rather run 2x separate 1tb's over a single 2tb.

This would not be for performance. More a not all eggs in the same basket, common sense approach.

I'm more than happy to help you set it up once it's built. I use track ir 5, fly low and enjoy the Channel and Syria map. I also hate below 60fps stuttering.

Good luck mate.

 

[Oddball52]

Sounds good.  Appreciate it.   Might be a couple of weeks, I have all the components on order, but have some other stuff going on. 

Replacing most of the carpet in the house, so a lot of furniture moving in my future before I get to play.

Was just going to take a look around at what's available nowadays and planned on ordering a month from then, but as they had it all in stock, didn't want to chance it and have to start the whole thing over again.  I'm also hoping to get it all done a little faster this way.