Looking for advise updating PC for DCS.

[t_hedlund]

So, long story short, I recently tried DCS online again and I'm hooked, but my PCs now isn't performing as I would like it to, and I have been told that I'm really just meeting minimum for what would be good for reliable performance for online gaming. 

 

Here is what my current set-up is.... 

Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6600K CPU @ 3.50GHz   3.50 GHz (overclocked to 4.0) 
Installed RAM    32.0 GB (Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (4 x 8 GB) DDR3-1600 CL9 Memory)
System type    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
GPU NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070

MSI Z170A GAMING M3 ATX LGA1151

I currently have my settings on low, in regard to frame rates, 2 weeks ago I was regularly around 80-100 fps, today flying offline I was mostly in the 60 fps. 

 

So I'm looking for some guidance as to which way to proceed, as I have really lost touch with what is good anymore. I think what I'm struggling with the most is determine what CPU I should go with, any advice?

I was hoping to keep in the LGA1151 socket, would I really get much of a benefit from spending $300 on this Intel Core i3-7100 3.9 GHz Dual-Core Processor (BX80677I37100) - PCPartPicker, or would I be better off going with new motherboard and something like this. Intel Core i5-12600K 3.7 GHz 10-Core Processor (BX8071512600K) - PCPartPicker.

Regardless which path I go, it is going to be a few weeks/months before I'll be ready to start buying stuff. I haven't figured out how much I will be able to spend on this but let's figure $1500 is the cap. 

 

Thank you! 

 

 

 

 

[clayvt]

With all the new stuff coming out you’re in a tough spot, stick with current gen or go all in in new Gen.  

if $1500 is your budget, this is what I would do. Assuming you can re-use your current case. Even if not, there’s room left for a case. 
 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/BHF6PX

[HansPeter1981]

Hello.

I suggest you name your goals at the same time as you request advice for your upgrade.

Post your settings for dcs, tell us the settings you would like to play at. Eventually your system is becoming quite outdated in general. So you have to have priorities.

 

I would start with the GPU since DCS is only using 2 cores - your 4.0 GHZ 6600k will be "OK" for normal demands. 1070 instead is for sure your bottleneck. 

I  am sure if you pickup a 3080 on sale and plug it in you will see  major fps improvements right away and you will be able to increase fidelity settings quite a bit.

 

But if your prirority is playing online on complex and busy server and you are ok with low settings at 1080p then you could target new board and processor.

with your current setup make sure terrain shaddows are off... looks piss poor anyways (delayed build up) and is a massive performance impact.

Edited October 11, 2022 by HansPeter1981

[BitMaster]

Your board features DDR4, not DRR3 !

https://us.msi.com/Motherboard/Z170A-GAMING-M3/Specification

 

If you want to play Multiplayer with big maps & missions you will basically have to replace at least motherboard + cpu + ram + gpu, maybe PSU too and 1-2 NVMe drives are cool too unless you have enough SSD drive space already. DCS can outgrow a 500GB SSD if you buy all maps & modules, mind that. I would take a 1TB for DCS/Games and a 2nd drive 500GB or bigger for your OS 10/11.

 

There is no upgrade path with your board, you are stuck with 6th gen Intel and even if 7th gen would work it would make zero sense to do so.

 

If your budget allows, keep this PC as a functional entity, and build yourself a new one for DCS.

 

[t_hedlund]

Thank you for your time and information, it made me really rethink the timing of this whole deal. I might update the GPU and go with something like a 2TB SSD just for DCS. Then go with a completely new build, for next year when more of the newer stuff comes out. 

 

As far as the goal, I think that the main goal is to be able to fly online with the graphics settings cranked up to med to high. I have no interesting in going into VR, but I would like to add trackIR, and upgrading my monitor to something in the 32" range. 

 

As far as my current settings, I had everything set to medium, but in order to get the most out of it for online, I just set it to low. 

 

 

[BuzzU]

DCS needs to take a lesson from MS. MFS 2020 is only 127GB and it's the whole world. I know you're not D/L the whole world but that's my point. You're flying on the whole world.

[clayvt]

4 hours ago, BuzzU said:

DCS needs to take a lesson from MS. MFS 2020 is only 127GB and it's the whole world. I know you're not D/L the whole world but that's my point. You're flying on the whole world.

Because MS is leveraging their server farms. ED could never afford to build out a farm like MS has. 
I read somewhere that MS is basically using MSFS as a tech demo to sell their server services and MSFS is a loss-leader for them. 

[BuzzU]

9 hours ago, clayvt said:

Because MS is leveraging their server farms. ED could never afford to build out a farm like MS has. 
I read somewhere that MS is basically using MSFS as a tech demo to sell their server services and MSFS is a loss-leader for them. 

Ok, that makes sense.

[72westy]

On 10/12/2022 at 6:07 PM, clayvt said:

Because MS is leveraging their server farms. ED could never afford to build out a farm like MS has. 
I read somewhere that MS is basically using MSFS as a tech demo to sell their server services and MSFS is a loss-leader for them. 

For MSFS? Yes.

Lest we forget P3D (ESP) which offers the entire world. Abet not as detailed but world none the less.

[t_hedlund]

Things haven't really gone as planned and looking to revisit this whole deal. 

So I have a parts list of what I believe is in my system as of now. 

TomHedlund - Saved Part Lists - PCPartPicker

I would like to finally switch out the GPU, I'm kind of disappointed as the price of the 3000 series really hasn't dropped that much, so I'm kind of looking at the 4070, it is really more than I wanted to spend on a card, but I need to do something as the MP itch is too  great....lol. 

This is the 4070 I was looking at specifically MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti VENTUS 3X OC Graphics Card G407TV3X12C (bhphotovideo.com), do you think that it would be a good choice for the cost? 

Please note that I'm still planning on replacing the everything but the case over the summer and fall, as I'm sure that the MB.CPU will be limiting the GPU. 

Thank you! 

 

Edited February 19, 2023 by t_hedlund
adding information and clarification

[derneuemann]

vor 16 Stunden schrieb t_hedlund:

Things haven't really gone as planned and looking to revisit this whole deal. 

So I have a parts list of what I believe is in my system as of now. 

TomHedlund - Saved Part Lists - PCPartPicker

I would like to finally switch out the GPU, I'm kind of disappointed as the price of the 3000 series really hasn't dropped that much, so I'm kind of looking at the 4070, it is really more than I wanted to spend on a card, but I need to do something as the MP itch is too  great....lol. 

This is the 4070 I was looking at specifically MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti VENTUS 3X OC Graphics Card G407TV3X12C (bhphotovideo.com), do you think that it would be a good choice for the cost? 

Please note that I'm still planning on replacing the everything but the case over the summer and fall, as I'm sure that the MB.CPU will be limiting the GPU. 

Thank you! 

 

 

Good morning,

The 4070ti sure is a good card for DCS. Do you only want to fly on the monitor, or will VR eventually be added?

Why don't you overclock the i5 6600k.

Can you briefly describe my experience with a 6700k.
Mine does 4.7GHz with a compact air cooler without turning heads. In addition 32GB faster Ram and good is first.

Damti I would then wait how DCS runs with Vulkan API and then decide.

Regarding 4070TI, only the 12GB memory is not excessive, for DCS, especially if VR should come along. But basically a good card!

[t_hedlund]

Right now, I'm content with just using the monitor. I have messed around with OC it in the past but didn't seem to get much of a gain. I should probably re-test it out.

I really hope that Vulkan API does show a noticeable improvement, but it seems like it is so far away. Circumstances have recently changed so I don't believe that I can swing a 4070 right now, so Vulkan might be my best hope. 

[derneuemann]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb t_hedlund:

Right now, I'm content with just using the monitor. I have messed around with OC it in the past but didn't seem to get much of a gain. I should probably re-test it out.

I really hope that Vulkan API does show a noticeable improvement, but it seems like it is so far away. Circumstances have recently changed so I don't believe that I can swing a 4070 right now, so Vulkan might be my best hope. 

what memory do you have in the system now?

For me, the combination of DDR4 has 3600 instead of 3000 and optimized sub-timings in connection with 4.7 GHz instead of 4.0
a good 20% more power. Of course only in the CPU limit.

 

If I beheaded the 6700k and cooled it more, 4.8 GHz would definitely work.

That should at least be the case with the 6600k.

Of course you can also install a 7700k for a small dollar. Here in Germany there are pre-selected ones, sometimes in classified ads... They can also have 5GHz. Why am I telling this.

Because an R5 5600 is about 18% faster at the same clock, or an I5 12400 for example 27% at the same clock.

R5 5600 clocks at 4.5GHz and with OC 4.7GHz, accordingly there is only a maximum of 16% more fps than a 6600k with 4.8GHz.

I5 12400 clocks in DCS with 4.4GHz (at least up to the Vulkan API, after that only with 4GHz because God willing all cores are used), accordingly there is only a maximum of 17% more fps.

With a 7700k with 5GHz, this reduces to 12.5 to 13.5%. at 5.3 GHz, which is the maximum for the 7700k and for which you need a well-selected CPU, the advantage for 5600/12400 is reduced to just 8/9%.

Only CPUs like 13600KF with OC and 5800X3D make bigger and noticeable improvements!