DCS: A-10C Warthog PC config

[-Nighthawk-]

Anyone tested on a HD6870 yet? Thinking of getting one for a replacement of my HD4870 as it's not up to DCS currently

[Migo]

So while CPU is very important for a sim like this, so is the GPU and GPU VRAM!

Did they optimize the engine with A10C so much ? Black Shark is only about cpu-power. My 4ghz and even 4.3Ghz i7 is bottleneck while the GPU remains at 30% load. Without 8xFSAA it will be around 15-20% load.

 

I'm torn between (due to budget constraints) a dual core proc with higher clock rates, or a quad core with lower clock rates... or go in between and get one of the X3 processors.

DCS is all about clockrate. I recommend getting an Intel LGA 1156 mobo and an i5 750 /i7 860 quad core cpu because you can easily overclock them to 4Ghz and a lot of new games utilize 4 cores. If you only want best performance in DCS an i5 661 Dualcore is the best chioce because they will clock up to 4.5Ghz with no problems. HD5770 is a good choice and 4GB DDR3 is enough Ram.

 

greetz Migo

Edited October 29, 2010 by Migo

[Der.Brizon]

Did they optimize the engine with A10C so much ? Black Shark is only about cpu-power. My 4ghz and even 4.3Ghz i7 is bottleneck while the GPU remains at 30% load. Without 8xFSAA it will be around 15-20% load.

 

DCS is all about clockrate. I recommend getting an Intel LGA 1156 mobo and an i5 750 /i7 860 quad core cpu because you can easily overclock them to 4Ghz and a lot of new games utilize 4 cores. If you only want best performance in DCS an i5 661 Dualcore is the best chioce because they will clock up to 4.5Ghz with no problems. HD5770 is a good choice and 4GB DDR3 is enough Ram.

 

greetz Migo

 

Awesome, thanks. Ill look into getting the best CPU I can, but I'll be wanting to wait for some good deals next month. Maybe I can get a new stick for cheap, too...

[Migo]

Awesome, thanks. Ill look into getting the best CPU I can

Yeah and don't be afraid of overclocking, it is really easy today especially with i5/i7. To turn 2.67Ghz into 4.2Ghz is just awesome.

 

Anyone tested on a HD6870 yet? Thinking of getting one for a replacement of my HD4870 as it's not up to DCS currentl

The card gives you much performance for a good price. The HD6870 is faster than the HD5850, a little bit slower then the HD5870 and costs the same as the HD5850. If you're not on budget I would wait a month, AMD will release the new HD69xx in november and they will kick ass.

 

greetz Migo

[MemphisBelle]

Yeah and don't be afraid of overclocking, it is really easy today especially with i5/i7. To turn 2.67Ghz into 4.2Ghz is just awesome.

 

Consider this:

 

13- If you have crash problems:

 

- Make sure you are running the game with Admin rights

 

- Make sure your video card drivers are up to date

 

- Make sure that your CPU, RAM, and video card are NOT over-clocked

- If you are in a 32 bit OS, don't use the default 64 bit start icon. Use the 32 bit icon.

 

to find here:

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=58024

 

The whole secret ist to keep your systems balanced. Figure out which cpu fits most to your gpu...or the other way, and you´ll good to go.

[Sn8ke]

my rig

 

I have a Q9650 quad core at 3.6GHZ, 8 Gigs of 1000mhz DDR2 RAM, (2X) 9800GTX + (1GB each) running in SLI, Windows XP 64-bit, Directx 9.0C, current nvidia drivers . Should I get favorable FPS performance on max? settings?

Edited October 29, 2010 by davidzill

[Succellus]

Anyone tested on a HD6870 yet? Thinking of getting one for a replacement of my HD4870 as it's not up to DCS currently

 

 

By the review i saw you better go with an GTX460 1ghz unless you run 2 monitors. The GTX match it all around. Thats why i m getting a MSI Hawk.

Especially if you get a Intel core.

Undisclosed source tells intel/nvidia integrate better than Intel/ATI and the same way around for AMD/ATI....But that may be just intrigue of the opposiiton.

About waiting a bit, its always good especially if they realease in november. But since AMD declared nothing will come to my country till next year, it doesn t matter a bit if i upgrade now.

[Succellus]

Consider this:

 

The whole secret ist to keep your systems balanced. Figure out which cpu fits most to your gpu...or the other way, and you´ll good to go.

 

Would a rampage 3 gene, 4gb 1600 Cl7 gskill (with plan to upgrade to 8gb), i7 950, and a 460 MSI HAWK 1gb (planning future SLI) be balanced ?:unsure:

[MemphisBelle]

Would a rampage 3 gene, 4gb 1600 Cl7 gskill (with plan to upgrade to 8gb), i7 950, and a 460 MSI HAWK 1gb (planning future SLI) be balanced ?:unsure:

 

 

To check whether a gpu and a cpu fit togehther check this link below. This is a GPU Rank list. It´s in german but the list is selfexplanatory. The outer right column represents the CPU which fits best to the GPU listed on the outer left column. If your gfx card / cpu is not listed so get the very next one.

 

http://www.3dchip.de/Grafikchipliste/Leistung_Graka.htm

[Succellus]

To check whether a gpu and a cpu fit togehther check this link below. This is a GPU Rank list. It´s in german but the list is selfexplanatory. The outer right column represents the CPU which fits best to the GPU listed on the outer left column. If your gfx card / cpu is not listed so get the very next one.

 

http://www.3dchip.de/Grafikchipliste/Leistung_Graka.htm

 

Danke,

 

Seems my GPU will be the bottleneck, this should be solved with SLI, so no trouble.

[Steel Jaw]

Seems my GPU will be the bottleneck, this should be solved with SLI, so no trouble.

 

I would not count on that.

[Migo]

The whole secret ist to keep your systems balanced. Figure out which cpu fits most to your gpu...or the other way, and you´ll good to go.

That's wrong mate. That list is like "what someone who never owned a PC should buy".

 

To check whether a gpu and a cpu fit togehther check this link below

There is no such thing like secret "balance" or that a cpu has to fit a gpu. Everything depends on the programs and how they utilize the components.

 

DCS needs a high clocked CPU, the graphics card does only matter if your card is garbage, meaning older then 4 years. If you got an half-decent graphics card the CPU will be the bottleneck. No need for SLI or Crossfire at all in this SIM ! It's funny reading all the post from people who think a new GTX460 will improve their performance in DCS. I say it again, in this sim cpu is much more important than graphics card.

 

greetz Migo

Edited October 29, 2010 by Migo

[Frogfoot1606687865]

That's wrong mate. That list is like "what someone who never owned a PC should buy".

 

DCS needs a high clocked CPU, the graphics card does only matter if your card is garbage, meaning older then 4 years. If you got an half-decent graphics card the CPU will be the bottleneck. No need for SLI or Crossfire at all in this SIM ! It's funny reading all the post from people who think a new GTX460 will improve their performance in DCS. I say it again, in this sim cpu is much more important than graphics card.

 

greetz Migo

 

I have to disagree with this post. Having a 4GHz Quad core I7 Processor and recently upgrading from a Gforce 8800GT to a GTX470.

With the 8800GT (which runs Black shark at 60 fps on high settings) I had to lower resolution by a couple of notches and lower textures, turn down shadows/water, turn off HDR etc etc.

With the GTX470 I have all the eye candy I like running at 1900x1200. I 'My' case the bottle neck was the GPU not the CPU.

 

Make no mistake A10 can be VERY demanding on you GPU if you have a high enough resolution and crank up the eye candy.

[Revelation]

One thing everyone needs to look at with their respective GPUs is the memory interface. If the memory interface on your video card is less than 256 bit, then yes your card is your bottleneck. In Frogfoot's case he went from a card with a 256 bit interface to one that is 320 bit, if I'm not mistaken, so Forgfoot would see an improvement.

 

For instance I went from a 8800GT with 256bit interface to a GTX285 with 512 bit interface. Think of your video cards memory as a parking lot and the memory interface as the number of "roads" to get in and out of said parking lot. The more roads you have the faster you can get cars in and out of a parking lot.

 

That's why you see video cards with 1GB of ram selling for $49 bucks, they have fewer cores, slower memory and a 64 bit memory interface. Good luck playing anything "intensive" on that....

 

With that in mind, CPU speed will have the greatest effect on your sim performance.

[Succellus]

That's wrong mate. That list is like "what someone who never owned a PC should buy".

 

There is no such thing like secret "balance" or that a cpu has to fit a gpu. Everything depends on the programs and how they utilize the components.

 

DCS needs a high clocked CPU, the graphics card does only matter if your card is garbage, meaning older then 4 years. If you got an half-decent graphics card the CPU will be the bottleneck. No need for SLI or Crossfire at all in this SIM ! It's funny reading all the post from people who think a new GTX460 will improve their performance in DCS. I say it again, in this sim cpu is much more important than graphics card.

 

greetz Migo

 

Thats totally wrong.

a computer work as per the saying: The weakest link determine the strenght of the chain. So in hardware, the slowest component determine the fastest the system can go. You really have to balance RAM, MTB, CPU, GPU, monitor/TV and FONT (power source).

I agree that a SLI may not solve the GPU bottleneck due to lack of specific programing, but i don t see a GTX460 hawk being hit by DCS A10c. I was thinking of SOW BOB.

In the DCS A10c case, due to complex calc, random management of AI, i can picture A10C hitting the groin of the CPU even a i7 950.

 

Today, building a good computer with or without some lasting expectation with minor upgrade, is a pain in the ass and the wallet.

[Migo]

Ok I can only speak as far as Black Shark. Overclocking my CPU from 2.67Ghz to 4Ghz (50%) raises my FPS from 37 to 53 (+42%). But changing graphics card from GTX280 to HD5870 gave me no fps increase at all. Maybe A10C utilizes the GPU better.

[Succellus]

Ok I can only speak as far as Black Shark. Overclocking my CPU from 2.67Ghz to 4Ghz (50%) raises my FPS from 37 to 53 (+42%). But changing graphics card from GTX280 to HD5870 gave me no fps increase at all. Maybe A10C utilizes the GPU better.

 

If i was to guess something.. i would say the bottleneck maybe your RAM or and most probably the FSB of your motherboard. Your CPU s holding the road, your GPU cartainly does, but the comunication channel between them maybe slow, henceforth a lack of better grafic.

All have to come at the right time for the "picture" to be right.

[Greb]

Thats totally wrong.

a computer work as per the saying: The weakest link determine the strenght of the chain. So in hardware, the slowest component determine the fastest the system can go. You really have to balance RAM, MTB, CPU, GPU, monitor/TV and FONT (power source).

I agree that a SLI may not solve the GPU bottleneck due to lack of specific programing, but i don t see a GTX460 hawk being hit by DCS A10c. I was thinking of SOW BOB.

In the DCS A10c case, due to complex calc, random management of AI, i can picture A10C hitting the groin of the CPU even a i7 950.

 

Today, building a good computer with or without some lasting expectation with minor upgrade, is a pain in the ass and the wallet.

 

Great Post Succellus!

 

I find people want to upgrade but don't know where to start. First thing I ask people when building or upgrading. What do you want it to do? Do you want to read email and cruise the web, or do you want to run the latest sim or CAD program full bore. I always tell people build to what you need. Don't buy into future speculation of what you may need or want because the market changes so fast. Don't buy an overkill piece of hardware, or expect the latest and greatest piece of hardware is the one thing to you need unleash the HAL in your desktop PC!

 

To Add! the biggest thing I see in the field, is lack of maintenance! You change the oil in your car, you have to keep your computer clean. MAINTENANCE, MAINTENANCE......and don't forget the MAINTENANCE!

Edited October 29, 2010 by Greb

[Migo]

If i was to guess something.. i would say the bottleneck maybe your RAM or and most probably the FSB of your motherboard.

No, the Ram isn't even fully used by DCS. Like I said it's the cpu, that's why performance increases so much when overclocking it.

 

So in hardware, the slowest component determine the fastest the system can go.

But you have to understand that cpu and gpu are two separate processing units who are utilized different by the programs. Lets say my system is a computer with E8400 + HD3870. The bottleneck in Crysis will be the gpu because Crysis eats all the gpu performance and in DCS the cpu is the bottleneck because it utilizes the cpu a lot more than the gpu.

 

greetz Migo

Edited October 29, 2010 by Migo

[Headspace]

To Add! the biggest thing I see in the field, is lack of maintenance! You change the oil in your car, you have to keep your computer clean. MAINTENANCE, MAINTENANCE......and don't forget the MAINTENANCE!

Yeah, a lot of the time people end up with thermal load issues that could be solved with a simple case dusting on a regular basis, using compressed air.

[MemphisBelle]

That's wrong mate. That list is like "what someone who never owned a PC should buy".

 

There is no such thing like secret "balance" or that a cpu has to fit a gpu. Everything depends on the programs and how they utilize the components.

 

DCS needs a high clocked CPU, the graphics card does only matter if your card is garbage, meaning older then 4 years. If you got an half-decent graphics card the CPU will be the bottleneck. No need for SLI or Crossfire at all in this SIM ! It's funny reading all the post from people who think a new GTX460 will improve their performance in DCS. I say it again, in this sim cpu is much more important than graphics card.

 

greetz Migo

 

 

Sorry my friend...but you´re indeed totally wrong. You´re right. DCS is most used by CPU (very roughly explained). But when you have a very high powered CPU but your gpu is too slow. so the CPU will not work as it could be, since the CPU has to wait untill the gpu has finished the provided datas. Otherways is the same. If you have a slow cpu but a fast gpu so the gpu has to wait for the cpu datas. So both matters a lot to each other although DCS uses cpu power more than gpu power.

[Steel Jaw]

I cannot believe some people here are gonna try and argue that there can be no bottlenecks.

 

Of course there can be: for mois right now my GPU is a bottleneck for A10.

[Greb]

Yeah, a lot of the time people end up with thermal load issues that could be solved with a simple case dusting on a regular basis, using compressed air.

 

You are so right there Headspace!

 

I was speaking on the software side but, yeah good point!

 

I had to swap a motherboard out on a computer at a hippie commune once. When I popped the case the hardware, fans, and the entire case was so covered in dust you couldn't see the circuitry or the labels! That poor computer was running so hot for so long it gave up the ghost!

[Revelation]

No, the Ram isn't even fully used by DCS. Like I said it's the cpu, that's why performance increases so much when overclocking it.

 

Migo, DCS may not "fully" utilize the RAM available, I can assure you the type of RAM and it's specifications has a great deal to do with your program's performance.

 

For instance, I'll take a low-latency DDR3 @ 4GB setup vs a high-latency DD2 @ 8GB setup. When you overclock, you can change the performance of your RAM to perform close to or as-good-as expensive low-latency RAM.

 

That WILL effect your frame rates - guaranteed.

 

But you have to understand that cpu and gpu are two separate processing units who are utilized different by the programs. Lets say my system is a computer with E8400 + HD3870. The bottleneck in Crysis will be the gpu because Crysis eats all the gpu performance and in DCS the cpu is the bottleneck because it utilizes the cpu a lot more than the gpu.

greetz Migo

 

You have to look at your "whole system." The weakest link analogy is perfect because it will bring your total experience down. Even in Crysis, your CPU will have a huge effect on your frame rates. If you swapped out the E8400 with a stock E5200 I guarantee that your FPS will take a huge hit.

[MemphisBelle]

I cannot believe some people here are gonna try and argue that there can be no bottlenecks.

 

Of course there can be: for mois right now my GPU is a bottleneck for A10.

 

Oh...there can be.

 

Thats totally wrong.

a computer work as per the saying: The weakest link determine the strenght of the chain. So in hardware, the slowest component determine the fastest the system can go. You really have to balance RAM, MTB, CPU, GPU, monitor/TV and FONT (power source).

[..]

 

He explained this issue very well