Absolute minimum specs for DCS ?

[Extranajero]

I really want to try DCS, it seems ideal for the realistic flight controls I'm developing for simulator use.

But my PC is low spec and I don't really want to upgrade unless absolutely necessary - I can use the money far better building controls.

 

What I have is a Core 2 Duo 2.2ghz, 4gb RAM and Geforce 9500

 

The main issue seems to be RAM, I can't add any more - the motherboard will only recognise 4gb.

 

Should I bother with the 6gb download or stick to DCS:Blackshark ( which runs really well ) ?

[blackbelter]

I don't think there is such a thing as absolute minimum specs... It all depends on how well you perceive the game at low quality... Your specs isn't too low. If everything is set to low, I am sure you can get reasonable FPS provided there are not too many things happening. But some people may consider the quality at such settings (everything at low) unbearable, some may not.

 

The easiest thing to do is to download the free DCSW and try it out.

[Suchacz]

I have 4gigs of ram in my PC as well, but the rest is far better than you have (see my dxdiag). I can run DCS succesfully.

Can you show us some of your work on sim controllers? :huh:

Edited December 31, 2013 by Suchacz

[Extranajero]

Yep, the obvious thing is to download DCSW and try it out - but I thought I would ask first. I live in a very rural area and have wireless internet which isn't always too reliable. So a 6gb download can take quite a while.

 

I'll show some pictures of the controls soon, my camera's battery charger died a while back and the replacement is taking forever to arrive :(

 

Thanks for your help guys :)

[dnnzed]

Hahhh...

What a synchronicity... I just wanted to ask it at the day. :-) Because I was just a click from the moment where I buy FC3 at the e-shop, than suddenly my eyes stucked on the number "min. Ram> 6Gb"...Duh. I have the same config as the asker of this thread (but GTX275).

 

So, is it "safe" for me to buy FC3? Will it start/run with only 4Gb of Ram?

[BIGNEWY]

Minimum system requirements: OS 64-bit Windows Vista, 7 or 8; CPU: Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz; RAM: 6 GB; Free hard disk space: 10 GB; Video: 512 MB RAM card, DirectX 9.0c - compatible; Sound: DirectX 9.0c - compatible; requires internet activation.

 

Recommended system requirements: OS 64-bit Windows Vista, 7 or 8; CPU: Core i5+; RAM: 8GB; Hard disk space: 10 GB; Video: Shader 3.0 or better; NVIDIA GeForce GTX560 / ATI 6950 DirectX 9.0c or better; Sound: DirectX 9.0c - compatible; DirectX: 9.0C; requires internet activation.

[schroedi]

If you tolerate absence of some features you can play the game with an older version. I use Version 1.2.4 because for 32bit it seems to be best.

Download DCS world, install it and downgrade it.

here are the min and recommended specs for versions 1.1.1 - 1.2.5 I think.

 

Recommended system requirements: Operating system 64-bit: Windows Vista and 7; Processor: CPU: Core 2 Duo E8400, AMD Phenom X3 8750 or better; Memory: 4GB; Hard disk space: 7 GB; Video: Shader 3.0 or better; 896MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX260 DirectX 9.0c or better; Sound: DirectX 9.0c - compatible; DirectX: 9.0C; requires internet activation.

 

Minimum system requirements: Operating system: Windows XP, Vista or 7; Processor: Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz; Memory: 3 GB; Free hard disk space: 7 GB; Video: 512 MB RAM card, DirectX 9 - compatible; Sound: DirectX 9.0c - compatible; requires internet activation.

[blackbelter]

BTW, @OP, if you are really into flight simulation, you will have to upgrade your pc specs eventually. Having a great control setup, but not having a smooth and enjoyable flying experience (which can be brought about only by a good pc), seems counter productive to me.

 

So I would suggest you to either stick to Black Shark and build your controls, or to upgrade your pc and go for DCSW. Either way you can enjoy a smooth flying experience, instead of a pretty but constantly stuttering view. After all, there is no such thing as realism if the view is not even smooth (for the most part, at least...).

[statrekmike]

All 3 are going to be an issue, plus the HDD will slow everything down to a crawl because of heavy Page File usage due to low RAM amount.

 

DCS needs 6GBs minimum available to it after OS and everything has loaded.

 

The CPU is a bare minimum, which means 20fps max.

In conjunction with low RAM and old GFX Card, DCS will be unplayable.

 

What you need: Faster CPU, More RAM, New GFX, SSD instead of HDD.

 

So basically, a new computer is needed.

 

I'm sorry to say, but it doesn't seem like you'd enjoy DCS on your current system.

 

 

You don't need a SSD to play DCS smoothly, I agree with your other stuff but a SSD is not needed if you meet the minimum (preferably recommended) specs.

[TurboHog]

i3-2120 + HD5670 and 4GB DDR3 1066Mhz here. I play on Low - medium settings.

 

There is no point in playing online with more than 5 pilots.

 

I flew a co-op mission with a buddy last week. Not so many vehicles in the mission but it was overcast and raining. 15FPS. Single player with clear skies is ok with FPS between 20 and 30.

 

It is possible to play with 4GB (low-med settings), but closing DCS takes five minutes because there is no more memory to unload DCS.

 

Based on these experiences I would say that your computer is not capable of running DCSW.

 

Next year, which could be within 5 hours now that I think about it, I will upgrade my system.

Edited December 31, 2013 by TurboHog

[Flankerp]

Do upgrade when you get a chance.

[SkateZilla]

I dont get stutters with a WD Black Drive. I Maintain a Smooth 30 FPS Locked across 3 Screens w/ External MFCDs.

 

Know your Hardware and Set your Settings So that those bottle necks are not a problem.

[Extranajero]

Minimum system requirements: OS 64-bit Windows Vista, 7 or 8; CPU: Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz; RAM: 6 GB; Free hard disk space: 10 GB; Video: 512 MB RAM card, DirectX 9.0c - compatible; Sound: DirectX 9.0c - compatible; requires internet activation.

 

Recommended system requirements: OS 64-bit Windows Vista, 7 or 8; CPU: Core i5+; RAM: 8GB; Hard disk space: 10 GB; Video: Shader 3.0 or better; NVIDIA GeForce GTX560 / ATI 6950 DirectX 9.0c or better; Sound: DirectX 9.0c - compatible; DirectX: 9.0C; requires internet activation.

 

Thanks for that cut and paste, I hadn't even considered reading the specs on the website before posting my question.

[Extranajero]

BTW, @OP, if you are really into flight simulation, you will have to upgrade your pc specs eventually. Having a great control setup, but not having a smooth and enjoyable flying experience (which can be brought about only by a good pc), seems counter productive to me.

 

So I would suggest you to either stick to Black Shark and build your controls, or to upgrade your pc and go for DCSW. Either way you can enjoy a smooth flying experience, instead of a pretty but constantly stuttering view. After all, there is no such thing as realism if the view is not even smooth (for the most part, at least...).

 

I am really into flight sims, mainly the Third Wire series nowadays as I like Cold War aircraft. But the Third Wire stuff doesn't really model systems or flight behaviour realistically ( that's OK, it's the developers choice and he's got his reasons ) and it's not a good choice for simpit purposes.

 

My favourite mission types are SEAD\Wild Weasel and it's pretty obvious that DCS does this much better than anything else on the market, even just going by YouTube videos.

 

You are making a really good point, perhaps it's time to retire this PC and use it as a media centre.

[PFunk1606688187]

DCS can run just fine on those specs, just within limits.

 

People like to make wild exaggerations about whats playable or whats needed. Some people define a frame rate below 30 as "unplayable" because thats their opinion, they just would refuse to play it.

 

I've known people who've played online games with 700 ping, and been fantastic players at that, even though I would never have tolerated that.

 

My rig is even below the OP's spec and DCS has been just fine for me, however recent updates have pushed the minimum specs further and its becoming less tolerable.

 

I don't know why but basically DCS is forsaking the 5 year old PC properly these days. You can certainly enjoy yourself and limp by, though some missions will make you cry. I need a new PC myself, but I wouldn't call DCS unplayable, though I do believe that my standard of playable frame rates is well below the average gamer's at this point.

[Extranajero]

 

I don't know why but basically DCS is forsaking the 5 year old PC properly these days.

 

I'm no programmer but I'd guess that it's a trade off between keeping the graphics up to current expectations while not spending a lot of time and effort optimising them for lower end systems. I can see the logic in that, the bottom line is that they are in business to make money. I'd expect that for every 10 copies of the game sold maybe one would go to a hard core simmer and the other nine to people who want to fly in arcade mode and look at lens flares and fluffy 3D clouds. It's just the way it is. Well, that's my guess anyway.

 

FSX would be a different matter. I usually install that once every 6 months and then get rid of it after a couple of weeks of reminding myself how resource hungry it is compared to the mediocre graphics.

I used to fly a little in the real world and I honestly don't ever remember trees and buildings suddenly popping into view at a range of 100 metres :D

You would think that Microsoft could do better, given their resources...

[Cibit]

I would say quite the opposite.

Even RAID 0 would still produce frequent stutters in DCS.

SSD is an absolute must for DCS.

It's really night and day difference and should be mentioned in the recommended requirements.

Maybe you just got used to stuttering but I'm flying smoothly online with many players.

 

I have 1.2.7 installed on both SSD and HDD and apart from loading times there is no noticable difference.

 

Extranajero I just bought an OC bundle for my son's Christmas present. A possible affordable option if your PSU and case are ok. Then you just need to save up for graphics card when you can.

 

Something like this

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-224-OK&groupid=43&catid=2512

[Extranajero]

Extranajero I just bought an OC bundle for my son's Christmas present. A possible affordable option if your PSU and case are ok. Then you just need to save up for graphics card when you can.

 

Thanks for that, it would be easier and cheaper than buying here in Spain.

The prices look attractive, I was recently quoted 54 euros for 2 gigs of DDR2 RAM locally...

 

I suppose I have a budget of about £500, but I do want to spend the least amount possible. Apart from flight sims and Kerbal Space Program the only games I play are turn based wargames which have graphics of the 'cardboard counters on a paper map' type and would probably work OK on a 386DX :)

[anjet]

I really want to try DCS, it seems ideal for the realistic flight controls I'm developing for simulator use.

But my PC is low spec and I don't really want to upgrade unless absolutely necessary - I can use the money far better building controls.

 

What I have is a Core 2 Duo 2.2ghz, 4gb RAM and Geforce 9500

 

The main issue seems to be RAM, I can't add any more - the motherboard will only recognise 4gb.

 

Should I bother with the 6gb download or stick to DCS:Blackshark ( which runs really well ) ?

 

 

I started playing this game on q9550, 4gb ram, gtx260 and win7 64, and I was playing BS1, BS2.

The settings I used were mostly LOW (30 fps), and I had quite a few slowdowns (10-15 fps) when there was a lot of things in the scene.

I have clocked the processor at about 25% and added 4gb ram and gained +5 fps on average. Later I upgraded to gtx560ti and got again around 5 FPS, but raised all the settings to about medium and some high. But again there were slowdowns.

Finaly I got i5-3570k (clocked 30%), new mobo and 16gb memory, ssd for win7 and dcs, old gtx560ti.

Now I play with most settings on medium and high, very smooth performance and rarely a slowdown. SSD is a big improvement for loading times (no FPS) which is usefull in many ways.

[Extranajero]

Well I'm now convinced that I need to upgrade. Thanks for everyones advice, it's been very valuable.

 

I can take some of the financial pain away by selling my racing pit, wheel and pedals. I was never much good at sim racing anyway and haven't used it for a couple of years.

[BRooDJeRo]

I do not wish to flame, but isn't a sim developer with a low spec machine the same as a Formula 1 driver with a Peugeot 205 GTI?

[Extranajero]

I do not wish to flame, but isn't a sim developer with a low spec machine the same as a Formula 1 driver with a Peugeot 205 GTI?

 

Hey, I used to own a 205 GTI :D

 

I'm not a sim developer, where did you get that idea ? I know next to nothing about programming.

I like to build controls, my skills are all mechanical.

[shagrat]

There still is the A-10C available in vanilla 1.1.1.1 Release!

 

Since you are more interested in building controls and realistic flight modelling, than in eye candy, I recommend to think about buying just the A-10C (SALE: US$ 15.99 until 5.jan 2014 http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=117864)...

Now go to the old products download section and get the standalone version http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/previous_versions/dcs_a10c_warthog_english_1.1.1.1/.

 

Or here http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/previous_versions/dcs_a10c_warthog_spanish_1.1.1.1/ for the spanish standalone version if you don't want it in english.

 

Recommended system requirements: Operating system 64-bit: Windows Vista and 7; Processor: CPU: Core 2 Duo E8400, AMD Phenom X3 8750 or better; Memory: 4GB; Hard disk space: 7 GB; Video: Shader 3.0 or better; 896MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX260 DirectX 9.0c or better; Sound: DirectX 9.0c

 

Minimum specs are even lower, so your 2.2GHz CPU should suffice, if you lower the settings a bit...

 

It is not DCS World in terms of features and Multiplayer servers will be rare, but the flight model and systems of the A-10C did change only marginally in DCS World.

 

The best thing is, whenever you can afford the upgrade the key is valid for the DCS World A-10C Module, as well!

So there is virtually nothing to loose, but US$ 15.99 and some download time. :thumbup:

Edited January 2, 2014 by shagrat
Added spanish download link

[Extranajero]

Thanks very much Shagrat - I hadn't looked at the A-10 - I just assumed I wouldn't be able to run it.

You are right, there isn't anything to lose...

[SkateZilla]

I do not wish to flame, but isn't a sim developer with a low spec machine the same as a Formula 1 driver with a Peugeot 205 GTI?

 

Race Car Drivers dont Start in Formula 1, they usually start in slower less powerful cars and work their way up, of course there are exceptions made by some team owners to just bring in people based on their legal name.