New TM Warthog or CPU/MB?

[javelina1]

was curious, if given the choice, would you go with buying a new TM Warthog? Or buy a new CPU/MB (as a gamer upgrade)?

 

I'm currently flying a dated Intel i5/8GB RAM/HDD, w/ an ATI GPU. Using an X52, TrackIR, and combat rudder pedals... DCSW is quite flyable, (in single player mode. Haven't gone online as of yet). I know at some point I'd like to upgrade the CPU/MB to something new.

 

I might have the choice to pickup a new TM Warthog, as of now.

 

Was curious, if you were given the choice, what would you buy? (No, I haven't spec'd out a new CPU/MB as of yet).

 

Is the Warthog worth it?

[PureEvil]

I'm currently flying a dated Intel i5/8GB RAM/HDD, w/ an ATI GPU.

 

i5... can't be THAT dated then... it's not like pentium 4 or something lol nvidia GPU would make a difference i guess, but better wait for EDGE first. ssd is good for DCS aswell. TM Warthog sure does look good, but new mods for joysticks are coming out now. they are good, metal mechanics and magnetoresistive sensors, even Warthog can't beat that ))) that was about joysticks, it is harder to find a good throttle, i guess Warthog's is the best atm.

hard decisions time you've got there )))

[mr_mojo97]

Well I run an i5 oc'd to 4.3 and it runs well until there are millions of things happening at the same time. Remember also when EDGE comes out you may still have further performance improvements. If the sim runs well then all I'd suggest is if you can afford it get an ssd - say 128 GB one which you can get for about £60 on ebay and run the sim from that (edge is reportedly 25gb alone). If you're gonna be flying the hog more than most then I do really think you'll not regret it

Les

[javelina1]

My i5 I built back in May/June of 2010. Using the 661 module, (dual core). Have it overclocked from 3.33ghz to 3.63ghz. Not really the most peppy of the bunch, but it runs other sims just fine.

 

For the O/S, running Win 7 64bit Ultimate.

 

Here's what I've done to date, to try and help DCSW along:

 

- OC'd the CPU to 3.63

- OC'd the ATI GPU (just a smudge. It appears to be stable at 1100mhz, over the standard 1050mhz)

- set the ATI video settings to the recommendations listed in many of the FPS threads of this site.

- running the most current MB firmware, disabled all of the power saving settings, HDA, non used features, etc, via the BIOS

- installed the most current Intel chipset drivers for the MB

- using the latest Uni Xonar drivers with my Xonar DG sound card, (set for low latency).

- Latest TrackIR software...

- use the timer resolution tool, prior to running the DCS sim (http://www.lucashale.com/timer-resolution/)

- also run Process Lasso & set to gamer settings prior to running the sim as well. (this tool does seem to help with any sort of micro stutter I might have had). http://www.bitsum.com/processlasso/

- for grins, I left hyper threading on, but allow process lasso to core park, etc. Honestly, I could see no diff with enabled/disabled. process lasso seemed to do a good job managing.

- played with tools such as the DPC latency checker. found that once process lasso was in gamer mode, It did appear to help with micro stutters, etc.

- via "msconfig", I do have all non essential processes shutoff

- running with 8GB of RAM, tried both pagefile on/off, really didn't see a diff.

- using a 2nd 15" VGA monitor to extract my Cougar MFD's (for the A-10c)

 

So, down the road, I'm hoping to buy a newer CPU/MB, and allow me to build out a much more modern gamer. I generally follow the Johnny Cash route when building systems. One piece at a time... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWHniL8MyMM

 

digging around my old computer hardware stash, I found a 60GB SSD. I'm thinking about hooking it up, and maybe using it for a pagefile drive. Since it's really not that large enough for much anything else. just a thought....

 

 

My system specs;

 

i5-661 CPU (dual core)

8GB RAM

500GB HDD

HD 7870 GPU

Saitek X52 (magnet / tensioner mod)

Saitek combat rudders

TM Cougar MFD

24" Samsung LCD

15" VGA

Xonar DG PCI sound card

RCA 5.1 A/V Receiver (SPDif from the Xonar card)

Edited January 2, 2014 by javelina1

[PureEvil]

I found a 60GB SSD. I'm thinking about hooking it up, and maybe using it for a pagefile drive. Since it's really not that large enough for much anything else. just a thought....

 

it's large enough to run DCS from it, makes difference. no need for pagefile on this drive.