New Computer Specs Recommendations

[FMod]

I would have a few things to say about where real security comes from, but this is not the thread.

 

There is literally nothing, at this time, that any ordinary user gets out of having more than 8GB of RAM. For most purposes, 4 is enough, but more can under some circumstances be useful. As to more than 8, an ordinary user should never encounter circumstances where they would notice any difference.

 

 

 

edit: 2x8GB is nice to have after you've reasonably maxed out all components that actually make a difference. Best in slot CPU, good motherboard, great cooling, platinum PSU, solid 60 fps video card, SSD large enough for everything but video/music/backups. Then you get 2x8 instead of 2x4 RAM.

 

The main reason you wanted 2x8GB a couple years ago is 8GB modules overclocked better and RAM was dirt cheap. It made sense to buy while it was cheap. Now it's not cheap at all and new 4GB modules clock just as well, because they use the same chips, half the number.

 

Extra RAM will not go entirely to waste as Windows does put it to use as disk cache, but its caching strategy is very cautious and ineffective, especially if it's an older version. Deliberate use of aggressive caching software falls far outside the realm of regular users and with SSD they'd spend more time learning the ropes than save with caching over their entire lifetime.

Edited September 30, 2014 by FMod

[Thor.]

Have you seen the system requirements, base minimum 8gb of ddr3. Its only going to get worse.

Edited September 30, 2014 by Thor.

[FMod]

Requirements for what? Say what, link to one benchmark that shows any more difference than "none at all" between a game's performance with 8GB and 16GB of RAM and you'll have the foundation of a case.

 

From that foundation we can at least begin to assess the numbers - what the gain is in % and whether it's larger or smaller than the same $75 removed from or added to GPU or CPU.

 

Otherwise, without this, it's all speculation. The effects of a better CPU or a better GPU on performance are not speculation, they've been measured.

[Thor.]

Look up Watch Dogs complaints, they had multiple complaints of slow fps an bottle necking on even a Titan, the requirements is a console problem, i think they are trying to use the same concept as the vram was tied to system memory. Pc in the other hand does not work that way very well, once it hits the slower memory fps start to suffer.

Edited October 1, 2014 by Thor.

[FMod]

So what did the testing results say?

 

People will complain about everything and ascribe it to anything, complaints are not information, a test doing the comparison is. I don't own the game and won't get it just to test, so can't do it. It's absolutely trivial, even if all your sticks are 8GB, you just create a ramdrive for all RAM except 8GB (create a 1GB ramdrive for the control as well).

 

All I could find on the net looking for a test was this: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/916373-pc/69391985

Also, 8GB is recommended, not "base minimum". You're really not presenting anything more than a ghost chase here.

[sadampl]

Since there is a topic like that already I will post here. I'm also looking to buy gaming PC since my laptop is literally falling apart (I must learn how to handle things with care :tongue: ) since it uhh fell down on the floor few times, and I kinda fell asleep on it while watching movie in bed... But straight to the point, I'm not up to date with new PC parts ever since Nvidia's 9xxx GPUs came out so I need quite a lot of advice.

Obviously I would love to get Intel/Nvidia setup again but it's quite expensive since all I have right now is OS and SSD drive to spare from my laptop becouse OS sits on mSATA 128GB SSD card (maybe 2.5" hdd I took out to fit SSD one but it seemed like it was braking due to overheating). So:

 

1. I'd like to get your recomendations on AMD cpu's and gpu's that can run heavily modded Skyrim with HD textures, armors and few script intensive mods. Games like Metro the Last Light and upcoming (or it's out already?) Witcher 3.

 

2. I've spent some time on the net and figured something like this (parts are named like that in an internet shop, dunno if it's correct):

AMD FX-8350 4GHz + Zalman CNPS10X Performa

MSI Radeon R9 270x Gaming 4GB DDR5

Goodram DDR3 8GB 1600 MHz CL10 Play Blue (probably single, can be double tho)

Asus M5A97 LE R2.0

Corsair CS 750W Modular 80+ Gold

Zalman H1 (case or whatever it's called in english)

 

Any opinions? Will they even fit together? xd

 

3. Any sugestions for builds that would be close in price but better? Or simply based on Intel/Nvidia?

 

PS. I'm not Intel and Nvidia fanboy, I'm just impressed how my laptop (lenovo y580 with i5 and gtx660m) isn't breaking internally even though cooling is broken and both CPU&GPU reach 95 C degrees in any bigger stress then browsing internet.

 

All replies appreaciated.

Sorry for any mistakes, I know my grammar sucks.

Edited November 15, 2014 by sadampl

[Amyr]

If you just wanna play Witcher 3, any decent card will do, but if you're intended to enjoy the game with high quality then you really need a NVIDIA GPU.

That game will have some NVIDIA exclusive features such as Hairworks and PhysX. Also it will perform slightly better on NVIDIA since they are partners with CD PROJEKT RED.

[sadampl]

@Up yeah, seems like it, but I can't pour my 3 monthly salaries into a PC becouse I'm about to buy a car soon. ;_;

Also all I know about AMD vs Intel&Nvidia fights is that latter invests more in technologies then just "moar gigasomethings".

Can someone acquainted with IT or PC maniac give me answer to my post as a whole? I'm really eager to buy PC but I dunno what to put inside. *sadface*

[FMod]

1. I'd like to get your recomendations on AMD cpu's and gpu's that can run heavily modded Skyrim with HD textures, armors and few script intensive mods.

Cut down on the amount of mods. Even the best systems struggle with modded Skyrim and have an increased crash rate. Try to go through your list and figure out what you can live without.

 

 

2. I've spent some time on the net and figured something like this (parts are named like that in an internet shop, dunno if it's correct):

AMD FX-8350 4GHz + Zalman CNPS10X Performa

MSI Radeon R9 270x Gaming 4GB DDR5

Goodram DDR3 8GB 1600 MHz CL10 Play Blue (probably single, can be double tho)

It's a medium-grade system today.

R9 270x doesn't need 4GB, the 2GB version is fine.

Get a fx-8320 or 8300, o/c it back to 8350 clock rate.

Use 2x4GB for system RAM, not 1x8GB.

 

For Skyrim specifically, it pays to get an Intel CPU, although you'd have difficulty fitting a new one into the budget.

Strongly consider a used i5-2500K or 2600K or 3670K or 3770K - they can cost a lot less than a new i5-4670K while performing almost as well. The mobo can be new or used.

 

i5-2500K is still a great CPU for Skyrim and anything, it's basically 5% behind i7-4790K, but age drops its value to about 1/3 of the price of a new 4790K for no good reason.

It's like with cars, except CPU don't get physical wear and tear on them, and except most people don't know how well each performs, they just guess or trust ads.

 

 

Corsair CS 750W Modular 80+ Gold

Zalman H1 (case or whatever it's called in english)

So you're not in the US?

Can be hard to suggest a different PSU then as prices vary greatly by country.

[sadampl]

FMod thanks for reply, I've already ordered intel/nvidia setup - I forgot that money is JUST MONEY (as long as you have food, clothes on the back and roof over the head ofc.). And saw my gpu's temp at 75C while watching 720p video on Youtube... Aaaand I couldn't wait anymore, it was haunting me in my dreams. xD

 

But I have other question, for high resolution textures having 4 GB memory on gpu wouldn't be better?

What about double channel Ram is better then single one?

 

Not really a question but I have i5-3210m in my laptop and I'm not impressed with it's performance in Skyrim (them script lags), even in a playthrough without RnD and Frostfall (on the sidenote I love the idea of survivalism but with my mindset of always being prepared it comes down to be no challange at all, sadly).

 

And nope, I'm from Poland. This PSU is about 120$ in Poland, counting straight forward by currency rates.

 

Sorry for my grammar I'm sure I made a lot of mistakes and I'm aware of that, can't pinpoint them though.