Hardware & Technical Computer Build to run Elite Dangerous

CaptGrumpyPants

C
If it's any help, I'm running the following setup and having no issues with framerates even in 3D. This is just the alpha so performance may improve ;)

MSI 970A-G46 motherboard
AMD 8320 Black Edition 8 Core CPU 3.5GHz
8GB Ballistics DDR3 1066 RAM
128GB SANDisk Ultra Plus SSD
500GB 2.5" SATA 3HDD
EVGA GTX 760 SC GPU w/2GB RAM

Had the 500GB HDD already, case power supply, monitor, keyboard and mouse...The rest came in at around 720 USD. Got room to go SLI when the beta or final game comes out if need be.
 

trekman

trekman
Well I am quite happy with my current spec since its currently well above the minimum spec of the Alpha. When I get the beta I might upgrade the graphics card since I only have a Radeon HD 6670 but I was planning to do that anyway even if the Elite Dangerous beta didn't exist. As for the rest of my system I am quite happy with my core I5 3.3ghz and 8gb ram. I personally think that a core I7 and more than 8gb ram is overkill for a gaming machine especially when your not a serious gamer and ED is the only game that I will be putting serious effort and hours into.
 

Bruce Turnbull

B
Faerie said:
Nice rig, Bruce. :)
The only thing I might suggest is you might want to change the memory for something without those large heat spreaders, because the first memory slot is very close to the CPU socket & your chosen CPU cooler will probably overlap it, making it impossible to use with anything but 'low profile' memory.
Click to expand...

I only picked this cooler because, mainly, it was quiet, that's my main concern. It looked like it would fit, do you know it won't? there wasn't any sizes for the motherboard but the cooler is 95 x 122 x 166. I'm assuming it can turn 90 degrees either way?

This is my first look at what to get. I already have a tower, PSU and all sorts of other bits.
 

Cody

Cody
As I said upthread, pay careful attention to whether that cooler overlaps the first DIMM slot - I've seen it happen.
As mentioned, low-profile RAM is often needed for that reason - an example here.
 

CaptGrumpyPants

C
mcfetti said:
Have you got a case and PSU already? Couldn't see them on your link.
Click to expand...

He mentioned having a case and PS already... I actually used an ~12 year old, STEEL case for my build. Extra wide and a can hit it with a brick and not hurt it. Probably need to cut a few holes in the front and side for extra fans, though, but it seems to be stating pretty cool :eek:
 

mcfetti

mcfetti
CaptGrumpyPants said:
He mentioned having a case and PS already... I actually used an ~12 year old, STEEL case for my build. Extra wide and a can hit it with a brick and not hurt it. Probably need to cut a few holes in the front and side for extra fans, though, but it seems to be stating pretty cool :eek:
Click to expand...

Yeah I realised just before you posted. Think your case will probably last another 12 years I reckon!
 

Faerie

Faerie
Bruce Turnbull said:
I only picked this cooler because, mainly, it was quiet, that's my main concern. It looked like it would fit, do you know it won't? there wasn't any sizes for the motherboard but the cooler is 95 x 122 x 166. I'm assuming it can turn 90 degrees either way?

This is my first look at what to get. I already have a tower, PSU and all sorts of other bits.
Click to expand...

Anything but the skinniest (read: inadequate) coolers will overlap the first memory slot, I reckon, & it's not as though memory actually needs elaborate heat spreaders - they're just fashionable & designed to part people from their money.
I'd settle for some well specced regular sized memory, because the CPU fan will draw air over them anyway.
 

Bruce Turnbull

B
Faerie said:
Anything but the skinniest (read: inadequate) coolers will overlap the first memory slot, I reckon, & it's not as though memory actually needs elaborate heat spreaders - they're just fashionable & designed to part people from their money.
I'd settle for some well specced regular sized memory, because the CPU fan will draw air over them anyway.
Click to expand...

good point, well taken. I've changed it to the LP type.
 

Bruce Turnbull

B
mcfetti said:
Are you using it for anything other than Elite? I keep reading that an i7 isn't really a benefit over an i5 for gaming.
Click to expand...

I won't be using it for anything as demanding as ED, but my reasoning for an i7 is....... if for any reason I need one in the future, I've got it. after all if i need one later the i5 has to go in the bin
 

Kemo

Kemo
I built a new machine a couple of months back, in prep for ED and the fact my old machine was reaching the end of its time for me (32 bit OS, Core2 Duo - E8500 + GTX560ti) - so my new specs are..

i5 3570K - 3.4GHz with the Intel stock cooler
8Gb Corsair Vengance Ram (2x4Gb sticks)
Asus P8Z77-V LK Mobo
Samsung 840EVO 120Gb SSD Drive (for OS mainly - although I may treat ED to this drive)
1Tb WD HD (for all my other stuff)
Asus Geforce GTX770 Direct CU II OC
Windows 7 64bit OS
BluRay Drive - because my wife hogs the TV :)

I used my original case, PSU, cables etc

The lot came to ~£700 (mostly from Amazon - they did work out the cheapest)

I found the Youtube'r Carey Holzman's vids a great help in building and more importantly setting up the machine (especially when configuring the final optimisations for Windows, using the SSD etc) it also helped as a checklist for those small things you can easily overlook - Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDxT8bSR3co - he has his own style.

I sold the old Mobo, Ram, GPU etc on eBay for around £150

I am very pleased with the outcome and it runs all high-end games on max at 1080 quite happily. I get no slowdown on Crysis3, Metro Last Light, Battlefield 4 and therefore hope that this machine should last me a few years. I can also update the CPU to an i7 where needed later on, and of course the GPU and ram.

:)
 

humbleton

humbleton
My investigation into a new rig has lead me to these thoughts.

I am waiting till the Nvidia Maxwell cards come out in March to upgrade because there will be massive movement on all the cards then I think. So might be able to get a 770 for cheap or AMD might drop their 2xx series cards in price. So march is a good time. I'm interested to see what happens with Mantel over the coming few months. Not necessarily with Elite as such BUT it's a very interesting architecture mostly because it's trying to stop the bottleneck of the CPU and both the PS4 and Xbox One are running off it ... so I suspect PC game ports will see an influx of support. Frostbite 3 engine being the first. So it might be best plumping for an AMD card. Or it could go the way of Voodoo back in the day. But they have said they're making it an 'open' system. But we'll see what Maxwell brings I guess. Maybe Maxwell has mantel support built in. Who knows. It would be good if it does.

It's good timing in my estimation that Elite Gamma and Maxwell come out at the same time.

I'll stick with my rubbish 7770 card till them.
 

Faerie

Faerie
Sorry if I'm being pedantic, but there seems to be some confusion over what constitutes "Low Profile" memory, with people referring to memory with oversized heat spreaders as though that is the standard height.

THIS is regular memory: http://www.flickr.com/photos/argusp3/11604506246/

While THIS is low profile: http://www.flickr.com/photos/argusp3/11604070724/

Note the notches on the ends of the memory sticks, which give you a guide to it's dimension from the contacts to the top (or back) of the stick. You will notice that Low Profile memory is about half the height of regular memory sticks. This is because it's designed specifically for use in small form factor PCs, such an an HTPC. It's rare & it's usually frighteningly expensive. I wouldn't want anyone to buy true Low Profile memory by mistake when all they need is regular height sticks.
 

The Space Pirate

The Space Pirate
Faerie said:
Sorry if I'm being pedantic, but there seems to be some confusion over what constitutes "Low Profile" memory, with people referring to memory with oversized heat spreaders as though that is the standard height.

THIS is regular memory: http://www.flickr.com/photos/argusp3/11604506246/

While THIS is low profile: http://www.flickr.com/photos/argusp3/11604070724/

Note the notches on the ends of the memory sticks, which give you a guide to it's dimension from the contacts to the top (or back) of the stick. You will notice that Low Profile memory is about half the height of regular memory sticks. This is because it's designed specifically for use in small form factor PCs, such an an HTPC. It's rare & it's usually frighteningly expensive. I wouldn't want anyone to buy true Low Profile memory by mistake when all they need is regular height sticks.
Click to expand...

That's a very interesting post. I always thought some RAM sticks looked a bit odd, and may well be more show than substance. For what it's worth, what would be the physical height measurement of an ordinary stick, compared with a low profile one?
 
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