Basic Specs to Run Elite

[egerrits]

I know there's a "Rig to run Elite" thread out there, but I'm looking more for basic specs.

I have to get a new computer for work (!), so I need to know what I need to run Elite on it. Does it need to be Intel, can be AMD (others?) etc. Does it all hinge on graphics card, etc. Speed? Cores? Need 2 cores, 4 cores, 128 cores whatever? Memory? Need 4 gig, 8 gig, or more? Ports? That kind of stuff.

I'm not a hard-core gamer, so I just need to know the basics of what to get.

Thx

 

[Sir.Tj]

Michael our esteemed producer posted the following a while back.

The requirement for Alpha has changed to a 1gb Gfx card though.

I know there's been some discussion about the machine specs needed for the
alpha test, as we're approaching the first build delivery I can share some of
the development specs of where we are at the moment. Optimisation and
performance are obviously ongoing tasks and as more features are added through
the alpha and beta periods we'll need to keep revisiting it.

To play the
first build released in December we're currently looking at the
following:

Direct X 11
Quad Core CPU ( 4 x 2Ghz is a reasonable
minimum)
2 GB System Ram (more is always better)
DX 10 hardware GPU, 1GB
video RAM(my reasonably low end machine has a GTX 285 with 2GB)

As I say
we're looking to try and reduce the spec if possible through detail options and
optimisations, so the final min spec for the game should be lower than that
stated above, but for the initial alpha tests you'll need to be in that
range.

Edit: Minimum video ram spec updated to 1GB.

Michael

 

[egerrits]

I guess I should have searched the forums a bit better..

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Sir.Tj]

No problem.

 

[Pyros]

yep, there are the base specs.

But go for 8GB of system RAM as minimum, please

 

[egerrits]

Sorry if this is a silly question, but:

Won't it run AT ALL with lesser specs, or will it just look more crappy?

For example, if you only have a 512 mb on-board graphics card, will it still run (crappily), or will it just complain and not run at all?

Thx

 

[Bikky]

Sorry if this is a silly question, but:

Won't it run AT ALL with lesser specs, or will it just look more crappy?

For example, if you only have a 512 mb on-board graphics card, will it still run (crappily), or will it just complain and not run at all?

Thx

Someone posted in one of the alpha posts, that their 7800GS with 384Mb ram runs it, on lowest quality.

I'm waiting to hear before I order my new gfx, if my 1gig 460 runs it fine then i'm in for a 24inch monitor, then gfx later in the year, if not then gfx it is and monitor in the year.

 

[Stoo]

I have a core 2 duo (2.3ghz dual core) and an ATI 4800 (513mb) video card, and it runs fine on medium/high settings. Although when there's a lot of ships on screen (like in the last Alpha mission) it does get a bit choppy....

 

[Beachlight7]

I have a core 2 duo (2.3ghz dual core) and an ATI 4800 (513mb) video card, and it runs fine on medium/high settings. Although when there's a lot of ships on screen (like in the last Alpha mission) it does get a bit choppy....

So we could rearrange that statement to just say does not work fine with those specs . You dont want any choppiness.

 

[egerrits]

That's all right... we'll call it "nostalgia" since the original beeb could get a bit choppy when flying through witchspace(sp?) with half-a-dozen Thargoids coming at you.

 

[CmdrBond]

I have a core 2 duo (2.3ghz dual core) and an ATI 4800 (513mb) video card, and it runs fine on medium/high settings. Although when there's a lot of ships on screen (like in the last Alpha mission) it does get a bit choppy....

Does your C2D have HyperThreading or is it a pure 2 cores?

...


So basically what we are saying is that the lowest specs to run ED, at its minimal settings appear to be a Dual Core CPU and a 512MB GFX Card (you didn't mention your RAM there). RAM wise I would say 4GB as an absolute min, but preferably 8GB (anything above 3.2 GB (including GFX RAM) will need a 64 bit OS.

As to AMD vs Intel and Nvidia vs ATi, I am a big Intel/Nvidia fan but I do realise that AMD/ATi offer better value for a lot of people.

From what we have seen in the Alpha so far, it seems that it is very well coded and the minimum specs needed are much lower than suggested (at the moment).

It is also more of a CPU eater than a GFX eater, so your better to invest in a good Mobo/CPU setup and a budget GFX card than the other way round (it is also a lot easier to swap out a GFX card).

You might even find with a powerful enough CPU and the right mobo, that the onboard graphics might do the job.

 

[Dr Wookie]

You might even find with a powerful enough CPU and the right mobo, that the onboard graphics might do the job.

This is true. I got my new pc at the same time as the alpha hit. For the first few days, I didn't even realise that the alpha was using the integrated chip rather than the GPU! My pc has a i7 4770 with an Intel HD 4600 on board. You can see some videos of it in action HERE. It runs pretty well at 1280x720, but is pretty slow at 1920x1080 at max settings in the big battle.

 

[Pyros]

This is true. I got my new pc at the same time as the alpha hit. For the first few days, I didn't even realise that the alpha was using the integrated chip rather than the GPU! My pc has a i7 4770 with an Intel HD 4600 on board. You can see some videos of it in action HERE. It runs pretty well at 1280x720, but is pretty slow at 1920x1080 at max settings in the big battle.

Dr. Wookie, what were the impacts of activating the GPU in terms of performance?

If you can be bothered, run Factions with the discrete GPU @ 1280x720 check the frame rate and then do the same with he integrated chip. Then repeat at full HD.

If ED, Faction scenario, is CPU bound, then we should see little difference between 1080p and 1280x720 with the discrete GPU.

 

[Dr Wookie]

Dr. Wookie, what were the impacts of activating the GPU in terms of performance?

If you can be bothered, run Factions with the discrete GPU @ 1280x720 check the frame rate and then do the same with he integrated chip. Then repeat at full HD.

If ED, Faction scenario, is CPU bound, then we should see little difference between 1080p and 1280x720 with the discrete GPU.

Hi Pyros, you can see for yourself. HERE is a video using the integrated chip at 1920x1080 at max settings, while HERE is the same thing for my GPU ( 1.5 GB GTX660). The frame rate is in the top left. Note, that these videos were made in alpha 1.0; alpha 1.1 already has improved performance, so that now Factions does not go below 50 FPS for my GPU.

The integrated chip runs Factions at 25-30 FPS at 1280x1020 if you mess around with the settings. However, even the low settings (shown HERE) look pretty good.

 

[Pyros]

Hi Pyros, you can see for yourself. HERE is a video using the integrated chip at 1920x1080 at max settings, while HERE is the same thing for my GPU ( 1.5 GB GTX660). The frame rate is in the top left. Note, that these videos were made in alpha 1.0; alpha 1.1 already has improved performance, so that now Factions does not go below 50 FPS for my GPU.

The integrated chip runs Factions at 25-30 FPS at 1280x1020 if you mess around with the settings. However, even the low settings (shown HERE) look pretty good.

Thanks - your videos demonstrate that even in factions CPU is not the limiting factor, but GPU is. Granted that you had a top of the line GPU with a mid level GPU. With a crossfire/SLI system (when available) conclusions might have been different.

But I still think that if you want to turn on the eye candy in ED, you'll need GPU (ok, being a bit captain obvious here...).

 

[Bikky]

Hmm, that's interesting to see. So my idea of a 2gb 660ish means a 680ti minimum, maybe a 760 minimum, with 3gb+

 

[HaiderGill]

Thanks - your videos demonstrate that even in factions CPU is not the limiting factor, but GPU is. Granted that you had a top of the line GPU with a mid level GPU. With a crossfire/SLI system (when available) conclusions might have been different.

But I still think that if you want to turn on the eye candy in ED, you'll need GPU (ok, being a bit captain obvious here...).

People are going mad speccing such high-end CPUs. all you need is AMD Athlon X4 750K black edition for £60. It's a quad core 3.4GHz CPU. Spend the money on the videocard get a AMD R9 280 or nVidia GTX 760.

 

[Dr Wookie]

Hmm, that's interesting to see. So my idea of a 2gb 660ish means a 680ti minimum, maybe a 760 minimum, with 3gb+

Really? For most of the time, I am getting 60-100 FPS at 1920x1080 with max settings from my 660 (and this is 1.5 GB). What are you hoping for?

 

[Bikky]

Really? For most of the time, I am getting 60-100 FPS at 1920x1080 with max settings from my 660 (and this is 1.5 GB). What are you hoping for?

because I watched your FPS all the way through and on the 660 it dropped to 30fps occasionally. And this is space combat, I'd like to ensure 60+ fps when atmospheric landing comes into being.

 

[Dr Wookie]

because I watched your FPS all the way through and on the 660 it dropped to 30fps occasionally. And this is space combat, I'd like to ensure 60+ fps when atmospheric landing comes into being.

Fair enough . In the new alpha build it is already improved so that I don't go below 50 (but that's not 60). Factions is making good use of all 4 cores of my CPU (up to 50% of i7 4770), so I am hoping that the CPU will take a lot of the strain from extra stuff.