Hardware & Technical Computer Build to run Elite Dangerous
- Thread starter Pazmeister
- Start date
No it's fine with 1x8GB. You lose out on dual-channel mode but it's pretty pointless anyway.
It's not really pointless the computer's ability to use both dimms simultaneously is a huge advantage in most instances, especially in memory intensive programs, like games. Also it is usually cheaper to get 2 x 4GB dimms than a single 8GB dimm, due to their lower density. The only drawback is that when you upgrade you do have to make sure you upgrade both channels with matched RAM, and sometimes even the same brand and model of RAM coming from different lots don't play well together.
The vast majority of games see almost zero benefit with dual-channel memory. Or quad-channel or whatever. In fact, the only stuff that sees a benefit with dual and quad channel memory is synthetic benchmarks that were designed to make dual and quad-channel memory look good.
Games aren't really memory intensive, at least not compared to really memory-intensive stuff like server programs. System memory is really quite unimportant overall in fact. Just make sure you have enough to actually run the OS and a few progs and games and you'll be fine.
The exception to this is with APUs that use (system) RAM as (graphics) VRAM. The onboard stuff like AMDs APUs like the 7850K etc and to a lesser extent the Intel IGPs like the HD4000 etc. They *do* need dual-channel to work properly as it's really all about bandwidth with VRAM. The average game doesn't care though so long as you have a discrete graphics card. That's why discrete graphics cards come with their own (GDDR5) memory.
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While I would agree that real world performance is never the same as synthetic benchmarks I honestly can't see the point in intentionally halving your memory bandwidth and creating a bottleneck for the sake of a few pounds and would never recommend single channel memory. It's not just about benchmarks; programs and variables are loaded into RAM and then used by the processor. The processor only has a few MB of cache which it uses for its calculations before writing the result to memory and loading the next few MBs to be processed. The memory speed directly affects this process so I'd never skimp on this, at most you might save a tenner and its a no brainer decision for me since it's not only games a PC is used for.
I can certainly tell the difference between a system running single vs dual channel RAM just browsing the web, changing tabs and general multi tasking.
With discreet graphics, the GPU handles the frame buffer and all the rendering but the processor still has to tell the GPU what to do.
Also 600W is waaaay too much power for that rig. 400W would be ample, the 750ti only draws 65W and the processor about the same. Motherboard might be 25W. PSUs aren't as efficient below their rated power (although recent models are a bit better) which is why I'd suggest a smaller PSU.
Evga are a good brand though, I've been very impressed with their kit and customer service lately, I'd suggest you go for a GPU from them too. You get more bang for your buck with ATI but I don't think they're as good as nvidia. I've had my fingers burnt with ATI a few times and won't touch them any more.
That said, for your rig it might be worth considering The R9 270 if you plan to go for an AMD APU processor as I believe you can x-fire the embedded GPU with the 270.
Other than that the rig looks fine... Well, I'd stick an SSD in there too for system though- you can get a samsung evo 128GB (ish) for about £60 and makes a world of difference.
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Well it depends on whether or not you want to upgrade to 16GB later and only have 2 slots. Though tbh, that is even more pointless than dual-channel memory.
You're never going to be bottlenecked by memory, dual or single channel. It's just not that important.
Not a chance.
No the difference between each is too large, it would only pull down the 270's performance.
I'd definitly go with an SSD, maybe a 128 or 256 Crucial MX100 for £70/£140 quid or so. If just trying to build a cheap gaming PC though, there's no need for one, it's just a great luxury.
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I will admit the last time I played with single channel RAM was back in the DDR2 days and I could certainly tell the difference in general usability of the system then. Never revisited the issue since and as I use CAD and FEA at work, I have always built systems with a high memory bandwidth.
Interesting read on memory performance for single vs dual channel below though and shows the lack of a major difference for most users so I guess you're correct on the matter for this rig. It does show there is a benefit for video editing which I believe kids these days might want to do!
http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/1349-ram-how-dual-channel-works-vs-single-channel
Again though, the price difference is almost negligible so I still wouldn't recommend a system without dual channel memory! And yes, 16GB is completely pointless for a gaming rig!
Interesting read on memory performance for single vs dual channel below though and shows the lack of a major difference for most users so I guess you're correct on the matter for this rig. It does show there is a benefit for video editing which I believe kids these days might want to do!
http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/1349-ram-how-dual-channel-works-vs-single-channel
Again though, the price difference is almost negligible so I still wouldn't recommend a system without dual channel memory! And yes, 16GB is completely pointless for a gaming rig!
The better half has given me clearance to get myself a new pc, and a friend has volunteered to build it for me.
My dilemma is on the cpu, I've budgeted around £150 ish and I'm torn between the i5 4670k and the fx-8370. From what I can gather the Intel seems around 30% better(?) performing tasks that require single core operations whereas the AMD is around 30% better(?) for multicore activities???
Being as ED is designed for use on multicore machines, and that voice attack and opentrack currently spool my cpu up to almost 50% workload before I even start Elite, would it be best getting the AMD?
As you can probably tell, I don't really know what I'm talking about, so any advice here would be a great help.
Thx
My dilemma is on the cpu, I've budgeted around £150 ish and I'm torn between the i5 4670k and the fx-8370. From what I can gather the Intel seems around 30% better(?) performing tasks that require single core operations whereas the AMD is around 30% better(?) for multicore activities???
Being as ED is designed for use on multicore machines, and that voice attack and opentrack currently spool my cpu up to almost 50% workload before I even start Elite, would it be best getting the AMD?
As you can probably tell, I don't really know what I'm talking about, so any advice here would be a great help.
Thx
Yes you're right of course - there is basically no good reason not to go with dual channel memory. I just thought I'd clarify how useful (or not) it is, and correct the point that it was a requirement.
I agree with this statement, that there is no good reason not to do it. I am not a normal user, and therefore do see the benefit of more RAM bandwidth, and more RAM in general. I usually run my games off of RAM disk, and since the programs I write are primarily written in C++ almost the entire program is loaded into RAM before execution.
It would seem that most games load as much of themselves into RAM and they can before execution anyway, and the benefit of the extra memory bandwidth really comes into play when swapping information from the SSD or HDD to RAM for utilization.
The better half has given me clearance to get myself a new pc, and a friend has volunteered to build it for me.
My dilemma is on the cpu, I've budgeted around £150 ish and I'm torn between the i5 4670k and the fx-8370. From what I can gather the Intel seems around 30% better(?) performing tasks that require single core operations whereas the AMD is around 30% better(?) for multicore activities???
Being as ED is designed for use on multicore machines, and that voice attack and opentrack currently spool my cpu up to almost 50% workload before I even start Elite, would it be best getting the AMD?
As you can probably tell, I don't really know what I'm talking about, so any advice here would be a great help.
Thx
Personally I probably shouldn't answer this question, as I have had bad experiences with AMD hardware and am therefore an Intel / nVidia fanboy. So take what I say with a grain of salt:
If you can afford to get the i5 I would get it, Intel generally seems to run cooler, and more efficiently. They also perform slightly better when overclocked, as far as stability, and potential. If you search Youtube there are plenty of comparisons between the FX-8370, and i5's and i7's, generally they split the middle as to which is better at what. If memory serves the FX 8370 comes in right between the i7 4770 and the i5 4670 as far as performance out of the box.
I have a friend who swears by the FX series processors and used the 8370 for a long time before upgrading to 9590. AFAIK it is still running strong in his home media server, even though it is a bit overkill for that application.
This seems like a good thread to pose a fairly dumb question on - I've not been a serious gamer since, well, Elite on the Amiga, so I don't really understand much about modern GPUs.
My system:
i7 860 @ 2.80 GHz overclocked to 3.14 GHz.
GTX 460
27" LG monitor @ 1920x1080
My question is: if I were to upgrade to a GTX 760 or 770, would there be a noticeable improvement playing Elite?
thanks...
My system:
i7 860 @ 2.80 GHz overclocked to 3.14 GHz.
GTX 460
27" LG monitor @ 1920x1080
My question is: if I were to upgrade to a GTX 760 or 770, would there be a noticeable improvement playing Elite?
thanks...
I believe the only answer to this is yes. The 760 has twice the performance of the 460 on the books. I went from an SLI 660 to a single 980, which was about the same performance increase, and I now have a much better experience. BTW if your looking at a 770, you might be interested in a 970, it's only an extra $50 -$60 bucks and is a definite improvement over the 770. More CUDA Cores, twice the VRAM, and a higher core clock. Just food for thought.
vonvonbraun
Banned
help! can this run elite?
I am going on a trip and need to buy a cheap laptop
Could this run elite at low graphics settings?
http://www.toshiba.co.uk/laptops/satellite/c50-b/satellite-c50-b-14d/
I am going on a trip and need to buy a cheap laptop
Could this run elite at low graphics settings?
http://www.toshiba.co.uk/laptops/satellite/c50-b/satellite-c50-b-14d/