Hardware & Technical Computer Build to run Elite Dangerous

I know! I am a shameful being that in all honesty should be cast into exile! I just have, temper issues with those little motherboard screws and the flimsy clip at the back of the motherboard. That's what it comes down to. If they make those better, then fine, I'll do it. I'll even film me doing it to prove it to you all. No, to the world!

So you know, someone make a better clip to go round the ports.

Hmm, man! I can't remember having issues with that clip. Maybe it depends on the case. I have an Antec P180. Very solid, sturdy metal case, nothing flimsy about it. Had it been a problem I would remember it.
 
The current engine is the fourth generation of our cross-platform technology. The engine provides a common platform-neutral core API and resource pipeline that isolates both the game code and resources from the underlying hardware, whilst maximising use of the multi-processor, multi-threaded environment.

I copied this from the frontier site.
Its about the cobra engine.
frontier says it uses this engine for all there games.
as far as I know this engine has never done a game on the scale of Elite Dangerous.
so the results will be a surprise to the world.
its like Elite is also very important for the marketing of this engine.
thus we are in for something new.
maybe all comparisons are irrelevant.

I bought my self this ;
GeForce GTX 760 Dual 4GB FTW w/ ACX Cooling
• Windows 7 Home Premium UK
• Core™ i7-4770K
• Newton White R3 1000 Wats
• LC13B-E, case
• GH24NS70, DVD-burner
• HyperX SH103S3/240G, 240GB SSD 1
• Wireless Combo MK220 Toetsenbord + muis 1
• Z87-GD65 Gaming
• 16 GB DDR3-1866 Kit

I know its psu is over powered, but it is passive up to 45%
so its nice and quiet.
 
Thats a nice build, but I'd have to say that after countless attempts at using wireless keyboards and mice in a gaming environment, I'll never try again.

You may also want to reconsider Windows 7 Home Premium. If 16Gb of RAM is all you will ever want to use thats ok, but you have no upgrade path.

You will probably also need a traditional HDD of some sort. 240Gb sounds like a lot, and really it IS, but these days it's easy to fill up that sort of space in no time at all.

My Steam folder itself is now nearly 300Gb.
 

Squicker

S
Hmm, man! I can't remember having issues with that clip. Maybe it depends on the case. I have an Antec P180. Very solid, sturdy metal case, nothing flimsy about it. Had it been a problem I would remember it.

These are the offending, and indeed offensive, items http://www.zis4u.com/images/June 2010 264.jpg

Case solid as a rock -Coolermaster - motherboard back panel, the work of the devil.

It's not just me. Tell me it's not just me. Someone, anyone....?
 
Thats a nice build, but I'd have to say that after countless attempts at using wireless keyboards and mice in a gaming environment, I'll never try again.

You may also want to reconsider Windows 7 Home Premium. If 16Gb of RAM is all you will ever want to use thats ok, but you have no upgrade path.

You will probably also need a traditional HDD of some sort. 240Gb sounds like a lot, and really it IS, but these days it's easy to fill up that sort of space in no time at all.

My Steam folder itself is now nearly 300Gb.

What do you mean with your remark about upgrade path?

As for HD's, I think I could not live without an SSD anymore. Startup times are so fast since I installed one.

Did you know that COD Ghosts is supposed to be like 50 GB on a HD? We have to start thinking in Terabyte ranges now!

And Steam is terrible. My pal got me into it, I didn't want to go there. I like boxes and paper manuals you know. And I have two folders for it now with a total of about 220 GB. And wat do I have? Ghosts in the machine. Unless you back the games up and burn them, you just bought...nothing?
 
These are the offending, and indeed offensive, items http://www.zis4u.com/images/June 2010 264.jpg

Case solid as a rock -Coolermaster - motherboard back panel, the work of the devil.

It's not just me. Tell me it's not just me. Someone, anyone....?

It is flimsy alright. I just checked mine. It is a little bit less flimsy. But you got it done, right? :)
Check this out man.

http://www.antec.com/demo/P180B.html

Last week I had to replace the top fan. It made noise. Used it like 12 hours a day since 2007. I think it was January. I think this case will last me a lifetime.
 
I became an Alienware fan a couple of years ago... they may be (too) expensive, but they are also supremely solid work horses. ;)

They certainly look and sound cool with all their nifty features and flashing led displays.

I just want to be sure it would break down on me too soon.

Anyway, I had a look at the prices and the prices do get quite steep after you add all the upgrades.

I'm wondering if I could get away with a their starting model.

Alienware X51™
Now avaliable with 4th Gen Intel® Core™ processors and optional NVIDIA® GTX 670 graphics cards. Enjoy 1080p HD Gaming with our most compact desktop, ever.
Processor Up to 4th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processors


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OS Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English


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Graphics Up to new 2.0GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 670


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Specs Optional 256GB Samsung PM841 SSD + 1TB SATA

Starting at $699

Alienware Aurora™
Capture the high ground with unstoppable power and unparalleled
case design.

Processor NEW IvyBridge-E family of Intel® Core™ i7 4 and 6 core processors


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OS Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English


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Graphics Available option: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX760 1.5GB DDR5


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Specs Liquid cooling unit & optional ALX chassis with active venting

Starting at $1,399

I'm prepared to got as high $2500.

Unless you think I can get a cheaper more powerful or effective computer.
 
I really dont think you need go that far! a good quad core cpu, 8gb ram and a good gpu around HD7870 should see you play elite in ultra 1080p, spend the extra you save on a good SSD I have a samsung 840 250GB its awsome!

If your looking for a good case, the Fractal design define R4 is top notch I know I have one
 
As a dedicated track day addict and sports car owner I am with you on it all except the footie and the PCs! I just, I just have some sort of mental block. I mean, I'll do the little bits if I have to, I am not going to pay someone to upgrade a video card. But assemble the whole thing from scratch? - I just. I just. And overclocking in the BIOS, yes I'm cool with that. Hands on technical work where I may scrape a knuckle? I can't, won't, I just.

See can't even bring myself to discuss it in detail.

I realise I am an old fuddy duddy, probably some sort of abhorrent outcast in present company, but we all have our crosses to bear and the thought of END TO END PC construction, particularly lining up the weird ****ing clip thing at the back that surrouds all the USB and sound ports, well that's my alabaster cross.

I like track-days but my favourites are the twisty, gnarled up, off camber turns, inclines and dips of a good A/B roads. As you grow older you generally appreciate your life and your license so for speed I'm more keen on handling, feedback and grip. In my time I have kept a few of Stuttgart's finest. Big fan of the 959 when I was a kid. Along with Integrale and Quattro. That said a Caterham - can't beat the all-round visibility - on a track is addictive...
 
Our main desktop computer recently started acting up in bizarre ways, so seeing as most of it was almost 3 years old I completely rebuilt it, keeping only the case and the Corsair 850+ PS I had added about 12 months ago.

Gigabyte GA-Z77-HD3 board
i7-3770 3.4Ghz
16GB Corsair DDR3 1600Mhz
Sandisk Extreme II 24GB SSD
Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200
ASUS 3GB GTX780

Just finished a clean reinstall of the OS, going from Win 7 32 to 64 bit.

The keyboard is a nice slim Logitech affair with illuminated keys (utterly ESSENTIAL) that we've had for a while. The rat is a Microsodt wireless that works just fine, but my missus (who is an obsessive gamer too) wants a Razor gaming mouse, and I might invest in a HOTAS setup with all these groovy new space sims on the horizon.

Computer runs smooth as silk now, graphics are awesome - never skip a beat. I'm running all my games maxed out, so that probably means it will just barely cope with ED and SC :p
 
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Squicker

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I like track-days but my favourites are the twisty, gnarled up, off camber turns, inclines and dips of a good A/B roads. As you grow older you generally appreciate your life and your license so for speed I'm more keen on handling, feedback and grip. In my time I have kept a few of Stuttgart's finest. Big fan of the 959 when I was a kid. Along with Integrale and Quattro. That said a Caterham - can't beat the all-round visibility - on a track is addictive...

I'm with you there. I love the track because I can go as fast as I like and forget about license risks, but the public road truly tests you. I have done a lot of police courses but a few years back did a really superb NVQ level 4 in advanced driving - four day intensive - with the head of driver training in Northants police, he was great. I had a 911 at the time and he had me doing xxxmph in the countryside once he'd initially assessed me.

The great thing about the road is it's unpredictable and you really need to be thinking on your feet, rather than honing in that laptime by tenths lap after lap. And yes, off camber stuff you have to delicately thread your way through is superb fun, because you can be really tested well within legal limits.

I learned my lesson recently when I got clocked at xxxmph in my Corvette and the police were the nicest two men in the world, booking me for only 80mph, meaning I got a speed awareness course rather than a ban. I figured that was probably the last of my licence's nine lives disappearing so have largely kept a lid on it since then! :D

I have not actually tried a Caterham but have rented an Atom on track and that was a great experience.
 
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Squicker

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It is flimsy alright. I just checked mine. It is a little bit less flimsy. But you got it done, right? :)
Check this out man.

http://www.antec.com/demo/P180B.html

Last week I had to replace the top fan. It made noise. Used it like 12 hours a day since 2007. I think it was January. I think this case will last me a lifetime.

That is indeed a good case. It's funny that the case, when you are first into PCs anyway, is the thing you think about last, if you even bother. Well, for me anyway but you have already seen my ineptitude when it comes to the hands on aspects of computers ;-) But it's imperative it is good for cooling and that you have room for cables without them all being squodged in there.

Until recently I have SLI 2x GTX580s and boy my fans used to work overtime. So I put a GTX780 Superclocked in there and the whole thing is totally silent. I have all fans on auto and they hardy spin, the thing is cool and quiet although, interestingly, only a shade faster than the old SLI setup. I run water on the CPU as well but have only gone to 4.4GHz right now, I haven't really found anything yet that needs more cycles, so am leaving some in reserve, as I think with water I can get up to maybe 4.8.
 
I'm with you there. I love the track because I can go as fast as I like and forget about license risks, but the public road truly tests you. I have done a lot of police courses but a few years back did a really superb NVQ level 4 in advanced driving - four day intensive - with the head of driver training in Northants police, he was great. I had a 911 at the time and he had me doing xxxmph in the countryside once he'd initially assessed me.

The great thing about the road is it's unpredictable and you really need to be thinking on your feet, rather than honing in that laptime by tenths lap after lap. And yes, off camber stuff you have to delicately thread your way through is superb fun, because you can be really tested well within legal limits.

I learned my lesson recently when I got clocked at xxxmph in my Corvette and the police were the nicest two men in the world, booking me for only 80mph, meaning I got a speed awareness course rather than a ban. I figured that was probably the last of my licence's nine lives disappearing so have largely kept a lid on it since then! :D

I have not actually tried a Caterham but have rented an Atom on track and that was a great experience.

Once you get one you can enter the Caterham championship and be a gentleman racer:D Well may be one day...It's the community aspect too. Just on a speed front not many realise the top end Caterhams can hit 60 in 2.88s. Top Gear the Stig posted a time in it quicker than the Veyron and that's not the full monty Caterham:eek:
 
My rig is being built now,

I am hoping it will play ED at medium to above average settings.

quad core 4ghz, 16gb, GTX 760
 

Squicker

S
Once you get one you can enter the Caterham championship and be a gentleman racer:D Well may be one day...It's the community aspect too. Just on a speed front not many realise the top end Caterhams can hit 60 in 2.88s. Top Gear the Stig posted a time in it quicker than the Veyron and that's not the full monty Caterham:eek:

Yeah they are scary quick when driven well. I've always wanted to be a gentleman, but I don't have the necessary breeding ;)
 
... So I put a GTX780 Superclocked in there and the whole thing is totally silent. I have all fans on auto and they hardy spin, the thing is cool and quiet although, interestingly, only a shade faster than the old SLI setup.

The GTX780 cards, although still fairly expensive, all seem to be real gems. At first I also didn't think our system was a great deal faster after the new card, but after a while you realize that the performance never dips - even the most intensive games always seem to have 60fps absolute minimum.
 

Squicker

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The GTX780 cards, although still fairly expensive, all seem to be real gems. At first I also didn't think our system was a great deal faster after the new card, but after a while you realize that the performance never dips - even the most intensive games always seem to have 60fps absolute minimum.

Yes, one thing I used to get with the 2 SLI 580's was micro-stuttering, but that's gone with the 780. Also, I have a 120Hz monitor and last gen games will hit a constant 120FPS. Batman Arkum City in 3DVision is running at 80FPS (evidently it could go to 160 non-3D), for example. Even the majestic looking Tomb Raider 2013 in 3DVision was running well over 50 most of the time with everything on, so ED should be very fast, as space is essentially empty!
 
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