Hardware & Technical Computer Build to run Elite Dangerous

I have just asked the seller how much would dual-quad core processors cost on the second machine. I really want this feature.

But sadly I couldn't get the advanced funding from Centrelink yesterday. While they told me that they could only give me up to a extra $1000.00 AUD at the most, I thought about it some more as I waited for them to call me for a interview. I wouldn't be able to the entire extra $1000.00 AUD just for financing my new PC. as some of that would need for living expenses.

So when they called me, I declined the offer.

Sadly, I walked away :(

Today, I had a look through our local Harvey Norman. The place only had displayed filled with laptops and a few dual-core desktops.

Sadly, I walked away :(

So, it would seem I will be playing patience instead of the Elite - Dangerous - Alpha/Beta and until I won't even have a machine perhaps until sometime during march next year.

I do wish it had been a April game release as I had originally thought.

May be Ebay is your friend? You should be able to pickup a good used PC for mot much considering they don't exactly hold their value.

I bought an i5-760 & Asus P7H55/USB3 £140. It's quad core and overclocked to 3.6GHz. For games it will hold it's own with the latest Intel chips at 3-3.3GHz. It's partnered with a Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 Vapor-X (new) running at 1050MHz. The card was newly launched when I got it but now I would probably go to Ebay and buy a 7970 Vapor-X instead of the 7950. At 1080P the Vapor-X is more than capable with everything set to highest quality levels. The way I see it I would rather buy a used Merc than a new Ford...I would just buy a good used PC and have enough money to upgrade the graphics card to the latest and greatest you can afford. That is the most important bit. You can always stick the old card back on Ebay. It's the graphics card that will make the game fly, you just need a sufficient CPU to back it up with. Going for a fancy Haswell CPU ain't going to get you nothing, SSD is nice as it makes your PC feel quick, super speedy ram does f-all for frame-rates, a good PSU and motherboard are worth it. It will help you get a free performance boost through overclocking. Core i5-760 will run at 3.6GHz easily without a fancy heatsink and fan. Never understood why spend the money on water cooling etc when you can just go out and spend the cash on a faster CPU! Keep you budget for the graphics card and may be an CastAR or an Occulus Rift or the Steam VR headset...
 
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Bigger SSD drive.. for god sakes a bigger SSD! 120gb is not much when windows has gobbled up 32-40gb of it! :eek:

An SSD/HDD question,

The technology exists on motherboards to use an SSD as a fast cache for a HDD, with the most often used files being copied to the SSD automagically.

then you could, for example, have a 120GB SSD and a 2TB HDD as a cheaper option and install everything to the HDD.

Would this be better than installing Windows and apps to the SSD. Then as your preferred applications alter over time, the most common files would be faster without having to worry about filling up your SSD. and you would not have to worry about a third of your SSD being 'wasted' with all the files that come with Windows that you never actually use.

or is this a silly idea?
 
May be Ebay is your friend? You should be able to pickup a good used PC for mot much considering they don't exactly hold their value.

I bought an i5-760 & Asus P7H55/USB3 £140. It's quad core and overclocked to 3.6GHz. For games it will hold it's own with the latest Intel chips at 3-3.3GHz. It's partnered with a Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 Vapor-X (new) running at 1050MHz. The card was newly launched when I got it but now I would probably go to Ebay and buy a 7970 Vapor-X instead of the 7950. At 1080P the Vapor-X is more than capable with everything set to highest quality levels. The way I see it I would rather buy a used Merc than a new Ford...I would just buy a good used PC and have enough money to upgrade the graphics card to the latest and greatest you can afford. That is the most important bit. You can always stick the old card back on Ebay. It's the graphics card that will make the game fly, you just need a sufficient CPU to back it up with. Going for a fancy Haswell CPU ain't going to get you nothing, SSD is nice as it makes your PC feel quick, super speedy ram does f-all for frame-rates, a good PSU and motherboard are worth it. It will help you get a free performance boost through overclocking. Core i5-760 will run at 3.6GHz easily without a fancy heatsink and fan. Never understood why spend the money on water cooling etc when you can just go out and spend the cash on a faster CPU! Keep you budget for the graphics card and may be an CastAR or an Occulus Rift or the Steam VR headset...

Well said Haidergill !
 
May be Ebay is your friend? You should be able to pickup a good used PC for mot much considering they don't exactly hold their value.

I bought an i5-760 & Asus P7H55/USB3 £140. It's quad core and overclocked to 3.6GHz. For games it will hold it's own with the latest Intel chips at 3-3.3GHz. It's partnered with a Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 Vapor-X (new) running at 1050MHz. The card was newly launched when I got it but now I would probably go to Ebay and buy a 7970 Vapor-X instead of the 7950. At 1080P the Vapor-X is more than capable with everything set to highest quality levels. The way I see it I would rather buy a used Merc than a new Ford...I would just buy a good used PC and have enough money to upgrade the graphics card to the latest and greatest you can afford. That is the most important bit. You can always stick the old card back on Ebay. It's the graphics card that will make the game fly, you just need a sufficient CPU to back it up with. Going for a fancy Haswell CPU ain't going to get you nothing, SSD is nice as it makes your PC feel quick, super speedy ram does f-all for frame-rates, a good PSU and motherboard are worth it. It will help you get a free performance boost through overclocking. Core i5-760 will run at 3.6GHz easily without a fancy heatsink and fan. Never understood why spend the money on water cooling etc when you can just go out and spend the cash on a faster CPU! Keep you budget for the graphics card and may be an CastAR or an Occulus Rift or the Steam VR headset...

Well said Haidergill !

So...

are you (both) suggesting better motherboard, better graphics card will help the most and being able to save money on the other components not by skimping, perhaps, but by being more economical?
 

Minti2

Deadly, But very fluffy...
Bigger SSD drive.. for god sakes a bigger SSD! 120gb is not much when windows has gobbled up 32-40gb of it! :eek:

I think ive seen you mentioned this before about bigger SSD, but if hes like me and can only get 120Gb and at the extreme end of the budget for a new rig, is it still not worth having? i only need ED and Photoshop to run as my main software other then the OS would this not be sufficient?.....and i am asking, as am not to up there with hardware to :)
 
  • Core™i5 Quad Core Processor i5-4670 (3.4GHz) 6MB Cache
  • Processor Cooling CoolerMaster Seidon 120M High Performance CPU Cooler

A question related to my earlier post. If I don't plan on overclocking my system, do I really need that cooler? Would the default cooler be fine with that i5-4670 ?
 
I think ive seen you mentioned this before about bigger SSD, but if hes like me and can only get 120Gb and at the extreme end of the budget for a new rig, is it still not worth having? i only need ED and Photoshop to run as my main software other then the OS would this not be sufficient?.....and i am asking, as am not to up there with hardware to :)

That was my thinking. The 120GB SSD would be for the operating system and Elite Dangerous as thats all that will be on this rig. I'm sure it would be enough.

I plan on adding a bigger HDD (or even a 2nd SSD) drive next year when I really need one. :smilie:
 
I think ive seen you mentioned this before about bigger SSD, but if hes like me and can only get 120Gb and at the extreme end of the budget for a new rig, is it still not worth having? i only need ED and Photoshop to run as my main software other then the OS would this not be sufficient?.....and i am asking, as am not to up there with hardware to :)

Absolutely yes. I started with a 64Gb just for the OS and a few "most used" things... it was easily the best single upgrade I ever made. Now I have a 120Gb (and the 64Gb) - next PC will have a 500 or so - but I'd still rather have a small one just for the OS, and a few choice apps, than not bother, for sure.
 

Minti2

Deadly, But very fluffy...
Absolutely yes. I started with a 64Gb just for the OS and a few "most used" things... it was easily the best single upgrade I ever made. Now I have a 120Gb (and the 64Gb) - next PC will have a 500 or so - but I'd still rather have a small one just for the OS, and a few choice apps, than not bother, for sure.

Ah that's a relief, ive just about nailed down the rig i want from PC specialist(ordering next week, might be a close thing with Alpha i know) but am happy with all the other hardware specs, just not sure if the SSD 120Gb was going to be enough, thanks.
 
I think ive seen you mentioned this before about bigger SSD, but if hes like me and can only get 120Gb and at the extreme end of the budget for a new rig, is it still not worth having? i only need ED and Photoshop to run as my main software other then the OS would this not be sufficient?.....and i am asking, as am not to up there with hardware to :)

Yeah.. i forget to consider the uses which the machine is going to be used for, im just so traumatized that i've spent my 120gb.. and all i have is like 2 games and windows.. rest is cache, updates, framework etc etc.

Albeit BF4 takes 23gb of that.. YES.. 23GB! it insane!
 
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  • Core™i5 Quad Core Processor i5-4670 (3.4GHz) 6MB Cache
  • Processor Cooling CoolerMaster Seidon 120M High Performance CPU Cooler

A question related to my earlier post. If I don't plan on overclocking my system, do I really need that cooler? Would the default cooler be fine with that i5-4670 ?

I switched the stock i7 fan I got as it was starting to have a nervous breakdown. Changed to the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo 4 and added an extra fan and have to say my system never gets above 30d even running the likes of Witcher2 at full tilt. If you are interested:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0068OI7T8/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
Unless you want to seriously overclock I would have thought water cooling was more about making your machine quieter?

I have found a decent case (that allows air in at the front and side and pushes it out through the back and top) makes quite a difference overall. (ie no matter how good your processor fan is - is isnt going to work well if you are passing hot air through it).

Having a PSU that is partitioned from the rest of the case can help too (ie the heat from the PSU doesnt mix with the air in the case and it has its own air in and air out).

Might be wrong though - I have never had the patience (or need) to set up water cooling.
 
Unless you want to seriously overclock I would have thought water cooling was more about making your machine quieter?

Can be, but... water pump, fans for the radiator (unless you get something like the Zalman Reserator 1, which is pretty mental)... I've heard several water cooled PCs that were worse than well designed/built air cooled ones. Seems to be a case of - it depends.
 
A word of advice to anyone with toddlers (or younger) children - no fans with LEDs on - there is nothing else that draws them to your PC as fast as soon as it's turn on - one of mine was sick over the top fan while trying to look inside. (PC was ok once cleaned but smelt odd as soon as it warmed up - for the rest of its life). :(

My next PC had no LEDs at all (not even HD or Power) ;)
 

Sir.Tj

The Moderator who shall not be Blamed....
Volunteer Moderator
A word of advice to anyone with toddlers (or younger) children - no fans with LEDs on - there is nothing else that draws them to your PC as fast as soon as it's turn on - one of mine was sick over the top fan while trying to look inside. (PC was ok once cleaned but smelt odd as soon as it warmed up - for the rest of its life). :(

My next PC had no LEDs at all (not even HD or Power) ;)


I know I shouldn't laugh but.......:D
 
Okay, I know this is slightly off-topic....but......who thinks up the names some of the more 'colourfully' titled PC components?

i.e. Corsair VENGEANCE, RIPJAWS, MOUNT DOOM, FATAL1TY PERFORMANCE etc etc etc??? :eek:
 
I'm thinking of buying a new PC to play Elite Dangerous.

There's a gaming rig in my local shop, brand new, with these specs:

2048MB GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost, 4.20GHz FX-6350 CPU, 8GB DDR3, 64GB SSD, 500GB HDD, RAID, USB 3.0, 7.1 Channel HD Audio, DVD Rewriter, GIGABYTE USB Keyboard & Mouse, Logitech 2.0 Speakers, Windows 8.1.

I'm looking to double the RAM when I buy it, but do you think it'd be suitable for this game?
 
I'm thinking of buying a new PC to play Elite Dangerous.

There's a gaming rig in my local shop, brand new, with these specs:

2048MB GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost, 4.20GHz FX-6350 CPU, 8GB DDR3, 64GB SSD, 500GB HDD, RAID, USB 3.0, 7.1 Channel HD Audio, DVD Rewriter, GIGABYTE USB Keyboard & Mouse, Logitech 2.0 Speakers, Windows 8.1.

I'm looking to double the RAM when I buy it, but do you think it'd be suitable for this game?

Why not wait to see how your existing PC copes? You may be surprised :)

There's no requirements out I believe for ED, so we have no idea what spec is ideally required. Why not wait until the alpha's to see what people's experience is?

note: With the spec above? Maybe upgrade the video card?
 
There's no requirements out I believe for ED, so we have no idea what spec is ideally required. Why not wait until the alpha's to see what people's experience is?

Well there is the recommended minimum for alpha -

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 (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.

Michael
 
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