Computer System requirements

Philip Coutts

Volunteer Moderator
Philip Coutts
RichardVoorhees said:
I've pledged to first Beta level and my current desktop is knocking on five years old now, so I've decided that a new rig is called for.

As I'm working a silly amount of overtime atm, I've abitrarily set a budget for the new rig that has horrified my OH, but it's only money...right? :p:eek:

So, what can one get for c. £1500 these days? :)
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Something that will melt the power grid near where you live?!

Seriously you will get a beast of a PC for that kind of cash.
 

Pyros

P
RichardVoorhees said:
I've pledged to first Beta level and my current desktop is knocking on five years old now, so I've decided that a new rig is called for.

As I'm working a silly amount of overtime atm, I've abitrarily set a budget for the new rig that has horrified my OH, but it's only money...right? :p:eek:

So, what can one get for c. £1500 these days? :)
Click to expand...

Well, for a new and interestingly balanced system, I'd go for something like:
  • Intel 4770K (or without K if you don't plan to overclock - will save you a few quid)
  • z87 based motherboard, like the MSI g-45 Gaming (or G65 or Asus/Gigabyte equivalent)
  • 16GB of 2100+ DDR3 RAM
  • Samsung 840 EVO 240GB (for system, office, and ED ofc ;))
  • Seagate 3TB HDD for storage (or the 2TB version if you don't need the room)
  • Creative Labs Sound Blaster Z
  • PC-360 Sennheiser Heaphones (if you don't want to upset other people and use voice com)
  • Nice keyboard and mouse (if you need any)
  • A nice case to your liking
  • A GTX 780 or a soon to be released R9 290. If ends out of budget a R9 280X will be just fine
  • A nice IPS monitor (if you need one - and have room for it) - such as the Dell 2713 HM

The above is mostly my soon to be finished system :D
 

JKF

JKF
Pyros said:
Well, for a new and interestingly balanced system, I'd go for something like:
  • Intel 4770K (or without K if you don't plan to overclock - will save you a few quid)
  • z87 based motherboard, like the MSI g-45 Gaming (or G65 or Asus/Gigabyte equivalent)
  • 16GB of 2100+ DDR3 RAM
  • Samsung 840 EVO 240GB (for system, office, and ED ofc ;))
  • Seagate 3TB HDD for storage (or the 2TB version if you don't need the room)
  • Creative Labs Sound Blaster Z
  • PC-360 Sennheiser Heaphones (if you don't want to upset other people and use voice com)
  • Nice keyboard and mouse (if you need any)
  • A nice case to your liking
  • A GTX 780 or a soon to be released R9 290. If ends out of budget a R9 280X will be just fine
  • A nice IPS monitor (if you need one - and have room for it) - such as the Dell 2713 HM

The above is mostly my soon to be finished system :D
Click to expand...

Might be worth having another think about the sound card. The onboard sound is very good these days and will provide 7.1 plus the GTX780 has HD audio if you want to send it over HDMI.
 

Richard Voorhees

R
Pyros said:
Well, for a new and interestingly balanced system, I'd go for something like:
  • Intel 4770K (or without K if you don't plan to overclock - will save you a few quid)
  • z87 based motherboard, like the MSI g-45 Gaming (or G65 or Asus/Gigabyte equivalent)
  • 16GB of 2100+ DDR3 RAM
  • Samsung 840 EVO 240GB (for system, office, and ED ofc ;))
  • Seagate 3TB HDD for storage (or the 2TB version if you don't need the room)
  • Creative Labs Sound Blaster Z
  • PC-360 Sennheiser Heaphones (if you don't want to upset other people and use voice com)
  • Nice keyboard and mouse (if you need any)
  • A nice case to your liking
  • A GTX 780 or a soon to be released R9 290. If ends out of budget a R9 280X will be just fine
  • A nice IPS monitor (if you need one - and have room for it) - such as the Dell 2713 HM

The above is mostly my soon to be finished system :D
Click to expand...

Cheers, I'll have a look at what that little lot'll work out at. I know a guy who'd be happy to stick it all together for me. :D
 

Pyros

P
JKF said:
Might be worth having another think about the sound card. The onboard sound is very good these days and will provide 7.1 plus the GTX780 has HD audio if you want to send it over HDMI.
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Well I also thought so until I bought the Z (had been with "nice" onboard sound from a Asus motherboard for a few years). And believe me - there is no comparison.

And I'm not even a person that is really into high end music and sound, far from it. But either the sound was trully different (and better) or I suddenly got a new pair of eardrums :p. And that was with my previous "not so good" creative headset.

HDMI is for kiddies :p (ok, and consoles, DVRs and stuff :eek:).

EDIT: With that I don't mean I completely disagree with you - far from it. But that loveable Blue Danube deserves a decent treatment :)
 
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gwalchmai

gwalchmai
I really like good sound but i find 7.1 just messes with my mind.
In fact i find some so called hi end sound systems are trying to hard and messes with the experience completely (though this could be to do with my age lol).

I have been watching all the vids i can find on dangerous on you tube been reading as much as brain and time can handle on the forums.

And i am getting the picture but i have come to the conclusion that any system upgrades will be done (for me) after i get my hands on the finished game (i mean the released game).

I have found in the past i can read guides take advice but in the end i need my hands on something to really get to grips with it :)
 

Zplintz

Zplintz
Non overclocked normally means a lot less heat and a more stable system. Other than that read several comparisons and review sites.

Most people cannot actually be bothered to properly overclock their system (ie that means getting everything set up correctly, not just boosting the cpu cycles).

My last PC was overclocked (took me a week of fiddling) - my current PC isn't overclocked (and runs at 29 deg c when running games). I know which I prefer :)
 

Pyros

P
RichardVoorhees said:
Quick question here then....given a choice between the GTX780 at £560 and the overclocked GTX770 at £360, which represents the best value?
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Currently, neither.

The GTX780 is bound to have a drop in price with the new competition of the R9 290(X) - I'd say at least £50 drop.

The GTX770 is completely out of value compared to the slightly superior R9 280X, so it due for a steep drop in price.

Graphically (from techreport review):

value-99th.gif
 
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Pyros

P
Joe nose said:
If you are buying a Nvidia GPU, I think you'll definitely want to consider this before you buy a monitor...

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7436/nvidias-gsync-attempting-to-revolutionize-gaming-via-smoothness
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Although it probably will end up working with any GPU, currently GSync, despite being very interesting (although it is a "half step"), is looking to be a Lightboost V3, in the sense that will only end up in a few expensive gaming focused models with subpar image quality (e.g. no IPS based screen) from some select manufacturers. :(

Personally I'd love to see that tech (or similar one) being made a VESA standard and adopted by all monitor manufacturesrs (at least the ones that actually make good IPS monitors of good value, such as DELL and HP). :rolleyes:
 

Richard Voorhees

R
I'm not in a hurry to buy yet, so I'll just sit back a bit and wait for the prices to fall. :cool:

Maybe even wait for something in the January sales? Though that's probably cutting it a bit fine for Beta.
 

Pyros

P
Ok, the 290X has been released (ok, reviewed):

value-99th.gif

(graphic courtesy of Techreport)

New king of the block at a great price.

Mmmh.. 2560x1440 ED playing with full effects, anyone? :D

nVidia forthcoming 780TI better be a nice improvement - and the GTX780 (not to mention Titan) has become obsolete at the current price point - needs to drop about 100-150USD or so.
 

Pazmeister

P
Problem with r9 290x is that it runs at 95 degree gaming and eats watts it is also from the review marginally better than the titan, well i just got the EVGA GTX780 classified which is marginally better than titan and half the cost, if Elite dont run on that then not very many gamers will be able to play it. And im not nvidia fanboy i have ATI at the minute nvidia is more costly i agree BUT is more technically superior!!
 

Pyros

P
Pazmeister said:
Problem with r9 290x is that it runs at 95 degree gaming and eats watts it is also from the review marginally better than the titan, well i just got the EVGA GTX780 classified which is marginally better than titan and half the cost, if Elite dont run on that then not very many gamers will be able to play it. And im not nvidia fanboy i have ATI at the minute nvidia is more costly i agree BUT is more technically superior!!
Click to expand...

Actually it (nVidia) isn't technically superior - not saying it is inferior either (imho, nVidia still has a better SW team and more experience in some areas, while AMD trumps in terms of transistor technology and foundry design).

But all matters for the consumer is the product/price relation. And that varies as time goes by.

Teh temperature of the 290X is not much of a concern as it was seemingly designed for it - I'd say it is a side effect of the high density design of the chip. Noise would be another matter, but not only the card is not all that noisy (in quiet mode) in the first place as the custom coolers will do a far better job at improving performance, noise and thermals, all at the same time.

The 780 Classified is a great card - but will be clearly inferior to the equally custom 290X models that will be launched by board makers. But those will probably be inferior to the 780Ti, that will be inferior to the R9 390X... (and so on...).

That said either card mentioned (Titan, 780, 290X), regardless of being a good purchase or not, is a great gaming card for 1440p+ gaming. More than enough for ED for sure :)
 
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izzy

izzy
I think I will change my old 9800GTX for a 760 GTX or a 770 GTX ... I will change in december or january :)
 
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