CPU cores vs CPU speed?

[Fartsicle]

Hey guys,

I have an Intel 6950x @4ghz. It’s a 10 core processor with a beefy 25M cache. My question is... does Elite really utilize all of this CPU or would I have been better off with a lower core count but higher clock speed with lower cache (4.5Ghz, etc).

I’m using oculus with this plus a 1080ti, and I’m struggling making this look clear with my current build.

I’m just hoping my CPU isn’t handicapping me.

HMD 2.0
SS 1.0
Shadows off
Blur off
FAA
The rest is set to ultra/high

Ships, and other objects just don’t look clear at a distance.

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Hey guys,

I have an Intel 6950x @4ghz. It’s a 10 core processor with a beefy 25M cache. My question is... does Elite really utilize all of this CPU or would I have been better off with a lower core count but higher clock speed with lower cache (4.5Ghz, etc).

I’m using oculus with this plus a 1080ti, and I’m struggling making this look clear with my current build.

I’m just hoping my CPU isn’t handicapping me.

HMD 2.0
SS 1.0
Shadows off
Blur off
FAA
The rest is set to ultra/high

Ships, and other objects just don’t look clear at a distance.

Ships won't look clear at a a distance due to the SDE. You have probably got it as good as you can. Remember though on your monitor those ship will just be a few dots on the distance and some you probably couldn't even see on your monitor depending on distance.

 

[Morbad]

does Elite really utilize all of this CPU or would I have been better off with a lower core count but higher clock speed with lower cache (4.5Ghz, etc).

Neither.

ED most certainly doesn't make good use of 10-cores, but you are also highly unlikely to be limited by the single core performance of a 4GHz Broadwell-E either.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

I agree with both of the above. That said you would take my rift off me out of my cold dead hands. A small loss in clarity is a small price to pay imo. If you don't like it however there is always the pimax 8k in 4 months or so

 

[Shinji Ikari]

In general, higher clock speeds beat higher core counts and that's why the 8700K is probably the best for gaming (though definetly not the best bang for the buck). High core counts are for workstations and scientific research.

 

[TorTorden_VR]

Ships won't look clear at a a distance due to the SDE. You have probably got it as good as you can. Remember though on your monitor those ship will just be a few dots on the distance and some you probably couldn't even see on your monitor depending on distance.

It's not any effect SDE.
It's simply the lack of resolution period.
Upping SS just enables some slightly refined edge detection in the runtimes and decreased aliasing from the down sampling, can in certain cases add Moiré artifacts instead.

NO NEW PIXEL INFORMATION IS PASSED TO THE HMD.

So why everyone is so obsessed about SS is beyond me, the gain is minimal at best and not worth the exponential overhead.
But if you want to hobble your performance that's your call I guess.

As for cores vs speed I say "Yes".

I'm actually sure you can use multiple cores well, but if it comes at a substantial cost at speeds then you won't necessarily see any benefit.
Not that Elite itself will use 10 cores, but the OS and the VR runtimes all can load off on separate cores and does so automatically.
But VR needs things to happen quickly and at the right time, no one process can wait for another to finish, hence the dependence on speed.
So as mentioned above the i7 8700k was the choice I made when I built a new rig.

I don't really need it as a workstation very few do, but it can be pretty capable at that if need be especially considering cost, the major benefits is more about PCI express lanes and quad channel RAM than just cores.
Especially when a top line intel X build would be at least twice if not three times as expensive and yield no benefit for gaming.

I don't run SLI or other multi-gpu setups, I don't need a RAID of M.2 drives etc.
If I was doing mostly Blender work or video editing and actually making money of my computer than just a toy then, sure I might choose differently (I would also be able to write it off)
I'm sure it would be very capable as a gaming pc as well.

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

It's not any effect SDE.
It's simply the lack of resolution period.
Upping SS just enables some slightly refined edge detection in the runtimes and decreased aliasing from the down sampling, can in certain cases add Moiré artifacts instead.

NO NEW PIXEL INFORMATION IS PASSED TO THE HMD.

So why everyone is so obsessed about SS is beyond me, the gain is minimal at best and not worth the exponential overhead.
But if you want to hobble your performance that's your call I guess.

As for cores vs speed I say "Yes".

I'm actually sure you can use multiple cores well, but if it comes at a substantial cost at speeds then you won't necessarily see any benefit.
Not that Elite itself will use 10 cores, but the OS and the VR runtimes all can load off on separate cores and does so automatically.
But VR needs things to happen quickly and at the right time, no one process can wait for another to finish, hence the dependence on speed.
So as mentioned above the i7 8700k was the choice I made when I built a new rig.

I don't really need it as a workstation very few do, but it can be pretty capable at that if need be especially considering cost, the major benefits is more about PCI express lanes and quad channel RAM than just cores.
Especially when a top line intel X build would be at least twice if not three times as expensive and yield no benefit for gaming.

I don't run SLI or other multi-gpu setups, I don't need a RAID of M.2 drives etc.
If I was doing mostly Blender work or video editing and actually making money of my computer than just a toy then, sure I might choose differently (I would also be able to write it off)
I'm sure it would be very capable as a gaming pc as well.

The SDE does play a part due the ships in the distance will be seperated by the pixels as you can see the gaps between the pixels (that is what causes the SDE). Having less SDE will help with that. But they will still look a bit blocky at that distance until we get much higher res screens.

 

[TheNavvie]

It's not any effect SDE.
It's simply the lack of resolution period.

Period?

It's screen door effect caused by the lack of resolution and having said screens so close to your eyes.

A higher resolution on the same size screen would cause a higher number of pixels-per-inch, lowering the screen door effect. A higher resolution on a bigger screen would increase the field of view, same number of pixels-per-inch, same screen door effect.

Edit: Love my Rift, the lack of resolution and SDE is a small price to pay for the VR experience.

 

[TorTorden_VR]

No.

SDE is a seperate problem than resolution.
There a few display techs out there where there is no SDE whatsoever simply because there is no gap between each pixel.
Doesnt mean you magically see far away objects smaller than what relates to 1pixel.
People keep not seeing this as two seperate things because you can't really have a wide gap between pixels on a high dpi panel.

In fact with a lot of cases having a gap between pixels increases a sense of experienced sharpness.
Which is handy since most cheaper sharpening algorithms runs the risk of decreasing resolution