Need a little hardware advice - CPU / GPU / HMD

Hi,

I previously played ED VR with the following;

CPU: AMD FX 6350
GPU: R9 280
HMD: DK2

It was good enough for me at the time and the problem is, once you've experienced it - it's almost impossible to go back. I have ED on the PS4 and the experience is not the same.

I need to replace the graphics card as someone else now has the old one - and possibly upgrade the CPU which seemed to be bottlenecking on one core last time I looked. I don't want to spend a fortune on this upgrade project though, so need advice on a best bang for buck upgrade.

Questions in my mind are:

> Is there a drop in replacement CPU or the FX 6350 which will help with VR without needing to upgrade the mobo. Something like an FX 9590 perhaps? What are the alternatives?

> What graphics card should I go for - even 2nd hand ebay - which will do a reasonable job without costing half a grand.

Don't get me wrong, I have the money - but if Mrs Caspar finds out I'm dropping serious $$$ on gaming, I'll get a swift kick in the nuts.


Lastly, I've loaned out the DK2 so could have that back - but also have a PS4 VR HMD which seems to have a better colour spread than the DK2. Is this viable as an HMD on the PC?

Any help appreciated.
 
For a real cpu upgrade you have to replace the mobo as well.

If you're going to use the dk2 make sure the gpu can use ASW. I'm using a used r9 290 which does it, gtx 970's too I believe and I think that's one of the most common used cards on the market, so it's likely you can find one for a reasonable price.
 
1600 would be the very lowest I would consider for VR,
I'd personally at least look for a 1700x.

Also Ryzen and VR on any plattform really likes fast RAM, do not get anything slower than 3200mhz ddr4,
 
I use an RX 480, which is a middle-of-the-road GPU and is OK for Elite in VR. You could probably pickup an RX 580, a more recent and slightly upgraded version of the RX 480, for around $300 or less. Nvidia alternative would be the GTX 1060. If you want more VR horsepower, an RX Vega 56 or 64 or GTX 1070/1070 Ti/1080/1080 Ti will cost at least twice as much as an RX 580 or GTX 1060.

As for CPU, what else will you be doing with your system other than VR? Will you be overclocking?
 
I use an RX 480, which is a middle-of-the-road GPU and is OK for Elite in VR. You could probably pickup an RX 580, a more recent and slightly upgraded version of the RX 480, for around $300 or less. Nvidia alternative would be the GTX 1060. If you want more VR horsepower, an RX Vega 56 or 64 or GTX 1070/1070 Ti/1080/1080 Ti will cost at least twice as much as an RX 580 or GTX 1060.

As for CPU, what else will you be doing with your system other than VR? Will you be overclocking?

I’ve recently upgraded my PC as far as I think it will go without a motherboard swap.. I might need to go down that path if my system can’t drive my pimax 8k when it arrives

Be aware that if you make too many hardware changes at the same time, you might need to buy a new windows license— or in the very least call up Microsoft to manually re-activate

If you’re building a new system, then you will probably also need a new copy of windows. I don’t think they (Microsoft) allow you to ‘re-use’ it
 
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I have yet to go anywhere near maxing out 16GB or RAM for gaming, but RAM speed has made as much impact on smooth framerates as upgrading my CPU.
If a choice was between 32GB of 2400mhz and 16 3200mhz, I'd pick the latter any time of the day.
Unless I was building a workstation with a need for huge RAM, but then I would be making money from my rig and would be able to apply at least 32GB of 3200mhz RAM.
You are more likely to run out of VRAM long before you run out of system memory these days, sure down the line perhaps, but not atm.
Elite in VR uses for me, and I'm not running supersampling at least 6GB of Vram, and sitting in station while I type this 1.6GB of system ram, total system RAM use for me is 6.6GB.
Most memory hungry game I have seen so far was Lone Echo, that consumed nearly 10GB of VRAM and about the same in System RAM.


Although, Ryzen has issues, and from what I hear a lot of people, especially with VR, for the smoothest VR experience going forward I honestly recommend Nvidia+intel.
It's not like you aren't going to need new Mobo, RAM, GPU and CPU regardless.
 
OP, you do know in 3 days time a man in a Red suit will be delivering goodies to you......Well tell this strangely white bearded , red suited man to bring you some New PC Components.......Simples!
 
Hah! If only he brought me a new gaming rig.

Lots to think about in these posts. Suspect I'll get a new card to start and then go for a mobi/cpu swap out.

Thanks folks.
 
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