Update or Replace PC

[Puma44]

Hi Gents!

I have "legacy" computer with dual cross fired graphics cards that would constantly run 60 fps in any arena of AH2.  It now runs in that range when I'm away from the big crowds of action.  In the big crowds, its anywhere from 20 to 40ish fps with occasional screen stutters. 

I am aware of the need for a minimum of 2G graphics cards with AH3.  I have done a check on all of my drivers and get the "You have the latest drivers" message.  I recently did a fresh reload of W10.

Additionally, I have an event the occurs sporadically.  After a random time of game play (sometimes a few minutes, sometimes and hour or more, and sometimes not at all after 2 to 3 hours of play), out of my speakers comes a slow motion, metallic, garbled sound.  I've been advised by other players during this that my transmission are pretty much unreadable. I've tested and reset all of the available windows sound settings.  The only way I've found to eliminate this is to log out and restart the computer.  After logging out of the game and still on the PC desktop any sound still has the same issue as in game.  So, its a restart and log in.  Most of the time the sound issue doesn't occur again.  Although, a few times it has reoccurred after a restart.  I did ask about this issue in a previous thread but, am asking again in an overall context of my "legacy" computer.  Any ideas as to what the root cause may be?

All of that being said, I would appreciate any expert opinions about either upgrading the graphics card(s) and anything else obvious from the attached DXDIAG or just upgrading to a new system.  My preference is to upgrade the graphics card(s).  if that's the solution, what do you recommend for a new card(s) with an eye on future game improvements?

FULL DISCLOSURE: I am a computer enthusiast not an expert.  Therefore, I don't know what I don't know.   

I look forward to your expert opinions and recommendations.  Thanks gents! 

[Bizman]

As for the frame rates, the culprit is/are your video card(s). The AMD HD 4800 series are more than a bit outdated. Despite Crossfire giving you a good amount of video memory, the performance level is what it is. The frame rates look like they should be for that hardware. For dual card systems you might like to know that there's no official profiles for AH, you'd have to code them by yourself which isn't a task for an average Joe.

The rest of your system seems quite capable, there's many happy LGA775 motherboard/processor users here including myself. Based on Kanth's experience I'm looking forward to upgrading my HD 6970 to a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060. He got very promising FPS with a dual core version of your processor.

As for the sound issue I can't give you any exact answer. It might be your power supply slowly failing, or at least struggling with the crossfired cards. They can take quite an amount of juice!

BTW the new GeForce cards are much friendlier to your power supply than previous video cards so if your sound problem is power related that might go away with a new single card.

Oh, and please get rid of that flickering of your avatar. It makes me feel like I were about to get an epileptic seizure and I can't afford getting another one.

[Easyscor]

I happen to wonder if your sound problems are an HDMI conflict. If you are not using the monitor's speakers, then disable the HDMI sound. Many have reported issues there.

            Description: Digital Audio (HDMI) (Creative SB X-Fi)
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_000B&SUBSYS_00441102&REV_03
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1348 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 7/7/2010 12:00:00 AM, 697816 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Creative
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

[Skuzzy]

You are not going to like this.

Windows 10 does not support older hardware very well at all.  If Creative has not released an updated driver for Windows 10, then you are probably going to have problems with audio.  According to your DXDIAG output, your Creative driver is dated 2010.  Long before Windows 10 was a gleam in the eye of Microsoft and the sound API did change (again) for Windows 10.

Microsoft has stated that legacy hardware may not work well, if at all, with Windows 10.

[Puma44]

Thanks Gents!

Skuzzy, yeah I was afraid that would be the answer.  I will explore further for a better Creative driver.

Easycor, thanks!  My monitor speakers HDMI were enabled.  I've disabled them.

Bizman, yeah, the graphics cards are stone and chisel compared to the current day cards.  You mention the GTX 1060.  Where on the spectrum of performance would that put my current system.  Should that be the one I look at?  Or, should I look at a higher performance card in anticipation of future game improvements? The flickering you mention is not showing up on my computer nor did it get set up that way intentionally.  Anyone else seeing the same thing?

 Here again, I don't know what I don't know. So, I would certainly appreciate recommendations from you three gentlemen and anyone else who may have experience in my predicament.  I'm trying to avoid a whole new system at his point and want to extend my systems usefulness out a bit more.  So, I'm looking at a balancing act and what the most effective options might be at this time. 

Thanks again guys!  Very helpful! 

[Drano]

Puma I just got an MSI 6GB 1060 GamingX and love it so far. If you can drop north of 200 bucks on a video card I'd highly recommend that one.

That said it hardly breaks a sweat in AH3 on my win7/64 i2600-k system circa 2011. You could probably spend less on another 1060 and be fine.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[Puma44]

Puma I just got an MSI 6GB 1060 GamingX and love it so far. If you can drop north of 200 bucks on a video card I'd highly recommend that one.

That said it hardly breaks a sweat in AH3 on my win7/64 i2600-k system circa 2011. You could probably spend less on another 1060 and be fine.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Thanks Drano!  Good input.  I appreciate it.

[SIK1]

Puma, I'm using the EVGA 6GB 1060 (P/N: 06G-P4-6161-KR) in a system older than yours. I can maintain 60fps, on a 42" 1080p tv with most settings favoring detail and environment mapping at 1. It's physically smaller than the GTX 480 it replaced, and it uses less power.

 
Sik

[Puma44]

Thanks SIK1!  Great input.

[Drano]

Yeah that's the thing about these 1060s. They use a fraction of the power my older 6950 did. I have a 1000w PSU that I bought with the idea I'd get another 6950 at some point. It's way overkill now.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[Puma44]

That brings up another question.  I've not done any serious shopping yet, but do the graphics card have a specified minimum required power unit?

[BowHTR]

That brings up another question.  I've not done any serious shopping yet, but do the graphics card have a specified minimum required power unit?

Yes, all cards have a minimum recommended power. The GTX 1060 reccommends 400W.

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/products/10series/geforce-gtx-1060/

[Puma44]

Thanks BowHTR! I've got 750W in my current rig. 

I've started looking at the 1060/70/80 cards and different manufacturers.  Any of the manufacturers more reliable than others?

My desire is to run AH3 with all the bells and whistles full up.  With that in mind, is the 1060 the best card for full up with my legacy system? 

Thanks!

[Bizman]

IIRC it was Kanth who said he got some 150 FPS on his LGA775 system, Core2Duo E8400 using a 1060.

If you're not going to invest on a tighter resolution than 1920x1080 or a higher refresh rate than 60 Hz, and/or if you're not planning to get VR goggles, the 1060 will be more than sufficient. The Environment Map slider is the only setting to be cautious with, but that's a killer for any card.  I'm trying to convince myself to get one, calculating my gaming hours versus the 300€ price tag they have here.

Some manufacturers build better than others, and there's also variations within a single brand. Stick with the big names and choose a model with a back plate and improved cooling.

[Spikes]

Thanks BowHTR! I've got 750W in my current rig. 

I've started looking at the 1060/70/80 cards and different manufacturers.  Any of the manufacturers more reliable than others?

My desire is to run AH3 with all the bells and whistles full up.  With that in mind, is the 1060 the best card for full up with my legacy system? 

Thanks!

I would say if you want to run everything maxed a 1070 would be your best bet, and best bang for the buck, like the 970 was. That being said, nvidia definitely made a great card with the 1060. Get something with aftermarket cooling (not founders edition, basically anything with 2-3 fans). Some brands to check: Asus, MSI, Gigabyte, Zotac, EVGA...more of a personal preference. I've got a Gigabyte G1 970 that has been great, one of my friends has a Gigabyte 1070 he just put in his new PC I built for him, it has been flawless. Great overclocking potential.

A few people have 1060's that are happy, but if you get a 1060 make sure it is the 6GB VRAM one. It's all about how much you want to spend.

The thing I'd watch for is your CPU bottleneck as it is older. I used to have a Q9550, it is a beast. Do you know what kind of motherboard you have? It might be overclockable that would help with the longevity of the system (in terms of performance). There's usually a motherboard model number somewhere on it to check.