Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Max on June 04, 2020, 09:08:40 AM

Title: New build recommendations
Post by: Max on June 04, 2020, 09:08:40 AM
My current home built desktop dates back to 2014, with the following:
Intel Core i5 4690 Haswell 3.5 Ghz
Gigabyte GAZ97X-UD3HLGA1150 Intel Z97 Mobo
Corsair Vengence 2 x 4 GB SDRAM DDR3
ThermalTake Smart 700 watt PS *6 months old*
EVGA GTX1660Ti Dual fan 6GB
SSD is less thana year old...forget the specs
Antec 900 mid tower case
Windows 10 Home 64 bit

Current monitor is AOC 31.5" 2560x1440 @ 144Hz  - frame rates average 130's using Dx11

I have no real desire at this time for VR as I'm blind as a bat without glasses. The system delivers that which I need from it but it's getting on in years. I haven't really kept up to date on hardware specs so on to the questions:

CPU: Intel or AMD? Which one is suggested? Motherboard? Case fan coolers? Keep the GTX1660Ti or upgrade?

Though I've built 2 systems I wondering if going with Digitalstorm.com or Ibuypower.com isn't the way to go and skip the hassle of building one from the case up...thoughts?

I'm thinking of $1,500 USD as a budget +/-

Thanks for the feedback.

Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: Bizman on June 04, 2020, 11:39:58 AM
In the 4 GHz range it doesn't really matter whether it's Intel or AMD other than that the latter is less expensive. If you're planning to use the new computer for as long as the current one thinking about support for future CPU's is also  meaningless. 16 gb (2x8) of RAM should suffice for a long time, getting a motherboard with empty slots for potential expanding is sound planning. Salvaging the "new" parts, i.e. the PSU, video card and SSD is what I'd recommend as well as the Windows license. If you have it on a sticker glued on the case, reusing the case would be the easiest way. If not, a new case would have tighter front panel connectors.

Noctua coolers seem to be among the best ones on the market, both for CPU and case fans. Silent, powerful and durable but not fancy looking.

Since performance is not an issue with your current rig I recommend using the current video card until you get the urge of jumping on the VR wagon. A more powerful card would raise your current FPS to a stable 144 but since VR is developing quite rapidly an expensive card can become underpowered when you get the goggles.

Also, since the system delivers what you need and you already have replaced some parts, why fix something that isn't broken? Actually, during the last half of a year I've bought second hand rigs for both myself and a buddy, both sporting the i5-4690 and 8 gb of RAM as upgrades to twice that old systems! With a GTX 970 they keep a solid 60 FPS on AH and the other games we play.
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: Denniss on June 04, 2020, 03:45:45 PM
Old system looks OK, just cries for a tad more RAM. Maybe a better/larger SSD.
In about 6 months AMD is expected to release Zen3-based CPU with a large performance bump over the older Zen2. It's said they will improve internal latencies in these processors and that will especially affect gaming (in a positive way)
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: Max on June 04, 2020, 03:48:57 PM
The SSD I have is San Disk Ultra 512 GB...seems to be just fine.

Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: SirNuke on June 05, 2020, 06:19:52 PM
I don't think that computer is old enough to be replaced tbh, CPU's have not made strides since then. If you have cash to blow put a 2070 in there with 32Gb RAM and a big SSD
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: SirNuke on June 05, 2020, 06:21:22 PM
also you may want to consider a triple screens setup, when I had one for aces high it was pretty nice !
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: Easyscor on June 06, 2020, 05:14:38 AM
Say Bizman,

I'm in the market to replace my old Sandy Bridge, if a new CPU comes out that justifies it.

Have you heard any rumors on where Intel is with a new chip release in the fall?

Thanks
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: Denniss on June 06, 2020, 03:58:52 PM
Intel Comedy Lake is just out but more a mixed bag than real improvement. The next major CPU upgrade with a performance jump will be AMD's Zen 3
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: save on June 07, 2020, 06:12:07 AM
Max, I have the same CPU - you can run pretty much any sim with it with a 2k screen @ 100hz if you buy a good cooling fan for your CPU, and overclock it to 4.1 ghz.

The GPU might or might not have to be replaced if you go to 2k monitors, and some sims require more than 8GB memory to be fully utilized.


My setup :

Intel 4690 @4.1 ghz
Nvidia GTX 1080
16 gig memory
32" 2k MVA monitor @76hz.


Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: Bizman on June 07, 2020, 10:02:59 AM
Say Bizman,

I'm in the market to replace my old Sandy Bridge, if a new CPU comes out that justifies it.

Have you heard any rumors on where Intel is with a new chip release in the fall?

Thanks
Sorry, I don't follow too much the future, I rather rely on proven performance.
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: Vulcan on June 07, 2020, 05:26:02 PM
If you plan to go VR, you can't go wrong with an Intel+Nvidia combo.
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: Bizman on June 08, 2020, 01:17:21 AM
If you plan to go VR, you can't go wrong with an Intel+Nvidia combo.
Glad to see I'm not the only one still stuck to that despite the good reviews from the latest AMD products!
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: Easyscor on June 08, 2020, 01:38:57 PM
Glad to see I'm not the only one still stuck to that despite the good reviews from the latest AMD products!

Once burned it's hard to forgive.
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: Spikes on June 08, 2020, 03:32:27 PM
Glad to see I'm not the only one still stuck to that despite the good reviews from the latest AMD products!
Definitely a better bang for buck than Intel. At the very least it kicked them in the bellybutton and actually made Intel start releasing better stuff than simply ride on the failures of AMD for years.
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: TequilaChaser on June 17, 2020, 02:39:25 AM
Once burned it's hard to forgive.

That boat floats both ways except from my experiences messing with both INTEL and AMD, I've been burned by INTEL 3 times and burned by AMD 0 times.....

And for every high end INTEL system I've built, I was able to build a comparable AMD system that most times ended up out performing the INTEL build every single time.....to date since I started building custom builds I'm over 140+ builds....

I like both INTEL and AMD, but back when I was working in my profession I had to use AutoCAD and some other high dollar load calculating programs and HVAC&R design software that I've never had an INTEL system keep up anywhere close with AMD systems in this particular atmosphere

Skuzzy even backed up my claims of what I just posted several times on these message boards regarding AMD's superior math co-processor over what INTEL brought to the table....

Video editing, INTEL has always held a slight edge over AMD

When it comes to AH over all these years I've never seen where it really mattered, even when INTEL was able to start using more than 1 core yet AMD was stuck using 1 core for awhile there, the AMD could still hold it's own as long as your processor was at least 3.2 GHz regardless if you were stuck using a single core of your dual or quad-core processor....

The above post has also been discussed on these boards, when I was finally able to show AMD was using more than 1 core over 9 years ago....and where /what AMD processors it started with....

I've built nearly 20 computers for different AH players and there has never been 1 negative post against any computer I've built for any of those players posted on these boards....unlike some others we all might know about...

Regarding parts (GPUs, system Ram, hotas setups etc) I've helped players by giving them stuff to keep playing the game and have paid multiple different players accounts to keep them flying when they have fallen on hard times....

All I ever asked was for them to keep it to themselves... I don't need no "at a boys" or what  not.... I simply have tried to pay it forward, remembering how my Damned brothers came to my aid back in 2003 when I was severely injured and knocked out of work for 22 months...

My apologies for getting rolling on a tangent there.....

Back to original topic:  I recommend if you are going to build a new system, Max, is to consider giving AMD a try and get with Drano, Pudgie and others who have built new AMD Ryzen systems

Hope this helps

TC
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: Mayhem on June 17, 2020, 11:02:19 PM
I have had both AMD and Intel and with the exception of the Pentium 4 3.4ghz Prescott processor which was a toaster oven I've never had many issues with Intel or AMD Processors. My experience with the Prescott CPU is why I'm currently steering clear of the 10th gen Core i-9 10900k/kf CPU, it also left me a little gun shy on water cooling.

Outside of Processors you can cook on I have mostly had issues with the motherboards with an Abit Board for my 1ghz AMD Tbird Being the worst. This was back in the day when the chipset wasn't always designed by the CPU manufacturer.

That boat floats both ways except from my experiences messing with both INTEL and AMD, I've been burned by INTEL 3 times and burned by AMD 0 times.....

And for every high end INTEL system I've built, I was able to build a comparable AMD system that most times ended up out performing the INTEL build every single time.....to date since I started building custom builds I'm over 140+ builds....

I like both INTEL and AMD, but back when I was working in my profession I had to use AutoCAD and some other high dollar load calculating programs and HVAC&R design software that I've never had an INTEL system keep up anywhere close with AMD systems in this particular atmosphere

Skuzzy even backed up my claims of what I just posted several times on these message boards regarding AMD's superior math co-processor over what INTEL brought to the table....

Video editing, INTEL has always held a slight edge over AMD

When it comes to AH over all these years I've never seen where it really mattered, even when INTEL was able to start using more than 1 core yet AMD was stuck using 1 core for awhile there, the AMD could still hold it's own as long as your processor was at least 3.2 GHz regardless if you were stuck using a single core of your dual or quad-core processor....

The above post has also been discussed on these boards, when I was finally able to show AMD was using more than 1 core over 9 years ago....and where /what AMD processors it started with....

I've built nearly 20 computers for different AH players and there has never been 1 negative post against any computer I've built for any of those players posted on these boards....unlike some others we all might know about...

Regarding parts (GPUs, system Ram, hotas setups etc) I've helped players by giving them stuff to keep playing the game and have paid multiple different players accounts to keep them flying when they have fallen on hard times....

All I ever asked was for them to keep it to themselves... I don't need no "at a boys" or what  not.... I simply have tried to pay it forward, remembering how my Damned brothers came to my aid back in 2003 when I was severely injured and knocked out of work for 22 months...

My apologies for getting rolling on a tangent there.....

Back to original topic:  I recommend if you are going to build a new system, Max, is to consider giving AMD a try and get with Drano, Pudgie and others who have built new AMD Ryzen systems

Hope this helps

TC
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: TequilaChaser on June 18, 2020, 02:03:04 PM
Whels taught me long ago to steer clear of Abit MB's and I found out through people's request of MSI MB's to not trust them for solid builds because of voltage irregularities across the spectrum of voltage readings...plus the first 2 MSI MB's I ordered/or was sent in a PC components package someone had shipped from NewEgg to me to build their PC for them were DOA.....

I remember those AMD Thunderbird processors.....those along with INTELs were the slot type processors.....remember INTEL had issues with the side mounted cooling fan clips staying attached without breaking very easily.....

Prescotts were the 3 INTELs I got burned on..... That is not saying that AMD's run cool... I would say for a long time AMD processors really sucked up the power and put of a lot of heat but even after having a cooling fan stopping on an AMD 2800xp single.core processor got so hot I had smoke coming out of the PC case and the processor melted into the CPU socket to where it was unremovable....but just installed a new cooling fan and it never skipped a  beat.... Really surprised me that that CPU did not completely cook itself, or at least cause some type of damage to the CPU or MB....think that was around 2002/03....
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: Shuffler on June 18, 2020, 02:19:13 PM

Prescotts were the 3 INTELs I got burned on..... That is not saying that AMD's run cool... I would say for a long time AMD processors really sucked up the power and put of a lot of heat but even after having a cooling fan stopping on an AMD 2800xp single.core processor got so hot I had smoke coming out of the PC case and the processor melted into the CPU socket to where it was unremovable....but just installed a new cooling fan and it never skipped a  beat.... Really surprised me that that CPU did not completely cook itself, or at least cause some type of damage to the CPU or MB....think that was around 2002/03....

LOL too funny.... melted into the socket and still working. WOW
Title: Re: New build recommendations
Post by: Flayed1 on June 18, 2020, 08:12:40 PM
 I just built a new comp or actually 3 of them after my nephew and his uncle saw how nice the thing ran they wanted one too. Actually the uncles sister, nephew and I pooled the $ and forced one on him because we were soooo sick of him whining about how crappy PC's are and that X BOX is soo much better when he was trying to play games with us on his super old DELL that simply couldn't handle the games.  Haven't heard a complaint since lol  :)   
 
 MSI B450 gaming pro carbon AC motherboard, Ryzen 7 3700X CPU, AMD Radeon RX 5700, 2X 8 gig corsair vengeance ram and a 750 watt power supply plus what ever hard drive/ssd you want.  The motherboard has 2 ssd slots, 4 ram slots and a second full PCIE slot if ya wanna stuff another vid card in or what have you.
  System has been very stable and fast (power bliped out on me last night while RTB with a couple kills in a P47.  System did a full reboot and logged back into game in time to land the kills.)  :aok  Old comp would have never made it lol.
  Have been playing in VR and it seems to handle that nicely as well.

 Any way just thought I'd add something for your consideration.  <S>