AH 3 Video card List

[38ruk]

JUST upgraded:

Zotac NVidea GTX 1080
16GB RAM

FPS was good until I got into a busy area, then took a hit. I've adjusted some sliders down from my initial launch of the game with everything at max.

I'm getting a comfortable 59 FPS while playing but do suffer from "micro-stutters" every so often near other players. My FPS drops to 0 for a half a second then responds by jumping right back up to a smooth 59FPS, during the micro-freeze, i have seen my FPS drop to 5,15,35,55, then back to steady 59.... I feel this is a latency issue more so than my hardware as the hardware now should be able to handle this game without noticing it's even running!..

Also, anyone else getting environment flickering whilst near or under clouds?

I have a 980ti and have the sliders maxed ..... i would think your 1080 should run circles around my card.  What resolution are you running?  Also , what card was in your machine before the upgrade?  I'd imagine you have a healthy power supply right?

[-ammo-]

I have a 980ti and have the sliders maxed ..... i would think your 1080 should run circles around my card.  What resolution are you running?  Also , what card was in your machine before the upgrade?  I'd imagine you have a healthy power supply right?

I have 980TI and still get less than max FR in busy areas with everything maxed

[GFShill]

Hey GF, Kong is using this on a 400 watt power supply and he hasn't had any trouble with it.

http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=06G-P4-6163-KR

Thanks for the real-world info!  Found it in stock through Amazon.  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IPVSLTC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2LMAHKD9TDSUC

Is the 6Gig really worth the extra $100 over the 3GB?  Would I be getting more card than my machine would appreciate?  Pretty much the only reason I'm upgrading at all is for AH3.

[38ruk]

I have 980TI and still get less than max FR in busy areas with everything maxed

oh... i havent noticed a slow down with mine .... i have EM completely off maybe thats the difference ? 

[Bizman]

So since I'm hamstrung to 475W or lower, what are my options?

475 W is close enough to 500 W, IMO. The more important thing is how the wattage has been split into the various connectors - one rail or two for 12V and the amperage of it. One hint is to see if your power supply has the needed pci-e connectors for the video card you want. I wouldnt recommend Y cable adapters.

The link you provided says there'd be a HD4870 inside, but you said that it's a HD4300/4500. Actually the latter wouldn't even start AH3, so I suppose and hope it's a typo/misread. If so, the HD 4870 is as power hungry as the current cards, 500W recommended.

As for the GTX 1060 3 GB vs. 6 GB, both would make a huge leap from what you now have. This pretty much summarizes the pro's and con's: http://www.techspot.com/review/1237-msi-geforce-gtx-1060-3gb/page8.html.

[GFShill]

The link you provided says there'd be a HD4870 inside, but you said that it's a HD4300/4500. Actually the latter wouldn't even start AH3, so I suppose and hope it's a typo/misread. If so, the HD 4870 is as power hungry as the current cards, 500W recommended.

Thanks for the link on that article.  It was a good read and very informative.  Given the age of my machine, it sounds like the GTX1060 SC might be the value way to go. I don't upgrade unless I have to ("if it ain't broke...") so the 6Gig sounds like it'd extend the life of my PC overall.

As for what I have installed, my "Settings" shows an ATI HD4300/4500 series, so maybe the HD4870 is being interpreted as that.  My display adapter under "System" is showing as a PCI Express Root Adapter.  It sounds like anything that can take a PCI-E x16 at 400Mhz is what I should be looking to buy, and the GTX1060 SC is in that category.

[GFShill]

Since I hijacked this thread, I figured I'd post an update/resolution as a warning to others.

So I ordered an EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 SC, specifically this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IPVSLTC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Amazon Prime delivered it two days later, and I excitedly opened up the box, ignored the warnings about not being able to return opened items, and read the installation instructions.  It seemed simple enough.  I opened up my computer case and got my tools.

The first problem reared it's ugly head in the test fitting.  The graphics card's backplate interfered with the back of the case.  Ok, no problem.  I studied the placement of the retaining screws, took the backplate off, popped the dummy plates off the back of the computer case, and it fit in the slot.  Problem solved.  I thought I was on my way.

Second problem: the new card came with a power adapter cord, but that assumes that the host motherboard actually has a place to plug it into.  Mine doesn't.  I guess the onboard Nvidia card was fat and happy being fed power through the motherboard.  Ok, well, let me just hook it all up and see what happens.

Third problem:  the monitor plug didn't fit into any of the receptacles on the graphics card.  It was just too old.  End result: not only would I need to upgrade my power unit (I guess, not really sure on that since I never got that far in the installation process to test the card), but also my monitor.  Oh, and probably my motherboard as well.  Ok, this was going in the entirely wrong direction.  This was supposed to be a way to save me from having to layout money on a new computer, and instead it was developing into a "buy everything but a joystick" problem.

Looking at it from an accounting standpoint, I'd be laying out about $1k to play a $15 a month game.  Alternatively, I could just eat the $260, save myself $15 a month, and go outside to play instead of flying cartoon airplanes.

Looks like I'll be spending my tax refund next March on a new system.

Anybody want a new GTX 1060 SC?  PM me.  Might as well get what I can out of it.

[Kanth]

They make adapters.

http://www.newegg.com/product/CategoryIntelligenceArticle.aspx?articleId=186

You can get a dvi to dsub or hdmi to dsub or whatever you need.

Third problem:  the monitor plug didn't fit into any of the receptacles on the graphics card.  It was just too old.  End result: not only would I need to upgrade my power unit (I guess, not really sure on that since I never got that far in the installation process to test the card), but also my monitor.

[Vraciu]

Sorry.  Deleted my comment as it has no relevance.

Any issues with plugs for power might be found searching for images or on YouTube. 

Perhaps a player here has screenshots inside their case.  I took some before I unplugged everything just in case.  Wish I had taken some after I swapped Power Supply Units so I could post. 

[38ruk]

Gfshill.....the video card power cords plug into the powersupply cables that come out of the power supply. Just looked at the power adapter and see where u might be running into issues....hence the edit. You might not have that plug coming from ur psu.

Just looked at what might be ur psu and it shows 1 pcie plus 2 connector....does yours have one? You will only be able to plug 1 of them into the back side instead of 2. But its worth a try. Then all you need is a svga to dvi adapter and u could be good to go.

[GFShill]

I studied the snakes coming out of the PSU housing and they all had a home, either to the motherboard or to a drive.  I studied the motherboard and didn't see any sockets that matched up with the connectors on the GTX power cable.  Either my ATI Radeon HD didn't need additional power, or there's a hot circuit cable running along the circuits of my motherboard.  I'm guessing the former and not the latter.  The ATI had a cooling fan, though, which I thought was interesting.  The new GTX fit in the PCIE slot just fine once I removed the backplate and the dummy panels on the computer chassis.  So, I guess I'll take this incrementally and start pricing video monitor plug adapters. 

Looking at the lines coming out of the PSU housing, I'm certainly not looking forward to having to unplug/replug all of those cables to the drives and cards.   

[GFShill]

Gfshill.....the video card power cords plug into the powersupply cables that come out of the power supply. Just looked at the power adapter and see where u might be running into issues....hence the edit. You might not have that plug coming from ur psu.

You are correct.  No such plug.  So am I looking at pricing out a new PSU?

[100Coogn]

You are correct.  No such plug.  So am I looking at pricing out a new PSU?

I don't know if you are familiar with Newegg, but you can get some really good deals there.
I picked up a GTX 970 FTW and a Corsair 750watt PSU for about $300.00 Total.
The 970 was a refurbished item and the PSU was an open-box item.
No issues with either as of yet.

Coogan 

[Rich46yo]

Thats why I buy from B&H. Immediate 100% refunds no matter if the box is opened, torn, whatever. And no questions asked.

[DubiousKB]

I have a 980ti and have the sliders maxed ..... i would think your 1080 should run circles around my card.  What resolution are you running?  Also , what card was in your machine before the upgrade?  I'd imagine you have a healthy power supply right?

I thought so too, but as I've played with settings over the past few updates I'm finding myself able to push the sliders up (to the right!?) without significant loss of FPS. I still get the "micro/petit-freezes" everyone once and awhile during heavy traffic at low altitudes. Funny, I intercepted some salty B17's on the way to knight strat last night and never had any issue barreling through their 6+ buff formations at high speeds and high anxiety..

I was running two 760's in SLi mode before so power supply shouldn't be an issue. (i believe 800W PSU)