28 replies to this topic

[Daneel Hazen]

More or less just for controls as well as a 3 display system. I've included my dxdiag below. Just let me know what you're running as well as chair etc if you have a good system going. I'm ok with upgrading to another vid card however wouldn't really like to upgrade the computer.


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System Information
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Time of this report: 4/20/2013, 20:26:25
Machine name: MININT-5IRD7M5
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.130318-1533)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Alienware
System Model: Aurora-R2
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5 CPU 650 @ 3.20GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Memory: 12288MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 12280MB RAM
Page File: 2723MB used, 27972MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 64bit Unicode


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Display Devices
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Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GTS 450
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DC5&SUBSYS_085B10DE&REV_A1
Display Memory: 4048 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1488 MB
Shared Memory: 2559 MB
Current Mode: 1360 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: TOSHIBA-TV
Monitor Id: TSB0205
Native Mode: 1360 x 768(p) (60.015Hz)
Output Type: HD15
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 9.18.0013.1106 (English)
Driver Version: 9.18.13.1106
DDI Version: 11
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 2/26/2013 00:32:38, 18055184 bytes

[Staplebeater]

I don't know if you CPU is going to cut it.

I have a i5 2500K OCed to 4.2 GHz
8 GB RAM
Radeon HD 6870

I get ~38-50 fps in 1920x1080 depending on the map and what is going on. I am able to do VODs and such.

Check out the hardware forums there is a lot of build advice from folks smarter than I.

[Daneel Hazen]

Upgraded processor:
Processor: Intel® Core™ i7 CPU 870 @ 2.93GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.9GHz

[Vimeous]

I use:
Core 2 Quad 2950 @ 2.66GHz (Stock); 6GB RAM; Radeon 6850
I play at 2560x1440 on high and get 40fps average. Minimums do occasionally show slowdown (rare).

My other machine
Core i5 3570 @ 3.4GHz (stock); 6GB RAM; Radeon 4650
Struggles to get 2 fps.

I suggest you look at a better graphics card that was designed for 3 screens from the outset. AMD's eye-finity compatibility or newer Nvidia cards should suffice.
As to which card - save for a Radeon 6870 as a minimum for a little future proofing.

Remember to check what power connections each card needs and how long they are.

[Modo44]

For pretty much all games, you want a mid-range or better CPU, a high-quality PSU, lots of RAM, and the most powerful single graphics card you can afford/fit in.

[Mechteric]

Overclock your i5 for sure, then all you need I think is a faster video card. I'm running a Radeon 7970 and it along with my overclocked i5 (@4.2Ghz I think) run MWO at about 50fps for the most part at 2560x1440.

Edited by CapperDeluxe, 03 June 2013 - 06:24 AM.

[Cubivorre]

This is not a guide or strategy. This should be in the hardware forum.

[Oderint dum Metuant]

Right ignoring some of the mis information above.

To play this game at a stable FPS setting across 3 1080P screens your going to be upgrading both the CPU and GPU.
In terms of CPU you'll want at least a mid range sandybridge or above chip so your looking at the following:

I5 2500k
I7 2600K
I5 3570K
I7 3770K

It may also be possible on AMD's 8350 but i have no experience with that.

In terms of GPU power, your going to struggle to find a single GPU that can run the 3 screens at anything above 30FPS and even then dips below 30FPS at times will really hurt.

I used a GTX 670 FTW 4GB initially, and that ran the game at 30FPS and just a shade above, but it did suffer from dips on some maps that made the game unplayable.
A 680 and 7970 are not much of an advancement at that resolution level, so i resorted to a GTX Titan that runs it at 60 FPS across 3 screens.

For reference to obtain 60FPS im running the following.

I5 2500K @ 4.5GHZ
8 GB DDR3 @ 1600MHz
Asus GTX Titan 6GB GPU

So in my opinion who has tried a multi monitor setup on a few configs, the first really playable experience will be at the entrance point of a 2500k/GTX 670 4GB/ AMD 7950 3GB combo, anything less than that and you'll end up playing single screen.

Edited by DV McKenna, 03 June 2013 - 07:53 AM.

[Catamount]

I think DV about has it, and no, and 8350 doesn't cut it for MWO. It's powerful, but MWO appears to be only quad threaded.

At those resolutions, a lot of considerations change. DV's experience suggests that MWO is probably very VRAM intensive, and I've seen much the same thing looking at its utilization in GPUZ. I would be dubious about running the game at higher settings on a 1GB GPU on a single screen, which means for 3 screens, I wouldn't want less than 6GB, nor would I want less than 2GB/screen for a new gaming system in general (you have to think about other future titles, too). That limits your choices to basically either a 6GB Titan, or something like this:

http://www.newegg.co...VirtualParent=1

Both carry hefty price premiums with them, but that's just the territory you're entering. I would also either spring for the extra processing power of the i7s, or be prepared to OC an i5, CPU-side.

Edited by Catamount, 03 June 2013 - 10:42 AM.

[ArmageddonKnight]

TBH now that Haswell is out and the GTX 780. I would get a 4770k and a GTX 780.

The CPU will handle the game fine, it wont OC as far as Ivybridge (3770k) but it is roughly 200mhz faster at the same clocks so you would not need to hit 4.5ghz for example, 4.2 or 4.3ghz would be fine on air, so long as u keep the voltages down. Haswell runs very hot.

As for the GTX 780, although its limited to 3gb (an astounding mistake imo, should have stayed 6gb) it should handle 3x 1080p. Its when u get up to 1200p , 1440p, and 1600p in triple monitor that 3gb VRAM just isnt enough (if ur using AA).

If u cant afford to get a new CPU and mothebroard then just get a GTX 780. Its pricey, but considering for tripple monitor ur only other choies are combinations of Nvidia cards or a single Titan, u mightaswell get a up to date single card. AMD atm just isnt an option due to the runt/dropped frames when in Crossfire.

Edited by ArmageddonKnight, 03 June 2013 - 10:55 AM.

[Ocilfa]

It should be mentioned that the OP's i5-650 is not a quad core, but a dual with hyperthreading. I'm pretty sure oc'ing it wont do too much, so its pretty much established that he needs a new cpu.

[Vellinious]

You're thinking of buying an Alienware? Build FAIL...that is all

ArmageddonKnight, on 03 June 2013 - 10:55 AM, said:

TBH now that Haswell is out and the GTX 780. I would get a 4770k and a GTX 780.

The CPU will handle the game fine, it wont OC as far as Ivybridge (3770k) but it is roughly 200mhz faster at the same clocks so you would not need to hit 4.5ghz for example, 4.2 or 4.3ghz would be fine on air, so long as u keep the voltages down. Haswell runs very hot.

As for the GTX 780, although its limited to 3gb (an astounding mistake imo, should have stayed 6gb) it should handle 3x 1080p. Its when u get up to 1200p , 1440p, and 1600p in triple monitor that 3gb VRAM just isnt enough (if ur using AA).

If u cant afford to get a new CPU and mothebroard then just get a GTX 780. Its pricey, but considering for tripple monitor ur only other choies are combinations of Nvidia cards or a single Titan, u mightaswell get a up to date single card. AMD atm just isnt an option due to the runt/dropped frames when in Crossfire.

I would hold off on the Haswell CPU....initial overclocking reviews haven't been very kind. Intel didn't fix the TIM problem from the ivy's...so heat is still an issue.

[BP Raven]

For reference:

I'm running a GTX 690 (2 GPUs, essentially two 680's in SLi on a single card) with an older intel i5 750 stock with 4gb ram. The CPU boosts itself to around 3 ghz, and i pushed an extra 100mhz offset on the cards GPU and memory clocks (not hit the limit, just went as far as i felt comfortable with).

At 6038*1080 i get between low 30s on caustic (big fps hit on that map for some reason) up to high 50's on alpine/canyons. Playing with GFX settings i found the biggest hit was with envionment, chopping fps in half for no obvious visual difference. It's playable enough at these settings, MWO doesn't seem to need a solid 60fps like other shooters do (for me anyway). I'm hoping that when SLI support is finally added i might see some performance improvement...

Anyway, YMMV, but it's definately worth persuing, as long as you don't get motion sickness as a result...

[Vellinious]

MWO seems to be pretty processor intensive. I've got an AMD BE555 with a 6770 that sits around 25-30fps on most maps, but it's toppin out the CPU. On my i7 3770k with a GTX 670, I get 60fps steady without a problem, and it doesn't tax the CPU at all. The processor is the key for MWO...at least until they get it optimized.

[Narcissistic Martyr]

Catamount, on 03 June 2013 - 10:41 AM, said:

I think DV about has it, and no, and 8350 doesn't cut it for MWO. It's powerful, but MWO appears to be only quad threaded.

Yeah, only half my cores get used on my fx8320. If I could tell a difference between 30 and 100 fps I'd probably disable half the cores so I could run the CPU at a higher overclock. But I can't and I don't.

[Bloodshed Romance]

i use a AMD FX8350 (overkill for gaming alone), 8GB ram (1866), and XFX7970 for 3 21.5 1080P Asus monitors and get 40-60 with max settings

Edited by Bloodshed Romance, 04 June 2013 - 12:42 AM.

[Sen]

Quote

In terms of GPU power, your going to struggle to find a single GPU that can run the 3 screens at anything above 30FPS and even then dips below 30FPS at times will really hurt.

I can attest to this. Dual 7950s in crossfire did the same thing [obviously crossfire isn't supported yet, so a single 7950 couldn't quite cut it at 5760] 1080. This is on a 3930k @ 4.2Ghz

Quote

I would hold off on the Haswell CPU....initial overclocking reviews haven't been very kind. Intel didn't fix the TIM problem from the ivy's...so heat is still an issue.

That's not entirely fair. Moving voltage regulation on die is a way bigger factor [chip doing more, more compact internals coupled with smaller heat dissipation area = more intense heat between the CPU and the cap. While they may not overclock as high as. . say. Sandy, show me the last time going from 4.4 to 4.7 netted any kind of real world gains in gaming?

Don't get me wrong here, apparently Haswell DOES have heat issues. I'm not sure that it's anything that'll even remotely affect mainstream users or less hardcore overclockers.

But yea, for O/P, if you want three screen gaming, definitely consider you may need an entire rebuild/upgrade, and DEFINITELY don't skimp on the GPU. [personally I'd suggest a 690 titan. . .at $1000] Or pick up a lower card and run on one screen until they get crossfire/sli working, then pick up a second one.

Edited by Sen, 04 June 2013 - 04:33 AM.

[M X Striker]

My system is a little dated at this point, but it still rocks MWO pretty hard. I maintain 60FPS at 1900x1200.
Core i7-920 OC'd to 4.2GHz
6Gb DDR3-1600 Tri-channel Ram
nVidia GTX570 Black Edition
128Gb Samsung SSD
2x WD 4TB HDD
Apple 23" Studio Cinema Display
Windows 8 Pro w/ClassicShell

Good Luck with your rig!

[Vellinious]

Looking at all the reviews I've seen thus far, if you're already sitting on a 3770k, the upgrade to the 4770k doesn't make much sense, as it's more of a move sideways. Now, if you're running a 1st Gen core processor, that's a different story...THEN, it'd be worth it. I won't be upgrading this "tock"....I'll just delid my ivy and be happy....for now.

This wasn't the "tock", we were looking for. lol, it's already been dubbed the "Hasfail" by many in the oc community.

[Sen]

Quote

if you're already sitting on a 3770k, the upgrade to the 4770k doesn't make much sense

Yes, but the O/P has an i5 CPU 650 listed in his post.

Quote

it's already been dubbed the "Hasfail" by many in the oc community.

You know what they say:



I'll reserve judgement until we see the real world results come in in the following weeks, but honestly gains past 4.2Ghz aren't really real world noticeable. On the flip side, if it means people have to WORK to achieve their overclocks, they should be thankful . . . this gives them a challenge.

Agree however, if you're running Ivy [and possibly sandy] it's not worth the price to upgrade.

Edited by Sen, 04 June 2013 - 06:14 AM.