System upgrade path

My system is way out of date for DCS as I have not played in a few years and I want to get back into flying as budget friendly as I can. Since I've been out of gaming for a while, I don't really know whats what on newer pc components.

What I currently have

CPU: Intel Core i7 2600K

MOBO: ASUS Maximus IV Extreme

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 F3-12800CL7-4GBRH

GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 580 x2

SSD: Samsung SSD 840 EVO 1TB

Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250GB

HDD: WDC WD1001FALS-00J7B1

CASE: Cooler Master Storm Sniper

Cooling: Scythe SCMG-2100 Sleeve CPU Cooler

PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower 850W Cable Management

Thermaltake Power Express 650W (Dedicated GPU PSU)

Windows 10 64bit Pro

Monitors: Acer GD235HZbid 1080p 120hz 24" x3

Sound: Logitech Z-5500 Digital

Saitek X52 Pro HOTAS and Pedals, TrackIR Pro

I would like to get back into flying on triple monitor.

I know I need a new GPU, most likely using a GTX 580 to run the side monitors, so have to stick with NVIDIA? Need more RAM, with more RAM, I know I should upgrade to a MOBO that can use DDR4. CPU is old, but is it still "ok" for a budget build? I'd like to maybe upgrade the PSU to one that will run the new card as well as the other GTX 580, so I can get rid of the dedicated GPU Power Express 650w PSU

Option 1. Can I get away with just upgrading the GPU for now and either adding another 2x4GB set of DDR3 or going with an 2x8GB

Option 2. Jump straight to a new GPU, MOBO, RAM (32GB ?), PSU using current CPU with upgrade down the road.

Option 3. Straight up gut it and go new CPU, GPU, MOBO, RAM, and PSU.

I am leaning towards option 2 if I can keep it under $800-$1K. Maybe a RTX 2070 Super. What specific components would you go with?

Thanks

Jason

I'd like to maybe upgrade the PSU

You read my mind.

Hi Jason,

First up you cannot use a 2nd GPU that way and sli doesn't really work with DCS.

Good old PCyou have there, she has had it's day tho and I would build a new one.

Are you building this or buying off the shelf?

Are you in the USA?

"Monitors: Acer GD235HZbid 1080p 120hz 24" x3"

1. That monitor has a really big bezel. (The edge around it) Will not sit tight together at all.

2. To run 3 monitors you are going to need a bit of a beast to get good frames and eye candy. That's 1920 x 3 = 5760

How about going wide screen at 2K (2560x1080) and G-Sync Acer Predator Z35 bmiphz 35 for an example only.

That would suit a 2070 super much better and could run high settings @ 60 fps.

I run a 2560 x 1440p NOT 4K only 2K so I can hold 60 fps with max game settings and that's with a 1080ti to give you some idea of the power needed just at 1440P.

That's the sweet spot for a combat sim (60 fps) Unless you just fly slow in choppers all day.

Now just for some examples, as many of us here build pc's part by part to save money and buy better parts etc. Sorry Demon, Yes they would have crap PSU's:P

See these company's always go cheap on the psu's.

New gif meme for you Demon:smilewink:

Blue team Intel $1549

CyberPowerPC - Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i9-9900K - 16GB - GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER - 2TB HDD + 512GB SSD

Red team AMD $1199

CyberPowerPC - Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 7 3700X - 16GB - GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER - 2TB HDD + 240GB SSD

The AMD needs a larger SSD or an extra one added and you need DCS on the SSD drive. You really need 500GB as DCS gets larger. I'm at 150 GB. (Use your Samsung SSD 840 EVO 1TB)

Would be nice to have a better psu, Also 32gb of ram, especially if your going multiplayer.

Don't know how accurate this is? 50% bottle neck. i7 2600K with 2070 super. Possibly about right, maybe a little less. Like 40%

https://pc-builds.com/calculator/Core_i7-2600K/GeForce_RTX_2070/0e012xlO/

I second David with what he said.

In addition, you cannot use your 2600k in any of those newer DDR4 boards, despite the socket hasnt changed much, it is impossible. IIRC only the 3rd gen boards, which are still DDR3, allowed 2nd gen CPUs to be dropped in, but I am not 100% sure and it is not recommended anyways, it wouldnt get you where you want to go.

My advice, to save some bucks, aim for a 3rd gen Ryzen, like a 3600/3600X/3700X CPU with a moderate B450 board, that will only sacrifice the PCIe Gen4 support which is nothing of great use as of today. You are better off with 32GB RAM instead of 16GB for that saved money and/or a bigger GPU.

With what you want to do, you will be GPU limited anyway, so you do not need to strive for the fastest of CPUs but rather grab a GPU as high as you can.

If I was you, I would keep those SSDs and I would keep the 850w PSU for now ( but would buy a new one asap . as money allows ), use your old case + fans and sink all of your money in parts that you cannot alter afterwards w/o big trouble, those are Mobo+CPU+GPU and likely RAM. YOu could go with 16GB and pray that you find a matching kit of additional 16GB later on but I would NOT do that, RAM is likely to rise in the near future again, so I would grab a kit with 32GB and 3200-3600MHz speed of tight latency, that is the best advice I can give you to start with.

Down the road, a few months later, upgrade your PSU, then maybe new fans ( SQUEEK baah ) and finally, if you want, get new drives, like a Samsung 970 Evo Plus 512GB or 1TB and use you old 840s for Data storage, swap drive, games. You wont see a big difference anyway as long as your SSD runs flawless. There have been a few Pilots that had stutter due to SSDs behaving badly, all those were non-Samsung drives and tbh, from what I read regarding reliability charts...I would only buy Samsung. I use Samsung SSDs in all my systems and the only one that ever failed was a 830Evo in my MacBookPro ( sigh ). They have served me well and have served all that I have sold to family and freinds as well, those were quite a few, all 840Evo or newer, like 850Pro and 9series NVMe's. Non has failed yet.

If you think that could fit, get back to me and David and we can make suggestions what specific parts make sense.

Bit

I figured I would have to build a new machine. Been a while since I've tried keeping up with the rat race of building/upgrading machines. Use to build a new gaming machine every year or two, but bought a house and took a different job making almost half as much kinda put an end to spending 3k and not blinking so I gave up on keeping familiar with the new tech.

That Acer Predator Z35 looks kinda tasty and may end up getting one or something similar instead of going with my old 3 monitor set up. So lets say I need a system that would be able to rock that in DCS multiplayer

Intel vs AMD. I have no idea how they stack up now days ie that i9-900k vs Ryzen 7 3700X CyberPowerPC prebuilt system. Same with Nvidia vs AMD for graphic cards. So I guess I have no preference in either case.

Would I be able to manage either an pre build or recommend a set of components for a build along with a 34"+ ultra wide screen 2K monitor for $2000-2200? If going with a pre build I would rather not have to go about needing to upgrade things in it like a PSU right off the bat.

I have configured this a little bit. It has rather the better parts, no compromises, but lacks a CASE LoL

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/ypQ7Rk

2300$ incl. that screen, 1TB Samsung 970 EvoPlus, X570 Asus Hero, 32GB, top dog PSU and a 2070Super.

Add the case and you are good to go :)

I have configured this a little bit. It has rather the better parts, no compromises, but lacks a CASE LoL

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/ypQ7Rk

 

2300$ incl. that screen, 1TB Samsung 970 EvoPlus, X570 Asus Hero, 32GB, top dog PSU and a 2070Super.

 

Add the case and you are good to go :)

That's even nicer that monitor..... It's Z35(P) the Acer Predator Z35P (3440x1440 100 Hz) Still under the 4K. Is that like 3K lol. It's all messed up that 4K business.

vs Z35 UXGA (2560x1080)

I wouldn't mine that Z35(P) for an upgrade. It's 1000 bucks here tho...

Thank you Bit and David for the help on catching up on newer pc tech and picking a new system, and curse you for "twisting my arm" and going over what I wanted to spend. It don't take long to go over when you have a whole bunch of "well if you only spend another 50-100$ you can get y instead of x and its so much better" decisions lol. Sadly the Warthog HOTAS is going to have to wait a few months now.

I did end up doing a little bling on the system by getting a LED RGB case and fans, as well as going with the RGB memory since the MOBO can control it. Not sure if its just a fad or not, but I think it looks cool as hell.

Now the long wait for the brown Santa truck begins. One shipment is showing an estimate of the 11th ;-/

Jason

:thumbup:

Report back when the door bell rings :D

 

 

 

I did end up doing a little bling on the system by getting a LED RGB case and fans, as well as going with the RGB memory since the MOBO can control it. Not sure if its just a fad or not, but I think it looks cool as hell.

 

 

 

 

Jason

definitely a fad. I was doing it with led's and drilling holes on my case for hdds and exhaust back in 1996 when I was 15 as they didn't have the option. But now everything is rgb and I want a break, but most the good cases on a budget has led, so it is what it is.

But if you like it, even better :)

I even did slicing of the pararell cable to turn it into a round cable to improve airflow. Those were the days... So glad they are in the past.

I bought a Ryzen 3600 won 5700 xt for 3 screens...should come next week

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