System Utilization screenshot - suggestions for upgrade

Hey guys,

Based on this screenshot showing my non-VSync'd frame rate and system utilization, can you make a suggestion as far as what component(s) I should be looking at to upgrade next? This is from a multiplayer server with I think about 58 ppl in it at the time; I'm running 1080p monitor with 60Hz refresh rate, but sometimes I use VR with a Lenovo Explorer where I get around 30-45 fps in VR graphics preset. I often hear how DCS is CPU-limited but it looks to me like a more powerful graphics card, followed by upgrading to 32GB RAM would be better? Full system specs in my signature.

I would eventually like to play at 1440p or 4K, and also I'd like to get one of the next gen VR headsets after the market settles down and more people have tried them and reported their experience in DCS.

Thanks/help!

3600 or (x) for higher single-core performance and ipc . You should otherwise be good for 1440p and VR with Rift S or Index .

a faster cpu (not more cores) will help.

the graph you are seeing is an average of all 8 cores and does not reflect the cpu bottleneck

It looks like your cpu is able to mostly keep up with your 1080 so I would say a gfx card upgrade would net you the most frame rate improvement. For reference I down clocked my 8700k to 4.4 and it was not holding back my 2080ti at all and I further down clocked it to 4.0 and it made a very little difference. I posted the results in another thread. MP servers might be more taxing on the cpu but I still would think gpu is the way to go for you.

32GB

Get another stick of your same RAM for 32gb. If you do a graphics upgrade do a 2080 Super or 2080Ti. I don't think a 5700XT will give you much upgrade for your dollar over what you have.

I believe your CPU is probably fine until the next upgrade cycle.

change cpu to a 8700k + a 2080ti lolz + 970evo plus :>

Get another stick of your same RAM for 32gb. If you do a graphics upgrade do a 2080 Super or 2080Ti. I don't think a 5700XT will give you much upgrade for your dollar over what you have.

 

I believe your CPU is probably fine until the next upgrade cycle.

Actually a while ago, I doubled my RAM to 32GB by getting another pair of the exact same sticks of RAM I had already - G.Skill Trident Z F4-3200C16D-16GTZR. But when all 4 sticks were installed, though the system recognized 32GB, I had stability problems and the system would lock up after a short while. Either pair worked OK as 16GB, but I could not use all 4 sticks at the same time. I double checked the QVL for my mobo and found this one was not listed. Felt pretty foolish.

I did just order 2 16GB sticks of RAM that I've doublechecked and made sure is on the QVL.

Looking at the 2080 Super with interest. Wish I could justify a 2080 Ti but over $1000 for a single component is a psychological barrier for me right now.

I was able to get more info on CPU usage using the Resource Monitor available in Task Manager, and that does show CPU 15 is often nearly at 100% usage. Does that mean a more powerful graphics card would be a waste and not improve frame rates much?

Actually a while ago, I doubled my RAM to 32GB by getting another pair of the exact same sticks of RAM I had already - G.Skill Trident Z F4-3200C16D-16GTZR. But when all 4 sticks were installed, though the system recognized 32GB, I had stability problems and the system would lock up after a short while. Either pair worked OK as 16GB, but I could not use all 4 sticks at the same time. I double checked the QVL for my mobo and found this one was not listed. Felt pretty foolish.

Next time, try your RAM at lower frequency and/or at slower timing. That can resolve your problem of stability.

or UP the DRAM voltage from 1.35v to 1.375-1.40v, that also often helps with 4 modules.

I was able to get more info on CPU usage using the Resource Monitor available in Task Manager, and that does show CPU 15 is often nearly at 100% usage. Does that mean a more powerful graphics card would be a waste and not improve frame rates much?

You'll be pretty good at 1440 with what you have right now and 32gb ram, to be completely honest.

If you upgrade to a 2080 Super you're likely going to be slightly limited by your CPU, so just crank all the graphics up to high preset on 1440 or 4k and enjoy. I had an i5-4670k +2080ti before I just upgraded to a 3800x. Your cpu is better than my old one. I was happy at 4k with 50-60fps almost everywhere but VR was rough in some heavy multiplayer servers.

My advice is to wait until you add the extra ram. See if you're happy. If you are, just wait and save your money.

Thanks for your help and advice guys. New RAM arrives soon. Also have a 1TB NVMe drive coming, as my 500Gb Sata SSD is already more than half full. DCS is at 153 GB and I haven't yet downloaded my last aircraft purchase. I have read SSD performance starts to suffer as the disk gets to 75% filled.

System Utilization screenshot - suggestions for upgrade

I have read SSD performance starts to suffer as the disk gets to 75% filled.

you won’t notice any difference.

it is very rare that a home user or gamer does anything that is bottlenecked on a ssd.

that is true up to 90-something iirc, what actually suffers is Trimming, you still need those 20% free to play Tetris, according to what I read in recent years.

Tbh, iirc, 840 EVO suffered a lot when it neared near FULL; BUT DUE TO AN INFERIOR fIRMWARE BACK THEN ( oops capslock.

I try to keep mine below 80%, in my rig and servers with SSD. If they go above 80% we order additional SSD's, just did so actually, for a hell of money.