Oppo Computer Nerds, Help.

"Katsumoto" (katsumoto) 08/20/2015 at 09:54 • Filed to: None

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I have a computer that I game with and run my business off of. I bring it to the office, home and friends.

Specs

i5 2500k no OC

EVGA Z68 SLI Mobo

Corsair dominator 2x4gb Ram 8 total, its the all black ones from 2011 timeframe.

Evga 670 FTW 2GB in SLI.

Corsair 850tx not modular psu

I’m tired of it being slow and having low settings to game with. It works fine for my business stuff.

Just seeing if its worth it to upgrade to relevant again, with the current cpu, Mobo and gpu market.

I’d be willing to spend 1200 if I got a modular psu, I’m keeping my case which is a Cooler master storm scout I think. Its got the handle on top. I have 1 tb hdd for the OS,games and personal stuff. Another 1tb for business files.

Let me know. I havemonitors capable of better than1080p but don’t use them for beyond that.

Edit: I don’t have low fps, I’m tired of playing games on low settings within the game itself.

Sorry it it came out that way. Just trying to get the best bang for my buck in my computer.

FazeRacer > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 10:02

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There’s probably nothing wrong with your cpu, or motherboard, so keep them. You’ll want at least 16 gb of ram, maybe even more. Then throw out those gpus and get 2 970s (I’ve seen them for $400 each recently). Your current psu will probably work as long as it has enough connectors to support the hardware you need, if not make sure to get at least a 850W psu, NO LESS. Getting an SSD for your OS and applications would also speed up the computer, but this may be out of your budget.

extraspecialbitter > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 10:04

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You need SSD. It is a complete and total gamechanger.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 10:07

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Those are pretty decent specs, if you’re SLI-ing two GTX670’s, it shouldnt be running on low.

I run a single GTX560 that handles medium settings at 2048x1152 at 40-60 FPS in most games.

boxrocket > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 10:17

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That is a healthy budget. Replace all the guts and there’s still money leftover.

If you want to recoup some of your losses with the old parts, I do buy used components.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 10:34

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Your best bet is grabbing a 500gb ssd and maybe a GTX970, with those two changes your computer will feel way faster. You should also be able to OC your CPU if you have a half decent cooler, most Z68 boards had an auto OC function.

My stat’s are similar to yours (2500k, GTX770 2GB, 120GB ssd, 16gb 1600MHz ram) and while I don’t have maxed settings I think they look very good. I use the geforce experience recommended settings.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > FazeRacer 08/20/2015 at 10:38

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I would say an SSD and even just one 970 would make the biggest difference.

SDKR > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 10:51

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As people are saying, get an SSD it really makes a difference in startup / loading times.

If games run slow aka with low FPS, you have a driver or hardware problem. Two 670’s are plenty for modern games in 1080p, unless you abolutely want Ultra graphics and 8x Anti-Aliaising. What games do you run with low settings?

Also the 2500K is a fantastic overcloker, if you want some more CPU power. But very few games games need a fast CPU.

JGrabowMSt > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 11:22

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i5 2500k isn’t much for gaming. Decently fast CPU about 4 years ago, today, not so much for gaming.

Dual video cards? Nice touch, I would keep those for another year or so, then pick up a GTX 9xx series for cheap when the prices drop.

For $1200 you could build a whole new machine and rebuild.

Get a new CPU, Motherboard, RAM and re-use the GPUs and PSU. It’s not modular? Neither is mine, and my machine was well into the $3k budget. Modular is nice, but wouldn’t work for me anyway. Toss a good SSD into the mix and you’re in business. Use like a 480gb SSD for the OS and apps, use the 1tb for data storage, and pick yourself up a good external drive for a weekly backup (if you don’t, Murphy will be knocking at your door soon).

Too much good hardware in there to want to replace things that are insignificant. Modular PSUs don’t make your computer faster. Your GPUs in SLI are nothing to scoff at. The RAM probably should be replaced along with being upgraded to 16gb.

Also, why run your business off the same machine you game on? Recipe for disaster.

Katsumoto > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 08/20/2015 at 11:30

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They’re the 670 FTWs from EVGA. I got one, then my buddy used a coupon that came with mine to get his. He got a 970 and I’m using his 670 til I go 970.

Katsumoto > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. 08/20/2015 at 11:37

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I have no need for an ssd. Most of the time I’m gaming im drinking anyway so I don’t notice its slow.

As far as 2 970s I’m not trying to go super high specs or high fps. I built this thing in the summer of 2011 aside from the 670s for 1200 bucks. That’s everything for a desktop the monitors and all. Its been a budget rig and eventually it’ll just be an office computer.

My friends suggested tthat I just go itx, get a 970 and use it that way. Since I carry it around alot. I won an itx board a while ago, it works with my current 2500k, get a case that works with a full gpu and psu and be done.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 11:47

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You say that, but you don’t know what you are missing until it’s gone, namely the speed at which it boots and shuts down. I would say your upgrade path (if you plan on using that board) should be as follows:

Short Term:

CPU cooler and mild overclock (4-4.5 GHz is super easy)

1 GTX 970

SSD (at least a 120 gb one, those things are dirt cheap and will hold up to the rigors of transport better)

Long Term:

new board and CPU (4690k or 4770k)

500gb SSD

Two more sticks of ram (2x4)

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > JGrabowMSt 08/20/2015 at 11:52

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A stock 2500k isn’t amazing anymore, but it is pretty easy to get it up to 4.5GHz on air, which is nearly par effective speed as a new i5.

JGrabowMSt > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. 08/20/2015 at 11:59

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Knowing that the machine has been gamed on for this long, possibly with the stock cooler, I’m not sure I would venture into overclocking at this point. The risk vs reward is very narrow, especially considering the cost of a new i7 and motherboard combo.

Plus, GHz don’t really tell the whole story, and when you overclock, you can’t up the QPI any further than the CPU’s limit, where the new i7 would shine.

I’m not saying the new CPU has to be an i7 4960k, but there will be a significant boost in power from a new CPU alone, but my bigger concern is the slowness, possibly caused by bad RAM.

Katsumoto > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. 08/20/2015 at 12:00

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I have a zalman csnx11 cooler on it. Its been to 4.5 on air and was there for a year. Til it broke a speaker plug in off in the Mobo. Just haven’t cared to reclock it since.

Its been a good computer for me for these last 4years. I was thinking of picking up an optiplex or something for the office. They’re about 125 at an auction. Then it wouldnt be toted around as much.

My drivers have laptops that they file expenses on. Then the “cloud” updates my files. I just bring it to the office to play music, do some work and some gaming since my office internet is free thru the landlord. He uses the one side I use the other, I pay my rent and that’s it.

All the utilities and shit is paid thru the rent. I’ve had my truck at the house occasionally and the police complained about it.

I’ll justpick up a new 970 and see what it does. Ever since my remodel I can’t find my windows license, so I don’t know what to do about the license if I got an ssd.

SDKR > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 12:10

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A single GTX 970 will not fix your low Fps problems, unless you are running out of Vram. You can find your Windows license with software, just google for guides.

Here is a benchmark done with an old Intel i7 965 Extreme ES, and 6 gigs of ram. As you can see, two 660Ti cards are about as fast as a single mildly overclocked GTX 970.
Edit: The 660Ti is slightly slower than a 670.

Katsumoto > SDKR 08/20/2015 at 12:19

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I don’t have low fps problems, I’m tired of gaming onlow settings within the game itself.

My fps is fine, it always has been. Sorry if it came out that way.

I don’t OC my graphics cards, only the cpu. I’d rather buy a better video card than buy a low range one then over clock it and deal with the RMA process.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 12:27

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What I was saying was, there’s got to be a driver issue or something with the OS, because I have no issues and run on medium settings, and i have specs similar to yours, apart from the graphics.

SDKR > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 12:37

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I understand, but what games do you have to run on low settings with two 670?
As you can see an older, slower system can run BattleField 4 on Ultra settings in 2560 x 1440 resolution.
The GTX 970 cards in this test are only factory overclocked, like your EVGA 670 FTW is.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 12:45

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you should be able to phone them and get a code

Katsumoto > SDKR 08/20/2015 at 12:51

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I play ark, gta 5 and Arma 3. Mostly.

I’m running the current driver for them. The 355 something.

My other issue usually is heat. Sometimes even with central air at my house I turn on the window ac to stay at 70 or lower. If not I run about 78.

I have 2 fans in front pulling air in, one on the cpu cooler. one behind it and above it pulling air out. 3 pulling 3 pushing.

Then one in front of the psu pulling air in front the bottom. All the fans are the typhoon orwhatever they’re called.

Katsumoto > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. 08/20/2015 at 12:54

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That would mean talking to someone who barely speaks English as it is.

I don’t feel like talking to MS Support.

SDKR > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 13:44

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Ark (Survival Evolved im assuming) dosen’t support SLI, so you are only running on one 670. Also it is horribly optimized, and in early access. Last time i heard about it, even people with 980 and Titan X cards had to turn details way down.

GTA 5 should run fine on high in 1080p. You do need 4 GB Vram or more to run it higher settings and resolution. Also you may have a SLI bug that some are affected by, check the steam forums ot google for more on Rockstars performance issues. Or just try to turn SLI off and see if it runs better.

I don’t know anything about Arma 3.

78 degrees is pretty normal with stock coolers, especially in SLI. Don’t worry before you hit 85, also the card shuts down by itself at 97 per Nvidia spec sheet.
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/deskt…

Katsumoto > SDKR 08/20/2015 at 13:52

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Aside from here recently, I’ve ran at 55 to 62for temps.

I’m not affected by the SLI bug. I’ve tried that troubleshooting utt.

Arma problem is, the altis map. Its so huge you have to watch your view distance. Limit your load distance to 1km around you(unless you fly).

My computer runs fine, just trying to get more out of it before its completly obsolete.

SDKR > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 14:26

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Sounds like you are running out of Vram in arma then. Again i don’t know really know the game though.

Anyway you won’t get much extra performance from a GTX 970, apart from 1.5 / 2 GB extra Vram, which may be your problem in Arma.
Personally i would wait for the next generation of video cards, and upgrade there, unless you really just want some new gear. Also overclock your CPU at that point, as previously stated the 2500K is still fast for gaming.
My CPU is from 2010, and it still runs everything just fine, most people change CPU’s for no good reason. Games run mostly on the graphics card.

If you want a significant performance boost now, options are two 970, a 980Ti, or bigger AMD cards in CrossFire (don’t buy a AMD Fury X, the 980Ti is better). None of these options are cheap.

Katsumoto > SDKR 08/20/2015 at 18:02

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Thats been Arma’s problem for a while. It’s due to the maps extreme size.

Measuring from the furthest points diagonally it’s like 25-30km. Which would take about 30-45 mins in a vehicle from that game. Then adding player built structures, game structures and the terrain. ALOT of people have an issue with that map, regardless of system spec.

A couple friends who know my computer and how it runs certain games, recommended just a 970 for now. Then an eventual upgrade to a new CPU/mobo. I picked up a friends old PSU from him, he went with a bigger one for his computer which is built for encoding and video editing. Now I get to rip apart my computer this weekend and put in a modular PSU.

SDKR > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 19:55

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The PSU upgrade isn’t really needed, as the 970 uses less power than a 670. Also very big PSU’s on smaller systems increase power usage in idle. Link for example on a efficiency graph:
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/SuperF…

Hmm okay games that allow player mods are usually very demanding, as mods often are poorly optimized, unless the buildings are made in game. But big games like that, often need tons of ram. Again i really don’t know anything about arma.

Anyway so long as you don’t expect more Fps under 2 GB Vram usage, the 970 is an excellent card, and you can always add another one.
I’ve tested models from Asus, Gigabyte and MSI, my favorites are:
http://us.msi.com/product/vga/GT…
For being most quiet under load.

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/produ…
For being the fastest on factroy clockspeed.

But there are many good cards, and if you don’t care about noise or factory overclock, a reference cooler card is fine.

Oh and a bit of benchmarks showing that the 2500K overclocked, can follow the newer 4670K. However i don’t know how it compares to the brand new 6600K.

http://www.ocaholic.ch/modules/smarts…

Katsumoto > SDKR 08/20/2015 at 20:57

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The PSU is more of a side grade. I get modular but keep the same 850w I’ve always had. I love the look of a nice and neat case. A mod PSU gives me that. I’ve had this rat nest of extra wires at the bottom of my case and it’s finally going away.

I’ve talked with my friend and he’s going to OC my CPU to see if it can go back to 4.5 again like it did when it was new. I’ve had good luck with EVGA and their RMA process, I can’t complain with them. So I’ll end up with one of their 970’s more than likely. Probably picking up a top end air cooled 970 off them.

I’ve been looking at cases today, with this mod psu, a mini ITX case is going to work even better.

As far as Arma, yea alot of the mods use in game structures and items in a different way than the game does. There’s a mod that lets you essentially play twisted metal. You take some in game car, take in game walls, fences, concrete barriers and attach it ot the car. Add some guns, which are basically in game turrets and go blow up the other guys.

Arma’s problem is it’s limited to 2 cores, and if it enabled all the cores it would work better. It uses 2 cores, then the RAM, and the GPU is working to load details like grass, HD leaves and such. I always turn down the grass and tree details because I don’t need to see each individual blade of grass and each leaf on a tree. Arma works fine, its just CPU limited.

I’ll end up with some ITX case because carrying around this 65 lb computer is getting old. If I don’t end up buying a computer specifically for the purpose of work, then remote login into it when I need files.

SDKR > Katsumoto 08/20/2015 at 23:39

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If it is limited to two cores, overclocking the CPU might help.
EVGA cards are great so go ahead, they just don’t sell well in Europe / Denmark, so we don’t test them. I have overvolted and overclocked one double of what is normally possible, and it still works :-P . Also their build quality is generally higher than other manufacturers.
This is only possible with not publicly accessible software, or bios modding so do not try at home. In general though it’s very hard to kill hardware by overclocking, it will shut down before damage is done, and overclocking software won’t let you overvolt a card enough to kill it.

A few years ago, i saw some smaller cases with a handle / grip (not sure what the correct word is) on top of the case, this might be useful for your application. Can’t remember the manufacturer though.

Katsumoto > SDKR 08/21/2015 at 10:20

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Yea, I don’t see alot of EVGA’s products for sale like other companies at computer shops. It’s like they’d rather let it sit and not be sold than to whore it out to everyone to make a sale. Which is probably better. I mean, they even say in their warranty they’ll know youll overclock it and its ok if you return it after you done so.

I’ve been looking at the different plastic or aluminum cases for my build. I figure theyll shed some weight over this steel case I have now. Which probably adds to the weight overall big time.