Tell me about your gaming computer?

Thanks Retro for the input and advice of which direction I should take next for an upgrade. And yes... I also have the Razor Vespula Mouse Pad. I just didn't mention it in the list because it felt non-essential.

 

Ooooooooh computer porn, I love it. Retro, you're making me want to build another machine and I just finished my build only 4 months ago. There's pictures of our computers here - http://pcpartpicker.com/b/Km6hP6

 

Seriously, all this talk has got me looking as well, but I won't give in!!!! Even though my build is 3 years old (i7-2600k, Sandy Bridge), it's still quite capable in current games. I think I can hold out for another couple years, so I'll likely get Skylake or Cannonlake if it's available by then.

 

Pretty much any computer built within the last 3-4 years can still play almost every game, with the exception of Star Citizen.

This game is bringing systems to their knees and making them beg for mercy. I would honestly have zero reason to upgrade if I didn't play SC, their hasn't really been much graphical innovation PC wise in several years.

I blame consoles for ruining PC gaming, and Kickstarter, RG and Chris Roberts for reviving it. (the Watchdogs debacle is proof...)

 

You are correct, SC is slow on my system, but I'm guessing it's because the game hasn't yet been optimized. Plus, SC should be out around the same time as when I was expecting to build a new machine. Actually, it would be funny if SC slipped even further into 2016.

 

I personally don't think optimization is going to do much, lets face the facts.

There are 3-4 PC games that bring computers to their knees in 2014:

• Metro Last Light
• Watchdogs (with mods and ultra-textures)
• Crysis 3
• Star Citizen

(Honourable mention to Battlefield 4)

Now 2 of them are essentially using the same engine, Crysis and SC, however SC is using a highly tricked out custom version of the code, with PBR, ultra-textures, large-environments, the works (soon double precision) and the mantra around their office is "More Polly's!".

Even if the graphics speed gets optimized, let's be generous and say 5%-8% is the gameplay experience really going to be that much better on your older PC? I doubt it will make much difference, I'm betting the only people that are going to see real performance gains via optimization are AMD users that have Mantle support. (provided AMD can get their heads out of their @$$es)

Last I checked SC:AC was out now and until the end of time, people are playing now, and now half of the alpha-test community have multi-player access. (200,000 people!)

As soon as the SotA and SC Kickstarter campaigns went live I started a "New Computer Fund" in celebration of the revival of PC gaming, a second 'golden age' if you will.

$100 per pay-cheque, then I added my tax return, then I added some overtime money, then I got a promotion so $125 per pay. All the while thinking the same way as you I'll wait until SC-PU goes live then I'll treat myself to a new uber system.

Over a year went by and SC:AC was released, and I'm here having a horrible 20fps average experience while I'm sitting on a phat pile O' cash, it just didn't make sense, then the wife mentioned that the kids need a new computer for school, any excuse would have done it really, but when you get an indirect 'Yes' from the wife, for anything you take it.

I think if you wait until PU to get some good practice in you'll be at a serious disadvantage.

I used a little over half of my 'New Computer Fund' so far, but I'm still contributing to it (need to save up for one of those ultra-wide monitors I've been lusting after) and I've already decided I'll probably build a another new system when SC-PU goes live. (My kids should need and upgrade by then right? )

 

Yeah, I have SC:AC access as well, and I'm fine with whatever incremental gains they make until I get my new box. Plus, I have Elite as well and that runs smooth so that will satiate my space sim needs just fine

I don't mind not being an expert in SC -- there will always be someone that has more expertise and know-how than me. Heck, even for SotA I'm debating not even exploring the mainland until the story campaign is completed.

 

Elite runs amazing on my old (still current) system, but I have to admit I've stopped playing it as since as SC-AC came out, even with my crappy 20fps and low quality settings in SC-AC it is more fun than ED (IMHO) , it has a much higher learning curve (that I love) and every time I start to get board of it something new comes along...(new patch, new game mode, voice attack, new control-X-55, now I have MP access.)

But I get it, most people would (and possibly should) see building a new computer just to play one game (in alpha) as crazy...

I wonder how much hardware SC is going to sell in 2014 and 2015...

Also absolutely nothing wrong with waiting, Intel is bringing some big guns to the table end of 2014-and 2015, and next gen GPU's *should* probably be able to push a 4k gaming experience with 'just' dual crossfire\SLI.

I'll probably never be an expert, just not enough hours in the day, but I want to at least be able to practice efficiently and feel competitive up until (and after) the release of PU and if I decide to try multi-player (too afraid so far), current system just isn't cutting it.

I'll agree with this, to me the only reason to explore before the story is released is to try to find a nice plot of land...

 

New Computer Progress Report:

GPU: Finally decided...
I ordered the following: SAPPHIRE VAPOR-X R9 290X 4GB GDDR5 TRI-X (UEFI) (non-OC version sadly)

 

You're going to want to know where the best plots are during the Land Rush though.

 

Didn't we just say the same thing?!

Back on topic...I love computers!

 

How many frames can you run Zork at ? LOL

 

The rig I'm running Shroud of the Avatar on currently: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/86vBrH

CPU: AMD FX-4130 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 6670 2GB Video Card
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)

Except for the motherboard, CPU, case and OS, which I got for free with a Gamestop employee promotion, all of this was bought with my 2013 tax return. Hasn't given me problems yet, but my OS needs to be moved to the solid state drive at some point.

 

CPU: Intel i7-4790
M/B: Gig Z 97X Gaming 7
Ram: 16Gb Kington Hyper Genesis X Quad-DDR3 2133 mhz
HDD: WD 6 Terabyte (3x2) Red - helium filled hard drive
SSD: Intel 530 120 Gb
DVD: ASUS 24X
VGA: GTX 780 Ti Gb 3 Gb DDRS
PSU: Corsair rm1000
Case: Cosmos SE Cooler Motor
Monitor: Bena RL 2455 HM
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master 212 EVO

I just bought a monster computer... $2,700.00+ and still rising a bit for recording equipment ... my wallet hates me
I hope to get in game for the first time since R3!

I'm not very tech savvy... I'm a point and click guy... anyone see anything wrong with this set up?
I will be on Star Citizen as well and I'm headed into a more isolated place in Thailand some time next year... but I'm told they do have good internet out there, but maybe not the best.

Is anyone here tech savvy enough to tell me if that computer is OK
~Time Lord~

 

Mr Time Lord,

How are you?

That's a beast of a system, pretty close to what I build (except your video card is even more powerful, bastard! *shakes fist*)...what resolution do you play to play SC at?...actually it doesn't matter, the system you listed above will play SC at 2640x1440, very high quality without issue...solid 40-60+fps.

Minor nitpicks:
CPU: Intel i7-4790....make sure you get the "K" version i7-4790k
Would probably swap the WD Red drives for WD Black, unless you are you setting up a raid array then I'd keep the red. Black if it is straight storage.
Also I would suggest an EVGA branded GTX 780ti.
Do you plan on overclocking the system? if not low latency RAM is better than high speed, look for 1600mhz CL9 ram (Not applicable to AMD cpu's)

Even though the 780Ti is a much faster card, the close performance, larger amount of RAM, much lower price and proposed Mantel support for SC swayed me to a R9 290X GPU. (note: never get a 290x with a stock cooler unless you plan on removing it...)

However the 780ti is the fastest single GPU on the planet, so you can't go wrong, only in terms of value. I came so close to getting one...

Nice build, you're going to love it...

 

Thank you so much for your comments Retro toy make me feel allot better about my purchase

"It is a real hoot buying anything needing communication in Thailand and loads of funny mime time
"Time Lord Going Shopping in Thailand"

"Some funny things happened to me on the way to getting my computer"
Yes Retro, its very comforting to know that I made a good purchase here. That i7 whatever, is a "K". I was wondering if that squiggly script the salesman made after it was a "K" and now from talking here with you I realize it is hehe
I had been hunting the computer shops all around Chiang Mai and before I had been shopping the ones in Bangkok, but with little success in confidence of purchase. But while shopping here in Chiang Mai, many of the Thai salesmen kept referring to a small shop by way of pointing their fingers and saying things like "good, better computer that way!" because I was finding only the lowest in price range and capabilities.
I finally found the shop, and no one there spoke English past being very courteous, "which Thailand is well known for". The shop was packed full of top of the line equipment and when the old man there saw that I was looking at all his best with the specs I had gotten here from Sir Stile, the old man said "you wait for me please" and went running out of the shop. this place was so full of stuff, that there was very little room to walk through it without turning sideways walking down the small walk ways. Then I cam to a small open area, where the rest of his crew were eating their lunch and invited me to sit down on the very short small stools they were sitting on and join in the meal.
it wasn't long before the old man returned, along with a very red sleepy eyed younger man. He smiled while still wiping the sleep out of his eyes and asked me what I was looking for. I showed him Sir Stile's recommended specs and his eyes got very big and asked me what games I was planning on playing. I took out some articles with Richard Garriott's pictures on them and some from Star Citizen and began explaining. He told me had hadn't heard of either of these games but began looking on the internet there and found a Thai web site that had Richard's picture on it, as well as an article written in Thai. He was smiling from ear to ear when he finished and said, "wow, this is that guy from Lineage, that game is awesome" (his words). He then went on to explain that he plays Lineage 10 hours a day, works 8 hours a day and sleeps when he can. I told him about SotA and gave him some papers I had on it. he told me it was very hard for him to play games that required so much English to do the quests, so I told him that maybe some day it will have other languages as we do have many Germans now playing it in Alpha. To that he said "wow, alpha! you are playing a game in it's alpha?... do you ever get to see any of the developers while playing?" I said sure, I had taken a few drinks in one of the travers with Richard and Darkstarr..... Anyway.... His eyes got so wide and I don't think he could have had a smile on his face any wider. So, I asked him if price didn't matter, what would you buy as a gaming computer out of your shop here... He grabbed a pen and paper and went to work.
Meanwhile.... A friend of mine from my Thai language classes came in who does speak Thai well. He was there to talk to the old man, who turned out to be his computer professor from Chiang Mai University. I had used this friend of mine before to interpret some things between me and the Thai Military, so then me, my friend and the old man began talking about the old man's past career as a Air force Officer. The young man returned with his list and the prices on all of it and the old man took it from him, marked down many things, crossed out and replaced others and began marking down the price on almost everything. The young man then told me that they would be setting my computer up for me in my apartment next week and that he wanted to see what I was playing on it if I'd let him. I said sure... so my computer will be all set up and finished for a SotA and Star Citizen adventure with him sometime
All in all, I can say that today was not a bad outcome for a no tech mime shopper like me to have come out any better than it did. the younger man wants to know about all of it because he wants to show it to his internet club...
I guess the Time Lord may have his own Thai Army after all ... I doubt it, but if you see some player running around that doesn't speak English, just be polite to those players because he or his buddy may have sold me my computer and because I need to keep my tech guy here in Thailand happy
Thanks for the comments and reassurances again Retro !
~Time Lord~

 

Thank you so much for your comments Retro toy make me feel allot better about my purchase
That's suppose to say; Thank you so much for your comments Retro, you make me feel allot better about my purchase....
But I can edit because my cheap MSI CR650 lap top didn't load the Forums site well and I can't edit.... but also that my key board has been getting pounded so much from my one finger typing that it now has dyslexia as much as I do
Thanks Again Retro!
~Time Lord~

 

Always a better computer somewhere .

http://www.wired.com/2013/11/chines...nto-ranking-as-worlds-most-powerful-computer/

 

I second all that Retro says, well done TL!! (is ALSO jealous of the ti after your 780 )