re: PC Discussion - Gaming, Performance and Enthusiasts

quote:

---

Anyone doing the Battlefront?

---

I didnt order/buy because I knew i would be spending weeks on Fallout before even considering playing anything else.
Although I'm curious to see some input from those who have played it on PC because i wouldn't mind buying it if its good.

quote:

---

She does have performance 'pauses' that I attribute to Intel's inconsistent drivers. Using an AMD FX-4100

---

The integrated CPU wouldn't be Intel, though. The AMD CPU itself isn't gonna have integrated graphics, so she's using whatever the motherboard's onboard graphics card is. And it's probably pretty bad. What's the model of her mobo?

quote:

---

I'm concerned about the microATX board - are these double-size cards going to fit?

---

If there's a slot's worth of room below the x16 PCIe slot, it'll be fine. It's really all dependent on the case, as far as how big of a card will fit.

quote:

---

And any reason to get anything other than GT 730?

---

Well, RTS games are notorious for being CPU-bound. A new GPU may not do a thing for Starcraft 2. It would help if I knew her current settings, resolution, frame rate (highs and lows and average), and her CPU usage. A quick Google search brings me to this old test that Tom's Hardware did on Starcraft 2 using an Intel i7-920. Just based on a Passmark comparison, its single-threaded performance is nearly identical to the FX-4100. Here's how the CPU fared with a bunch of different GPUs: LINK






I don't think I've ever seen a CPU bottleneck more obvious. GPU performance hardly came into play even when resolutions increased dramatically, and really only mattered when testing the bottom of the barrel shite cards at high resolutions. I'm sure a disparity would start to show when increasing graphics settings, but it seems pretty clear that the CPU might need to be dealt with first.

Try to find out what that onboard GPU is. If it's particularly shitty, a 730 might help. However, the GTX 750 is probably twice as fast. Or even faster. I don't know. The cards are difficult to compare without identical benchmarking because they aren't even in the same league. The 730 uses DDR3, 750 uses DDR5. Twice as many ROPs, shaders, texture mapping units, memory bus, etc. The difference is significant, IF the CPU isn't bottlenecking.

quote:

---

The integrated CPU wouldn't be Intel, though.

---

Yeah - I kind of had a brain cramp there. I'm dealing with some minor driver issues with my new build. By the time I get it sorted out, I'll have a GPU.

It's a Radeon HD 4250 on ASUS M5A88-M

quote:

---

If there's a slot's worth of room below the x16 PCIe slot, it'll be fine.

---

Yeah - I was worrying over nothing - there is a big gap on the motherboard. I have it in a mid tower case.

quote:

---

I don't think I've ever seen a CPU bottleneck more obvious.

---

I agree. I may have to tweak her drivers as well, just to see if the routine stuff gets better. I've tried the normal software settings and I can't even replicate her errors consistently - although I have seen it an experienced it myself on her machine. It actually plays what I consider low-to-moderate demand games fairly well - Starcraft 2, Sims 3 - but not at high settings.

quote:

---

If it's particularly shitty, a 730 might help. However, the GTX 750 is probably twice as fast.

---

Yeah - and the machine isn't worth overdoing - I'm just trying to get another 3 years out of it. I figure I just dumped ~$2500 into a new computer for me - least I can do is try to help out with hers.

quote:

---

Hey guys, it's been awhile. I seem to have some issues with my 2 year old PC. When I turn it on, there's nothing displayed. When I turned it on earlier, it booted fine and stayed on the sign in screen for about 30 seconds then went blank. So, I shut it off and turned it back on and started the automatic repair. It locked up so I shut it off again. No it doesn't do anything. The tower turns on and fans are spinning but nothing.

My specs are...
GPU - 7870
CPU - FX8320
M/B - ASRock 990FX Extreme 3
RAM - GSkill F3-1866-8GAB

PLEASE HELP!!!

---

Could be one of many things. Start by disconnecting anything that isn't required for the PC to run and display video (which, in your case, may just be disconnecting drives and leaving all but one stick of RAM. Clear CMOS on your motherboard as well. Try individual sticks of RAM one at a time. Try a different power strip or surge protector or outlet. Check your CPU temperature in the bios if you manage to get it to boot again. Make sure PSU and CPU fans are spinning. Make sure monitor cable is securely attached to video card and the monitor itself.

If none of the above tests produce any results, you'll have to start swapping out parts (order from Amazon and return, or whatever). I'd start with the motherboard.

Just wait for the bill.

You removed components and then reseated them which appeared to resolve the issue, so a loose connection is a possibility. What was the weird hiccup?

quote:

---

I was watching you tube and the screen froze. Then it went black

---

How hot is the GPU running?

Master race opinion on the new fallout?

I need a new laptop for work and I will be traveling a bit more after the 1st of the year. This seems like a pretty good deal compared to what I have seen

Total Memory Size 16GB
Memory Type DDR4
Maximum Memory Supported 32GB
Screen Size 17.3"
Maximum Resolution 1920 x 1080
Processor Class Core i7 6700HQ Quad-Core 2.6GHz
Processor Type Quad-Core
Operating Systems Windows 10 Home 64-bit
HDD Capacity 1TB
GPU/VPU NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 4GB
Optical Drive Blu-Ray Burner

for $1100

Thoughts?