Hi,

I am in desperate need of some help and advice. I currently use P3DV4.5 on the same PC I have had for a few years now and run it with quite low settings. With UK2000 Heathrow and Active Sky in the QW787 I am only achieving around 15-25fps. Now, all I am looking for is an increase of around 10fps just so I am consistently hitting atleast 25fps - for me this would be fine. My question is is it worth me spending a couple hundred pounds to upgrade some components in my current PC, or would it be better to start fresh with a new motherboard....

PC Specs:
intel Core i5 3570K @ 3.4 GHz
Nvidia GeForce GTX650Ti 1GB GDDR5 Graphics Card
8GB Corsair Vengeance 1600MHz DDR3 CL10 RAM (1x 8GB)
P8H610MX USB3 Motherboard 1155 LGA

I have a few problems. Firstly, I am unable to overclock the processor due to the motherboard - can someone confirm this, I am only going off what I recall being told in the past. Secondly, due to the old 1155 LGA socket the only processor I could get that is 'better' and fits this socket is the i5 3770k @3.5 GHz - can someone also confirm this, maybe there are other processors that fit this socket that I don't know about - again I wouldn't be able to overclock this I don't think due to the motherboard. I do have another RAM slot so upgrading my RAM is a definite viable option. How about the GPU? Would I be able to get a better GPU that is compatible with my rig?

So in summary I believe the only improvements I could make would be to 1) upgrade the processor to the i5 3770k @3.5 GHz 2) upgrade the RAM (maybe Corsair Vengeance Pro 1866MHz 16GB - 2x 8GB) and 3) possibly upgrade the GPU (I haven't looked in to what GPU could fit my machine). As I have already said I am really only looking to improve my FPS by an average of 10fps, do you think these changes would actually achieve that improvement? Or given the 1155 LGA socket and the motherboard, would it be better to get a new motherboard that gives me more flexibility and compatibility with new i7 processors?

Any help, advice and guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Archie.

Start over.  Your system is too dated and cannot be functionally updated.  A newer video card would help such as a 1060 6GB

20 minutes ago, diajohn said:

Start over.  Your system is too dated and cannot be functionally updated.  A newer video card would help such as a 1060 6GB

+1

I am in the same boat. I have an older "office" pc that I have tuned somewhat, but it lacks overclock capability and is a very early generation of dual core processors. It currently has 2 g cards off which I can run 2 monitors, of which 1 is a projector and the other a large 32 in display, which runs the panel or just gps and or coms panel, and ATC. I have a newer pc, that has just died through I think inefficent cooling and over clocking, which did have triple head capability and was so so good for flight simming. Alas it is dead and needs replacing... I am currently running

I could upgrde the G card on the older machine, but this doesnt aid really with processor power. It has 8 gig of memory, which is never fully used, and its clear the botle neck is the processor, and the power suply, which cannot provide the additional power for a suitable G card. Be carefull if looking at upgrade G cards, that you have the power connectors to run it. Make sure you view the pictures and examin for the power connections, 6/4 or 8 pin on  the top or front edge.

I am curreently canvasing, a number of suppliers, and have found a couple of sources of entire new pcs' in the £300 to £400*(https://www.blackmoreit.com/)  region that give me that start in increasing fps and reliability, eg increasing traffic and weather visiuals.

MY goal will be £1200 to £1500 machine with the following spec minimum..

AMD X3700 Processor, Rog Strix Mobo, 500G PCIE hard drive for operating system and core programs, 2 TB SSHD for application and a 2 TB storage drive for storage., 32gig minimum memory, Watercooling for processor, 2060 super 6GB G vard RV ready or 1660TI, power supply to suit. I am not down with the RGB look....

I will be keeping the current pc to run additional panels or apps as required. 

I am expecting to be able to run with out issue, an of the current flight sim programs, and Driving sims, as mu set up duals as a road car set up. I am very keen on investin in FS2020, or moving to the stunning visuals of X PLane - prior to FS2020.

I think there are genuinly points where older pc's have done there day, but they are not entirely scrap... they will go on and serve a usefull purpose, but in terms of moving on and not looking back.. Be bold, be brave, dig deep, if you can.

 

Sorry, just a new user, but a keen and enthusiastic simmer....

 

 

 

 

I'll hop aboard with another vote to start fresh.  You'll be glad you did.

Hi, 

 

Thankyou all for your replies. I guess starting fresh is what I will have to do then. Out of interest, if I did improve the RAM and replaced the single 8GB stick with 2 8GB fast sticks and changed the processor to the i5 3770k 3.5GHz, do you think I would see any improvement? 

In terms of starting fresh I wouldn't really know where to start. Could anyone shed any light on this or point me in the right direction? I'm sure there are some really useful articles about building a Flight Sim PC? 

Thanks, 

Archie. 

You would see about 10-20% improvement moving to a 3770k + fast RAM, more if you overclock.  

That being said, a brand new high-end PC built around an i9 9900k or 9900ks will show another 30% or more performance on top of your proposed upgrade, so if your budget allows for this option it will result in the most performance.  Expect to spend in the range of $1500-$2500 for a high-end PC for flight sim, more if you buy from a builder rather than DIY, more yet if you want to get into water cooling.  

As for where to start, are you comfortable assembling a PC yourself?  What is your budget?

Okay that is worth considering as like I said I am only really looking to gain another 10fps or so on average, so that might just do it. 

 

I would be happy to assemble a new PC with the help of various Youtube videos. Budget is something I need to start thinking about, I haven't really got a number in mind at the moment. The addons I run are Ezdok, Active Sky, GSX, various airport sceneries (UK2000, FlyTampa, Flightbeam etc) and various payware aircraft (PMDG, Aerosoft Airbus, QW 787) - I don't use Orbx and have had my flight sim settings on very low for many years now and I am used to this, so I don't think I need a top of the range PC. Something in between what I have now and a high end PC would probably do the job? 

 

Archie.

42 minutes ago, ArchieB said:

Okay that is worth considering as like I said I am only really looking to gain another 10fps or so on average, so that might just do it. 

 

I would be happy to assemble a new PC with the help of various Youtube videos. Budget is something I need to start thinking about, I haven't really got a number in mind at the moment. The addons I run are Ezdok, Active Sky, GSX, various airport sceneries (UK2000, FlyTampa, Flightbeam etc) and various payware aircraft (PMDG, Aerosoft Airbus, QW 787) - I don't use Orbx and have had my flight sim settings on very low for many years now and I am used to this, so I don't think I need a top of the range PC. Something in between what I have now and a high end PC would probably do the job? 

 

Archie.

10-20% more performance may get you another 10 FPS in the air (when you don't need it) but it's not going to get you to 30 FPS near a busy airport with any of the add-ons you listed.  I know, I used to run a 3770k overclocked to 4.9GHz and in the worst case scenario, FPS was in the low teens.  

Okay, thankyou for the response and insight. It sounds like it wouldn't be worth upgrading my current PC and instead start again with a new motherboard and modern kit. What sort of specs do you think I would need to achieve around 30fps on the ground at a payware scenery airport, in a payware aircraft with GSX, Active Sky, Ezdok running and while connected to VATSIM? 

 

Many Thanks,

Archie.

Honestly just upgrading the video card would be helpful.  I had a 2500K and had a GTX 970 originally a 570 and that was a huge help.  Now I've got a used 1080 ti - and that was even more helpful.

You could consider a RTX 2070 super....not cheap but a massive upgrade from your current card.

But overall my impression would be to get a whole new build.

If you look at my siggie I'm in the same boat as you and I would absolutely start over. In fact I was about to start bashing the old CC when the MSFS2020 announcement was posted and I have decided to wait a bit longer until more details are available. But, yeah, our machines are definitely incapable of handling the newer stuff.

Cheers.

1 hour ago, speedyTC said:

If you look at my siggie I'm in the same boat as you and I would absolutely start over. In fact I was about to start bashing the old CC when the MSFS2020 announcement was posted and I have decided to wait a bit longer until more details are available. But, yeah, our machines are definitely incapable of handling the newer stuff.

Cheers.

If by newer stuff you mean the upcoming FS...maybe.  But your machine with a newer video card would do very well with P3D v4.5 and or XP11 and DCS.

41 minutes ago, ryanbatcund said:

If by newer stuff you mean the upcoming FS...maybe.  But your machine with a newer video card would do very well with P3D v4.5 and or XP11 and DCS.

G'day Ryan,

Interesting. I'm about to "upgrade" my memory from the measly 600MHz I'm running now to a couple of 1600MHz modules. If you reckon that a new GPU (I had the 2070 Super in mind when planning my new machine) would enable me to run P3Dv4.x decently I would give it very serious thought as the new FS is still about a year away plus I could transplant the GPU into the new machine when it eventually materializes.

Cheers!

@ArchieB

Hi

First of all, your computer does not meet the minimum requirements of P3Dv4.5, this requires at least a 2GB graphics card, your gtx650Ti only has 1GB, on the other hand, the more ''active'' add ons you add to your simulator, you wil get worse performance, moreover, the QW 787 is famous for not having good performance. Two important reasons why you have low fps

System Requirements – Prepar3D v4

https://www.prepar3d.com/system-requirements/

Maybe if you get an cheap GTX1050Ti 4Gb / GTX1050 2Gb / GTX1060 3Gb or GTX1650 4Gb your fps may improve with low-medium settings (30 fps/1024 textures /1080p @60Hz), but using the QW787 I cannot assure you for sure.

Maybe you get a better result by getting the new GTX1660 Super, with a performance equivalent to GTX1070 or GTX1660ti, be careful, it could require a new PSU, in this case 450W

 

https://videocardz.com/nvidia/geforce-16/geforce-gtx-1660-super

 

You should use msi afterburner to monitor the characteristics of your pc while flying so you can detect performance problems. 

https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/msi-afterburner-beta-download.html

Never forget to read the hardware recommendations of the add ons,it is very important.

Sorry but I cannot find the characteristics of your motherboard, I guess it is from the asus brand but I do not find the characteristics, anyway, you were wrong to indicate `` i5 3770k '', in truth you wanted to say `` i7- 3770K '', this i7 has a better multi-core performance than the i5 but it has the same mononuclear performance, in my opinion, I think it is only worth it if this cpu has a very cheap price or is free, if not, it is not worth it.

Your cpu ''i5-3570K'': https://ark.intel.com/content/www/es/es/ark/products/65520/intel-core-i5-3570k-processor-6m-cache-up-to-3-80-ghz.html

''i7-3770K'': https://ark.intel.com/content/www/es/es/ark/products/65523/intel-core-i7-3770k-processor-8m-cache-up-to-3-90-ghz.html

CPUs Performance Comparison: https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/Intel-i5-3570K-vs-Intel-i7-3770K/828vs2

update the PC or get a new complete pc, in your case you would try to get a new better gpu and if it doesn't work, try to get a new complete PC. I leave several links that can help you mount a pc:

https://www.passmark.com/

https://pcpartpicker.com/

https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/

Regards

Brisafresca

Edited October 31, 20196 yr by E69_Brisafresca