Graphics card

[chris higgin]

Looking for some advice, I am running an almost 5 year old machine with a Nvidea 660GTX card, Intel Sandy bridge i5 2500cpu, 8gbmemory. Train simulator runs on a 500gb Samsung evo ssd which is used only for TS13-17. Most settings are maxed out with the exception of shadows and frame rates pegged at 34fps, and seems to run well especially since transferring TS to the ssd. (Big improvement from installing ssd ,not only frame rates but general smoothness)[/u]
I am thinking of replacing the graphics card in the near future and would ideally like another Nvidea card without going over the top price-wise.
Would appreciate any thoughts on this from anybody who has bought replacement cards recently.

Thanks Chris H

[acfreeman99]

Hi Chris,

I am sure you will get many different answers to this question In general my advice would be to buy the best card, with the most onboard storage, that you can afford - I use to have an Nvidia 960 card, that worked fine with all settings maxed out but it struggled with other games such as GTA V. I have recently treated myself to a new rig which has a GTX1060 with 6MB of storage ( you can buy them with less storage ), TS2017 runs smooth as silk with everything maxed out.....as does GTA V, so depending on what you want to do with your rig I would recommend a GTX1060 - in the UK you can get one for around £250.

Andy

[gptech]

I wouldn't bother going higher than a 970 (you can pick them up dirt cheap now the 10 series is here) as anything else just wouldn't be used to it's full potential by a Sandy Bridge CPU, but why the need to upgrade the card if it's giving good results?
Unless there's a dire need for a new GPU you'd be better off saving the money and thinking about a newer machine, or at least a workable upgrade path for over the next 18 months- 2years.

I have recently treated myself to a new rig which has a GTX1060 with 6MB of storage

Great GPU, but what else is in the new PC?---the 1060 hasn't made the difference all on it's own.

[acfreeman99]

I have recently treated myself to a new rig which has a GTX1060 with 6MB of storage

Great GPU, but what else is in the new PC?---the 1060 hasn't made the difference all on it's own.

Intel Core i7-7700K CPU @4.2Ghz - my previous CPU was 3.8Ghz, if I remember correctly, but was overclocked to 4.2 Ghz.....the new one is not overclocked but otherwise not any faster than the old one, on paper. I'm not technical enough to know what goes on "under the bonnet" but the new processor probably has some additional bells and whistles,,,,,,,,,either way, it is great to be able to play GTA V with high graphics quality and no freezes.......now, if only I could learn to shoot more accurately

Andy

[gptech]

I'm not technical enough to know what goes on "under the bonnet" but the new processor probably has some additional bells and whistles

Not only that but the motherboard it sits in, and the memory it uses will bring benefits--more than enough to make the direct comparison of the GPUs largely redundant. The 1060 is slightly more powerful/efficient than a 960, on paper giving the same benchmark results as a 970 but in TS you'd hardly notice unless you were playing at a high resolution with a high amount of AA applied. Coupled with an i5 2500 it wouldn't be a noticeable/worthwhile investment, as you've already intimated...

I use to have an Nvidia 960 card, that worked fine with all settings maxed out but it struggled with other games such as GTA V.

[peterfhayes]

One of the benefits of updating the card in a SB rig will relate to the monitor resolution.
The more modern cards 9xx series onwards have more VRAM and bandwidth to drive higher monitor resolutions.
With the OP's rig - not sure if it is "overclockable" (my i7 2500K OC'd to 4.2GHz) a GTX960 with say 4GB VRAM would give good results.
If however, the monitor is say "low" resolution then changing the card will do very little.
TS2017 like many games requires a balanced system of ALL components not just one or two.
pH

[gptech]

Just to carry on from Peter's post about monitors---the 1060 doesn't support DVI to VGA conversion via an adaptor, so if you have an older monitor without DVI or HDMI connections you're stuck. Unlikely I know in this day and age, but still a factor.
As Peter wrote, a balanced system is the aim, gone are the days of being able to concentrate on just single components.

[Thomas887]

I also have the 1060. Great card... my TS never crashes before 3,6 GB now. As some of you might know, crashes have become a huge issue on the latest detailed german routes with all the nice VR stock.
Allthough I can not really enjoy my new GPU duo to having a week CPU in my set-up. Really tought me a lesson about how CPU hungry TS actually is....anyone got some advice if there is a good amd cpu out there, that is not ryzen? Can´t be bothered to buy a new mainboard right now...

[gptech]

anyone got some advice if there is a good amd cpu out there, that is not ryzen? Can´t be bothered to buy a new mainboard right now...

What motherboard do you have?....

[ttjph]

Chris,

A quick check before you spend Monday: what sort of GPU utilisation are you seeing in-game? If it's always well below 100%, and your settings are as maxed as you want, there may be little benefit (essentially what Gary and Peter have said).

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

[ttjph]

anyone got some advice if there is a good amd cpu out there, that is not ryzen? Can´t be bothered to buy a new mainboard right now...

What motherboard do you have?....

And what CPU do you currently have?

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

[chris higgin]

Thank you all for your opinions and advice re Graphics cards, to be fair although getting on for five years old, the PC runs well, as stated putting in a ssd has helped.
My PC is a Chillblast machine and originally when delivered was running overclocked at 4.2 although I have stepped this back.
I think on reflection I may go for a motherboard /cpu bundle i5 or i7 plus memory and at the same time go for a new graphics card, thanks again for your input it has been helpful.

Chris H

[gptech]

Something along these lines Chris?....https://www.cclonline.com/product/21995 ... T-GAMER-A/

Don't forget that todays i3 CPUs will deliver the *punch* your i5 does/did, so unless you have a great (other) need for an i7 an i5 is more than capable.

[chris higgin]

Thanks for that, just the kind of package I would be looking for I have been really pleased with my present set up, but I think over the next few months I will be looking to upgrade. As I said going over to ssd for the operating system and a separate one for TS really gave a boost to the PC, I know that not all will agree but on my machine it worked for me. Kept the original drives for storage and photos etc.
Cheers. Chris H

[gptech]

There are loads of packs like that available from many retailers, and most will accommodate a change or two if there's a specific item you'd prefer, at a fee of course but in the case of CCL it's just nominal.
Having the OS and applications on separate physical drives has long been recognised as something that will give performance benefits, and now that SSDs have fallen in price and grown in capacity they're a viable option for most.