Hi, I'm on a (tight) budget currently and need to get a GPU that works well with PR, high to highest settings would be good. Which GPU is good enough to do the job? Any recommendations?
As for the CPU, I heard that AMD gives you more bang for the buck when you're on a budget, or is Intel the better choice? I read that PR runs on one core only, so the CPU doesn't have to have more cores than necessary. I would only play PR and older games (Jedi Knight, Half Life 2 Mods etc).
A CPU recommendation would be extremely nice too
Thanks!!
Last edited by carmikaze on 2015-10-17 13:48, edited 7 times in total.
Buy a Pentium G3258 and overclock it.
GPU (almost) doesn't matter for PR. I recommend a 260x/750ti if you are on a budget. They are on par with the current consoles.
Get the best CPU you can get. I was maxing out PR back in 2008 with SLI 8800GT cards. But it wasn't until I got an Intel i7 4790k last year that I could really get great performance from PR.
Yeah, I use Athlon II X2 250 @ 3Ghz for quite some time on an old Am2+ mainboard ( with latest BIOS upgrade which alows the use of some AM3 processors up to 95W of TDP ) and PR runs fine on it. I used to have an Nvidia GTS450 with 512MB of GDDR5 but I replaced that with HD6950 and 2GB of GDDR5 just because most new games cant be run anymore with 512MB of VRAM.
Since I dont suggest getting an old AM3 platform CPU ( and if I did I would point at Phenom series ) but seriosly any CPU no matter the brand, model and make which can attain high clock rates ( which requires a quality mainboard and RAM in case of serious OC ) would do, so that Intel G would do.
As for GPU GT8800 from Nvidia would do the job, but better get a modern one, as this one is way too old, you would have to get a used one, and who knows how good is that, right.... So a GTS450 with 1GB of GDDR5 would do I guess. Anything newer requires more cash.
PS: I doubt you can achieve what you want with a budget of 100 dollahs. Perhaps something used? Are we talking about just CPU and GPU for that 100 mark?
Last edited by MaSSive on 2015-10-17 15:24, edited 3 times in total.
CATA4TW!
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PLODDITHANLEY wrote:Wouldn't a GT740 be fine for PR? I personally think the GDDR5 version GT730 would be enough.
GT740 in that case, because GT730 comes in 128bit version with GDDR3 VRAM and GDDR5 are 64bit while GT740 is GDDR5 ( one being GDDR3 - avoid that ) and all are 128bit.
I would not recommend GDDR3 and 64bit bus graphic cards. Its more for a HTPC and really not for gaming.
Of course these are referent models, but I doubt others are any different.
If I am to pick between the new G3258 and used i5-2500k I would go for the later, while being careful where I am buying, because people tend to push these processors over the limits and it reduces its lifespan and damages it. You can get a used 2500/2550k from ebay for under 100 dollars.
In case of going this route I would talk to Ploddithanley as he has the very same build that he got used I believe from overclockers.co.uk apart from his graphics which you probably dont need ( GTX970 Strix )
Last edited by MaSSive on 2015-10-19 23:26, edited 4 times in total.
CATA4TW!
"People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt."
"God has a special providence for fools, drunks, and the United States of America." ― Otto von Bismarck
Bought mine used of an ebay guy for 150 euro with an asus P8Z68 - It is such a strong OC chip easily running at 4.5 for years and years - if cooled properly.
I felt I was taking a risk with the mobo, but it was and is fine - but I had checked new availability just in case.
I would definitely recommend this as a cheap gaming route - plus a big cooler (I got a 212 evo). I went for a high spec 970 card which I enjoy on Euro Truck Sim and my kid on batman but if was on a tighter budget I think a GT740, GTX750 or even a GTX950 would make most players very happy.
I also got an SSD which is a pleasure for PR loading times and general responsiveness of the system.
DesmoLocke wrote:Get the best CPU you can get. I was maxing out PR back in 2008 with SLI 8800GT cards. But it wasn't until I got an Intel i7 4790k last year that I could really get great performance from PR.
He is talking about "tight budget" and you recommend a 4790k/6700k...
Also, the PassMark Single Thread Performance List is for stock/non overclocked CPUs. Any Haswell based CPU will have the same single thread performance when on the same clock speed. Only the L2 cache makes a small difference.
@OP: Please tell us your total budget and the country you live in. (Hardware prices differ wildly depending on where you live) Otherwise everything here is and will be just guesswork.
This CPU about as good as FX 8350, besides overheating... and power consumption... But it costs twice times cheaper!
But G3258 is obviously better since it's a single core performance monster for the price.
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