Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

[Aeni]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

Ah i see what you mean ... I just understood things in the way of limitations "overall" and not at the "local" level. I think that a quad i5 is pretty good as far as I can tell .. even my Q9400 is not as good but I will see more of an improvement from my HD 4670 to a GTX 460 than I would if I went from a Q9400 to, say, an i7 2.66 GHz.

[Bricklayer]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

The way you can tell if you are getting bottlenecked by CPU is if your score is almost the same in both high and low rez. You are suppose to see marked decrease in score going from low rez to high as that is the nature of graphics. That's where you're hitting graphic memory bandwidth bottleneck. You get higher score either by getting a better card or increasing bandwidth through XFire/SLI setups. People are saying they don't see any difference in performance from going from Quad to Hexacore so that means that CPU isn't the bottleneck after a certain point.

I think we are essentially in agreement, but maybe with a difference in definitions. Maybe you could consider what I was calling a "bottleneck" as a local bottleneck (as opposed to a global bottleneck). What I was trying to say is, at low resolution, I could get increases in score by increasing my CPU speed, hence the CPU was the bottleneck (at low resolution). By improving my CPU (increasing its operating frequency), I could get better performance locally in the low-res benchmark.

At high resolution, regardless of how much I increased my CPU speed, the score stayed almost the same. Thus, at high resolution, the local bottleneck was no longer the CPU, but instead the GPU. The GPU would have to be upgraded (more memory, higher clock speed, more pipelines, etc.) to get a higher score. Assuming the GPU were improved enough, eventually the CPU could become the bottleneck again. Or, if I clocked down my CPU enough, I suppose I could make it the bottleneck again (by lowering my score).

[Aeni]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

Low resolution seems to be bottlenecked by the CPU.

The way you can tell if you are getting bottlenecked by CPU is if your score is almost the same in both high and low rez. You are suppose to see marked decrease in score going from low rez to high as that is the nature of graphics. That's where you're hitting graphic memory bandwidth bottleneck. You get higher score either by getting a better card or increasing bandwidth through XFire/SLI setups. People are saying they don't see any difference in performance from going from Quad to Hexacore so that means that CPU isn't the bottleneck after a certain point.

[Bricklayer]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

Here is the computer they are recommended computer in Japan for FFXIV (kind of made me chuckle and roll my eyes at the same time lol)

ファイナルファンタジー�XIV推奨パソコン 特è¨ãƒšãƒ¼ã‚¸

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
Intel Core i7-980X 3.33GHz
12GB(2GB x6) DDR3-SDRAM
80GB S-ATA2 SSD / 2TB S-ATA2 HDD
Blu-ray Disc
NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GTX480 1536MB
Microsoft(R) SideWinder X4 Keyboard ＆ X3 Mouse

From that website:



I got nearly the same score on low resolution (~6000) with my i5-760, albeit OC'd to 3.66GHz. Low resolution seems to be bottlenecked by the CPU.

My high resolution score did not change with the OC'd CPU, thus the bottleneck should be the GTX470. Considering their GTX480 only got 700 more points on the high benchmark than my GTX470 (4000 vs 3300), they should just drop the specs down to my level (i5-760 + LGA 1156 board), and buy another GTX480 for SLI. I bet it would kill that 1080P score while saving a big chunk of change (if only the benchmark supported SLI ><).

[TheGrandMom]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

Here is the computer they are recommended computer in Japan for FFXIV (kind of made me chuckle and roll my eyes at the same time lol)

ファイナルファンタジー®XIV推奨パソコン 特è¨ãƒšãƒ¼ã‚¸

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
Intel Core i7-980X 3.33GHz
12GB(2GB x6) DDR3-SDRAM
80GB S-ATA2 SSD / 2TB S-ATA2 HDD
Blu-ray Disc
NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GTX480 1536MB
Microsoft(R) SideWinder X4 Keyboard ＆ X3 Mouse

[Voicestobeheard]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

I'm getting a total of 823 with the changes. Seem about right?

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX

COOLER MASTER RC-692-KKN3 CM690 II Basic Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard

GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-1GI GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 ...

Anything not compatable or I should change? Would like to get it in the 700 range if possible, but I want decent parts.
Thanks for all your inputs.

[Aeni]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

I have no idea why you are comparing OC 460. Not like 460 is the only GPU that can be OC. Why were you drinking?

5850 can OC up to 1000 mhz. I have compare the 2 card myself on FFXIV beta, i am playing on 1080 not low res, i rather pay 30 bucks extra (250 here for a good 460 1gb) for a double life time warranty card that play well in 1080.

I don't know where you live but it's only $230 for a good 460 1GB (Palit brand is the best atm) eVGA is a second. If you're concerned about overheating, Gigabyte cannot be touched, because they make things better and use better overall parts. I've looked around and there is NO good 5850 for under $280. If you see it for $250, that brand is crap. Also, the 5850 draws a lot of power, way more power than even a pair of 460 SLI on idle.

Sure, 5850 can OC, but 460 OC scales better. I've heard a lot of people running 5850 on stock cooling trying to OC and can't achieve it. So they resort to water cooling and other methods. Again, 460 runs way cooler, it's the first thing nVidia has done right this year.

As for your scores, and what other people score, I've done my share of research. Head over to FFXIV Core and one of the guys there already compiled the data. I'm not saying the 5850 isn't a good card, but unless ATI drops the price to around $250 for a good one (stock at $230) then it's not worth your money. When the 6000 series come out, it would be better to buy that card (only 2 more months to wait) than to pay $300 right now.

[wrongfeifong]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

i am not using the benchmark as my judge. I am using actual game play to be my judge.

[DakAttack]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

My high resolution benchmark score was 2500, and I'm running a GTX 460. Not the best, but it'll run in high resolution. I've got a few more tweaks and improvements I can make before the 22nd. They're also releasing a new benchmark, so we'll see what changes with it coming.

[wrongfeifong]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

It's worth noting that FFXIV is a TWIMTBP game, meaning it's optimized to run with nVidia's hardware. A lot of us, in this thread, are building computers with the intent of playing FFXIV. Sure, we'll play other games, but this is the thread for building a PC to play FFXIV.

I don't think you catch what i am saying.

Radeon is crap for future gaming. 460 is better overall because it support DX11 more.

I personally did comparsion first hand with a 460 msi cyclone 1gb vs what i have currently. I never like the 460 as it was doing as much hiccup as m 9800 GT.

While this game is nvidia support, it doesn't have physx support.

It really all come down on whether you want to play on high res vs low res. I don't see 460 can play high res @ all.

Now SLI is another story, while you can SLI all you want.

If only i live in America, i would bought 3 IZ3d monitor with 5770 EA @ 265 ea through newegg.com and play FFXIV on eyeinfinity low res 3 d with a Quad or Tri 5770 setup. Better than my 5850 CF setup.

[Tatewaki75]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

460 is under 60c on load for me, with stock fan -_0

anyhow with the 200$ price mark on a the gtx 460 then 2 of them for 400$ that beats the shit out of the 5850 @280-300 a pop and 560-600 for 2 then eeehhhh..... 460 wins for multi cards, and we all know that its currently taking the 5770's place as the "standard" for gaming.

460 is the way to go for budget gaming, 500-800 builds, and with the right motherboard you can SLI them and get the best bang for the buck out there.

---------- Post added at 03:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:59 PM ----------



the 5670 is whats killing you, try for a GTX460, but good going on the upgrades.

Yeah, soon as I can afford it I plan to upgrade. Right now I'm stuck with a 600W PSU, took me a few months to scrounge up to 130 I needed for my most recent upgrades, lol. My friend offered to sell me his BFG GTX280, and I'm tempted to take him up on the offer.

[DakAttack]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

I have no idea why you are comparing OC 460. Not like 460 is the only GPU that can be OC. Why were you drinking?

5850 can OC up to 1000 mhz. I have compare the 2 card myself on FFXIV beta, i am playing on 1080 not low res, i rather pay 30 bucks extra (250 here for a good 460 1gb) for a double life time warranty card that play well in 1080.

gigabytes doesn't have lifetime warranty either.I am paying a premium for lifetime warranty.

Performances was pretty close yes, but in most cases 5850 outperform 460. Only under when heavy AA is use 460 outperform 5850 by little.

460 SLI indeed outperform 5850 CF on the other hand but i pay less on manage a CF than a SLI due to heat problem.

5850 is usually around 10% behind 470 and 10-20% above 460. But newer game will prove 460 to be slightly better especially in DX11.

I personally just don't want a microwave room for summer where GPU goes up to 90 degree as the norms. %850 usually sit around 60-70 @ max.

Yes, my card sucks for future gaming, but @least i don't lag in 1080 whenever 1-2 people walk pass me unlike the 460 i used to have. (and i kick myself not getting the 470 evga when it was 289.99)

It's worth noting that FFXIV is a TWIMTBP game, meaning it's optimized to run with nVidia's hardware. A lot of us, in this thread, are building computers with the intent of playing FFXIV. Sure, we'll play other games, but this is the thread for building a PC to play FFXIV.

[abknight]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

But newer game will prove 460 to be slightly better especially in DX11.

That's all that really matters at this point. GTX 460 is cheaper and runs better than the 5850 in DX11 games at higher resolutions. GTX 470 is the way to go if you have the extra $100, though.

Here's the best solution that I've found for anyone building a new PC for FFXIV:

1.) Get a case with good airflow (there are inexpensive cases that meet this requirement).

2.) Get a reliable 750W PSU (there are inexpensive, reliable, 750W PSUs).

3.) Get a MOBO that supports SLI, whether you're using AMD or Intel.

4.) Get a GTX 460.

5.) ???

6.) Profit

You'll get better price/performance on new games than with any current ATI cards and will have everything you need to upgrade your build in the future.

[Freelancer]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

460 is under 60c on load for me, with stock fan -_0

anyhow with the 200$ price mark on a the gtx 460 then 2 of them for 400$ that beats the shit out of the 5850 @280-300 a pop and 560-600 for 2 then eeehhhh..... 460 wins for multi cards, and we all know that its currently taking the 5770's place as the "standard" for gaming.

460 is the way to go for budget gaming, 500-800 builds, and with the right motherboard you can SLI them and get the best bang for the buck out there.

---------- Post added at 03:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:59 PM ----------

Just got my upgrades in, Decided against getting the Phenom 9850. I still have my HD 5670 1gb DDR5. My score before my upgrade was 1700-1750 on low. I was using a Athlon X2 4200+.

Now I"m using a Athlon II X3 440 3.0ghz. I managed to unlock the 4th core and it runs stable. So in reality I'm using a Phenom II X4 B40 3.6ghz. I'm still using 3 gigs of DDR2 ram, pc6400, which I definitely need to upgrade. My score on low res jumped to 2990-3000, depending on what's running in the background. I'm pretty satisfied with this. I'll do upgrades as they come along, starting with my ram. Since I'm going to play on low res anyway, I'm going to take my time upgrading my video card.

the 5670 is whats killing you, try for a GTX460, but good going on the upgrades.

[Tatewaki75]

Re: Guide: Building a PC to play FFXIV

Just got my upgrades in, Decided against getting the Phenom 9850. I still have my HD 5670 1gb DDR5. My score before my upgrade was 1700-1750 on low. I was using a Athlon X2 4200+.

Now I"m using a Athlon II X3 440 3.0ghz. I managed to unlock the 4th core and it runs stable. So in reality I'm using a Phenom II X4 B40 3.6ghz. I'm still using 3 gigs of DDR2 ram, pc6400, which I definitely need to upgrade. My score on low res jumped to 2990-3000, depending on what's running in the background. I'm pretty satisfied with this. I'll do upgrades as they come along, starting with my ram. Since I'm going to play on low res anyway, I'm going to take my time upgrading my video card.