What Games Are You Playing? [2]

[Contrabardus]

This is my shame.

I have Crysis 1 + 2 [With 3 on the way], Battlefield 3, Dead Space 3, Farcry 3, Medal of Honor Warfighter, Dishonored, Skyrim: Dawnguard + Dragonborn, Batman Arkham City GotY, Borderlands 2, The Cave, DmC [Which is f-ing sweet BTW], Hitman Absolution, Max Payne 3, Sleeping Dogs, Serious Sam 3, The Witcher 2, Antichamber, Aliens:CM [Modded to not suck], and most of them are brand new and I've only gone so far as an initial boot to check the installation. [I did spend some time with a few of them before...-it- happened.]

I've got an UBER PC 4.3ghz x4 CPU, SSD, AMD Radeon HD 7970 x 3 crossfire, with 16gb Ram that will run all of them on Ultra high settings.

I have been playing The Sims 3 and nothing else for days. I don't know why, I just have.

I want to cry.

I should be saving the world, laying waste to monsters and entire armies, but I'm obsessed with getting a promotion at my imaginary job so I can buy a new couch and gussy up my living room a bit.

I should be assassinating difficult targets, infiltrating the Chinese Triads, and blasting various alien menaces to tiny little chunks. Instead I narrowly avoided burning my house down during a cooking accident.

I should be rescuing babes with impossible figures and bedding them with my manly prowess and barrel chested bravado. Instead I'm chatting up the cute virtual girl I met at the library who works at the grocery store and trying to get her to like me enough to go on a date.

I'm not exploring the vast unknown reaches of some dark underworld filled with undead and death. I'm struggling to keep my house under repair and make it to work on time at my fake job so I don't get fired.

I have no idea why, but I can't stop.

Don't buy this game, it will consume you. In Appaloosa Plains, no one can here you scream. You might think that they can, but those people aren't real.

Crom, give me strength...

 

[Jack11728]

Does games nowdays run on CPU or GPU power? I have a 560ti but barely can run games with stable fps 60 above talking about high end games. I also have an old CPU which is i7-920 2600 LGA socket forgot the model. The ram is just some randoms i bought I think it is 1033mhz 8gb in total (2x2x2x2)

 

[Contrabardus]

Does games nowdays run on CPU or GPU power? I have a 560ti but barely can run games with stable fps 60 above talking about high end games. I also have an old CPU which is i7-920 2600 LGA socket forgot the model. The ram is just some randoms i bought I think it is 1033mhz 8gb in total (2x2x2x2)

You need all three working together with heavy game loads. Something like Skyrim or Farcry at Ultra settings needs a good GPU, CPU, and decent Ram specs. If any one is underpowered you get a bottleneck that slows everything else down. The setup is only as strong as it's weakest link in this case.

For really graphics intensive games I'd go with 1600mhz Ram but you don't really need more than say 4gb worth, somewhere in the range of a 3.4 quad core CPU, and a decent graphics card.

The 560 is a decent card it's probably the strongest component of your setup. A SLI with another would run anything on the market at full specs from a GPU standpoint. It should run most graphics heavy games on at least high/medium-high just on it's own if the rest of the system can back it up.

The ram isn't bad, but it could be better. You'd be surprised how much of a difference 1600 is over 1333. Though, you need to check compatibility of the Ram with the Motherboard, the processor, and the cooling you're using. Is it DDR3 or DDR2? That also makes a difference, and they aren't compatible. If you've got DDR2, then you can't upgrade to DDR3 without upgrading the MOBO because they use different slots. Compatibility info can be found online easily with Google.

Ram should be installed in matching pairs if you're using more than one stick, and make sure they're in the right slots. You want Dual Channel if you're using more than one stick, the performance difference is small, but it's worth doing anyway just because it's as simple as putting the sticks into the right slots on the mobo. Once again, the instruction manual for the mobo or Google will provide all the info needed.

The processor is probably the weak link here. You'll be needing to either overclock from 2.66 to at least 3.2, which means upgrading the cooling, [I recommend a Noctua D14, the best air cooler you can buy. Be warned, it's big so you need case room for it.] or upgrade the processor. Say a 3770k, or so at 3.4. A six core is nice, but you don't really need that much. I've got a 3770k that's overclocked to 4.3 and it's more than enough for even the most graphics intensive game. I've got Farcry 3 running at 120fps.

BTW, a setup like that should have at least a 1000w PSU, 1200w if you're going SLI or Crossfire. 1500w if you're doing more than 2 GPUs. Having the best components you can buy won't do you any good if there isn't enough power to run them.

Most games don't need that much though, that's just heavy load games like Farcry, Crysis, or Arkham City at maximum settings really. For the vast majority of games on the market, what you have will do just fine. Even if you have to lower the settings a bit, you'll still have better hardware than even the next generation of consoles will have. So don't sweat it too much.

 

[Jerlys]

To my great disappointment, I have been playing Aliens: Colonial Marines. going through the game again and again to find some sliver of hope that I may find something I like about the game other then the Pulse Rifle.

 

[Contrabardus]

To my great disappointment, I have been playing Aliens: Colonial Marines. going through the game again and again to find some sliver of hope that I may find something I like about the game other then the Pulse Rifle.

Check out the two mods I mention about two pages back [147]. They do a great deal to improve the game. Don't expect a miracle, they won't make it GotY material by any stretch, but they do help a lot and they're easy to install. You'd be surprised how much a lighting/saturation/color tweak and upgrade to DX10 can help.

Makes me wonder why it wasn't done to begin with.

 

[Jerlys]

To my great disappointment, I have been playing Aliens: Colonial Marines. going through the game again and again to find some sliver of hope that I may find something I like about the game other then the Pulse Rifle.

Check out the two mods I mention about two pages back [147]. They do a great deal to improve the game. Don't expect a miracle, they won't make it GotY material by any stretch, but they do help a lot and they're easy to install. You'd be surprised how much a lighting/saturation/color tweak and upgrade to DX10 can help.

Makes me wonder why it wasn't done to begin with.

As much as I like good graphics, when it comes to something like Aliens, I could tolerate gearbox using mine craft to make the game if the story was as amazing as Aliens deserves. The game falls flat on its face not because of its merely average look, but because of its content. Thanks though, I will check it out.

 

[Jack11728]

Does games nowdays run on CPU or GPU power? I have a 560ti but barely can run games with stable fps 60 above talking about high end games. I also have an old CPU which is i7-920 2600 LGA socket forgot the model. The ram is just some randoms i bought I think it is 1033mhz 8gb in total (2x2x2x2)

You need all three working together with heavy game loads. Something like Skyrim or Farcry at Ultra settings needs a good GPU, CPU, and decent Ram specs. If any one is underpowered you get a bottleneck that slows everything else down. The setup is only as strong as it's weakest link in this case.

For really graphics intensive games I'd go with 1600mhz Ram but you don't really need more than say 4gb worth, somewhere in the range of a 3.4 quad core CPU, and a decent graphics card.

The 560 is a decent card it's probably the strongest component of your setup. A SLI with another would run anything on the market at full specs from a GPU standpoint. It should run most graphics heavy games on at least high/medium-high just on it's own if the rest of the system can back it up.

The ram isn't bad, but it could be better. You'd be surprised how much of a difference 1600 is over 1333. Though, you need to check compatibility of the Ram with the Motherboard, the processor, and the cooling you're using. Is it DDR3 or DDR2? That also makes a difference, and they aren't compatible. If you've got DDR2, then you can't upgrade to DDR3 without upgrading the MOBO because they use different slots. Compatibility info can be found online easily with Google.

Ram should be installed in matching pairs if you're using more than one stick, and make sure they're in the right slots. You want Dual Channel if you're using more than one stick, the performance difference is small, but it's worth doing anyway just because it's as simple as putting the sticks into the right slots on the mobo. Once again, the instruction manual for the mobo or Google will provide all the info needed.

The processor is probably the weak link here. You'll be needing to either overclock from 2.66 to at least 3.2, which means upgrading the cooling, [I recommend a Noctua D14, the best air cooler you can buy. Be warned, it's big so you need case room for it.] or upgrade the processor. Say a 3770k, or so at 3.4. A six core is nice, but you don't really need that much. I've got a 3770k that's overclocked to 4.3 and it's more than enough for even the most graphics intensive game. I've got Farcry 3 running at 120fps.

BTW, a setup like that should have at least a 1000w PSU, 1200w if you're going SLI or Crossfire. 1500w if you're doing more than 2 GPUs. Having the best components you can buy won't do you any good if there isn't enough power to run them.

Most games don't need that much though, that's just heavy load games like Farcry, Crysis, or Arkham City at maximum settings really. For the vast majority of games on the market, what you have will do just fine. Even if you have to lower the settings a bit, you'll still have better hardware than even the next generation of consoles will have. So don't sweat it too much.

Man that was a lot of information, thank you for the answers,

I think I might have to upgrade my mobo aswell since it doesnt support SSD im using an old one Asus P6T deluxe. The RAM is DDR3 and using dual channel. I got a big ass fan Noctua cooling for the cpu I dont know how to OC the cpu tho. I'm playing fps games like BF3 and waiting for Tomb Raider on Steam. I like performance more than apperance wise overall. This is gonna be expensive..

 

[zephychan]

I'm still playing call of duty 2 on my laptop, i'm addicted to CoD.. and Amnesia.

 

[Victor S]

I think I might have to upgrade my mobo aswell since it doesnt support SSD im using an old one Asus P6T deluxe. The RAM is DDR3 and using dual channel. I got a big ass fan Noctua cooling for the cpu I dont know how to OC the cpu tho. I'm playing fps games like BF3 and waiting for Tomb Raider on Steam. I like performance more than apperance wise overall. This is gonna be expensive..

I'm running a P6T with I7 2600, and an SSD. Stock cooler, no overclock. You don't need to spend anything. Your MB is SATA II, and any SATA III SSD will work fine running on SATA II. Just a little slower, but nothing you'll notice unless you're transferring like 10gb files from one SSD to another. Or benchmarking. An SSD won't speed up games over a typical 7200rpm HD anyway. Not where you'll notice it. Won't even do the first load or reloads noticeably faster. Nearly all that "wait" time is happening in the CPU as the game sets up for play. Only time I even notice my SSD is when I boot Win 7. Knocked about 30 seconds off boot time.
I play my games on high settings with a GTS 250. BL 2 PhysX made me put in a second one and go SLI, because it was dogging FPS below 30. Think hard before blowing money on gear that won't make a difference except on benchmarks - unless that's your habit. That's fine too.
Since gaming is my main use for a PC, it's only games that've made me upgrade.
NOLF made me go to AGP, which I maxed. Then Saboteur made me go to the current rig. It's been +3 years, and I don't see a change coming yet.

 

[hybridfan]

Still playing Skyrim just found a cool armor model looks bloody amazing..

Medusa Drakul armors and Thanatos dragon at Skyrim Nexus - Skyrim mods and community

 

[sygnus21]

Dead Space 3. Man U gotta say the grphics look pretty good an aren't taxing. I've got everything maxed, and no hiccups yet. On the other hand, I just started the game.

Anyway it looks pretty good thus far; and got it for $39.99 through an Amazon 1 day sale

 

[Contrabardus]

Speaking of things that look amazing. I've got Crysis 3 running on the highest settings with a 50fps framerate.

It's amazing, best fluids I've ever seen in a game, not even the cruise ship level in Uncharted can compare to this.

I've only played through the tutorial and the first level, as I'm going to play through Crysis, Warhead, and Crysis 2 first.

Check the screenshots:

Once again Crysis shows us what other games will look like in about 5-6 years.

Even the original still holds up. It still looks as good as a lot of what's on the market today. Seriously, and I don't mean b-level shovelware games either.

The effects take some serious power. It's pushing my 3gpu system pretty hard, and the rain effects alone would make a single gpu system scream for mercy.

I was expecting it to look really good of course, but I'm more impressed than I thought I'd be. Don't know about story much, but the gameplay is tight and the visuals are amazing.

 

[shinigami8671]

Ohh yea ive been meaning to get to GTA 4,i found its complete edition which i think includes vice city for cheap price but is it visually up to date with todays games? I have never had a chance to play it so i just wanted to try before GTA 5 game out.

 

[x BlueRobot]

I've played a little of Dead Space 2, and it seems to be quite good, I might buy it.

 

[Thorsen]

I've got an UBER PC 4.3ghz x4 CPU, SSD, AMD Radeon HD 7970 x 3 crossfire, with 16gb Ram that will run all of them on Ultra high settings.

Any chance you could post pics of this uber pc? would love to see it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/overclocking-case-mods/251852-show-us-your-rig-4-a-63.html

 

[smarteyeball]

To my great disappointment, I have been playing Aliens: Colonial Marines. going through the game again and again to find some sliver of hope that I may find something I like about the game other then the Pulse Rifle.

I finally started it. Zero grab value

but is it visually up to date with todays games?

Stock - meh. Mods, however can add some of the missing candy.

 

[shinigami8671]

To my great disappointment, I have been playing Aliens: Colonial Marines. going through the game again and again to find some sliver of hope that I may find something I like about the game other then the Pulse Rifle.

I finally started it. Zero grab value

but is it visually up to date with todays games?

Stock - meh. Mods, however can add some of the missing candy.

I also said Aliens is simply not worth the money,"some" didnt agree.
And will try the mods then,i heard it has a LOT of them.

 

[Wishmaster]

Anyone else Pre-Order the new Tomb Raider?

 

[M1GU31]

Playing Hitman Absolution and it's really good imo but has some crashing issues. Kept getting a direct x crash issue. After some google searching I found that setting ssao to normal instead of high would stop the crashing and it did. Really upsetting since my rig can run this game maxed on 1080p with just having mssa off,big fps killer.

 

[pseudoware]

Anyone else Pre-Order the new Tomb Raider?

I just ordered it. I've got the CD for the original game somewhere in storage.