Playing @ 1080p vs 4k , Pro's and Con's?

[FelixDaCat]

Agreed; you usually benefit from more than 16GB when doing workstation-type work (rendering, animation, etc.), but even brand-new, modern AAA games don't need more than 16GB right now. In addition, purchasing more DDR3 RAM will hinder your upgrade options in the future, as modern builds require DDR4 RAM and DDR5 will probably be available for regular builders in the next few years.

The reason why I've gone the route I have is due to me recycling my old rig and my dad's rig. Until recently, my Poppa was making and publishing a small magazine for our local area in Oxford (about 4000 copies a month). So when he first started about 5 years ago, we used a well liked PC parts company in the UK to put a PC together that meet his needs at the time. It was later turned into a hackingtosh. Now he just needs a basic setup that is safe for him to do his banking on, he can edit his digital photos (just basic organisation rather than Photoshop), has office on it etc. So I used his Asus motherboard and 1150 i5, I then put my SSD, GTX1080 extreme and other bits to make what I am gaming with and he's got my 1156 i7 and Intel motherboard. Because I can get a refurbished 1150 i7 pretty cheaply, I will then just get the highest spec elements I can, as I find this gives me the best bang for the buck at this time.


I do intent to eventually build a modern system again, but for now, I find recycling and getting refurbished parts works best with what money I am able to spare.

[KisaiTenshi]

Currently I have an i5 4670 running at 3.6GHZ, with 24GB DDR3 RAM (I will also be making this 32GB with matching RAM soon) and a GTX1080 Extreme with 8GB GDDR5 RAM. I run this through to my 43" LG Ultra HD HDR TV with either 120mhz in 1080p or 60mhz in 4K.

I have a slightly better spec than that (i7-4770, 32GB) and 4K only runs at 60fps in small spaces. RAID's, and most 3.0+ later areas are 40fps-50fps on average at 4K.

Also ignore "16GB ought to be enough" type of comments. The more important aspect of the RAM is it operating in dual-channel mode. So you need 4 x 8GB for 32GB, or 4x4GB for 16GB. If you have 24, then you are not likely running in dual channel mode as one of those slots will be forcing it not to.

But to be honest, it's time to move on to either a 9th generation Intel or 3rd generation Ryzen CPU with DDR4. You can stick with this system for a while longer but recent Spectre/Meltdown patches have actually shaved off 15% of the system performance already.

[FelixDaCat]

I have a slightly better spec than that (i7-4770, 32GB) and 4K only runs at 60fps in small spaces. RAID's, and most 3.0+ later areas are 40fps-50fps on average at 4K.

Also ignore "16GB ought to be enough" type of comments. The more important aspect of the RAM is it operating in dual-channel mode. So you need 4 x 8GB for 32GB, or 4x4GB for 16GB. If you have 24, then you are not likely running in dual channel mode as one of those slots will be forcing it not to.

But to be honest, it's time to move on to either a 9th generation Intel or 3rd generation Ryzen CPU with DDR4. You can stick with this system for a while longer but recent Spectre/Meltdown patches have actually shaved off 15% of the system performance already.

Yeah currently my RAM is done very wrong, but I just wanted to use it until it's replaced.


I don't think that people always need the latest hardware all the time tbh, as I don't play games that typically benefit from the latest stuff. Also, I will always have a PlayStation (currently PS4-Pro) which tends to get the AAA stuff. My "gaming" PC does tend to have MMO's and Sim games and I've been able to use slightly older gear which I will spend time overclocking and improving/keeping my IT skills in use , I've been doing this cycle since around 2008 and this is my 4th rig I think. (Due to amount of damage to the joints and nerves in my lower back, I've not been able to work, because the amount of pain I feel when sat on a chair has caused me to be classed as having long term serious health issue (they won't grant disability as I would be able to get so much more support) ) Also the sense of achievement I get when I "beat" the pain and there is something that makes things better for my folks, as they have to do so much for me since my spinal damage spread to new sections of my lower spine.

[Eriane_Elis]

I have a slightly better spec than that (i7-4770, 32GB) and 4K only runs at 60fps in small spaces. RAID's, and most 3.0+ later areas are 40fps-50fps on average at 4K.

Also ignore "16GB ought to be enough" type of comments. The more important aspect of the RAM is it operating in dual-channel mode. So you need 4 x 8GB for 32GB, or 4x4GB for 16GB. If you have 24, then you are not likely running in dual channel mode as one of those slots will be forcing it not to.

But to be honest, it's time to move on to either a 9th generation Intel or 3rd generation Ryzen CPU with DDR4. You can stick with this system for a while longer but recent Spectre/Meltdown patches have actually shaved off 15% of the system performance already.

Slight correction. Up to 12% relating to mainly database-type of tasks but the performance is negligible when it comes to compute-intensive workloads ie: games, encoding etc... But this changes if you have a CPU from around 2015 where slowdowns are more likely to occur but still remain in the single digits.

[AlliciaCapulet]

I've been playing in 4k since last december, and I really like it. More space on the UI, and FPS is really stable. If I have to chose between my old 144 hz 1080p or the 4k, I'll say 4k anytime. I also got used to that resolution on Windows, using it on 2 screens.

Except for maybe like a S rank hunt or Eureka, the fps doesn't really move. Downside is, the game is kinda ugly if you zoom too much, like the textures are not even HD in ffxiv.

Using here :
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
EVGA GTX 1080 TI FTW3
32 gb of RAM DDR4 3200 Mhz
And a SSD for the game, of course.

[FelixDaCat]

I've been playing in 4k since last december, and I really like it. More space on the UI, and FPS is really stable. If I have to chose between my old 144 hz 1080p or the 4k, I'll say 4k anytime. I also got used to that resolution on Windows, using it on 2 screens.

Except for maybe like a S rank hunt or Eureka, the fps doesn't really move. Downside is, the game is kinda ugly if you zoom too much, like the textures are not even HD in ffxiv.

Using here :
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
EVGA GTX 1080 TI FTW3
32 gb of RAM DDR4 3200 Mhz
And a SSD for the game, of course.

You raise a bloody good point

I'm using the Samsung 850-Evo 500GB SSD as my main C: drive. I have a 1TB standard HD, which I use for programmes and files that are not used very often. If I was asked what upgrade I have installed, that made my system have the biggest jump in performance, it would be the SSD. I really want to get myself the 1TB Samsung Evo SSD, but the prices are still a bit too much for me to afford. I am lucky that my MacBook Pro 15" i7 has the 255GB SSD option, as they really allow an older laptop be useful for many YEARS longer than people would expect.

Originally I got my 850-Evo for my PS4 when I started FF14 during Stormblood's early access, but before I got a chance to install it, my then MacBook Pro's HD died. Then FF14 caused my PS4 to die (it would always force all the fans to max out), so I got the PS4-Pro to replace it and I decided that the 1TB HD was more important. Now I have fully migrated to PC, the SSD and PC hardware really shocked me by how much of an improvement the PC version is.

For some reason, I just could not get into a groove of using a mouse and keyboard, which I usually prefer over controller, but I find the DS4 with the X-Fire feature works better and prevents me from getting target fixation.