System Upgrades for TS 2013

[glcbn]

I installed a GTX550 Ti and it was like night and day running RW. No stutters, two screens, it is just amazing. A little less than $150 bucks at Best Buy.

I bought one from Best Buy too ,then found out new egg had them for 89.

Very few times will you ever see a lower price than Newegg.


Greg

[Haystack]

I have a similar system as you. Intel i3 550 3.2GHz, 8gb ram, and just recently bought a GTX660. I love it

On a side note pcie 3.0 dose have a performance increase over 2.0, but I heard it's very small. I decided to go with the 660 for future proof for when I do upgrade my cpu/motherboard that dose have 3.0.

Which version of the 660 did you get? Also wondering what the difference is between performance of a 960 cuda core GPU over a 1344? I'm also attempting to future-proof this system for at least another 2 years.

I got the EVGA GTX 660 FTW Signature 2

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=7387

[donjgatlin]

Also, another question: Are all power supplies basically the same when it comes to connectors? I have a 300watt psu with this machine, which will more than obviously need to be upgraded if I install a new GPU. Any suggestions there?

P.S. I think I've settled on the Nvidia GTX 660 for a GPU.

[artimrj]

No they are not you have to read the fine print of what connectors they come with. Mine came with a variety of cables that I could choose which ones I needed.

[donjgatlin]

No they are not you have to read the fine print of what connectors they come with. Mine came with a variety of cables that I could choose which ones I needed.

My power supply now is a Dell PS-6351-2. How would I go about finding the names/types of connectors it uses so that I can purchase a new one? I'm not familiar at all with this area. Help, please.

[Haystack]

I would suggest this Corsair CX600 for you http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139028

I have the CX500 and so far its been great. Very quiet and dose its job. I wish I would of went with the CX600 for future proof but oh well

[donoldskay]

Is anybody running TS 2013with a GTX 650 TI 1 GB card? Currently have one by EVGA on sale at Newegg for $140.00. Would certainly be an improvement over my ATI 4870 1 GB card.

My System:

AMD 945 Processor 3.0 GB 4 core.
8 GB DDR3 Ram
Windows 7 64 bit.
1 GB Hard Drive.
650 watt Power Supply
On board Sound Card

Don

[artimrj]

I have the 550 TI and from what I read the 650 TI is a better card but it costs more than the 550. Even though cheaper my 550 is better than my ATI 5750 was. The ATI card was quirky. I used to get flashng shadows as big as football field on someparts of the NERW route. I put the 550 in and that was the first thing I did, check if the flashing shadows wre still there. They weren't and I am happy with it. The nVidia works better for me in my other 97 games too.

[donoldskay]

Thanks. This is helpful info.

Don

[donjgatlin]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817182200

This is the power supply that looks the best cost wise. Do you choose the model/make by the +3.3V, 12V, etc that are on the label? thx.
My current PSU has these values:
+5
+5aux
+12A
+12B
-12V
+3.3

Should I be concerned about these values?
Connectors that mine currently has:
24pin(20+4) ATX | 4pin P4-12V | 4pin Molex x 4 | 4pin FDD x 1 |15pin SATA x 2
| 6pin AUX x 1

Intended purchase PSU connectors:
1 x Main connector (20+4Pin)
1 x 4+4 Pin ATX 12V
1 x EPS 12V
2 x PCI-E
6 x SATA
4 x Peripheral
1 x Floppy

Not sure 100%, but I'm thinking it will work...

[GSkid]

Just keep in mind that anything over 8GB is pointless for gaming and is only useful for a few niche purposes like video editing. TS2013 currently in it's 32-bit form is only using just over 2GB of memory.

[PapaXpress]

Just keep in mind that anything over 8GB is pointless for gaming and is only useful for a few niche purposes like video editing. TS2013 currently in it's 32-bit form is only using just over 2GB of memory.

RailWorks uses far more than 2 gig for me. Also please consider that some of us use Photoshop a 3D modeling program, a browser with 20+ reference pictures loaded up, and RailWorks waiting in the background. It does add up

[donjgatlin]

Just keep in mind that anything over 8GB is pointless for gaming and is only useful for a few niche purposes like video editing. TS2013 currently in it's 32-bit form is only using just over 2GB of memory.

Noted. Thanks!

[GSkid]

Just keep in mind that anything over 8GB is pointless for gaming and is only useful for a few niche purposes like video editing. TS2013 currently in it's 32-bit form is only using just over 2GB of memory.

RailWorks uses far more than 2 gig for me. Also please consider that some of us use Photoshop a 3D modeling program, a browser with 20+ reference pictures loaded up, and RailWorks waiting in the background. It does add up

I meant the application itself, not total memory including the operating system. The Railworks app never used over 1.4GB... or never over 2.8GB total when I looked at the windows manager while running it using the game booster app too. And that's loading up large, object heavy routes such as Donner pass too. I put it in windowed mode at it's max resolution allowed by the app on my laptop so i could watch the task manager live, TSX-ON and everything Max settings across the board. People that play it in 1920x1080 or higher will use a bit more memory, but not a lot more.

I think 4GB-6GB memory is all you really need for Railworks and most games. I have 8GB cuz RAM is so cheap now, why not? Most people don't have the conditions you listed, so you fit in the niche user category. Extra RAM only helps me personally when I edit HD video in Sony Vegas Pro.

[buzz456]

Somebody more knowledgeable than me needs to explain why 32 bit can only use so much ram and 64 can access all of what's on your machine. That seems to be what unleashed my setup to make everything run like a movie with no jerkiness.