Help! How will this computer handle and record KSP?

[dissen91191]

I'm buying a new computer the minute i hit 1000 subs DissentFilms and this is the computer, How will it handle recording and playing KSP

Computer Case: X-Blade Black

CPU: AMD FX 6100 (6 x 3.3 GHZ) (Free Shogun 2 Game)

CPU Heatsink: AMD Heatsink & Fan

Memory: Corsair 16GB PC3-12800 1600 MHz (4x4GB) - Lifetime Warranty (DDR3)

Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 - 2 GB - (ZOTAC) - (PCI-E) - (Free Galactic Assault Game)

Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 (AMD 760G) - VGA

Sound Card: Motherboard Integrated HD Sound

Networking: Motherboard Integrated Ethernet Lan (Broadband Ready)

Power Supply: 700W PSU

CPU Compound: Standard CPU Compound Supplied With Heatsink

Hard Drive #1: 1 TB (1000 GB) SATA-II HDD 7200 RPM 32MB

Optical Drive #1: Samsung 22x DVD Re-Writer/Reader /- RW- B

Keyboard: Logitech Wireless Keyboard & Mouse MK260

Free Gift: FREE - Gaming Headset & Microphone

[TerranCmdr]

I don't know much about the video card you chose (I'm an AMD guy myself) but your computer should be able to handle it just fine. I'm running an AMD Phenom II X6 and 8gb of ram with almost no slowdowns while recording.

I would suggest getting more HD space if you're planning on doing a lot of movies. Also an aftermarket CPU cooler wouldn't be a bad idea.

[cardgame]

650-660 GPU would be a decent step up, but that's a nice rig.

[Warshawski]

That's officially what I'd refer to as a "gaming rig". It'll run and record it without a hitch. Probably with heavy stuff running in the background too.

[iDewm]

You'll be handling it just fine.

[EndlessWaves]

The GT 545 (AKA the GT 640) has some poke but it's not that popular around here because the slightly more expensive cards are much more powerful. Make sure you get the GDDR5 version though, the DDR3 version is likely to be junk. The GDDR5 version is somewhere in between a 6670 and a 7750 so it's a strong entry level gaming card if the price is right.

The FX's weak point is gaming so I'd not use it in a primarily gaming system but if you want it for other uses or if it's particularly cheap where you are then it'll manage well enough.

My main concern would be the power supply. That system needs a 400-450W model so unless you've explicitly specified a 700W model for future expansion you're either getting a cheap unit that promises far more than it can deliver (and they're often poor quality besides) or you're paying a fair amount extra for something you don't need and the money could likely be used to improve everyday performance.

Edited August 21, 2012 by EndlessWaves

[_Aramchek_]

The video card is fairly weak.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zotac/GeForce_GT_640/6.html

I would look around on ebay and try to get a 460 gtx or 58xx series card instead, for around the same price or slightly more.

[Bluejayek]

I disagree with EndlessWaves on the power supply deal. As long as it is good quality, you can't go wrong with having too much power. The extra 40 or 50$ the 700W will cost you over the 400W, It is well worth it. I have had too many issue sin the past with computers crapping out from an underpowered PSU to skimp on that.

I would reccomend corsair power supplies. Something like the TX750W or HX750W from corsair will do nicely.

Also, don't expect to run KSP "without a hitch". You will still have a frame rame of 1 frame per ice age when you try to build a ship with 500+ struts.

I second the idea of an aftermarket CPU heatsink. I originally bought my computer without (running an intel i7 960 no overclocking) and it was heating up dangerously under stress tests (~85-90 degrees or hotter). When I added an aftermarket heat sink, I got that down to 60-70 degrees max.

[EndlessWaves]

The video card is fairly weak.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zotac/GeForce_GT_640/6.html

Ah, I didn't realise they'd launched a kepler version. I was assuming it was the GF116-based GT640/545. Looks like they may have even improved the performance given that's a DDR3 version. I assume there's a GDDR5 version of the GK107 as well? I'd expect that to be closer to the 550Ti on that table.

[Guest butt head]

DA FUUUUU the video card???? not at all balanced with the rest of the system video card i think you ought to bump it up to a 660 or better it should be out now very recently meet its released date

gtx 660 ti on amazon couldnt find a reg 660

[EndlessWaves]

I disagree with EndlessWaves on the power supply deal. As long as it is good quality, you can't go wrong with having too much power. The extra 40 or 50$ the 700W will cost you over the 400W, It is well worth it. I have had too many issue sin the past with computers crapping out from an underpowered PSU to skimp on that.

700W is the sort of power supply you buy for a system with twin 150W cards, not a single 40W/70W card (depending on whether it's kepler-based). I guess you're somewhere in the US if you mention dollars so prices are probably similar to here in the UK. Would you really spend the money on the extra spare capacity for the power supply instead of getting a 7770 or 560Ti? It'll depend on his local prices as to what's cost effective in this case though so there's no harm in looking into it.

the video card???? not at all balanced with the rest of the system video card i think you ought to bump it up to a 660 or better it should be out now very recently meet its released date

gtx 660 ti on amazon couldnt find a reg 660

There's no such thing as a 'regular' 660. The 660 Ti is the only model. It may also be well above his budget, it'll depend on local prices again but it could well push up the total price by an extra quarter. Assuming it's even available there of course, it's debut release was only last week.

Edited August 21, 2012 by EndlessWaves

[Fyzzi]

Why does this seem to me like you just want to tell us your brand new PC specs?

[_Aramchek_]

I assume there's a GDDR5 version of the GK107 as well?

I didn't see one, then again I didn't spend a lot of time looking either.

Apparently they do exist after looking a bit more, but I couldn't find any benchmarks.

I did see people saying it is "not for gaming" though.

KSP as it is, uses the cpu far more than the gpu I'd imagine..so it will possibly be "ok"...but I really would look for a better video card if it's in the budget, even a second hand one as I mentioned.

[chrt]

The rest of the specs look OK, but I don't think the case is bitchin' enough to handle KSP.

[dissen91191]

So if i up the graphics card which im willing to do it will run fine?

[Seret]

So if i up the graphics card which im willing to do it will run fine?

I run KSP fine on a much, much less powerful machine than that. You'll be laughing.

[dissen91191]

I run KSP fine on a much, much less powerful machine than that. You'll be laughing.

No i mean how will i be able to record at full graphics?

[_Aramchek_]

So if i up the graphics card which im willing to do it will run fine?

It should, I'd look for a 460/560/660 depending on what you can afford.

Or a 5870/6850/7850 if you prefer ATI/AMD.

Should be good after that, I have a BD cpu, it's an 8 core, but I can state that the BD cpu's do fine in gaming, and when I record in fraps it is perfectly smooth and yummy.

[Bluejayek]

700W is the sort of power supply you buy for a system with twin 150W cards, not a single 40W/70W card (depending on whether it's kepler-based). I guess you're somewhere in the US if you mention dollars so prices are probably similar to here in the UK. Would you really spend the money on the extra spare capacity for the power supply instead of getting a 7770 or 560Ti? It'll depend on his local prices as to what's cost effective in this case though so there's no harm in looking into it.

Canada actually. Canadian dollar is about at par with the US dollar, but stuff tends to be a bit more expensive, but yeah, probably similar.

As per spending the money on spare capacity, yes, I personally would. I have had two built PC's fail because of power supplies performing underspec, so on my latest build, and in the future, I will not compromise on the quality of the PSU and will go for a buffer. It is always useful if he wants to tack on a second graphics card later or something.

However, your right that he probably should upgrade the graphics.