Please help ArmA 2 Noob with serious PC performance problems!

[Sa80]

@domokun: Thanks mate,that helps loads,I think I'll follow your advice.Its a lot to get but it will be worth it

@stk2008: Im not sure how to find exactly but it says ATX-450W-P4

@Myke: Thanks for your advice,it's set me into motion and serious about upgrading

[domokun]

Well I'd agree if my previous system wasn't identical an E8400 at 4ghz and 4890 BUT I found it pretty much a stutter fest on only medium quality settings. If you can enjoy playing it like that good for you but my fps constantly dipped into high teens and I felt dizzy after 2 minutes.

Fair enough can't argue with that Maybe you didn't optimise your OS and/or tweak your settings.

It really needs a quad core -here is the evidence http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,6...CPUs/Practice/

Good article. That's precisely why I recommended a Phenom II X4.

Also i7 cpu destroys the others even without overclocking and with a little OC makes the game fun.

Sure but an i7 is expensive and Sa80 (like many of us) isn't loaded.

I'm running a i7 920 at 4ghz with 5870 trifire and that at least does look pretty good. I had 2 4890's crossfired in current system which was a big improvement on one but still a long way from looking its best.

I bet it looks REALLY good.

5770 will run it ok but no faster than a 4870 1gb which launched September 2008. The 460 1gb will be almost twice as fast even before you overclock it and cost only £40 more. They are also outstanding overclockers. A second hand 5850 would also run it WAAY better than the 5770.

5770 runs MUCH cooler than a 4870.
460 costs 50% more than a 5770.
460 offers 30-40% more FPS than a 5770
Since you like [H]OCP (I don't), then check-out this 460 review which includes an A2 benchmark.
I agree that an i7-920/460 combo would beat Px4-640/5770 but its also a matter of cost.

[stk2008]

Hey there well 450W aint that great tbh and if its a real bad generic make then I would consider upgrading that to.

Any chance of looking for a make mate?.

Thanks

[ScareCroweb]

I would choose to focus on psu aswell the more watts a psu can supply makes it so that it doesent overheat that easily I would suggest 750 W I'm using that myself its a sweet psu and I highly suggest overkill on psu because of stability. the worst thing that can happen with underpowered psu is that you loose all power at the same time if its burned out its completely dead and must be replaced

[stk2008]

Yeah the worse thing that can happen with an underpowered cheap generic PSU is it can give out and take the rest of your pc with it.

[domokun]

Guys I think that you over estimate the power requirements and underestimate the quality of PSUs in today's PCs (whose efficiency is MUCH higher than before). My advice to Sa80 (who is on a budget) is replace your components and then see how it goes with your current PSU. If indeed you experience stability issues while under load, then go ahead and drop an extra £50 but I really think that its a discretionary purpose. I've been building PCs for 15 years now and I've never encountered a situation where instability was caused by a bad PSU. The big bad PSUs that have appeared these last few years are aimed at the so called "enthusiast" or "gamer" market, mainly young males with more money that sense. Bright colours, chrome, big stickers, etc. Makes me sound like an old fart now doesn't it If you're serious about PSU check-out this website.

[ScareCroweb]

Guys I think that you over estimate the power requirements and underestimate the quality of PSUs in today's PCs (whose efficiency is MUCH higher than before). My advice to Sa80 (who is on a budget) is replace your components and then see how it goes with your current PSU. If indeed you experience stability issues while under load, then go ahead and drop an extra £50 but I really think that its a discretionary purpose. I've been building PCs for 15 years now and I've never encountered a situation where instability was caused by a bad PSU. The big bad PSUs that have appeared these last few years are aimed at the so called "enthusiast" or "gamer" market, mainly young males with more money that sense. Bright colours, chrome, big stickers, etc. Makes me sound like an old fart now doesn't it If you're serious about PSU check-out this website.

thank you for calling me young, when I am actually an old fart with Electronician background.. and I mean it when i say its wise to use an overpowered psu rather than an underpowered one.. I've seen psu that has burned out btw

[stk2008]

I want to know the make of the OP`s PSU.

450w today is not very good.

How many hard drives does the OP have?

You cant start telling me 450w is ok when ya don't know ho many hard drives he will be using and what system he will get.

GPU`s theses days EAT power supply's and I to have been building computers for years and every one I have built has NEVER had any problems due to me using good parts.

I have seen however computers that have had all sorts of issues due to crap/under powered psu`s that's if they aint blown up before hand and took the rest of the computer with it.

450W these days is very low for a computer running a i7 and any modern GPU.

what make is your psu OP please

[Sa80]

@stk2008, sorry but i can't seem to find the make of it

I have decided though to upgrade to a

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 or maybe a X6 1100T [Not sure which one yet though]
GPU: ATI Radeon 5770
RAM: Kingston Hyper-X 4 GB DDR3
Mobo: Asus M4A78LT-M LX

[Primarch]

CPU should be 955BE, cheaper and not a SINGLE bit faster when overclocked.
GPU should be 460GTX for the better price/performance ratio
RAM is good
Mobo should be MSI 870a, it's good for OC.