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PC for StarCraft II.

Post Date: 2012-06-21
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Ambidex View Drop Down
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Posts: 244 		  Quote Ambidex Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: PC for StarCraft II.
    Posted: 21 Jun 2012 at 10:42am
Hello

I want to build a new pc for StarCraft II.
1920x1080 resolution. I want it to be able to handle ultra settings, with absolutely no frame lag. 200 units vs 200 units 1vs1 battles.

The reason I want this. Is because my current pc does frame drop at large battles. It does not drop as low as unplayble, but it drops enough for me to be able to handle micromanagement with less control. And it is hindering me from doing good decisions in important 1v1 games. (on high level ladder)
(note: 200 vs 200 units).

My old pc:
i7 920 @ 4GHz
sapphire 5870 1GB
6GB 1600MHz (3x2GB) Dominator ram
Corsair 1KW HX
e760 mb
Corsair GT 120GB SSD (for os + games)
1TB Barracuda (for storage)

My brother's pc performs better at higher unit counts. It does frame drop a little, but not as much as mine.
My brother's pc:
2. MSI P67S-C43
3. Corsair DDR3 1600MHz 4GB Dominator Kit
4. Samsung SH-D163C/BEBE
5. MSI N560GTX TWIN FROZR II - GTX560 1GB
6. Intel Core i7-2600K 3.4GHz Box
7. Corsair CMPSU-650HXEU 650W HX Series
8. BenQ 24" G2420HDB
9. WD AV-GP 1TB WD10EURS


Questions

Is StarCraft II more CPU and RAM dependent, compared to GPU dependence?

What kind of processor do I need to be able to run SC2 at max settings with no FPS lag? (Please do not take FPS games into consideration)

If you have a better idea, please let me know what I should do.

Thanks
EVGA X58 3x SLI Classified
Sapphire HD 5870
Corsair Dominator 1600MHz 6Gb
Corsair HX 1000W
Corsair Obsidian 800D
LG LED w2486L 24" 2ms,1mill:1
Swiftech custom liquid cooling
Corsair GT 120GB
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LaneHayes View Drop Down
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Posts: 90 		  Quote LaneHayes Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 21 Jun 2012 at 2:02pm
You don't need to much to crush SC2 on ultra @ HD res. It's not too demanding. One GTX 570 will do the trick on a sandy bridge platform. Is his slowdown during loadtimes or during actual gameplay? With those specs, I'd be interested to see whats bottlenecking him. Is other stuff running in the background a lot or something?
 
The Marauder line would probably be fine, if you want to make sure to decimate it and other games coming out I'd get whichever ODE has a single 670 (or if theres a marauder that does).
 
I have 2x GTX 570s and they get 100+ fps in single games (only uses one of them though, doesnt support SLI), 80+ FPS in 4v4. Only slowdowns are ridiculous customs with 9 billion units on screen(not even zealot/nexus wars, just the sand one where it spawns everyones units at once), but the game will be slowed down by everyone else's PC way before yours.
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LaneHayes View Drop Down
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Posts: 90 		  Quote LaneHayes Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 21 Jun 2012 at 2:07pm

Alternatively, you could just buy a gtx 670( 570 if you're on a budget for 120 less) and shove it in your old computer. 6gb is more than enough for SC2, and the processor should be fine. Can't tell if you have 3x crossfire or what's going on there, but if its a single card setup just replacing the card should be gtg
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Ambidex View Drop Down
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Posts: 244 		  Quote Ambidex Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 21 Jun 2012 at 2:23pm
The slowdown is in actual gameplay.

I only own ONE Sapphire 5870 1GB graphics card.

I do not have anything in the background, other than skype.
EVGA X58 3x SLI Classified
Sapphire HD 5870
Corsair Dominator 1600MHz 6Gb
Corsair HX 1000W
Corsair Obsidian 800D
LG LED w2486L 24" 2ms,1mill:1
Swiftech custom liquid cooling
Corsair GT 120GB
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Asangard View Drop Down
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Posts: 2209 		  Quote Asangard Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 21 Jun 2012 at 5:38pm
Hi Ambidex,
 
If you are looking for a whole new system what kind of budget are you working with?
 
To get you started here is a review of the GTX 670:
 
They did test against SC2.  At the 1920 x 1200 resolution a HD 5870 averaged 61.5 FPS while the GTX 670 averaged almost double that amount at 121.2 FPS.
 
 
 
All evil comes from within,
Not from Without,
Therefore, the 1st step on the Holy Warrior path,
Is to recognize thyself as thy 1st enemy.
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Ambidex View Drop Down
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Posts: 244 		  Quote Ambidex Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 22 Jun 2012 at 5:52am
I dont have a specific budget. I just want to pay enough for what I need, but not more.

Basically I want my game to run smooth no matter how big battle there is. 200vs200
EVGA X58 3x SLI Classified
Sapphire HD 5870
Corsair Dominator 1600MHz 6Gb
Corsair HX 1000W
Corsair Obsidian 800D
LG LED w2486L 24" 2ms,1mill:1
Swiftech custom liquid cooling
Corsair GT 120GB
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LaneHayes View Drop Down
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Posts: 90 		  Quote LaneHayes Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 22 Jun 2012 at 7:38am
Originally posted by Ambidex

I dont have a specific budget. I just want to pay enough for what I need, but not more.
 
This is what I'm all about. I don't care about bragging rights, just get me to silky smooth gameplay at the right price.
 
You could probably do it even cheaper, but I'd get the cheapest prebuilt option that has a single GTX 670. I have experience with that card working well with SC2 and no experience with the AMD offerings which may save you a few bucks but then you don't get to me an nVidia fanboy.
 
So go through the Marauder and ODE lines and pick the lowest level that has that card.
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FrankW View Drop Down
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Posts: 2254 		  Quote FrankW Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 22 Jun 2012 at 9:12am
Hi Ambidex,

If you have the system in your signature, you have a great case, mobo, memory and a good power supply. I would buy a new 670 GPU and a new water block for that GPU. Add the 670 to you LC loop and you are good to go at much less money than buying a new system. I am a little surprised that at this level you didn't get SLI GPUs. If you don't have two LC loops I would add the second while you are at it. One for the CPU and one for the GPUs. You might even get a second 670 GPU so you are set for any future game releases that might take advantage of SLI.

I don't play SC2 but LaneHayes seems to have some good experience. How old is your existing machine?

Frank
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Ambidex View Drop Down
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Posts: 244 		  Quote Ambidex Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 23 Jun 2012 at 2:58pm
Hey guys,
Thank you for your nice replies

Yes FrankW, I do have the system in my signature. And I do agree with your idea actually. I personally do not believe that it is the CPU that is the bottle-neck here, it can't be can it? It is an I7 920 @ 4GHZ. That should be better than most CPUs imo. By the way: I am really pleased with ATI cards. Do you have a good ATI card that could be an equivalent to the 670?

I think getting one card, would be more cost efficient. Getting an IB 3770 for example, wouldn't give me a lot of CPU power difference.

I think I have my thoughts about a new ATI card.
EVGA X58 3x SLI Classified
Sapphire HD 5870
Corsair Dominator 1600MHz 6Gb
Corsair HX 1000W
Corsair Obsidian 800D
LG LED w2486L 24" 2ms,1mill:1
Swiftech custom liquid cooling
Corsair GT 120GB
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Asangard View Drop Down
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Posts: 2209 		  Quote Asangard Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 23 Jun 2012 at 4:41pm
Hi Ambidex,
 
AMDs top 2 cards are the HD 7950 and the HD 7970.  Here is a comparison of the 7970 to the GTX 670.  http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/508?vs=598
 
You can change the 7970 in the link to the 7950 to see how that compares.  In some games the AMDs are a bit better than the GTX 670 and in some it's the reverse.  For SC2 here are the results at 1920 x 1200 resolution:
 
HD 7950 88.2 FPS avg
HD 7970 99 FPS avg
GTX 670 121.2 FPS avg.
 
As you can see for your game (SC2) the GTX 670 is better than either of the top 2 AMD cards.  Price wise the HD 7950 is about the same price as the GTX 670 and the HD 7970 costs more.   
 
Either AMD card is still much better than your current card with the HD 7970 obviously the better of the 2. 
 
I hope this helps
All evil comes from within,
Not from Without,
Therefore, the 1st step on the Holy Warrior path,
Is to recognize thyself as thy 1st enemy.
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Ambidex View Drop Down
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Posts: 244 		  Quote Ambidex Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 23 Jun 2012 at 5:58pm
Hey, thanks Asangard!

Maybe the 670 GTX would be a better idea after all? :)
Cost less and has better performance. Pretty much sold me there.
EVGA X58 3x SLI Classified
Sapphire HD 5870
Corsair Dominator 1600MHz 6Gb
Corsair HX 1000W
Corsair Obsidian 800D
LG LED w2486L 24" 2ms,1mill:1
Swiftech custom liquid cooling
Corsair GT 120GB
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Ambidex View Drop Down
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Posts: 244 		  Quote Ambidex Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 24 Jun 2012 at 7:23am
Originally posted by Asangard



Hi Ambidex,
 
AMDs top 2 cards are the HD 7950 and the HD 7970.  Here is a comparison of the 7970 to the GTX 670.  http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/508?vs=598
 
You can change the 7970 in the link to the 7950 to see how that compares.  In some games the AMDs are a bit better than the GTX 670 and in some it's the reverse.  For SC2 here are the results at 1920 x 1200 resolution:
 
HD 7950 88.2 FPS avg
HD 7970 99 FPS avg
GTX 670 121.2 FPS avg.
 
As you can see for your game (SC2) the GTX 670 is better than either of the top 2 AMD cards.  Price wise the HD 7950 is about the same price as the GTX 670 and the HD 7970 costs more.   
 
Either AMD card is still much better than your current card with the HD 7970 obviously the better of the 2. 
 
I hope this helps


Hey I am sorry if I sound strange when I say this.

I checked out the link you showed me. And I noticed something. the test rig they used for the cards had a CPU which was very good. I believe it was an I7 3770K @ 4.7GHz. I can't remember exactly. But my point is. I noticed the different GPU performances. Even the GTX 560 had a better result than my current rig. That would make me think, maybe it isn't the GPU that I need to upgrade? What do you think?

Source:http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Gigabyte/GeForce_GTX_670_Windforce/20.html

Edited by Ambidex - 24 Jun 2012 at 7:28am
EVGA X58 3x SLI Classified
Sapphire HD 5870
Corsair Dominator 1600MHz 6Gb
Corsair HX 1000W
Corsair Obsidian 800D
LG LED w2486L 24" 2ms,1mill:1
Swiftech custom liquid cooling
Corsair GT 120GB
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Asangard View Drop Down
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Posts: 2209 		  Quote Asangard Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 25 Jun 2012 at 5:50am
Hi again Ambidex,
 
I did some research into SC2 and if it is more CPU vs GPU intensive.  All the articles I found were from 2010.  And they looked at CPU impact on the performance of SC2. CPU chip speed did increase the performance more than the # of CPU cores.  You have a quad core CPU running at 4.0GHz which was about the highest tested.
 
Using the link from my post above I compared your brother's GPU vs yours.  Here are the results: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/511?vs=543
 
For SC2 at 1920 x 1200 resolution
 
Your HD 5870 61.5 FPS avg
Brother's GTX 560 74 FPS avg
 
This backs up what you are seeing when comparing your computer's performance to your brothers.
 
From what I see, all things being equal, if you replaced your GPU with a GTX 670 you should see about double the performace in FPS for SC2 at your resolution. 
 
Would a newer faster CPU help?  It seems so but not as much as a newer faster GPU as far as I can tell.
 
I don't play SC2 so I don't have practical experience with it.  Hopefully some others can chime in also.
 
I hope this helps.
All evil comes from within,
Not from Without,
Therefore, the 1st step on the Holy Warrior path,
Is to recognize thyself as thy 1st enemy.
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