Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

Steam hardware survey, your machine....upgrades time?

Tags:
  • Homebuilt
  • Systems
Last response: in Systems
Share
November 8, 2007 7:30:26 PM

So i found myself complaining in a thread recently i had maxed out my upgrade path while helping someone else with their new build. In my complaint i said I am nearly ready to do a new build as my sytem is showing its first sign of strain in gaming. For example while playing jericho at 1920x1080 (mmmm love my 42" in aquos) my FPS, with x4 smoothing and no motion blur, was sitting aroun 27-31 fps on average. rarely into 19-22 range on certain maps with all the goodies turn all the way up. So in response to my small complaint someone pointed out my sytem specs fx-60, a8n-sli premuim (8x lanes when in sli), 2 gigs of corsair xms 4x512 (2.5 3/3/3/6), x-fi w/ 64 xram, 74gb raptors x4 (no raid), and one gigibyte 8800gtx . was still bleeding edge as far as steam's hardware survey was concerned. Now that said i was a little stunned at the thought and took a look. Sure enough i am still in the upper 6% of system specs for all amd cpus and in the upper 10% over all. So this brings me to my questions. Does any one else who considers them self a gamer/pc enthusist find this surprising? I mean with all the hum bum going on with new builds..crysis is coming...vista is a hardware hog....Am i be unreasonible in thinking that my machine is nearly ready for the trash can (ie makes a great game server) as soon as i am either statified enough with the phenoms (either am2+ or dual socket quads), if not waiting tell the release of nethlam or skull trail so i have a decent upgrade path for a couple of years. I started the build i have now 3 years ago and kept it as bleeding edge as i could for games. i guess i can toss in another gtx but with 8x lanes and an fx 60 (yes i have an overclock profile as well at 2.938ghz when needed only) would i get much benefit or would the cpu and lanes be a bottle neck? what do you all think will have the best/longest upgrade path of hardware yet to be released?

More about : steam hardware survey machine upgrades time

November 8, 2007 8:10:04 PM

this is exactly the reason i went for a 22" monitor. those uber resolutions can really take their toll on your systems longevity, and it's not always so easy to just "turn down the settings" so to speak. I'd prefer a mid-range resolution (like 1680x1050) if it allowed me to play a game like crysis at very high instead of high settings.

As for your situation, if I were you (and this is definitely an opinion) I'd sell my 42 incher and use it towards a nice 22" and some new hardware. Some people would call me crazy for saying this, but it's the way I'D prefer it. You may have different preferences. As to upgrading, this really isn't the best time to build a "futureproof" system, as a so called "mid-range" card is very nearly as good as the high end, which is at this point nearly a year old. At least wait for the next generation of DX10 video cards before you make any long term major investments, especially if you're not particularly desperate at the moment.
November 8, 2007 8:37:53 PM

no way i'd ditch my monitor but i do feel ya on wanting to always play on the very highest settings. this is exactly why i upgrade so much. i agree thats video card wise...yeah nows not the time. i am indeed waiting, at best i might drop in another gtx as i said but again i worry my cpu and x8 lanes would bottle neck them so much it wouldn't be worth the cash. when i do start my build... i rarely buy all my parts in one shot regardless. let's face it when ur building from scratch to as high end as you can get....$$$$ happens really quick. typically i pick a case first, usually something with a TON of room as well as hdd's, dvd drives, sound card and cooling solution (always water) and then get my psu, cpu and video cards just for the finishing touches so i make sure i get the best i can at the end my build. which usually ends up being 2 month project funds wise..some times 3.
Related resources
November 8, 2007 9:07:58 PM

I think what you are not realising is that most people that play games (ie steam) dont have the disposible income to constantly upgrade there systems. I would assume the ~10% that are above you in specs, have either been saving for a few years to get the rig they did recently or they are the small few that have a disposible income and only require the very best. Hell thats why Crysis will still be DX9 compatible otherwise they would knock out 60-80% of the people out there and wouldnt that make sales plumpet. People that play these games may not even be that computer savvy and have bought from HP,Dell whoever and end up with small C2D's or X2's with 7000 series or low end 8000 series NVIDIA's and of course that aint going to play anything at EXTREME settings. Main problem with forums like this is we only talk to either the ones that are hear for the long hall and are generally interested in hardware and can justify spending much money on upgrading, or the first timers that need help building there first rig (money saved for ages). So we dont see all the mainstream stuff.

Way i see it be happy with what you have ... hell id kill for your GPU (i got a 7900GT for my gaming rig) play your games and save for a house or something
November 8, 2007 9:32:43 PM

If the resolution is the only thing holding you back... (easy enough to test, just lower it with all the same settings and see if performance picks up to where you want it) ...then I would certainly get the second GTX. The higher the resolution, the more work gets thrown onto the gpu. Thus, your proc will not stop you. (especially w/ the oc)

I am not making comment on whether or not you have disposable income or what you should/shouldn't spend it on, just answering your original Q: Yes, you would see a benefit IMO w/ the second gpu running at the res you are.

Just my 2 bits.

Rock on.
November 8, 2007 9:43:44 PM

well the cash i am using is my disposible income and i understand i upgrade more than most. to be honest i just like doing builds. i work on all my friends and fam's pc's for free i enjoy it so much. not to mention i donate a lot of my pc's to less fortunate when i do reach an upgrade brickwall and need to start fresh. while i might be spoiled hardware wise, i do recoginize most can't afford it and i help who i can....sorry a little off topic but point is i don't like to waste the tech. hell when i keep this pc for my new game server it be the first time in in five or six years i had a game server that wasn't also my gaming pc....think it was an old 1800+ (tbird) if memory servers me...and even that was eventually given away.
November 8, 2007 9:45:53 PM

thanks sojrner apperaite the time out to read my post, i just might do that to tide me over through crysis.
November 8, 2007 10:42:12 PM

yeah go for that second gtx.
November 28, 2007 6:54:59 PM

so i upgraded my rig and wanted to give everyone the results as i had worried about bottle necks and what not. turns out with my overclock and the newest nvidia beta drivers...it made my system the highest scoring fx 60 on futuremark's record at default settings (overclocked) and scored very high maxed out as well with my 8800gtx's @ stock speeds. i am in third place to similar systems specs only to fx 62's...and i beat simlar spec'd fx60's and 62's running 2 x 16x pci-e lanes compared to my 2x 8x lanes in sli. so i wanted to thank everyone for the advice. for now 8x laneswill do for a 8800gtx in sli. i'd post the screen shots of my mulitcompare on futuremark but i honestly don't know how on this forum....anyways heres my scores in more detail and as you can see between stock clock CPU w/ a single 8800gtx card to OC cpu with 8800gtx's sli'd i had gains in over all marks of 151%, hdr/ shader 3.0 178%, canyon flight 176%, deep freeze 180% (to name a few big jumpers @ 1920x1080 4x4 AA 8x ani)...so yeah heres the scores:

3DMark Score (3DMarks)
1280x1024 no aa (single card) 9466
1280X1024 no aa (sli) 10267
1280x1024 no aa (sli & overclock) 11532
1280x1024 4x4 aa 8x ani (sli) 9844

1920x1080 no aa (sli) 10033
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (single card) 6740
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli) 9350
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli & overclock) 10177


SM 2.0 Score (Marks)
1280x1024 no aa (single card) 4268
1280X1024 no aa (sli) 4271
1280x1024 no aa (sli & overclock) 4833
1280x1024 4x4 aa 8x ani (sli) 4245

1920x1080 no aa (sli) 4235
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (single card) 3052
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli) 4213
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli & overclock) 4708


SM 3.0 Score (Marks)
1280x1024 no aa (single card) 4704
1280X1024 no aa (sli) 5810
1280x1024 no aa (sli & overclock) 6477
1280x1024 4x4 aa 8x ani (sli) 5247

1920x1080 no aa (sli) 5515
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (single card) 2692
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli) 4614
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli & overclock) 4781


CPU Score (Marks)
1280x1024 no aa (single card) 2010
1280X1024 no aa (sli) 2004
1280x1024 4x4 aa 8x ani (sli) 2003
1280x1024 no aa (sli & overclock) 2256

1920x1080 no aa (sli) 2005
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (single card) 2001
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli) 2006
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli & overclock) 2255


1 - Return to Proxycon (FPS)
1280x1024 no aa (single card) 34.442
1280X1024 no aa (sli) 34.655
1280x1024 no aa (sli & overclock) 39.341
1280x1024 4x4 aa 8ani (sli) 34.317

1920x1080 no aa (sli) 33.993
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (single card) 26.286
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli) 33.98
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli & overclock) 38.868


2 - Firefly Forest (FPS)
1280x1024 no aa (single card) 36.697
1280X1024 no aa (sli) 36.521
1280x1024 no aa (sli & overclock) 41.215
1280x1024 4x4 aa 8ani (sli) 36.429

1920x1080 no aa (sli) 36.596
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (single card) 24.573
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli) 36.239
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli & overclock) 39.604


CPU1 - Red Valley (FPS)
1280x1024 no aa (single card) 0.634
1280X1024 no aa (sli) 0.632
1280x1024 no aa (sli & overclock) 0.711
1280x1024 4x4 aa 8x ani (sli) 0.632

1920x1080 no aa (sli) 0.632
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (single card) 0.631
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli) 0.632
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli & overclock) 0.711


CPU2 - Red Valley (FPS)
1280x1024 no aa (single card) 1.02
1280X1024 no aa (sli) 1.017
1280x1024 no aa (sli & overclock) 1.145
1280x1024 4x4 aa 8x ani (sli) 1.016

1920x1080 no aa (sli) 1.018
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (single card) 1.015
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli) 1.018
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli & overclock) 1.145


1 - Canyon Flight (SM 3.0) (FPS)
1280x1024 no aa (single card) 49.288
1280X1024 no aa (sli) 71.686
1280x1024 no aa (sli & overclock) 79.292
1280x1024 4x4 aa 8x ani (sli) 60.48

1920x1080 no aa (sli) 65.714
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (single card) 28.579
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli) 49.39
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli & overclock) 50.213


2 - Deep Freeze (SM 3.0) (FPS)
1280x1024 no aa (single card) 44.798
1280X1024 no aa (sli) 44.512
1280x1024 no aa (sli & overclock) 50.249
1280x1024 4x4 aa 8x ani (sli) 44.463

1920x1080 no aa (sli) 44.576
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (single card) 25.269
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli) 42.881
1920x1080 4x4aa 8x ani (sli & overclock) 45.417

btw heres my exact over clock i did via ntune in regards to over clock scores:

referance clock (HTT): 226.075 mhz
ht multiplier: 5.0x
cpu mulitplier: 13.0x
cpu core frequency: 2938.978 mhz
memory bus frequency: 452.150 (ddr) mhz
pci-e bus: 2825.00 mhz
pci bus: 37.000 mhz
gpu @ stock (2x gigibyte 8800 gtx) 576 mhz
gpu memory @ stock 900 mhz
November 28, 2007 7:48:36 PM

Valve's hardware survey is only really accurate for valve games, that are, lets face it, NOTHING compared to crysis. Your resolution is the thing getting your pc down, and valve does not think that you need to run at much higher than 1280*960 so their survey is correct for their own products st the resolution that THEY think is what people use. Unreal engine games will still run quite well (ie jericho(load of arse)) but nothing is really going to run nicely on the current hardware at your res, and valve are talking about running games on full with no AA no AF and at lowish resolutions as being good enough. The 8800 is not THAT good of a card if you look at what we will be seeing in the long run, and neither is the HD2900 or 3870, so if you want to run something at a huge res with all the bells and whistles , either wait for a new game to get old or play an old game now. Theory is always miles ahead of practice therefore there will always be a new application that will kill the latest hardware.

Ps, nice scores and nice pc.
November 28, 2007 8:08:25 PM

rayzor said:
this is exactly the reason i went for a 22" monitor. those uber resolutions can really take their toll on your systems longevity, and it's not always so easy to just "turn down the settings" so to speak. I'd prefer a mid-range resolution (like 1680x1050) if it allowed me to play a game like crysis at very high instead of high settings.

As for your situation, if I were you (and this is definitely an opinion) I'd sell my 42 incher and use it towards a nice 22" and some new hardware. Some people would call me crazy for saying this, but it's the way I'D prefer it. You may have different preferences. As to upgrading, this really isn't the best time to build a "futureproof" system, as a so called "mid-range" card is very nearly as good as the high end, which is at this point nearly a year old. At least wait for the next generation of DX10 video cards before you make any long term major investments, especially if you're not particularly desperate at the moment.


Would someone mind explaining to me how playing at 1080p would shorten the lifespan while 1680x1050 would not? Your system is amazing as it is (the only thing showing it's age is the proccesor, and even that can be upgraded to phenom if he wants), and the graphics card is second to none.
November 28, 2007 9:23:14 PM

no my cpu is topped out as i am running a socket 939 (ie fx-60) and i was wanting to put off my next "full build" for another few months. in real practice games wise jericho never drops below 60fps now...i use to stutter 30-40 fps with all the goodies tell i added another gtx. crysis, well yeah i get about a 1.4x increase fps using the directx 10 graphic hack/patch with sli but its still not awsome and don't expect to be tell i do actually totally rebuild down the road, but then again really who is getting 60fps in crysis anyways at 1080P...not I said the fly!!! thanks rabidpeanut about the scores, i am pretty darn proud to have earned top spot for fx-60 scores in futuremark, its the first time i have taken it for cpu/gpu combo of the same class and i have been using futuremark long before it was futuremark.com ;)  if you know what i mean.

starcraftfanatic....your resolution of 1680x1050 is right on the line of sli being helpful. you get some more fps but its not cost effective at the resolution...imo. 1600x1200, 1080p, 1920x1200 and above is where sli is worth the money if u have it to burn.... at 1680x1050 your talking 156000 less pixals than 1600x1200 which i consider the minuim for sli cost effectiveness (lets face it even than is it cost effective?...only if ur a bleeding edger like myself) moving to HD resolutions my cpu is certainly as low as i would go; its far from my first choice. to be honest it was a stop gap solution i came up with about april or so to see if i could get by tell decent pci-e 2.0 sli/crossfire boards hit the market. i did have a fx-55? 2.6 single core and knew games were just getting serious about using mulitple cores. that said if/when the phenoms hit 3ghz with decent stats i may do a new build or be tempted to wait for nethlam...i am not plunging money in a 775 when its so close to death, peryn or no peryn, i want an upgrade path longer than 8-10 months cpu wise. anyways short anwser to your question is more pixals needs more cpu and gpu power...
November 28, 2007 10:09:27 PM

rayzor said:
this is exactly the reason i went for a 22" monitor. those uber resolutions can really take their toll on your systems longevity, and it's not always so easy to just "turn down the settings" so to speak. I'd prefer a mid-range resolution (like 1680x1050) if it allowed me to play a game like crysis at very high instead of high settings.

As for your situation, if I were you (and this is definitely an opinion) I'd sell my 42 incher and use it towards a nice 22" and some new hardware. Some people would call me crazy for saying this, but it's the way I'D prefer it. You may have different preferences. As to upgrading, this really isn't the best time to build a "futureproof" system, as a so called "mid-range" card is very nearly as good as the high end, which is at this point nearly a year old. At least wait for the next generation of DX10 video cards before you make any long term major investments, especially if you're not particularly desperate at the moment.


hey razor on that note i can use the dot fot dot pitch on my hd screen and not have a warped picture at other resolutions and its still huge cause i have a 42"...no offense but i would be insane to get ride of my sharp aquos with 4ms pixal response with such features as those...if there was future proofing in a nice lcd....thats it right there.
November 28, 2007 10:12:23 PM

Yeah, I remember that thread from a while back when you said it was trash can time for your computer. I replied that according to the Steam surveys, your computer was up towards the top. Anyway, glad you made the move to the second GTX and that it scored so well with 3DMark. Your experience proves that though the 939 may be dead as far as upgrades past the FX60, it still isn't dead as far as computers go.

I had a FX60 machine myself back when I replied. I say "had", because my son's computer failed and I gave my FX60 computer to him. Now I'm using my old office computer and have a good excuse to build a new one. Phenom has turned into a disaster bomb, so that leaves either building Intel or building a AM2 machine. Intel's 775 LGA may be old, but its still very much up there in performance and I think it will stay around a while longer. AM2 is cheaper to build, but similar to the 939 platform, is one its way out. So I'm researching the Intel options so that when I buy, I can get three of more years out of the machine, allowing for video card upgrades.

Anyway, enjoy your computer and keep things in perspective. Its easy to get carried away on these forums and think your computer is old and useless, but as long as it runs a new game decently, then there's really no good reason to upgrade.
November 28, 2007 11:19:08 PM

sorry to hear about your sons machine...hate it when i have a chernobyl on my hands in the hardware department. as for building ur new machine i agree the phenoms have been a nightmare, though i suspect they will be competeive in about late january early feb...as for the am socket being dead...remember the am2+ socket while not a ddr 3 based board it will work with the am3+ cpu all the same cause of the dual IMC's they have to keep reverse compatiblity and hopefully more cpu upgrade longevity then a penryn...might not be bleeding edge but at least you won't run out of cpu's like i did with the fx 60 (though my mobo lasted for two years and nearly a third in cpu upgrades) in 8-10 months. if intels past record is any indictation on how they will want to push a new "platform" nethlam this time next year will certainly kill all any chance of new 775 socket cpu upgrades after its release. hell just look at that whole 680i mess and lack of compatiblity or just about every intel chipset out since the begining of time...reverse compatiblity is always low on there to do list.
November 28, 2007 11:21:37 PM

Man i just bought my pc and i feel outdated looking at some of these rigs you lot have.

:grumbles to self: rich bastards...
November 28, 2007 11:33:52 PM

yeah being an "bleeding edge enthusist" is anything but cheap i give u that!! what new egg needs is a trade/used compontent program for guys like me...get a little return on new parts and make it less expensive for enthusists with a budget. i mean if they took ur part gave it a stress test and gave it a 90 day warrenty to the new buyer...i see it as win win. i think i would build a whole new customer base they don't have. besides when u use something like Ebay....which i have done for good and naught....but isn't that its problem with ebay and pc compontents anyways. people sending parts that don't woork at all then say..."you must of fried it putting it in ur machine, pluging it in, taking it in the shower...not my fault thanks for the money!!!"
!