Initial PC Construction – Custom Star Citizen Setup
Initial PC Construction – Custom Star Citizen Setup
I considered cutting costs by avoiding streaming, editing, and recording gameplay. I want to play only the game without extra resources. Does this mean I can lower the CPU usage a bit? It shouldn't force multitasking unless Star Citizen actually gains from its cores or hyper threads—that’s why I asked. 1080p resolution.
I’m really interested in getting into Arena Commander and the FPS is almost finished... maybe I should wait a bit longer. It looks like most people believe it’s not possible to build a machine until the full release. I thought going a bit too far ahead would work out. It seems unlikely that SLI 970s could handle 1080p settings, though I get what 4K is about.
They provide comparisons for a 980 Ti, 980 SLI, and 970 SLI configurations. The review highlights that using two 970 units in SLI isn't worth the extra cost. It suggests saving money by choosing one 980 Ti and allocating it elsewhere. Additionally, the 980 Ti offers 6GB of RAM compared to the 4GB available with the 970 models.
Sure, I understand. I took the shortcut into the game and didn’t run a full test. It ran for about 12 minutes, which is typical for its current state. At 4690k with a single 970 and 16GB RAM on low settings, it’s using a lot of CPU power. The performance is quite heavy right now. I expect a more accurate benchmark later if you’re interested. I’ll aim to finish the testing once the game’s frame rate stabilizes. This setup should be suitable for a standard PC, but I’d wait until you see the actual numbers before proceeding.
I’d definitely choose the 980 Ti. I’m moving up from my 970, which works fine but lacks the power boost I need. Also, I don’t see much value in SLI given the limitations and missing support for many titles. The 980 Ti is powerful and the extra 6GB VRAM will really help with textures.
thanks for the info. two 970s is less than 20 bucks more. here is just one video about 980 vs 970 sli. http://youtu.be/MX64E1XnzMc I'd like to see what you think. the guy in this video rambles a bit at the beginning.
he often goes off on long tangents but honestly, most of us will still recommend getting a GTX 980 Ti. it offers better stability and strong performance. even with older games, boosting textures can push you past VRAM limits. 3.5 GB is decent, but it’s far less efficient than 6 GB, and some titles won’t run smoothly without sacrificing graphics. It’s ultimately your choice, but I still think the 980 Ti is worth considering.
Plan ahead by waiting a year or more before purchasing hardware. Buying a PC solely for Star Citizen now is a poor decision. If you really want to join quickly, opt for lower-end options and aim for systems designed for it closer to release. Unless you’re comfortable with suboptimal performance at launch or willing to spend extra for current-gen parts, consider waiting. Upgrading now is likely the least advantageous time due to upcoming hardware changes like smaller GPUs, HBM2 availability, and DX12 architectures. We’re still in the early transition phase of next-gen PCs.
For a smooth experience, consider purchasing an i7-6700K, a 970 or R9 390 processor, and a 512GB SSD. This setup ensures you're well-equipped for now and can upgrade later to more powerful options like Pascal while saving costs. The SSD will be especially useful for Star Citizen, significantly reducing load times. Currently, a 128GB drive suffices for both the operating system and the game, but as the game progresses, its size may reach around 100GB. Beyond that, future updates and expansions—such as those seen in GW2—could further increase storage needs.