Build a PC for Rome 2 / Hardware Recommendations and Advice Thread

[bourboncream]

Sorry meant to add (cant edit posts for some reason), im running it on 580GTX... im assuming only 1 is being used... however using a SSD is a big upgrade imo for loading times.

[Tkcons]

The game will use over 2 GB of virtual Ram, so you will run into issues with higher texture quality as well as AA. Also, when you have a 40 on 40 battle the game will downgrade your graphics accordingly.

[bourboncream]

Anyone got news on SLI setups? Waiting for Nvidia I assume?

[Sarissofoi]

Hello guys.
Need some advice. Have like 600-700 £(can stretch to 750 if needed) to spend on desktop PC.
Can anyone advice me where in London or in online UK shop can I get parts? Configuration advices will be nice also.
Thanks.

[-Concrete-]

Just to give an update, I'm playing the game completely maxed at 1080 and while the frames can drop down to the twenties, I don't find it gamebreaking at all. It's not a first person shooter. When not much is happening it's very smooth indeed.

Basic list is;
i5-4670k at stock
GTX 770
8GB Ram 1600MHZ
120GB SSD

[alQamar]

Please be honest to tell them the average fps for this maxed out hardware setting. And those you have in Shogun 2 maxed out man. Your post is misleading otherwise.

[alQamar]

hello everyone,

I just would like to give you short pre-update about the upcoming AMD graphic cards. Some exciting news is that particular models will get a 512bit memory bus which boost the texture speed. Only very rare models of NVIDIA and AMD (respectively ATI) got that feature.

I do not thing the performance balancing is final as we will see vendor optimized (OC / cooled) versions very soon.

a german link but quite self explaining comparing price and price/performance rating:
http://www.computerbase.de/news/2013...zielle-preise/

[Wicked Moose]

Hi, I will probably buy a Crucial M500 240GB SSD soon to use for windows 7, programs and steam games. I have some last questions I'd like to ask here:
-I'm currently on a SATA300 motherboard, is that a big deal or not really? I was going to upgrade my CPU+mobo (to a SATA600 one) but I will wait with that for half a year.
-I read about moving your page file and hibernate files from your SSD to a HDD. Is this a good idea? Other tips for optimal use of space and lifespan of an SSD?

[alQamar]

you should not upgrade your mobo and stuff just to get SATA 600. I suggest to wait till DDR4 is out, very likely in Late Spring / Summer 2014 along some new CPUs

-I read about moving your page file and hibernate files from your SSD to a HDD. Is this a good idea? Other tips for optimal use of space and lifespan of an SSD?

hibernation is not a big point for a SSD and will improve the hibernation while not decreasing lifespan. It is not said SSD aren't allowed to read / write at all
My SSDs have a turnover of 3.6 Terabyte (in 561 hours uptime - Windows OS / Apps) and the other one with games 2.2 Terabyte (4244 hours uptime - Games) and none of the decreased in lifespan indicators yet.

You should just not do defragmentations (Windows will turn off his background defrag for hdd automatically on SSDs, along other stuff SSDs do not need)

I would disable swap file competely if you have 8 GB RAM or more. It is useless then imho.

[Wicked Moose]

Ok thank you for the helpful reply, alQamar Do you expect big improvements from DDR4? I don't know anything about it yet

[alQamar]

Yes I do. It was more than noticable with every upgrade so DDR1 > DDR2 > DDR3 > DDR4 and this time we have the benefit they can start with low latencies and high speeds due the small iteration processes
I will be epic.

[alQamar]

Here are some fresh and official information about the new AMD GPUs. Many of them are just rebranded again except the top models.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/A...ect_Cu_II_TOP/

Anyone who have already a mid/high end model of HD 6000 or 5000 series I would not recommend to upgrade at the moment.

[n3007]

I have Phenom II 1055T and HD 6950 both overclocked (and shaders unlocked from card obviously) but performance leaves something to be desired. Mid-lategame campaign map is really slow and very big battles lag a bit. Playing on ultra/extreme.

But is it worth to upgrade? They aren't really old hardware yet. Seems that Intel eats AMD processors alive so I'd need new mobo for starters.

[alQamar]

An upgrade of your processor would help more mate without exchanging the Mainboard

[n3007]

You mean something like FX-8350? Sure they are affordable but isn't Intel just better when gaming? Especially with the new Haswells.

[alQamar]

You mean something like FX-8350? Sure they are affordable but isn't Intel just better when gaming? Especially with the new Haswells.

Depends, with Rome 2 especially the FX8 CPUs perform very very good (does not apply for Shogun 2, except they fixed it with the last 2 undocumented patches we got). Sure Intels lead in performance but if you want an reasonable upgrade this would be one without a regret as you only need a CPU and a cooler (Coolermaster Evo / Artic Freezer 13)
You will like it much. Your GPU is much too fresh to be replaces especially as the mid range class GPUs (incl. R9 series) are relabeled ones

[n3007]

Huh, and I thought Rome 2 couldn't use multiple cores that well.. good if it isn't the case though.

Anyways, you got me looking for AMD again. FX-8350 doesn't seem a bad choice. My mobo isn't AM3+ but afaik Asus M4A89GTD Pro supports Piledrivers with most recent BIOS.

Still, Steamrollers aren't far away.. but then there's the possibility it won't even support AM3+, let alone old AM3.

[alQamar]

I think fx can work with am2 please lookup the amd white papers and the compatibility list of your Mainboard

If you have really to buy a new board don't go for amd anymore but an Intel i5. Feel free to keep me informed.

[Keiji99]

Would an i5-3350P and a Radeon HD 7950 work well together? Also, is it worth having the onboard-graphics chip at all?

[alQamar]

Hi Kejii, the 7950 is a good enough card for Rome 2. The problem is Rome 2 needs every bit of CPU performance it can get.

I would recommend you to think about an i5-3475S. It is just a little bit more expensive but has more turbo clock. The iGPU HD4000 is also included and powerful enough be a replacement for gaming on low / medium in case your 7950 get broken.
However instead of the 7950 you may look for one of the entry R9 cards.
see links above.