Guild Wars 2

I’m planning to buy a new computer so that I can get 60 FPS in Lion’s Arch on any given day at any time. This is my current computer’s specifications:

Windows Vista Home Premium SP 2 (32 bit)
Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40 GHz
2 GB of RAM

Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB

I think I can get it up to 38 FPS if I move the camera view back from my character. The frame rate appears to drop if there are many other players like during the Winters Day event though.

What kind of hardware would I need to be able to get 60 FPS in Lion’s Arch on Best Appearance settings?

In ‘normal LA’ ..meaning no wintersday or halloween mods. u can get 60fps though u may still see some dips now and then. With wintersday or halloween mods nothing can keep fps at 60.

However..u would need at minimum.
Intel i5 3570k + OC to around 4.5ghz
Nvidia 660ti or AMD 7950. (for high settings)

The OC is the main thing here, since no stock CPU currently available would be able to keep FPS so high. Even with the OC u will find big WvW battles droping close to (but not under) 30fps.

You could also go and get a AMD FX 8350 CPU (AMD’s best offering) and OC that but it wont perform anywhere near as good as a Intel i5 3570k and would likely not give u the performance you want.

Heres a few links for CPU Hierarchy for gaming.
CPU Gaming Hierarchy

SingleThread CPU Chart

And for GPU’s …
GPU Chart

EDIT: -.- the ruddy filter is rly starting to get on my nerves .c.ant even link thanks to it. I’ll PM u the links.

Your link is not working

I know its the stupid forum filter.

Replace Kitten on the first link with 5. h
And kitten in the last one with s. h

my 920 @ 3.8 and 680 can usually get 60fps in LA, as long as no events are on packing the place with tree’s and fog.

some parts of Lions Arch are just heavy with weather effects for no real good reason.

SolarNova.1052:

However..u would need at minimum.
Intel i5 3570k + OC to around 4.5ghz
Nvidia 660ti or AMD 7950. (for high settings)

And for GPU’s …
GPU Chart

Thank you for the links. I just looked at the GPUs but is it true that the GeForce GTX 690 is even lower ranked than the GeForce GTX 680? If so, why is it since I read that the GTX 690 is supposed to be better than the 680?

How much RAM would you recommend?

The chart/list is per core.
So the 690 performance score is its performance on 1 of its cores. Remember the 690 is a dual GPU card so its bassicaly SLI in 1 card. Each core is more less a downclocked 680, hence why its beaten by the 680,670, 7970 and 580. But unless ur wiling to spend close to $1000 on graphics card, u need not worry about where the 690 comes in that list tbh :P

Besides unless ur going for a Quad (4) ‘card’ setup there is no reason to get the 690 as 2x 680’s will outperform an single 690. Only time its worth getting a 690 is if u get 3 or 4 of them, since getting 2 is the same as 4x 680’s which would give better performance, and since 4 cards is the most u can fit on a mothebroard (that i know of) only when u go above 4 GPU’s is it worth getting the 690, in which case u would be getting 3 or 4 of them.

Ok so RAM:
8gb is enough, and easy to get in Dual Channel, bassicaly 2 sticks of 4gb, however it wouldn’t be considered super overkill to get 16gb since it doesnt cost much anyway. I would recommend however if u go 16gb, that u get again a dual channel kit of 2x 8gb sticks, since the Ivybridge processors are dual channel optimised.
Make wise …well it depends on what CPU cooler u go for, if u get top of the range air coolers, they tend to be massive (like the Noctua NH-D14) and hang over the top of the RAM slots, so you need low profile RAM, in which case G.Skill or Mushkin are good for. If u get a smaller Air cooler or go water cooling, then Corsair would do fine.

If you are planning on getting a 690, there’s only really one to choose:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130781

This one was recently released a few months back, and is currently the only 690 still being produced due to the card actually not performing as well as it should. Reason why this one was released later, was because EVGA figured out how to cool the kitten thing properly with just one fan. (Since no other company made a 690 with more than one fan.) This way, the card can perform better than the previous ones that were released. The GTX 680 actually released after the 690 iirc, and this one by EVGA released after that, quite a bit later actually.

But like above, you’re better off only getting it if you plan to get more than one. (Keep in mind, you’d need one hell of a PSU to do more than one, they take a chunk out.)

You can always go for professional versions of NVIDIA too (Quadro) but their specs are labeled differently than consumer cards.

Also, never EVER buy from PNY.

erm, no, the 680 was definitely released before the 690, since the 690 is 2 underclocked 670 gpu’s….

Squall Leonhart.2075:

erm, no, the 680 was definitely released before the 690, since the 690 is 2 underclocked 670 gpu’s….

So… if it’s two underclocked 670s, wouldn’t it have come before the 680 then? Didn’t the 670 come before the 680?c

60 FPS IN LA?

lol i dont even achieve it on maxed ( sometimes little dips like 40 – 50 sometimes under )
i5 3570K 4.5GHZ stock Vcore
GTX680 Lightning edition 2GB
Asrock Extreme Z77 4
2×4GB
SSD 128 m4
1TB HDD

better optimize the gameeeee AA!!

also dont buy Qaudros they perform WORSE the normal video cards.

they are meant for Photoshop / editing ..

SolarNova.1052:

Besides unless ur going for a Quad (4) ‘card’ setup there is no reason to get the 690 as 2x 680’s will outperform an single 690. Only time its worth getting a 690 is if u get 3 or 4 of them, since getting 2 is the same as 4x 680’s which would give better performance, and since 4 cards is the most u can fit on a mothebroard (that i know of) only when u go above 4 GPU’s is it worth getting the 690, in which case u would be getting 3 or 4 of them.

Ok so RAM:
8gb is enough, and easy to get in Dual Channel, bassicaly 2 sticks of 4gb, however it wouldn’t be considered super overkill to get 16gb since it doesnt cost much anyway. I would recommend however if u go 16gb, that u get again a dual channel kit of 2x 8gb sticks, since the Ivybridge processors are dual channel optimised.
Make wise …well it depends on what CPU cooler u go for, if u get top of the range air coolers, they tend to be massive (like the Noctua NH-D14) and hang over the top of the RAM slots, so you need low profile RAM, in which case G.Skill or Mushkin are good for. If u get a smaller Air cooler or go water cooling, then Corsair would do fine.

Well, I’ve read that the GTX 690 has lower temperatures and lower power consumption than a pair of 680 in SLI. Is this true?

What brand of RAM do you recommend if I’m looking for a dual channel kit of 2x 8gb sticks?

I like using mid-tower cases as I use the extra space on my desk for a printer and 5 surround sound speakers.
What about the Corsair Obsidian 550D? Will the GTX 690 or two GTX 680 in SLI even fit in such a case?

I’ve heard that water cooling can pose a problem in mid-towers as they may prove too big for those cases. Since you recommended Corsair, is the Corsair H100 a good idea in a case like the Corsair Obsidian 550D?

Iyeru.5240:

Squall Leonhart.2075:

erm, no, the 680 was definitely released before the 690, since the 690 is 2 underclocked 670 gpu’s….

So… if it’s two underclocked 670s, wouldn’t it have come before the 680 then? Didn’t the 670 come before the 680?c

GTX 680 March 22, 2012
GTX 670 May 10, 2012

Why 60 fps? You can only see 24… As long as you’re over 30 consistently you should be fine.

please, don’t post that completely false nonsense about the eye only seeing 24fps.

eyes don’t have a shutter or a frame rate, and below 40fps is simply not visibly smooth in most games.

garyoak.7284

Well, I’ve read that the GTX 690 has lower temperatures and lower power consumption than a pair of 680 in SLI. Is this true?

What brand of RAM do you recommend if I’m looking for a dual channel kit of 2x 8gb sticks?

I like using mid-tower cases as I use the extra space on my desk for a printer and 5 surround sound speakers.
What about the Corsair Obsidian 550D? Will the GTX 690 or two GTX 680 in SLI even fit in such a case?

I’ve heard that water cooling can pose a problem in mid-towers as they may prove too big for those cases. Since you recommended Corsair, is the Corsair H100 a good idea in a case like the Corsair Obsidian 550D?

Yes the 690 ‘should’ have lower power and heat ..but tbh when ur looking at a 690 ur likely going to be building a monster performance rig ..and saving energy or thinking of heat is not somthing u should be worrying about, since a bigger PSU and better cooling will fix this.

RAM: G.Skill,Mushkin, and Corsair all do 2×8Gb kits.

As for the 680 and 690 grpahics cards, they should fit in all modern day mid towers and above.

Water cooling in the 550D would be fine if u went with a Corsair h100 as it uses a 240mm Rad, and the 550D case is designed with their own cooling setups in mind. So if u want the 550D then u should be able to water cool if you want. But tbh for $150 u could get,imo, better cases.. NZXT comes to mind, so does Coolermaster.
I would also go completly custom if i went water cooling, otherwise i would stick with top end Air cooling, the jump from a Noctua NH-D14 to a H100 temp wise isnt much and imo not worth the ~$30 price jump. However case space becomes a premium wiht the Noctua..its massive, it is however VERY quiet even at full speed.. quieter than the H100 stock fans.

If u went Noctua CPu cooler & case fans + a GTX 680 this would be what ur case would be like inside.
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165930
Depending on the graphics card u get and power supply ..that setup would be silent.

Squall Leonhart.2075:

please, don’t post that completely false nonsense about the eye only seeing 24fps.

eyes don’t have a shutter or a frame rate, and below 40fps is simply not visibly smooth in most games.

This man speaks truth. Eyes can tell the difference all the way up to 600 Hz on Plasma, and farther still.

I can vouch for Mushkin. I have these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226184 (Four sticks total)

And the lower stock voltage means it runs slightly cooler, yet still can get 1600 MHz at 1.35 volts.

SolarNova.1052:

Yes the 690 ‘should’ have lower power and heat ..but tbh when ur looking at a 690 ur likely going to be building a monster performance rig ..and saving energy or thinking of heat is not somthing u should be worrying about, since a bigger PSU and better cooling will fix this.

RAM: G.Skill,Mushkin, and Corsair all do 2×8Gb kits.

As for the 680 and 690 grpahics cards, they should fit in all modern day mid towers and above.

Water cooling in the 550D would be fine if u went with a Corsair h100 as it uses a 240mm Rad, and the 550D case is designed with their own cooling setups in mind. So if u want the 550D then u should be able to water cool if you want. But tbh for $150 u could get,imo, better cases.. NZXT comes to mind, so does Coolermaster.
I would also go completly custom if i went water cooling, otherwise i would stick with top end Air cooling, the jump from a Noctua NH-D14 to a H100 temp wise isnt much and imo not worth the ~$30 price jump. However case space becomes a premium wiht the Noctua..its massive, it is however VERY quiet even at full speed.. quieter than the H100 stock fans.

If u went Noctua CPu cooler & case fans + a GTX 680 this would be what ur case would be like inside.
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165930
Depending on the graphics card u get and power supply ..that setup would be silent.

Okay, how about this proposed setup then?

Intel Core i7-3960x 3.5GHz
EVGA nVIDIA GTX 690
corsair obsidian 550d
PATRIOT DDR3 4X4GB 1600
Windows 8
92MM DBB ROHS Antec tricool fan
3 × 120MM blue led Antec tricool fan
Asus P9X79 PRO
Western Digital 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0
LG DVD Burner – SATA
Antec TruePower Quattro 1000W

3960X ..overkill ..if u truly want a 6core Intel ..get the 3930k ..only the clinically insane would buy a 3960X :P
More seriously though ..for pure gaming the 3770k would be the best u can get, clock for clock its better than the 3930k for gaming, but at high OC’s they both eventually even out performance wise..so tbh a 3770k would be a better choice.
RAM wise if u go for a 3770k u would want to get 2×8gb as the Ivybridge CPU’s r dual channel not quad.

If your only considering getting 1 GTX 690 ..don’t get it ..get 2x GTX 680’s instead ..cost is about the same. .but the performance is better. Not only that ..in games that don’t like SLI .u can disable it and still have the wicked power of a fully fledged 680 ..if u get a 690 and disable SLI ..ur then running on a downclocked 670.
Also ..screw Windows 8 ..stick with windows 7.

With those changes u will have saved money ..so get a SSD ..probably be able to afford a 240gb one and maybe even change the HDD to 2x 10,000 RPM 500GB ones to stick in RAID0 ..so then u have a relatively fast storage drive also.

SolarNova.1052:

3960X ..overkill ..if u truly want a 6core Intel ..get the 3930k ..only the clinically insane would buy a 3960X :P
More seriously though ..for pure gaming the 3770k would be the best u can get, clock for clock its better than the 3930k for gaming, but at high OC’s they both eventually even out performance wise..so tbh a 3770k would be a better choice.
RAM wise if u go for a 3770k u would want to get 2×8gb as the Ivybridge CPU’s r dual channel not quad.

If your only considering getting 1 GTX 690 ..don’t get it ..get 2x GTX 680’s instead ..cost is about the same. .but the performance is better. Not only that ..in games that don’t like SLI .u can disable it and still have the wicked power of a fully fledged 680 ..if u get a 690 and disable SLI ..ur then running on a downclocked 670.
Also ..screw Windows 8 ..stick with windows 7.

With those changes u will have saved money ..so get a SSD ..probably be able to afford a 240gb one and maybe even change the HDD to 2x 10,000 RPM 500GB ones to stick in RAID0 ..so then u have a relatively fast storage drive also.

I am still concerned about power consumption, noise and heat from the added GTX 680 in SLI but I guess I’ll just have to find out first hand whether it compares to what I have now.

I read that Guild Wars 2 works just fine with Windows 8. Why keep using Windows 7?

Someone complained that my PSU is overkill though!

Okay, how about this setup then?

Core i7-3770K 3.40 GHz
2 x nVIDIA GTX 680 in SLI
corsair obsidian 550d
CORSAIR DDR3 16GB 1600 Vengeance SDRAM
Windows 8
92MM DBB ROHS ANTEC FAN TRICOOL FAN
3 × 120MM BLUE LED ANTEC FAN TRICOOL FAN
Asus P9X79 PRO
Intel Cherryville 120 GB Internal Solid State Drive
Western Digital 500 GB Sata 3.0, 7200 RPM – Black
LG DVD Burner – SATA
CORSAIR HX Series HX850 850W ATX12V 2.3

Personally, I’d get the CPU with the largest CACHE and fastest stock speed. Two 680’s will draw more power and generate more heat than a single 690 – however they will outperform the single 690. I’d go with the 4GB models.

You can always turn off SLI and run a single card with ether setup. A 1000W PSU if fine for this kind of setup (I use a 1200W). When running in SLI the top card (nearest the CPU) always runs hotter so you’ll want a fan on the panel on the side of your case that is 2-3x more CFM than your standard ‘off the shelf’ case fans. (get it from an online electronic parts store) Most ‘case specific’ fans are designed for quiet and not for moving enough air to keep two high end cards cool.

Aye that setup looks ok. Do remember to get a good aftermarket CPU cooling system as you will want to OC that CPU to around 4.5ghz or higher.. Ether top end air ..or custom water.
Of the shelf water cooling solutions work ..but for the price they r not really worth it over a top end air cooler imo. Only go water if ur willing to spend the time and effort to put together a custom loop.

PSU wise 850W should be ok.

The P9x79 Pro motherboard has the x16 SLI PCIE slots spaced at oposite ends of the motherboard, so u wont have an issue with heat between them. The slot closest to the CPU should act just like a single GPU setup..i.e no problems heat wise..thats asuming ur case has good airflow to begin with, which, from the list u provided, looks like it will.