bought a PC for sim play_could use help regarding choice of graphics card

[Jon]

Having more or less decided WGT is about as fun as getting a tooth pulled, I sucked it up and bought a refurbed pc. It's an HP compaq 6200 pro, i7-2600@3.4ghz w/32gigs ram. I'm looking for a little help from the community in a couple areas.
1. It is running windows 7 pro. Will this be sufficient for JNPG or TGC or am I going to need to install windows 8.1 or 10?
2. I'm inclined to get a graphics card that has the capability to produce3 quality image and sufficient refresh rate. The gtx 970 is pretty expensive. Are there other cards that do a pretty good job for these sims but are quite as expensive. Or is it a case in which you simply have to spend the money to equip your computer sufficiently in order to get the results that you want.

[cooke23]

1. Follow the directions here to upgrade to Windows 10 for Free. I've done it on 3 PCs so far. https://www.cnet.com/how-to/microsof...tive-features/
2. You really do need a good GPU. I have a 970 in one and a 1060 6GB in another and both run it on HIGH settings with no problem. I'd lean toward the 1060 6GB. You CPU is solid but unfortunately its really gonna spend most its days wondering when the hell you're gonna let it eat. CPU is really not important at all when it comes to a SIM PC. And the 32GBs RAM is GREAT, but yeah, won't really get utilized. I do recommend a SSD though (Samsung Pro series if its in the budget).

[aja]

Why are you suggesting the upgrade to Win 10, especially since this path is in essence not quite legit? Free upgrade if you need assistive technologies.... That doesn't apply to most of us.

Windows 7 Pro should be able to run either of these sims, last I heard.

[Jon]

Great info. I really appreciate the help. Yeah, I had been told by another forum goer that the i5 would be sufficient. Despite being a Mac user, I've always been a bit of a spec hawk and found a deal on that HP that I couldn't pass up. It looks like the 10 series isn't actually that much more expensive than the 970. Can you tell me what kind of real world differences you see between the performance of the two cards. If you look up the specs for the geforce cards, most of them have PCIe 3.0 listed for bus support. I gather from what I've read on different sites that PCIe 2.0 is sufficient for these cards. Is that right? By the way, I was reading on the spec sheet for the 1060 that it is capable of an amazing 8k 7680x4320@60hz. Are there even computers available today that are capable of that without some kind of customized aftermarket motherboard? Or is that max resolution regarding the total resolution sum between all monitors connected to the card.

[cooke23]

I just purchased a PC from Walmart that had a GTX 1060 3GB version in it. I'm only needing the PC for Business so I have no need for the graphics card and willing to sell it for 175+ shipping. Its brand new and sells for around $220 online.

Let me know if anyone interested.

Thanks

[StuartG]

1. Follow the directions here to upgrade to Windows 10 for Free. I've done it on 3 PCs so far. https://www.cnet.com/how-to/microsof...tive-features/

How does that improve anything for the sims - other then maybe better touch screen support? I can't speak in terms of using the OS for golf sims (I have to wait for the addition to be built) but for every other use of a computer, Windows 10 is a downgrade, not an upgrade and personally I'd avoid it as long as possible.

[cooke23]

I guess the main reason is Windows 10 will be supported longer and I put that in there because those on Windows 7 who dont upgrade NOW for “free” could be left to pay for the upgrade later. Also, I’m not in agreement that Windows 10 is a downgrade by any stretch of the imagination but to each they own. Rock Win7 if that’s what ya feel better about.

[StuartG]

"I’m not in agreement that Windows 10 is a downgrade by any stretch of the imagination but to each they own."

I may not agree, but I can respect that.

[Jon]

I know that it says the free upgrade ends 12/31/17 but i just did it a couple weeks ago, so I think it may actually still work. I, for one, greatly prefer windows 10 to 7