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Minimum TGC computer requirements that runs great
I've commented randomly in various posts on this subject but thought it would be worthwhile to collect the main info in one thread. I'll cover the key pieces that often get spec'd and if anyone has more info please post as well.
1) CPU
Most people spec an i7, and a top of the line one at that. But IMO that is way overkill with no visible benefit.
I use the slowest Skylake i5 (2.7ghz) and it only consume about 50% when running at 60 fps. There is lots of excess capacity.
My bottom of the line i5 may not even be the lower limit. I don't think anyone has tested an i3 with the proper graphics card (970 or 1060 or above). That would be an interesting test. Personally I'd guess it will run but not with enough margin to be comfortable in real life...but I could easily be wrong. It may be suitable (or not) for people on an absolute shoestring budget but until the test is done we'll never know.
2) Memory
Most people spec 16gb or 32 gb and sometimes more. But that also is way overkill with no visible benefit.
TGC memory usage is around 1.3Gb. Add in Windows 7 usage and the total computer still never uses 4 Gb.
I use 8 Gb and only because 4 Gb wasn't available/cheaper. 8 Gb never all gets used.
3) Power Supply
Most people spec 600, 750 watt or higher power supplies. This again is vast overkill with no benefit.
My fully loaded system when running TGC flat out with a 970 draws less than 200 watts.
A 1060 draws even less power than the 970.
So a 500 watt supply is plenty. It already has more than 100% margin.
4) Cooling (Case and CPU)
A lot of people buy extra fans, some even have conductive cooling. But given a decent case this adds nil value.
I have the stock Intel CPU fan that came with the i5 and the stock fan that came with my case and all my temperatures are solidly in the golden zone for longevity.
I'll post the actual temps later as I don't recall them off the top of my head. Bottomline, just make sure you have a decent case.
5) Hard Drive
Most people spec an SSD in addition to the SATA drive. I have one but except for faster bootup and loading I'm not sure it has any value in TGC. It probably has value if also recording your rounds with Shadowplay but I'm not sure. If anyone has done the testing to determine if it has a visible benefit then that would be good info.
6) Graphics Card
This is the important part. Most people used to spec a 970 as running great and being the sweet spot.
I use a 970 and can say it runs great. Good detail and 60 fps. The equivalent card today is the 1060 which is cheaper and uses less power so it is probably the new sweet spot..
I've overclocked my 970 to 980 levels and cranked the detail to max compared to my stock setting of object 4. There was hardly any improvements at all so I went back to stock and my standard setting of detail 4. This suggests to me that a 1070 would add something (mostly in slightly smoother play on a few really demanding courses) but the value for money is low. Go for it if you have unlimited budget, otherwise the 1060 is almost the same and much cheaper.
7) Laptop versus desktop
A lot of people buy laptops for the convenience. Laptops are generally less reliable, harder to fix/upgrade and certainly more expensive. So personally I wouldn't do it unless I had a real need. You could probably buy a decent desktop that runs TGC great and a decent laptop for general use for the same money. Or better yet buy a TGC desktop as per above and, with the saving, get TGC software for free!!
8) What specs to up scale if you have extra money burning a hole in your pocket?
Assuming you have a modern i5 or better, then probably the only thing that provides a tangible return on your extra $$ would be the graphics card. Just keep up-spec'ing that until your money runs out! LOL
If you don't sleep well with a bottom of the line i5 then maybe up-spec that a little. It might speed up shot to show times for systems using the CPU to process the launch data but the improvement is probably small. Most of the benefit will be in your sleep, not in TGC but sleep is important too! LOL
Conclusion:
My general conclusion is that nowadays TGC only needs a mid-range computer (modern i5 and up) to run top notch with good margin. The key is a decent graphics card. And even that is becoming middle of the road since a 1060 runs great compared to the higher cost cards like a 1070/1080.
So...save your money and get TGC for free!
1) CPU
Most people spec an i7, and a top of the line one at that. But IMO that is way overkill with no visible benefit.
I use the slowest Skylake i5 (2.7ghz) and it only consume about 50% when running at 60 fps. There is lots of excess capacity.
My bottom of the line i5 may not even be the lower limit. I don't think anyone has tested an i3 with the proper graphics card (970 or 1060 or above). That would be an interesting test. Personally I'd guess it will run but not with enough margin to be comfortable in real life...but I could easily be wrong. It may be suitable (or not) for people on an absolute shoestring budget but until the test is done we'll never know.
2) Memory
Most people spec 16gb or 32 gb and sometimes more. But that also is way overkill with no visible benefit.
TGC memory usage is around 1.3Gb. Add in Windows 7 usage and the total computer still never uses 4 Gb.
I use 8 Gb and only because 4 Gb wasn't available/cheaper. 8 Gb never all gets used.
3) Power Supply
Most people spec 600, 750 watt or higher power supplies. This again is vast overkill with no benefit.
My fully loaded system when running TGC flat out with a 970 draws less than 200 watts.
A 1060 draws even less power than the 970.
So a 500 watt supply is plenty. It already has more than 100% margin.
4) Cooling (Case and CPU)
A lot of people buy extra fans, some even have conductive cooling. But given a decent case this adds nil value.
I have the stock Intel CPU fan that came with the i5 and the stock fan that came with my case and all my temperatures are solidly in the golden zone for longevity.
I'll post the actual temps later as I don't recall them off the top of my head. Bottomline, just make sure you have a decent case.
5) Hard Drive
Most people spec an SSD in addition to the SATA drive. I have one but except for faster bootup and loading I'm not sure it has any value in TGC. It probably has value if also recording your rounds with Shadowplay but I'm not sure. If anyone has done the testing to determine if it has a visible benefit then that would be good info.
6) Graphics Card
This is the important part. Most people used to spec a 970 as running great and being the sweet spot.
I use a 970 and can say it runs great. Good detail and 60 fps. The equivalent card today is the 1060 which is cheaper and uses less power so it is probably the new sweet spot..
I've overclocked my 970 to 980 levels and cranked the detail to max compared to my stock setting of object 4. There was hardly any improvements at all so I went back to stock and my standard setting of detail 4. This suggests to me that a 1070 would add something (mostly in slightly smoother play on a few really demanding courses) but the value for money is low. Go for it if you have unlimited budget, otherwise the 1060 is almost the same and much cheaper.
7) Laptop versus desktop
A lot of people buy laptops for the convenience. Laptops are generally less reliable, harder to fix/upgrade and certainly more expensive. So personally I wouldn't do it unless I had a real need. You could probably buy a decent desktop that runs TGC great and a decent laptop for general use for the same money. Or better yet buy a TGC desktop as per above and, with the saving, get TGC software for free!!
8) What specs to up scale if you have extra money burning a hole in your pocket?
Assuming you have a modern i5 or better, then probably the only thing that provides a tangible return on your extra $$ would be the graphics card. Just keep up-spec'ing that until your money runs out! LOL
If you don't sleep well with a bottom of the line i5 then maybe up-spec that a little. It might speed up shot to show times for systems using the CPU to process the launch data but the improvement is probably small. Most of the benefit will be in your sleep, not in TGC but sleep is important too! LOL
Conclusion:
My general conclusion is that nowadays TGC only needs a mid-range computer (modern i5 and up) to run top notch with good margin. The key is a decent graphics card. And even that is becoming middle of the road since a 1060 runs great compared to the higher cost cards like a 1070/1080.
So...save your money and get TGC for free!
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