Alienware Alpha for TGC or PG?

[Vincent_Vega]

I know this topic is becoming redundant, but I have a question regarding computing power. I understand what video cards for the most part a desktop PC requires to play TGC but I haven't seen anyone mention the Alienware Alpha. It's more or less a slightly more powerful PS4 or Xbox One. Dell has them 30% off right now. I would need to upgrade the Ram and put in a SSD but the total would come to around $470 after doing so. If my PS4 will play TGC, shouldn't this Aienware Alpha be able to? Specs listed below. Any input is appreciated.



Processor: Processor: Intel Core 4th Generation i3-4170 Processor (3MB Cache, up to 3.7 GHz)
Operating System Windows 8.1 (Free Upgrade to Windows 10 Home)
Hard Disk Drive 500 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
Memory 4GB DDR3L at 1600MHz
Video NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M graphics with 2GB GDDR5
Base Alienware Alpha Desktop
Software Upgrade 64BIT Operating System
Office Software Office 365 - 1 Month Trial (Internet access required to install & activate)
Network Interface Card Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160 802.11ac, 1x1, 2.4 & 5GHz + Bluetooth 4.0
Hardware Upgrade 125V Power Cord
130W A/C Adapter, 3P
Processor Heatsink
Steam OS chassis
Steam OS chassis
Video card heatsink
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller / Black

[aja]

Processor not up to snuff, graphics card too weak.

Please read my post about TGC computer and graphics cards requirements.

http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/golf-simulator-brands-and-types/the-golf-club/61692-tgc-computer-and-graphics-card-requirements

[Bogey33]

I need wireless though...a lot of the desktops are not wireless.unless I am mistaken...

[goodmatt78]

You can get a wireless usb single or a pcie wireless card. I bought the latter and it's awesome....cost 30 bucks.

[Vincent_Vega]

Processor not up to snuff, graphics card too weak.

Please read my post about TGC computer and graphics cards requirements.

http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/...d-requirements

Thanks Aja, very informative. I just can't figure out why TGC plays fine on a PS4 yet requires such a beefy GPU to play on a PC. Maybe the frame rates and settings were extremely dumbed down on the PS4 version and I just didn't notice it. Thought it played pretty well on PS4. Thanks for your input.

[aja]

See my post below. The PC or console game is not the same thing as the TGC Golf Sim.

[Timdm3]

I have same graphics card with an i7 processor in my laptop and am able to play b/w 30 - 60 fps @ medium quality.

[aja]

I have same graphics card with an i7 processor in my laptop and am able to play b/w 30 - 60 fps @ medium quality.

Are you running the golf sim or the PC game?

I'd suspect that you are running the PC game and not the golf sim.

Here are the requirements to be able to run the TGC PC game (scroll down to system requirements):

http://store.steampowered.com/app/269730/

The minimum graphics requirements are pretty light.

Here are the requirements for the TGC golf sim:

http://csc.protee-united.com/hc/en-u...Club-Simulator

There is a huge difference in the Graphics Cards that are specified. The TGC Golf Sim is graphics intensive.

Unfortunately too many people are suggesting that if you can run the Steam (PC) version of TGC on your computer, then you will be able to run the TGC Golf Sim. That is plainly not true and is bad advice.

The PC game TGC is not the same as the TGC Golf Sim.

[Timdm3]

I am running Sim. TGC with skytrak. Just played Honda classic with no problems (except for water).

Not trying to give bad advice, just telling it like it is. I initially did not think my laptop would be able to run TGC and I was going to wait for Pg, but I played with a few settings in the NVidia control panel and it increased my fps from 15 - 20 to 30+. Note I am using medium settings at 1080p with trees turned pretty far down. I think it still looks great.

[Shardak]

Most of this information is incorrect. The Steam version and SIM version are perform exactly the same. Its the same engine (unity 4), the same code with a plug in to allow Skytrak API. The amount of GPU/CPU power required to run each version is probably less than 2% different.

[Vincent_Vega]

I am running Sim. TGC with skytrak. Just played Honda classic with no problems (except for water).

Not trying to give bad advice, just telling it like it is. I initially did not think my laptop would be able to run TGC and I was going to wait for Pg, but I played with a few settings in the NVidia control panel and it increased my fps from 15 - 20 to 30+. Note I am using medium settings at 1080p with trees turned pretty far down. I think it still looks great.

Very odd that the graphical requirements are different between the regular version and sim version. They appear to be the exact same other than the fact that the sim version is just translating launch monitor data in to the game.

Thanks Tim. I'm leaning toward just building a budget machine with something like a 750ti in it or maybe a 960. Both of those cards can handle AAA modern titles at 1080p so surely they can play TGC on medium settings at a respectable frame rate. Then again I might just bite the bullet and jump on a 970 HP deal for $900. Just hate to drop that kind of money on something that I'm only going to use a few months out of the year. Tis the cost of doing business in the sim world I suppose.

[loll_l]

Are you running the golf sim or the PC game?

I'd suspect that you are running the PC game and not the golf sim.

Here are the requirements to be able to run the TGC PC game (scroll down to system requirements):

http://store.steampowered.com/app/269730/

The minimum graphics requirements are pretty light.

Here are the requirements for the TGC golf sim:

http://csc.protee-united.com/hc/en-u...Club-Simulator

There is a huge difference in the Graphics Cards that are specified. The TGC Golf Sim is graphics intensive.

Unfortunately too many people are suggesting that if you can run the Steam (PC) version of TGC on your computer, then you will be able to run the TGC Golf Sim. That is plainly not true and is bad advice.

The PC game TGC is not the same as the TGC Golf Sim.

This post by aja has worried me... I have an i7-4720 CPU and a GTX-860M GPU and my laptop runs 'The Golf Club - Collectors Edition' fine (although I do have to turn the tree details down)

I was told in a separate thread that it would run the simulator exactly the same but this post seems to be suggesting it won't! Can someone please clarify this for me either way please.

If only there was a demo available!

[keither5150]

Your cpu is a little weak. Your video card can run TGC on low or medium settings... Turn the trees too far down and they will look like minecraft. If that happens go to low. Even on low, it doesn't look that bad. Comparing a gaming PC to the Xbox one is not really a fair comparison. The xbox one runs a video card equal to about a Radeon 7770. The xbox uses some tricks of the trade to get the most out of cheap hardware. A 7770 vid card will run most games at 1/2 the FPS of the minimum required card for TGC. To those that think that TGC runs fine on Xbox and PS4. You really need to see it at 60 FPS with the trees turned up a bit. 60FPS offers smooth panning. On PS4 or Xbox one, watch the trees when the ball lands, it's really choppy. ProTee's explanation below is absolutely correct. Search Keither5150 on youtube and watch a video that is 60FPS. Make sure you watch it in chrome 720/60FPS or better.

[ProTee United]

The graphics engine is exactly the same. The confusions is probably in the minimum computer specs required for the Steam version vs the minimum specs we require for the Sim version.

We don't want you to run TGC at low detail on 15 fps. That will ruin the entire experience. Therefor we (ProTee) decided to set the minimum specs at a much higher entry level so it will show great looking graphics that will make you smile. Sim users invest a lot more than just software. You need hardware, cage, etc.

Also, some hardware (like ProTee, GSA, etc) need extra CPU and GPU to process camera images and perform other background tasks (like processing sensor data), so its not just the game that runs on the PC. Trust me, that will not run on an Intel Core 2 Duo

[Vincent_Vega]

The graphics engine is exactly the same. The confusions is probably in the minimum computer specs required for the Steam version vs the minimum specs we require for the Sim version.

We don't want you to run TGC at low detail on 15 fps. That will ruin the entire experience. Therefor we (ProTee) decided to set the minimum specs at a much higher entry level so it will show great looking graphics that will make you smile. Sim users invest a lot more than just software. You need hardware, cage, etc.

Also, some hardware (like ProTee, GSA, etc) need extra CPU and GPU to process camera images and perform other background tasks (like processing sensor data), so its not just the game that runs on the PC. Trust me, that will not run on an Intel Core 2 Duo

This makes more sense than the two being different graphically and is what I suspected. Thanks for the clarification!

[jake]

I just ordered the i5 version of the Alpha - scheduled to arrive in a week. I'll post once I receive it and have a chance to test.

[jake]

I finally had a chance to get the Alpha i5 setup for a test drive. So far so good, although my setup is not all that demanding. I've got an outdoor simulator setup with a CP-x251 projector circa 2006 I got for free. Wasn't going to throw down a lot of cash for a projector that lives outside. So, that said, the game runs very smoothly at low res. Native is 1024x768 on this projector. In the dialogue box that pops up when starting the sim, I'm running at that resolution, medium quality. Getting 60 FPS.

Incidentally, does anyone know what the low/medium/high quality setting prior to launch actually does? Are these three different presets for the graphics settings within TGC, or something additional to those? The Alpha is able to handle a little bit more tree detail and distance, but once I turn those gauges to about 30% of max, I see frame rates drop to around 30FPS, which has always been my assumed 'playability' threshold.

Side note, the Alpha resides indoors in a media closet, and I'm piping the HDMI feed wirelessly to the outdoor simulator about 50 feet away using an IOGEAR GW3DHDKIT. I'm super impressed with this little gadget, and would recommend in the event that you want your PC to sit away from your sim and can't/don't want to run HDMI through the walls. I wouldn't expect it to do much better than 50 ft through one wall, but if your distance is within that range, might be worth consideration

So, its not going to be the powerhouse that runs TGC at 4k and full detail, but I can confirm the i5 Alpha with a 'modified' GeForce 860M is quite capable of running the sim version of TGC at medium-low graphics settings and roughly 3 sec delay. If we buy a new house with space for an indoor sim room, I'll consider an upgrade of projector and PC, but this is great for now.

[Vincent_Vega]

Your cpu is a little weak. Your video card can run TGC on low or medium settings... Turn the trees too far down and they will look like minecraft. If that happens go to low. Even on low, it doesn't look that bad. Comparing a gaming PC to the Xbox one is not really a fair comparison. The xbox one runs a video card equal to about a Radeon 7770. The xbox uses some tricks of the trade to get the most out of cheap hardware. A 7770 vid card will run most games at 1/2 the FPS of the minimum required card for TGC. To those that think that TGC runs fine on Xbox and PS4. You really need to see it at 60 FPS with the trees turned up a bit. 60FPS offers smooth panning. On PS4 or Xbox one, watch the trees when the ball lands, it's really choppy. ProTee's explanation below is absolutely correct. Search Keither5150 on youtube and watch a video that is 60FPS. Make sure you watch it in chrome 720/60FPS or better.

There's some definite studder on certain courses on the PS4 version. As someone who's never gamed on PC's, I think I've just become accustomed to poor frame rates on consoles. I'm considering just ditching the console all together and ponying up for a good rig and gaming on it from now on in addition to using it for my golf sim. I'll check out your videos, thanks!

[Vincent_Vega]

I just ordered the i5 version of the Alpha - scheduled to arrive in a week. I'll post once I receive it and have a chance to test.

Cool. Look forward to hearing your review.