New FFXI Gaming PC (maybe XIV) - Video card needed

[Kiine]

I put the old threads info at end of post. People can read to get background, but it may not be entirely relevant.

I've basically decided it is time to make a new PC. Please make sure I've done nothing unwise in terms of parts and also help me with a video card.

Performance Goal:
1280x1024 full screen. 2560x2560 background res. Full shadows & weather. 28-30fps (23+ in high activity areas/combat). I don't use windower.
(note: I may go widescreen soon and would want similar performance in a 1920 x 1080 environment)

Processor: (I got this at a Microcenter for $199 (yes, they misprinted & honored) - link for HW compatability's sake)
Intel Core i7-875K Lynnfield 2.93GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Unlocked Desktop Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-368-_-Product

Motherboard:
ASUS P7P55D-E Pro LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131621

With this combo, I intend to OC the 875k above 3ghz to w/e is stable. 3.4 would be awesome.

RAM ( I will go for 8 GB of ram. x4 2GB)
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231277

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119160

Power Supply: (modular for preventing cable snarl)
CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-850HX 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139011

Optical Drive:
LG Black 10X Blu-ray Burner - Bulk SATA Model WH10LS30 LightScribe Support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136181

Opperating System:
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders

Main (only) Drive: (I use a NAS for data storage and a separate PC for internet and torrenting.)
Intel X25-V SSDSA2MP040G2R5 2.5" 40GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820167025

Processor Heatsink:
H50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835181010
(or H70? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835181013)


Graphics Card:
ATI.. and then I have no idea.

I was loooking at :
SAPPHIRE TOXIC 100282TXSR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102881

But it appears to be gone now. So I will welcome reccomendations that help me achieve my performance goal.


I'm going to be buying all the parts for this PC slowly as I watch New Egg for deals. Also, I've verified that Microcenter will price match certain New Egg items, so I will be looking to them again when I can.

Thank you.


Old threads and discussions here:

FFXI Gameplay problems.
http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87383
TL;DR Results: Never specifically fixed. Went to a SSD ( therefore a new drive - which could have been problem) and problems didn't seem to recurr.


New "20 month" PC - Please check for stupid oversights
http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89711

TL;DR: Current rig (e8400 wtih 4GB RAM and a 4870 1GB card) should chew up FFXI. Something's wrong
Results: Memtest OK'd RAM, collossal HD failure at later date. Replaced with SSD. Never bought the proposed system.

New "20 month" PC - Please check for stupid oversights
http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89711

http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95140
TL;DR: Video card is prolly toast. Had to replace SSD.

[Kylewhataru]

If you're gonna drop $350 on that 5850 just spend another $30 and get a 5870.

All of that is overkill for FF11, but will be ok for FF14.

[Binkie]

Really overkill for FFXI. But the thing is, even if you have a mega system sometimes ffxi just wont run perfectly because it's a port of a ps2 game.

Also, you should match your background resolution with your overlay resolution. It'll make it just a bit more crisper. ie: overlay 1280 x 1024 background: 2560 x 2048

[SaviorSelf]

Better yet, someone in the WTS section is selling a 5850 for $240. Could get that to save some cash.

[Kiine]

Building off the comments above,

Has anyone had a very good experience with a particular 5850 (or 5870 as the case may be) that will get me the level of performance I want?

And yes, I know that FFXI's going to more heavily rely upon outright proc power, but extremely high quality and performance is something for which I'll willingly pay well.

[Adajer]

How slowly do you plan on gathering parts? Be careful not to wait too long after purchasing in case you get some DoAs past 30 days.

[Kiine]

How slowly do you plan on gathering parts? Be careful not to wait too long after purchasing in case you get some DoAs past 30 days.

Good point...I can do it all at once.

[Artemicon]

Shop around, I got an XFX HD 5870 on ebay for 270 bucks, used but double lifetime warranty = win.

[Kiine]

Yeah. OK. So, I got all this information about the various suggestions and I've been watching all the other various threads and picking up good information, and I was getting ready to do this... and my company closed. So I've put the new PC issue on the back-burner.

I did get a new video card (XFX 4870), but I'm experiencing some odd lag. (short mkv movie here: http://www.madeofdoom.com/Kiine/pchell/menu%20lag.avi you can see the micro-lag about every 4.5 seconds). I'm using ATI Tray Tools with the 9.1 drivers. These were working fine before the PC started going to hell. I've pulled both RAM sticks and I've tried both old and new cards. I'm thinking about nuking the box, but I'd like other suggestions first.