Battlefield 3 PC upgrades

ArranJ · 26 Aug 2011 at 18:30

So I've decided that I'll invest in some extra cooling and buy another 120mm to slap on the heatsink, then overclock the balls out of the thing.

I have also reviewed my decision on the gfx card route and am looking at spending a little bit more for an GTX 570 Twin Frozr III power edition, but I think I might come a little unstuck with this decision.

Looking at the power consumption and the minimum spec that it is listed, I don't think the Enermax Noisetaker 600w is going to be able to handle it.
The box states that you need at least 38A on the +12v rail, the Enermax when it was NEW was only 35A on the +12v, is this going to majorly affect things??

Cheers

ArranJ · 26 Aug 2011 at 21:08

Bump, can anyone shed some like on the PSU situation, I am itching to place an order!!

SH4RKY · 27 Aug 2011 at 00:23

You mentioned 120fps... I assume you will be playing with every setting on low to try and achieve that?

ArranJ · 27 Aug 2011 at 08:30

Indeed you are correct, online I will be yes.

However I am more concerned about the PSU situation if anyone can help?!

SH4RKY · 27 Aug 2011 at 11:23

Not sure to be honest, it will probably be ok until the card needs the full draw then I imagine it would stutter/crash etc.

Question is, do cards use max power while in game, or is the stated max just a theoretical max when under simulated load like a stress test...

If you would need a new PSU to run the 570 would that stop you buying the 570?

ArranJ · 27 Aug 2011 at 17:44

Well it would certainly make the decision harder, as essentially I don't want to be crashing constantly when playing bf3 (upon release)

However thinking about it I will get paid again at the end of Sept before it is released in oct, so could very much factor in a new PSU upon next pay day.

Still leaves me a little baffled as to whether it is going to work in the mean time though :s

fowler002 · 27 Aug 2011 at 18:29

I know its already been suggested but 6950 toxic would be my choice, 1 review said they had to mess about with overdrive etc but another review I read didn't mention anything like that just flick the switch while another said they flashed the bios(tho not sure if they just ment they flicked the switch or actually flahed the bios.

ArranJ · 27 Aug 2011 at 19:07

Aye, the 6950 Toxic does look to be a nice card, but the benchmarks clearly show that Nvidia GPU's are far more capable currently.

However this could all change like it did years ago when ATI was leading the field...!

ArranJ · 2 Sep 2011 at 12:45

Well, I ended up changing my plans!

Ended up buying a GTX 570 Frozr 3 power edition and a new Corsair 700w psu.
Got the old Q6600 under another fan and running at a stable 3465mhz, ready for some battlefield three now...

Only another 2 months to wait, sighduck!