Will-my-pc-run-Arma3? What cpu/gpu to get? What settings? What system specifications?

[Groove_C 267]

Personally I wouldn't buy anything more expensive than 3600 MHz 16-16-16-36 (G.Skill Trident Z | Samsung B-Die) or 3600 MHz 16-18-18-38 (Crucial Ballistix | Micron E-Die) and probably wouldn't waste any amount of my time squeezing more performance out of the purchased kit.
I also wouldn't buy anything lower than 3600 MHz, because of bandwidth vs. current and most importantly upcoming games, with a very detailed/populated world, high resolution textures and very detailed 3D models, all of which are heavy on bandwidth.

Nice FPS difference you all can see here is only because it's only 1080p, only standard video settings and only singleplayer.
 

Only 1080p, only standard video settings and only singleplayer are used to be able to have as fair and reproducible results as possible, to be able to see what certain CPU and/or RAM can and not be restricted/influenced by the GPU.
These settings/conditions have naturally nothing to do with real 24/7 settings/conditions, used by majority of players, but it's done this way, because not everybody has a powerful/expensive GPU and 1440/2160p monitor(s).

At real 24/7 settings/conditions, like high, very high or ultra video settings + 1440/2160p resolution monitor(s) + multiplayer, FPS difference between 3600 MHz CL16 and 4000 MHz CL15, 4266 or 4400 MHz for a lot of money and difficulties to make them even work, is marginal at best and can only be measured, but not perceived, like at all.

For Arma, people with 7/8/9/10 gen Intel CPUs OC'ed to like 4.6-4.8 GHz have no reason to upgrade to Ryzen 5000, since in real 24/7 conditions/settings, performance difference is marginal at best.
+ in multiplayer, your PC performance will be limited by the server you connected to, depending on the hardware of the server, how efficiently the mission was written by its author and on number of players/AI/vehicles.

So instead of buying new CPU + mainboard + RAM, for Arma, if you have 2400/2666/2933/3000/3200 MHz RAM and terrible/high timings and only 8 or 16 GB, I would first suggest you to buy 32 GB 3600 MHz CL16 RAM.
And if your CPU runs at stock, OC it to at least 4.8 GHz.
This will definitely and noticeably improve the gameplay performance/experience.

[Groove_C 267]

YAAB 1.00 | Arma 2.00
1080p standard (CMA AVX2 malloc)
 

R9 5900X @stock | 2x16 GB 3600 MHz 16-19-19-39 | GTX 970 (3.5 GB) | SSD
FPS: 55 min | 82 avg

R9 5900X 4.6/1.8 GHz core/Infinity | 2x16 GB 3600 MHz 16-19-19-39 | GTX 970 (3.5 GB) | SSD
FPS: 58 min | 88 avg
i7-9700K 5.1/4.8 GHz core/cache | 4x8 GB 3600 MHz 16-19-19-39 | RX 470 (4 GB) | SSD
FPS: 48 min | 74 avg

i7-9700K 5.1/4.8 GHz core/cache | 4x8 GB 4000 MHz 15-15-15-28 | RX 470 (4 GB) | SSD
FPS: 57 min | 83 avg

R5 5600X, R7 5800X or R9 5900X @ 4.6 GHz with good 3800MHz CL14/15 or with a bit of luck 4000 MHz CL15/16 could deliver 10 min and avg FPS more, judging by Intel with 4000 MHz 15-15-15-28 RAM

 

 

 

 

 

[Mahatma Gandhi 29]

As a final assessment of the possibilities of a 3300x:

 

This is 3300x @45W cTDP + PBO (+150MHz); 2x8gb TridentZ 3600MHz @3800MHz CL15 + Subtimings; XFX RX470 4gb @stock - CMA_AVX2 malloc - 1080p Standard Preset+S-key

 

 

By the way, the board is an old school AsRock x370

 

15 hours ago, Groove_C said:

and probably wouldn't waste any amount of my time squeezing more performance out of the purchased kit

 

Not sure. There is a whole lot of performance hidden in the subtimings and in particular for the Micron E Dies, there are settings that basically always work out of the box.

 

[Groove_C 267]

1 hour ago, Mahatma Gandhi said:

Not sure. There is a whole lot of performance hidden in the subtimings and in particular for the Micron E Dies, there are settings that basically always work out of the box.

Well, if you play in singleplayer only and not higher than 1080p standard, then yes.

Otherwise, in multiplayer and at 1080p very high/ultra, the difference is marginal at best and can only be measured, but not perceived, like at all, because it's then around 5 FPS average and not minimum and only at low view distance, like 1500m.

If you increase the view distance to like 3000m or more, FPS difference will be <5 FPS average, not even talking about minimum FPS and 1440p/2160p resolution.
+ in multiplayer, your PC performance will be limited by the server you connected to, depending on the hardware of the server, how efficiently the mission was written by its author and on number of players/AI/vehicles.

I would still do it, personally, but don't recommend it to the majority of players, since this tiny marginal gain requires a lot of knowledge, time and patience.

[Mahatma Gandhi 29]

A friend in the German Ryzen RAM OC Community (spawn off the Computerbase.de Forum) going by the name ZeroCoolRiddler, gives some pretty impressive results from a 5800x running Micron-E Dies @4000MHz 1:1 with the FCLK.

 

 

To my knowledge, this is the first system to pass the 100 FPS sound barrier.

 

Interestingly, his min. FPS hit a mind boggling 71FPS which is pretty much exactly what I proudly presented as the max. FPS my 3300x could achieve a week ago.

 

The system ran the cma_x64 AVX2 malloc and a curved PBO, a new Zen3 AGESA function which allows a manually adjustable Boost behaviour in terms of frequency and voltage settings allowing to customize the boost behaviour with individual (and non escalating) voltage settings per core making curved PBO apparently the cpu optimizing method of choice on Zen3.

[gokitty1199 225]

9 hours ago, Mahatma Gandhi said:

A friend in the German Ryzen RAM OC Community (spawn off the Computerbase.de Forum) going by the name ZeroCoolRiddler, gives some pretty impressive results from a 5800x running Micron-E Dies @4000MHz 1:1 with the FCLK.

 

 

To my knowledge, this is the first system to pass the 100 FPS sound barrier.

 

Interestingly, his min. FPS hit a mind boggling 71FPS which is pretty much exactly what I proudly presented as the max. FPS my 3300x could achieve a week ago.

 

The system ran the cma_x64 AVX2 malloc and a curved PBO, a new Zen3 AGESA function which allows a manually adjustable Boost behaviour in terms of frequency and voltage settings allowing to customize the boost behaviour with individual (and non escalating) voltage settings per core making curved PBO apparently the cpu optimizing method of choice on Zen3.

Ordered 3200mhz cl14-14-14-34 ram to OC and challenge his score ;) (5900x OCed with 91.2fps with 3600mhz cl16-16-16-39 current)

[Valken 621]

I've been looking at prices vs performance and right now, I am stuck with the 5600X + MB or 5800X based on price. 

 

Thinking about the ASUS X570 P as it has really good VRM and only 25 USD more than the AsRock Phantom Gamer 4 B550!

 

And right now, 16 GB of DDR4-3200CL14 cost more than DDR4-4000CL19.

 

Twice the price! I could get 32GB and try to OC it to drop the CL.

 

16 GB of DDR4-3200CL16 is only  26 USD less than the above!

 

All this before new  GPU, PSU, SSD, case, KB+Mouse. 

 

So unsure of how to go at the moment.

 

 

 

 

[Groove_C 267]

@Valken where do you look for price of stuff you want to buy? what's the PSU you have now?

 

4000 MHz CL19 you can forget since it's not for AMD. 3200 MHz CL16 is really bad quality.

ASUS X570P is really bad quality. VRMs are weaker than on smoe other similarly priced boards, VRM cooling is weak, sound is trash and no passive cooling (aluminum plate) for M.2 SSDs.5600X has no feature, since I've seen in Hardware Unboxed review of Ryzen 5000 and games that are new, are heavy on cores (on their number) and this is only the beginning, so it should be not les than 16 threads + you shouldn't buy now, because of artificially too high prices for Ryzen 5000. It will calm down end December or beginning January.

[SaLaDiN 10]

Will post the direct comparision of 9900ks vs 5900x with the same ram and gpu on Monday once my 5900x arrives.

[Valken 621]

@Groove_C I look at local prices as I am not in EU anymore. 

 

I looked at  these MB:

 

Asus Prime B550 - very bad VRM but price is good.

Asrock Phantom Gaming B550 - good price, bad VRM

Asrock Phantom Gaming X570 slightly better VRM, higher price

Asrock Steel Legend X570 - good VRM, but price is crazy high, but

Asrock Steel Legend B550 - good VRM but price even HIGHER than X570!!! It has almost everything I WANT but price...

Asus Prime X570-P, good price, VRM is better than all of the above but no post code display or reset buttons. 

Asus TUF Gaming F, higher price, same VRM as Prime X570-P?

 

Regarding DDR4000, it was cheaper than 3200-CL16 or 3600-CL14 so I was thinking to buy it and clock it to 3800-CL16 or 17.

 

I checked and it is Samsung B-dies.

 

I agree with about the 8 core as it is now sold out in my region and for some reason, even X570 and B550 MB costs MORE than Intel right now due to demand for Ryzen.

 

My current PSU is the Corsair RM1000 (replacement for HX850 which blew up due to lightning storm, which blew up my old I5-850 system before Haswell. CPU and RAM still good, no MB).

 

But I have to buy a NEW system because I will keep my old system for family and pass it down to them. It is more than fast enough for their needs. 

 

Probably better to wait until January and see how AMD 6800/6800XT performs and buy it all at once.

 

 

[Groove_C 267]

@Valken the only board which is good is Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro or Pro AC (WiFi).

It has 6 layers PCB (copper), memory OC is very good, very very good sound, very good VRM and VRM cooling, passive cooling for M.2 SSD and a lot of USB ports and a lot of connectors for case fans.

 

And this is the RAM you should buy:
2x8 GB: https://geizhals.de/g-skill-flare-x-schwarz-dimm-kit-16gb-f4-3200c14d-16gfx-a1590064.html

2x16 GB: https://geizhals.de/g-skill-flare-x-schwarz-dimm-kit-32gb-f4-3200c14d-32gfx-a2151635.html

[Valken 621]

@Groove_C in my country, the ram is 185 USD for 16GB with RGB. There is no non-RGB! 😞

 

I will review the MB. Thank you for the recommendation.

[Groove_C 267]

@Valken see if you can find one of these:
https://geizhals.de/g-skill-trident-z-schwarz-weiss-dimm-kit-16gb-f4-3200c14d-16gtzkw-a1464588.html
https://geizhals.de/g-skill-trident-z-silber-schwarz-dimm-kit-16gb-f4-3200c14d-16gtzsk-a1464600.html

[Groove_C 267]

@Valken Crucial Ballistix 3600 MHz 16-18-18-38 is also really really good:
2x8 GB: https://geizhals.de/crucial-ballistix-schwarz-dimm-kit-16gb-bl2k8g36c16u4b-a2222472.html
2X16 GB: https://geizhals.de/crucial-ballistix-schwarz-dimm-kit-32gb-bl2k16g36c16u4b-a2222375.html

It's just few % behind Samsung B-Die. It's Micron E-Die. And 3600 MHz 16-18-18-38 is really good already.

[Valken 621]

@Groove_Cthese are my prices: 😞

 

G.Skill Trident Z RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 (F4-3200C14D-16GTZR)(ASUS AURA SYNC)(Intel XMP 2.0)184.50 USD

G.Skill Trident Z RGB AMD 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 (F4-3200C14D-16GTZRX)188 USD

G.Skill Trident Z Neo RGB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 (F4-3200C14D-16GTZN)(AMD Ryzen 3000)(CL14-14-14-34 1.35V)194 USD

G.Skill Trident Z Royal RGB16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 (F4-3200C14D-16GTRS)(Intel XMP 2.0) 210 USD

G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3200 (F4-3200C14D-32GTZR)(ASUS AURA SYNC)(Intel XMP 2.0) 321 USD

 

DESCRIPTIONPRICE

Crucial Ballistix 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3600 (BL2K8G36C16U4B) (Black) 89 USD

Crucial Ballistix 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3600 RGB(BL2K8G36C16U4BL)(Black)(3600MHz 16GB Kit 99 USD

Crucial Ballistix 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3600 BL2K16G36C16U4B)(Black)(3600MHz 32GB Kit) 174 USD

[Groove_C 267]

@Valken buy 32 GB Crucial Ballistix 3600 MHz 16-18-18-38 (BL2K16G36C16U4B) and you won't regret.

[Groove_C 267]

I will most probably buy this same Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro (AC) board and Crucial Ballistix 3600 MHz 16-18-18-38 RAM for R7 5800X, in the summer, because of $$$.

[Groove_C 267]

R7 5800X is pretty expensive, even if it was sold at the price recommended by AMD. I've never bought a CPU before for such a high price. But 5600X is not an option, because I don't want to be forced to build a completely new PC several years earlier and spending another 1000€ or more, several years earlier,  just because of the number of threads.

I feared I've made the wrong choice when I bought my i7-4790K instead of i5-4690K, but it turned out to be the right decision, considering I still have it today and it still performs relatively well.

[Tankbuster 1733]

5 hours ago, Groove_C said:

@Valken the only board which is good is Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro or Pro AC (WiFi).

It has 6 layers PCB (copper), memory OC is very good, very very good sound, very good VRM and VRM cooling, passive cooling for M.2 SSD and a lot of USB ports and a lot of connectors for case fans.

 

I've got the Intel version of this board (the Aorus Pro) , it's excellent.

[scruffy 21]

Did some testing with RAM speed myself, following Grooves procedure:

 

YAAB 1.00 | Arma 2.00
1080p standard (CMA AVX2 malloc)

3700X @stock | GTX 1080ti (11 GB) | SSD

 

2x16 GB DR 2133 MHz 15-15-15-36 2T (aka "what is a BIOS?" auto setting)
FPS: 33,7 min | 49,7 avg | 72,8 max

2x16 GB DR 3200 MHz 16-18-18-36 1T (aka cheap RAM kit)
FPS: 39,3 min | 61,2 avg | 85,7 max

2x16 GB DR 3600 MHz 18-19-19-39 1T (XMP for my kit)
FPS: 39,2 min | 63,4 avg | 91,8 max

2x16 GB DR 3600 MHz 16-18-18-36 1T (DRAM Calculator Fast timings)
FPS: 43,1 min | 67,5 avg | 96,3 max

 

 

YAAB 1.00 | Arma 2.00
1080p Ultra (CMA AVX2 malloc)

3800X @stock | GTX 1080ti (11 GB) | SSD

 

2x16 GB DR 2133 MHz 15-15-15-36 2T (aka "what is a BIOS?" auto setting)
FPS: 25,8 min | 35,5 avg | 58,4 max

2x16 GB DR 3200 MHz 16-18-18-36 1T (aka cheap RAM kit)
FPS: 30,7 min | 46,8 avg | 68,3 max

2x16 GB DR 3600 MHz 18-19-19-39 1T (XMP for my kit)
FPS: 33,5 min | 45,5 avg | 71,2 max

2x16 GB DR 3600 MHz 16-18-18-36 1T (DRAM Calculator Fast timings)
FPS: 34,5 min | 51,5 avg | 75,3 max

 

 

And to see a bit more GPU limit with only 5 runs averaged:

YAAB 1.00 | Arma 2.00
200% res-scale@1080p = UHD Ultra (CMA AVX2 malloc)

3800X @stock | GTX 1080ti (11 GB) | SSD

 

2x16 GB DR 2133 MHz 15-15-15-36 2T (aka "what is a BIOS?" auto setting)
FPS: 25 min | 36,2 avg | 55,3 max

2x16 GB DR 3200 MHz 16-18-18-36 1T (aka cheap RAM kit)
FPS: 29,6 min | 41,9 avg | 64,2 max

2x16 GB DR 3600 MHz 18-19-19-39 1T (XMP for my kit)
FPS: 29,4 min | 42,6 avg | 67,6 max

2x16 GB DR 3600 MHz 16-18-18-36 1T (DRAM Calculator Fast timings)
FPS: 30 min | 44,9 avg | 76,4 max

 

[Mckennitt 0]

Hi everybody! I'm actually playing Arma 2 ( single player missions ) with really high fps and soon I will buy Arma 3.

My system: i7 9700k / Gtx 1070 / Gsync 1440p 144 hz monitor / 16 Gb Ram Corsair Vengeance 3200 C16.

I will only play Arma 3 Single Player. And I'm used to play with more than 80 / 90 fps.

Do you think is it worth to upgrade my RAM to 3600 C16 or not? Could I win any more fps?

[nikiforos 450]

I consider to buy a new computer and my choice is between i7-10700k and AMD 5800X, what choice would be the most optimal for me? I usually build a new computer every 5 years so I want to buy a good CPU that will last some time.

PS
I only play single player.

Thanks!

[Groove_C 267]

1 hour ago, Mckennitt said:

Do you think is it worth to upgrade my RAM to 3600 C16 or not? Could I win any more fps?

You definitely will notice FPS increase, like 5 FPS if you get exactly this RAM kit:
2x8 GB: https://geizhals.de/crucial-ballistix-schwarz-dimm-kit-16gb-bl2k8g36c16u4b-a2222472.html

2X16 GB: https://geizhals.de/crucial-ballistix-schwarz-dimm-kit-32gb-bl2k16g36c16u4b-a2222375.html

[Groove_C 267]

6 minutes ago, nikiforos said:

my choice is between i7-10700k and AMD 5800X

5800X, but you need to wait like until the biginning of the next year for prices to come down a little.

Mainboard less than 200€ and 32 GB of very good RAM also less than 200€.

[Valken 621]

16 hours ago, Groove_C said:

I will most probably buy this same Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro (AC) board and Crucial Ballistix 3600 MHz 16-18-18-38 RAM for R7 5800X, in the summer, because of $$$.

 

@Groove_C I found a review with a Rzyen 9 3950X OC @ 4.3 GHZ all core on Open Bench (NO airflow):

 

Gigabyte B550 Aorus Elite @ 78  C on the VRM full load.

Asrock Steel Legend B550M has the SAME VRM as ATX version @ 86 C.

 

https://youtu.be/JxczZChFaZI?t=929

 

Using 3900X at full load:

 

Gigabyte B550 Aorus Elite @ 54  C on the VRM full load.

Asrock Steel Legend B55M  has the SAME VRM as ATX @ 54 C.

 

https://youtu.be/HSY9rDsQgd4?t=846

 

Asus Prime X570-P @ 73 C, but using 3900 before 3950 came out.

 

https://youtu.be/d31ZO22MZEM?t=593

 

The Prime X570-P is about the same price as the Gigabyte Aorus Elite but with Extra PCIE4 lanes. But it is barebones, no RESET, POWER buttons or code display.