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Advice for gaming on a 5.1 Mac Pro? (Six core)

Does
Inutopia said:
Get a 970, you'll be good for all current games at 1440p.
Click to expand...

That card seems like one of my best bets so far.
How long is it likely to be relevant? As an estimate.


Thanks
[doublepost=1468580458][/doublepost]Is Windows 7 or 8 still a usable platform for gaming? Or is everything going to go Windows 10 now.

I noticed all the games announced at e3 by Microsoft this year, are also to be released for Windows 10, so I presume all of those games only run on Windows 10 and non of the older versions?

I'd be using bootcamp to play games, so aside from the graphics card this is also something I need to think about.
 
LMR80 said:
Does


That card seems like one of my best bets so far.
How long is it likely to be relevant? As an estimate.


Thanks
[doublepost=1468580458][/doublepost]Is Windows 7 or 8 still a usable platform for gaming? Or is everything going to go Windows 10 now.

I noticed all the games announced at e3 by Microsoft this year, are also to be released for Windows 10, so I presume all of those games only run on Windows 10 and non of the older versions?

I'd be using bootcamp to play games, so aside from the graphics card this is also something I need to think about.
Click to expand...

For new licenses/purchases/installs, just go with Windows 10. There is no reason to get a license for Windows 7 unless there is a specific need. If you already have Windows 7, you can use that or the free upgrade still exists. A lot of stuff will be coming out for Windows 10 only now.
 
cMP 2010 is a great machine, but CPU and Intel chipset and RAM are really old now, so single threaded performance will be lackluster. You will get good geekbench scores in multi-core, but most games don't use too many cores.

Either way, the most important part is the GPU, so if you can get a 980Ti in there (I've seen new ones for $369 nowadays) you'll be golden at 1440p gaming and even VR. But you won't have new support like Vulkan and other little nuggets here and there.
[doublepost=1468586312][/doublepost]
LMR80 said:
Does


That card seems like one of my best bets so far.
How long is it likely to be relevant? As an estimate.


Thanks
[doublepost=1468580458][/doublepost]Is Windows 7 or 8 still a usable platform for gaming? Or is everything going to go Windows 10 now.

I noticed all the games announced at e3 by Microsoft this year, are also to be released for Windows 10, so I presume all of those games only run on Windows 10 and non of the older versions?

I'd be using bootcamp to play games, so aside from the graphics card this is also something I need to think about.
Click to expand...

Get a 980Ti, it's only $369 now. Saw an MSI one the other day. That card will last you a while.

Windows 10 is a must and cheap, M$ is pushing it really hard. I bought an OEM copy the other day for $15. If you have Windows 7/8 10 is still free I think.
 
xWhiplash said:
For new licenses/purchases/installs, just go with Windows 10. There is no reason to get a license for Windows 7 unless there is a specific need. If you already have Windows 7, you can use that or the free upgrade still exists. A lot of stuff will be coming out for Windows 10 only now.
Click to expand...

I don't have a Windows 7 license, but if I bought one and installed it now, I could just upgrade to 10 from there, right?

Thanks.
[doublepost=1468590249][/doublepost]
SDAVE said:
cMP 2010 is a great machine, but CPU and Intel chipset and RAM are really old now, so single threaded performance will be lackluster. You will get good geekbench scores in multi-core, but most games don't use too many cores.

Either way, the most important part is the GPU, so if you can get a 980Ti in there (I've seen new ones for $369 nowadays) you'll be golden at 1440p gaming and even VR. But you won't have new support like Vulkan and other little nuggets here and there.
[doublepost=1468586312][/doublepost]

Get a 980Ti, it's only $369 now. Saw an MSI one the other day. That card will last you a while.

Windows 10 is a must and cheap, M$ is pushing it really hard. I bought an OEM copy the other day for $15. If you have Windows 7/8 10 is still free I think.
Click to expand...

Interesting, thanks for the tips.

The 980ti is a little over my budget, but if it's worth it for the long term maybe I'll go with that, then.

Understood on the single threaded performance.
I'm interested in unreal engine development, too - something I can't even run now with the stock Mac ge-force card as they've stopped supporting it.

I bought and use my Mac for music production, which isn't too power hungry, but I figured seen as I want to get into this next generation of gaming when the current consoles aren't very appealing, and dable in unreal engine, I may as well use my Mac, even if it's not optimal.

I'm not really very up to date on the current tech curve.
I haven't bought a new TV or monitor since 2010, so modern day features of a high performance graphics card will definitely be lost on me for the time being; with neither of my viable options display wise supporting the resolutions the cards boast as their potential.

I guess I'm just trying to project into the future, which is, of course, a difficult thing to do.
With having not made the jump to newer gaming hardware since 2007 when I got my Xbox, the prospect of jumping into the PC rhelms is definitely daunting, and it's difficult to make the right decision and judge how long a bit of gear is going to last me and weather I'll get my money's worth, and how fast the cycle goes with PC gaming as far as obsoletion of a particular Card, CPU or whatever.
I'll undoubtably be getting a new TV/monitor soon.
I think I ought to do some digging and research this further.
 
FWIW - My 3.47 GHz / Titan X cMP 5,1 runs Doom 2016 and Overwatch at an unwavering 60 fps on ultra settings, 1920x1200 res. So they definitely can game, but you might run into problems if you want to go 4K / VR / 120 Hz.
 
Demigod Mac said:
FWIW - My 3.47 GHz / Titan X cMP 5,1 runs Doom 2016 and Overwatch at an unwavering 60 fps on ultra settings, 1920x1200 res. So they definitely can game, but you might run into problems if you want to go 4K / VR / 120 Hz.
Click to expand...

I've got a mildly OC'd GeForce 980 (non-ti) and I see 45-60fps in Doom at 4k/Ultra settings on my 3.46GHz/cMP 5,1 using Vulkan. Going to put a 980ti in soon and see how it runs at 4k.
 
Doom 2016 on PC seems to run well in general. Well optimised game put out from Id Software.

LMR80 said:
I don't have a Windows 7 license, but if I bought one and installed it now, I could just upgrade to 10 from there, right?
Click to expand...
This is the most economical way to get Windows 10 and I've done it several times:
  • Buy a used copy of W7-Pro from a "Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR)" on Amazon.
  • Install it, immediately do a free upgrade to W10-Pro using Windows Update. Your machine's fingerprint is now on record with Microsoft as having "Digital Entitlement" to W10-Pro.
  • Burn a DVD (or make a USB drive) of the official W10-Pro ISO and clean install it. Its license will activate automatically because of the Digital Entitlement.
Since Microsoft have said W10 is the last version of Windows and will be updated indefinitely, hardly any money effectively gets the machine free Windows for life.
 
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gsloan said:
I've got a mildly OC'd GeForce 980 (non-ti) and I see 45-60fps in Doom at 4k/Ultra settings on my 3.46GHz/cMP 5,1 using Vulkan. Going to put a 980ti in soon and see how it runs at 4k.
Click to expand...

I would wait until the 1080 personally. No reason to get the 980ti when benchmarks show a massive improvement with the 1080s. Unless you can find a REALLY REALLY REALLY good deal with the 980ti. I thought about getting one too, but I am just saving for when 1080s are back in stock instead.
[doublepost=1468601947][/doublepost]
frou said:
Doom 2016 on PC seems to run well in general. Well optimised game put out from Id Software.


This is the most economical way to get Windows 10 and I've done it several times:
  • Buy a used copy of W7-Pro from a "Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR)" on Amazon.
  • Install it, immediately do a free upgrade to W10-Pro using Windows Update. Your machine's fingerprint is now on record with Microsoft as having "Digital Entitlement" to W10-Pro.
  • Burn a DVD (or make a USB drive) of the official W10-Pro ISO and clean install it. Its license will activate automatically because of the Digital Entitlement.
Since Microsoft have said W10 is the last version of Windows and will be updated indefinitely, hardly any money effectively gets the machine free Windows for life.
Click to expand...

Actually, you can just get the Windows 10 ISO and, during Windows 10 install, provide the Windows 7 key and it will work. Saves a step of installing 7, then upgrading.
 
SDAVE said:
Windows 10 is a must and cheap, M$ is pushing it really hard. I bought an OEM copy the other day for $15. If you have Windows 7/8 10 is still free I think.
Click to expand...

So, any good online store for this kind of OEM copy? $15 sounds very good deal.
 
xWhiplash said:
Actually, you can just get the Windows 10 ISO and, during Windows 10 install, provide the Windows 7 key and it will work. Saves a step of installing 7, then upgrading.
Click to expand...
In my experience that will not always activate. Maybe quirks of using the refurbished product keys.
 
xWhiplash said:
I would wait until the 1080 personally. No reason to get the 980ti when benchmarks show a massive improvement with the 1080s. Unless you can find a REALLY REALLY REALLY good deal with the 980ti. I thought about getting one too, but I am just saving for when 1080s are back in stock instead.
[doublepost=1468601947][/doublepost]

Actually, you can just get the Windows 10 ISO and, during Windows 10 install, provide the Windows 7 key and it will work. Saves a step of installing 7, then upgrading.
Click to expand...

But isn't the 1080 double the price?
[doublepost=1468614425][/doublepost]
frou said:
Doom 2016 on PC seems to run well in general. Well optimised game put out from Id Software.


This is the most economical way to get Windows 10 and I've done it several times:
  • Buy a used copy of W7-Pro from a "Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR)" on Amazon.
  • Install it, immediately do a free upgrade to W10-Pro using Windows Update. Your machine's fingerprint is now on record with Microsoft as having "Digital Entitlement" to W10-Pro.
  • Burn a DVD (or make a USB drive) of the official W10-Pro ISO and clean install it. Its license will activate automatically because of the Digital Entitlement.
Since Microsoft have said W10 is the last version of Windows and will be updated indefinitely, hardly any money effectively gets the machine free Windows for life.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips, I'll check that out
[doublepost=1468614493][/doublepost]
SoyCapitanSoyCapitan said:
Try free upgrade option lasts only two more weeks!

Just find yourself a Win10 OEM license. Most PC hardware shops sell them.
Click to expand...

I'll have a look, thanks
[doublepost=1468614608][/doublepost]
Demigod Mac said:
FWIW - My 3.47 GHz / Titan X cMP 5,1 runs Doom 2016 and Overwatch at an unwavering 60 fps on ultra settings, 1920x1200 res. So they definitely can game, but you might run into problems if you want to go 4K / VR / 120 Hz.
Click to expand...

gsloan said:
I've got a mildly OC'd GeForce 980 (non-ti) and I see 45-60fps in Doom at 4k/Ultra settings on my 3.46GHz/cMP 5,1 using Vulkan. Going to put a 980ti in soon and see how it runs at 4k.
Click to expand...

That's good to know, thanks for the info.

Will be interesting to see how the 980ti runs at 4K in the MP
 
LMR80 said:
Does


That card seems like one of my best bets so far.
How long is it likely to be relevant? As an estimate.


Thanks
[doublepost=1468580458][/doublepost]Is Windows 7 or 8 still a usable platform for gaming? Or is everything going to go Windows 10 now.

I noticed all the games announced at e3 by Microsoft this year, are also to be released for Windows 10, so I presume all of those games only run on Windows 10 and non of the older versions?

I'd be using bootcamp to play games, so aside from the graphics card this is also something I need to think about.
Click to expand...

If I was installing Bootcamp right now I'd go Win10 all the way. It's great for games right now and will become more important once DX12 gets cooking. 970 has you covered for DX12 too.

On your other question, it varies per person obviously, but I'm expecting my 970 to last me another 3yrs maybe, on top of the 1 year I've already had it. Obviously it won't still be running games maxed out then, but I see it as a card that's going to be useful for quite a while, a lot like the 8800GT was back in the day.
 
SDAVE said:
See if this works:

http://opiumpulses.com/store/1259/windows-10-professional

Don't mind the ugly/shady site. Worked for me.
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing me to this direction. I end up able to get a Win 10 pro genuine key for just $3.5 from taobao.com. I didn't expect it's so easy, just paid for it, and they send me the key in seconds. I am not 100% sure why this thing can exist, but I can sure the key is real, because my Windows 10 pro is downloaded from MS, and the key work as expected.
 
h9826790 said:
Thanks for pointing me to this direction. I end up able to get a Win 10 pro genuine key for just $3.5 from taobao.com. I didn't expect it's so easy, just paid for it, and they send me the key in seconds. I am not 100% sure why this thing can exist, but I can sure the key is real, because my Windows 10 pro is downloaded from MS, and the key work as expected.
Click to expand...
In Windows, press WinKey+R, and type "slmgr.vbs /dlv" and a dialog will appear with extra detail about the current license. The thing to look out for is a mention of Volume Licensing or "VL" because that probably means lots of people will end up using the same key. I think something mentioning "COA" is the safest to have.
 
frou said:
In Windows, press WinKey+R, and type "slmgr.vbs /dlv" and a dialog will appear with extra detail about the current license. The thing to look out for is a mention of Volume Licensing or "VL" because that probably means lots of people will end up using the same key. I think something mentioning "COA" is the safest to have.
Click to expand...

You are right. I just check the details, it's MAK. And that particular key can be use for another 1001 times.

Of course not as good as a permanent key. But For just $3.5, I am OK for that. And I rarely need to re-install Windows anyway (more likely I only need to recover from an activated backup image file if something goes wrong).
 
h9826790 said:
Thanks for pointing me to this direction. I end up able to get a Win 10 pro genuine key for just $3.5 from taobao.com. I didn't expect it's so easy, just paid for it, and they send me the key in seconds. I am not 100% sure why this thing can exist, but I can sure the key is real, because my Windows 10 pro is downloaded from MS, and the key work as expected.
Click to expand...

Not sure if that key you got is real or fake, I know there are a lot of fake ones on eBay as well for very cheap.

However, the link I sent you was posted on a really popular website and no one had a problem with it, so....
 
It's nice to not have to think about license activation with macOS.

Instead, we have to think about Apple obsoleting the entire computer :p
 
xWhiplash said:
Nope. I was looking at a new 980ti on newegg and it was around $600.
Click to expand...

SDAVE said:
Keep looking, saw it on NewEgg for $369 just a few days ago.

http://www.nowinstock.net/computers/videocards/nvidia/gtx980ti

Keep checking this link.
Click to expand...

gsloan said:
http://www.evga.com/Products/Feature.aspx

eVGA has a sale on some of their 980ti cards - $399 after $50 MIR.
Click to expand...

I'll keep checking new egg, and that site seems very useful.
I'm from the UK so prices vary somewhat here, but the 980ti isn't as much on those sites as I've seen it on amazon and eBay, so that's good.
It was double the 970 most of the those on those sites.

Thanks
[doublepost=1468716095][/doublepost]The 1060, 1070 and 1080 look interesting too, I've seen a couple of people mention them here.cnit sure weather they'd be over kill for me and my machine, however.
No drivers yet though, any idea when they'd be comeing out? As an estimate from previous releases with cards?
 
Inutopia said:
If I was installing Bootcamp right now I'd go Win10 all the way. It's great for games right now and will become more important once DX12 gets cooking. 970 has you covered for DX12 too.

On your other question, it varies per person obviously, but I'm expecting my 970 to last me another 3yrs maybe, on top of the 1 year I've already had it. Obviously it won't still be running games maxed out then, but I see it as a card that's going to be useful for quite a while, a lot like the 8800GT was back in the day.
Click to expand...

That makes sense, thanks for he tips.
I suppose three years is a decent amount of time, and they are pretty cheap as it goes.

I don't really know much about direct X, I'll have to look into that.

Thanks
 
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