Question How to upgrade this Golf Simulator?

[thegreatdelcamo]

[Moderator Note: Moving thread from Motherboards to PC Gaming.]

I'm looking to upgrade my current Golf Simulator computer. Currently, it is basically a stock unit I got a year ago, before I had any idea what I was getting into. Since that time, I've added three monitors, a microphone (triggering device for the swing software), and another keyboard and mouse so I can operate the computer from adjacent locations.

When I added the fourth monitor, a 32" OLED 4K unit, I began to experience considerable stuttering (which I presume is frame loss of some sort) on certain golf courses that I want to be able to play. Looking at Task Manager, I can see that the current GPU, a 4080 Super, is mostly maxed out. I also note that my RAM use is above 30 Gig of my 32 Gig system. I will try to post a video of the frame stuttering I experience, as well as similar issues with the swing software.

I use GSPro, version 3. GSPro says that the minimum requirement is a 3080, but SurfThing https://surfthing.com/blogs/gspro/gspro-v2-5-3-38-pc-performance-test-results has done more extensive testing and notes that obtaining 60 fps (for the older version 2 software) is not an easy task for even a 4070, though obtainable for a 4080. However, they are using only one 4K monitor, without other things happening. And for me, that other stuff is my ProTee software which includes high-speed video of the club hitting the ball, PLUS Swing Catalyst software running two high-speed cameras with slow-motion video on two of the monitors, one of which is 4K.

I'm asking a lot of this system.

CPU: Ryzen 7 7700X

CPU cooler: Unknown 280

Motherboard: ASUS Prime B650M-A AX II, Bios Version 1811-AMD AGESA Combo AM5M5PI 1.0.8.0

Ram: 32 XPG Lancer DDR5 RGB 5600MHz 32GB (2x16GB) CL36-36-36 UDIMM

SSD/HDD: Two WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X NVMe, one as boot, one as yet unused storage

GPU: I have two, the MSI Ventus 3X 4070 Ti that came with the system, and an ASUS TUF Gaming 4080 Super

PSU: Unknown mfg, 750 Watt, 2023

Chassis: Lian Li 216

OS: Windows 11 Pro

Monitors/Projectors: BenQ TK710STi 4K UHD Golf Simulator Projector, MSI MPG 321UX 32” 4K OLED monitor, ROG Strix XG249CM 23.8 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080), 270Hz*, Dell 2424 HT 24” touch monitor.

In addition:

two keyboards
two mice
GSPro control box
microphone
USB backup disk

I have another GPU (4070 Ti) and, based on comments I received in these forums in another post, I'm considering going Intel and getting the ROG Z890 Apex motherboard, which will allow me to install both GPUs while also preserving the two 4.0 PCIe slots for the future (i.e. POE card for better cameras, and a USB 3.0 card for more USB ports). With a big PSU, my thoughts are that this system would be sufficient to run everything I want. Probably, I'd go with the 265 Ultra CPU as I can get it for half the price of the 285.

Frankly, I'd prefer to stay with AMD, but to do that I'd have to swap my two GPUs for a 4090 or 5090, though I'd be able to spend a bit less on the motherboard, PSU, and memory (the CUDIMM stuff is expensive).

And I'm attentive for any comments you may have!

Cameron

 

[Lutfij]

Computer:
AMD 7700X
4080 Super, displaying the projector and the two mirrored displays
The 4th monitor is connected to the integrated GPU in the Ryzen 7700X processor
32 Gig of ram
Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitors/Projectors:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

Maybe we can salvage the system without you having to swap platforms(and having to spend too much).

I am thinking of upgrading this system because I sometimes experience choppy video on the projector and my swing cameras are often dropping frames. This leads me to think that I may need a more powerful graphics system and some combination of better swing cameras and/or the interface into the computer (quality high-speed cameras via a POE PCIe card).
Is it possible for you to pass on a video to show how choppy the gameplay/simulation is? You can host your video on a site akin to Imgur and then pass on a link here for us to see.

Frankly, I'd prefer to stay with AMD, but to do that I'd have to swap my two GPUs for a 4090 or 5090, though I'd be able to spend a bit less on the motherboard, PSU, and memory (the CUDIMM stuff is expensive).
First off, you can drop in a 9800X3D onto your motherboard, assuming the board has a capable VRM layout. Second, you're advised to run the single most powerful GPU your wallet can afford you, so you avoid unnecessary compatibility issues(not to mention a higher wattage PSU). Third, somewhere in there it seems like you're looking for an excuse to upgrade/switch platforms. If that's the case, by all means go for it but my gut tells me you should be fine and your drivers and or something underlying might be the issue.

GSPro control box

GSPro

GSPro is the leader in next generation golf simulation software. Amazing 4k graphics, ultra realistic ball physics and a community constantly contributing.

gsprogolf.com

Looking up recommended specs for that simulator, your GPU is faster than the RTX3080. You're good in that department.

 

[thegreatdelcamo]

Oh wow, thanks for that reply. I REALLY appreciate it!

I'll get my post in the format you suggest, with the additional information needed. I really do not want to go Intel, given all the issues it has, but that 890 Apex board is the ONLY one on the market that would let me run two GPUs while also keeping the other slots open.

I'll get the details in the format you suggest, and I'll try to replicate the choppy video and get it posted, but the short answer is that this is an iBuyPower computer that I ordered before I had any thought of running cameras and four monitors and multiple access points (two keyboards, mice, etc). It came with the 4070Ti and has a mini ATX B650 ASUS board and a 750 Watt PSU. So, adding what I want will necessitate a new system, which indeed I do want to build. I just would rather stay AMD. I added the 4080 Super that a friend sold me cheaply to see if it would fix my issues...

The GSPro recommendations are suspect... (they want to sell software)... and SurfThing has done much more extensive testing and confirms that 4K is a much harder task to keep things around 60 fps, and even their tests consider running just ONE monitor. I have FOUR running, and two at 4k. And the other night, playing a course that is intensive, was just not fun.

I had not seriously considered going Intel until a reply I got in another post suggested that Arrow Lake's lane situation would benefit my use case with all the peripherals I have.

CPU: Ryzen 7 7700X

CPU cooler: Unknown 280

Motherboard: ASUS Prime B650M-A AX II, Bios Version 1811-AMD AGESA Combo AM5M5PI 1.0.8.0

Ram: 32 XPG Lancer DDR5 RGB 5600MHz 32GB (2x16GB) CL36-36-36 UDIMM

SSD/HDD: Two WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X NVMe, one as boot, one as yet unused storage

GPU: I have two, the MSI Ventus 3X 4070 Ti that came with the system, and an ASUS TUF Gaming 4080 Super

PSU: Unknown mfg, 750 Watt, 2023

Chassis: Lian Li 216

OS: Windows 11 Pro

Monitors/Projectors: BenQ TK710STi 4K UHD Golf Simulator Projector, MSI MPG 321UX 32” 4K OLED monitor, ROG Strix XG249CM 23.8 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080), 270Hz*, Dell 2424 HT 24” touch monitor.

 

[Lutfij]

Ram: 32 XPG Lancer DDR5 RGB 5600MHz 32GB (2x16GB) CL36-36-36 UDIMM
Some of your performance is left on the table due to the fact that your ram is running at DDR5-5600MHz. Ryzen always liked faster ram and with the Ryzen 7000 series, the sweet spot for AM5 is DDR5-6000MHz with tight latencies.

Motherboard: ASUS Prime B650M-A AX II, Bios Version 1811-AMD AGESA Combo AM5M5PI 1.0.8.0
https://www.asus.com/us/motherboard.../helpdesk_bios?model2Name=PRIME-B650M-A-AX-II
You have BIOS versions pending update, I'd flash the board to the latest, clear the CMOS and then maybe just drop in a X3D SKU on the socket, preferably a 9800X3D if you have access to one without much fuss.

the short answer is that this is an iBuyPower computer that I ordered before I had any thought of running cameras and four monitors and multiple access points
Hmmm, that would mean that the prebuilt purchase was technically a mistake. I tend to call them iBuy Crap.

PSU: Unknown mfg, 750 Watt, 2023
You can take the side panels off the case and then see what the stickered sides of the PSU says. If you're unable to identify it after that, pass on pictures of the stickered info.

It came with the 4070Ti
+
I added the 4080 Super that a friend sold me cheaply to see if it would fix my issues
Did you run DDU to remove all GPU drivers(Intel, AMD and Nvidia) in Safe Mode, then manually installed the latest GPU driver sourced from Nvidia's support site in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator?

Speaking of which, did you disable iGPU in the BIOS? If you're not using the iGPU for any of your 4 monitors, and iGPU is yet enabled in BIOS, you could offload monitor to the motherboard.

You have a good array of monitors but can you look into Nvidia's Control Panel and see what the eventual resolution and refresh rates are set in the aforementioned app?

 

[thegreatdelcamo]

Wow, that's wonderful help! I had never considered going to faster RAM. I'll work on the BIOS tomorrow for sure. Unfortunately I don't have ready access to an X3D chip, and I see that the 9800 is sold out at Microcenter and Amazon. I'd hate to buy a 7000 series chip at this point... I'll dig deeper into the case to get the PSU information. I did NOT do anything but install the 4080S and download it's drivers. I'll try to figure that out, too. I'm pretty new to PCs, having been a Mac guy for 25 years now. So tearing apart a computer is not scary but it is a bit unfamiliar. But digging into the software is indeed scary to me! I've loved Macs precisely because I never had to do that! I did plug the lone 24" monitor into the iGPU in an effort to reduce the drag on the 4080. I'm not sure it is helping, but it does seem to display the ProTee software just fine. I'll also examine the Nvidia control panel again. I had looked at it during this process and was somewhat unclear how it's settings compared to the settings in Windows... That stumped me. I'll go over your reply again tomorrow to try to do as much of the things as I can!

Gosh, I so appreciate your help. It's amazing, actually!