Specs Needed for 4K Gaming at 60+FPS?

[patrickafleck]

Hi Guys,

Would really appreciate your input. I'm trying to research gaming Desktops and am getting confused as to minimum specs required to run games in 4K (on up to 2 monitors at a time) in 60+ FPS. Specifically I'm thinking games like Destiny 2, Wolfenstein etc.

I came across what looks like a good deal on NewEgg, as below... Would this spec be reliable, high-performance for gaming like this? And I guess it's worth thinking longer term... Would this future proof for the next 5 years, or should I be looking at 32GB RAM, SSD's, higher GHz and so on?

ASUS Desktop Computer ROG GR8 II-T045Z Intel Core i7 7th Gen 7700 (3.60 GHz) 16 GB DDR4 1 TB HDD NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Windows 10 Home 64-Bit

Intel Core i7 7th Gen 7700 (3.60 GHz)
16 GB DDR4
1 TB HDD
Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
No Screen
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB GDDR5

Thanks in advance.

Alex

PS Also I should state I'm not interested in building a unit myself, I just want the best pre-built unit around for under $2k. I will also use it for video editing.

 

[vapour]

1060 is hard to get 60 FPS for 1080p for AAA games ultra. You will need at least 1080 to get 4k @ 60 FPS... What is your total budget, we can help with the build

 

[raisonjohn]

Assuming you'll be using just one 4K monitor for gaming while the other is used simultaneously for non-gaming, you should be looking at a PC with a GTX 1080 Ti as the bare minimum. The GTX 1060-3GB is not going to cut it (it's a GPU meant for ~1080p ~40-ish gaming on mid-high settings - depending on the game, of course).

16GB RAM is also considered the sweet spot (32GB is overkill for gaming, but, depending on the apps you use for video editing, **may** be useful). SSDs is a must for faster loading times/boot times in applications, but, not significant for gaming.

You also might want to consider a current-gen CPUs (e.g., AMD Ryzen 7 or Intel 8th-gen i7) with higher core/threads than that older-gen i7-7700, esp. if you are considering longevity.

 

[patrickafleck]

Hi,

Thanks for the important info on the 1060. I think total budget would be $2k max, but of course it'd be nice to get a good deal for the right spec that's needed. I do want to make sure it's all able to run games on max settings (max is higher than "ultra" right?).

Thanks in advance for any more advice,

Alex

1060 is hard to get 60 FPS for 1080p for AAA games ultra. You will need at least 1080 to get 4k @ 60 FPS... What is your total budget, we can help with the build

 

[patrickafleck]

Thanks so much for the info. Is it poss to do 4K on 2 monitors simultaneously... If so, what are the ideal specs? I'm not set on that type of setup... Might opt for a 34" single monitor... Would also take recommendations on those!

Cheers,

Alex

Assuming you'll be using just one 4K monitor for gaming while the other is used simultaneously for non-gaming, you should be looking at a PC with a GTX 1080 Ti as the bare minimum. The GTX 1060-3GB is not going to cut it (it's a GPU meant for ~1080p ~40-ish gaming on mid-high settings - depending on the game, of course).

16GB RAM is also considered the sweet spot (32GB is overkill for gaming, but, depending on the apps you use for video editing, **may** be useful). SSDs is a must for faster loading times/boot times in applications, but, not significant for gaming.

You also might want to consider a current-gen CPUs (e.g., AMD Ryzen 7 or Intel 8th-gen i7) with higher core/threads than that older-gen i7-7700, esp. if you are considering longevity.

 

[TJ Hooker]

I'm not sure if you'll be able to find a 4k/60fps ready pre-built for under $2k. Even building it yourself would probably cost you close to $2k, unless you're cutting corners (which doesn't really make sense for a high end 4K build).

 

[burdenbound]

1080ti and I would pair it with the new coffee lake i5(8600k) or i7(8700k).

 

[patrickafleck]

I'm open to going higher with the budget, it's more important to get the specs right, just want to see what I can get away with.

I'm not sure if you'll be able to find a 4k/60fps ready pre-built for under $2k. Even building it yourself would probably cost you close to $2k, unless you're cutting corners (which doesn't really make sense for a high end 4K build).

 

[TJ Hooker]

1080 Ti
i5 8600k (with a decent cooler)
Z370 mobo
16 (2x8) GB RAM, preferably 3000 MHz or higher
Good quality 650W power supply

Storage is more up to preference, as it doesn't really affect gaming. I'd recommend a 250-500 GB SSD and a 2 TB HDD.

If you want to cut back on cost a bit, you could go with a Ryzen 1600 and B350 motherboard. It's weaker than the 8600k in gaming, but with a 4K/60Hz monitor it should perform pretty much the same. And there's no GPU out that's suitable for high refresh rate 4K gaming anyway (and high refresh rate 4k monitors haven't been released yet either).

 

[raisonjohn]

Thanks so much for the info. Is it poss to do 4K on 2 monitors simultaneously... If so, what are the ideal specs? I'm not set on that type of setup... Might opt for a 34" single monitor... Would also take recommendations on those!

It's possible but will be 'weird' for gaming. Imagine using 2 monitors side-by-side: on racing games the bezels will cut the windshield/rear view mirror, on rpg your character will be cut in half, on first-person shooters, your crosshair will be right between the monitors, in strategy games maps will also be cut in the middle. Not to mention, running 2 sets of 3840 x 2160 (4K) resolution monitors will bring the total to 7680 x 2160 (or ~16.6M pixels!). That's going to tax your GPU in achieving smooth 60fps gameplay on high settings.

For such setup, you'd definitely be needing a multi-GPU system. However, multi-GPUs are not recommended/not worth it because 1) not all games support, 2) will cost you an arm and a leg, 3) will consume more power and you will need a very reliable high-wattage PSU (additional cost), 4) generate more heat which you may need a more expensive/beefier cooling (additional costs again), 5) produce more noise, and, in some games, 6) will actually produce lesser or the same fps compared to single-GPU setups.

The single large/wide monitor is more ideal than two (for gaming). But you can consider two 4K monitors if in fact you will use both in editing/multi-tasking (while for gaming, just the main monitor).

 

[patrickafleck]

You're 100% right, now that I think more logically. I'm totally fine with a single monitor - Thanks so much for the info

Thanks so much for the info. Is it poss to do 4K on 2 monitors simultaneously... If so, what are the ideal specs? I'm not set on that type of setup... Might opt for a 34" single monitor... Would also take recommendations on those!

It's possible but will be 'weird' for gaming. Imagine using 2 monitors side-by-side: on racing games the bezels will cut the windshield/rear view mirror, on rpg your character will be cut in half, on first-person shooters, your crosshair will be right between the monitors, in strategy games maps will also be cut in the middle. Not to mention, running 2 sets of 3840 x 2160 (4K) resolution monitors will bring the total to 7680 x 2160 (or ~16.6M pixels!). That's going to tax your GPU in achieving smooth 60fps gameplay on high settings.

For such setup, you'd definitely be needing a multi-GPU system. However, multi-GPUs are not recommended/not worth it because 1) not all games support, 2) will cost you an arm and a leg, 3) will consume more power and you will need a very reliable high-wattage PSU (additional cost), 4) generate more heat which you may need a more expensive/beefier cooling (additional costs again), 5) produce more noise, and, in some games, 6) will actually produce lesser or the same fps compared to single-GPU setups.

The single large/wide monitor is more ideal than two (for gaming). But you can consider two 4K monitors if in fact you will use both in editing/multi-tasking (while for gaming, just the main monitor).

 

[patrickafleck]

I apologize for my lack of knowledge, but I don't know what Z370 mobo refers to, specifically, can you expand?

Would something like this work? https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883152243

1080 Ti
i5 8600k (with a decent cooler)
Z370 mobo
16 (2x8) GB RAM, preferably 3000 MHz or higher
Good quality 650W power supply

Storage is more up to preference, as it doesn't really affect gaming. I'd recommend a 250-500 GB SSD and a 2 TB HDD.

If you want to cut back on cost a bit, you could go with a Ryzen 1600 and B350 motherboard. It's weaker than the 8600k in gaming, but with a 4K/60Hz monitor it should perform pretty much the same. And there's no GPU out that's suitable for high refresh rate 4K gaming anyway (and high refresh rate 4k monitors haven't been released yet either).

 

[vapour]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor ($194.29 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - X370 GAMING X ATX AM4 Motherboard ($129.89 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($98.94 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.69 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB SC Black Edition Video Card ($744.99 @ B&H)
Case: Phanteks - ECLIPSE P400 TEMPERED GLASS ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($78.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($89.89 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: LG - 27UD58-B 27.0" 3840x2160 60Hz Monitor ($329.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1922.65
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-10-19 12:58 EDT-0400

 

[TJ Hooker]

I apologize for my lack of knowledge, but I don't know what Z370 mobo refers to, specifically, can you expand?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_1151#Coffee_Lake_chipsets_.28300_series.29
Z370 is a motherboard chipset. It is available on an updated version of the LGA 1151 socket (which doesn't work with previous LGA 1151 CPUs). As of right now, motherboards with the Z370 chipset are the only ones that work with Intel's latest, 8th gen CPUs. If you're buying a pre-built, you don't have to worry about it too much as they'll obviously make sure the CPU and motherboard are compatible.

That pre-built you linked would do a decent job at 4K, I'm guessing at med-high settings. You could potentially save yourself $100 by getting the 16 GB RAM version. That should be enough memory for at least several years. 8GB was the sweet spot for a long time, and even now it's still enough for most games.

 

[jschultz62_7]

If you're looking to purchase one built right now, I just seen this from a NewEgg livetream and may be what you're looking for. The deal only last for the next 12 hours or so so you'll have to jump on it fast if ya want it.

MSI Desktop Computer Infinite A VR7RF-006US

Scroll down a bit to find it and use the promo code for the discount. - MSI Desktop Computer Infinite A VR7RF-006US

 

[TJ Hooker]

^+1 that looks like an amazing deal for those specs. You couldn't even get that PC that cheap if you built it yourself. The promotional price listed ($1299) is factoring in a $100 MIR, but even so.

 

[jschultz62_7]

Thanks, I thought I'd share it here after I read this. I watched their livestream just now and it was featured in it. I may buy it myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5WEktai10M

EDIT: I was wrong and it wasn't featured in the video. I just looked and it's a different build but still a great deal.

 

[patrickafleck]

AWESOME! Thank you so much for that, really appreciate it. Will be making some decisions today I feel, but am I right in thinking with the 1080ti, 16GB etc. that this would cover 4K Gaming at (around 60FPS)? Thanks again,

A

If you're looking to purchase one built right now, I just seen this from a NewEgg livetream and may be what you're looking for. The deal only last for the next 12 hours or so so you'll have to jump on it fast if ya want it.

http://promotions.newegg.com/nepro/neweggnow/live_1020/index_on.html

Scroll down a bit to find it and use the promo code for the discount. - MSI Desktop Computer Infinite A VR7RF-006US

 

[TJ Hooker]

Yeah, a 1080 Ti should be able to handle 4K/60fps at max or close to max settings in most games. Even if it does fall short occasionally, it's the best gaming card on the market right now so you won't have buyer's regret about not getting something better. An i7-7700 should be good for 60 fps for the vast majority of today's games, although it's hard to say what will happen in the future. 16 GB RAM is plenty for gaming.

 

[patrickafleck]

You guys are fantastic, thanks so much for all your help. I think I might pull the trigger on this deal... Is MSI a decent make ok?

Yeah, a 1080 Ti should be able to handle 4K/60fps at max or close to max settings in most games. Even if it did fall short occasionally, it's the best gaming card on the market so you won't have buyer's regret about not getting something better. An i7-7700 should be good for 60 fps for the vast majority of today's games, although it's hard to say what will happen in the future.

 

[vapour]

Just a reminder: PC can not be easily upgraded, and they will cut cost on MB/case/PSU/ram. Should be VR ready though.

 

[jschultz62_7]

Just a reminder: PC can not be easily upgraded, and they will cut cost on MB/case/PSU/ram. Should be VR ready though.

Yes, that's why I was just reading to see what's in it but they don't say.

 

[vapour]

Just a reminder: PC can not be easily upgraded, and they will cut cost on MB/case/PSU/ram. Should be VR ready though.

Yes, that's why I was just reading to see what's in it but they don't say.

They won't say if components are cheap because it will look bad

 

[TJ Hooker]

Well, an i7 7700 is near the top of the line for an LGA 1151v1 mobo, so you wouldn't have much of an upgrade path regardless of what model/quality the mobo is. The included mobo does not support overclocking, so you wouldn't be able to OC even if you upgrade to a 7700K. It also means you're limited to 2400 MHz RAM. As far as RAM capacity goes, I don't see you needing more RAM for gaming anytime soon.

PSUs in pre-builts can be pretty crappy, but if they feel comfortable running a 1080 Ti off it, in theory it should be fine for future upgrades (as GPU power consumption tends to remain stable from one generation to the next, or decrease). Although if you do upgrade the GPU down the road I'd probably replace the PSU too just in case.

 

[jschultz62_7]

I think vapour was correct in his assumption. I googled it and found this on Amazon.com. It shows the video card is integrated.

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-INFINITEA006US-Infinite-VR7RF-006US-Computer/dp/B074VF67RB
and this
https://us.msi.com/pdf/desktop/Infinite%20A%20VR7RF-006US.pdf

Product information
Technical Details

Collapse all
Summary
Processor 3.6 GHz Intel Core i7
RAM 16 GB DDR4
Hard Drive 2048 GB Hybrid Drive
Graphics Coprocessor GTX 1080Ti
Chipset Brand NVIDIA
Card Description Integrated <-----------------------------
Graphics Card Ram Size 11 GB
Number of USB 2.0 Ports 3
Number of USB 3.0 Ports 4
Other Technical Details
Brand Name MSI
Series Infinite A VR7RF-006US
Item model number INFINITEA006US
Hardware Platform Gaming Tower
Operating System Windows 10 Home
Item Weight 24.6 pounds
Product Dimensions 19.2 x 8.3 x 17.7 inches
Item Dimensions L x W x H 19.22 x 8.27 x 17.72 inches
Color Black-RGB
Processor Brand Intel
Processor Count 4
Flash Memory Size 512.0
Hard Drive Interface Serial ATA-600
Hard Drive Rotational Speed 7200 RPM
Optical Drive Type DVD+RW