Considering hardware upgrade for upcoming WoW Classic

[Fuzzyboy]

Hi all.


With vanilla coming releasing this summer, I'm considering a PC upgrade to celebrate.


I'll be running a 5-client setup on one PC.


My current specs are:


CPU: Socket 1151 Core I7-6700K 4 GHz
MB: ASUS MAXIMUS VIII GENE MB - Intel Z170
GFX: Inno3D GeForce GTX 1080 iChill X3 - 8GB
PSU: 750 Watt Corsair RM750i CP-9020082
RAM: CMU32GX4M2C3200C16B 2 x 16 GB
HD: SSD 512 GB Samsung 950 PRO M.2
Monitor: Acer XR382CQK (3840 x 1600)


So my question to you hardware-savvy fellow boxers - is an upgrade worthwhile? And if so, what components should be upgraded?

[Purpleflavor]

The new AMD zen 2 / Ryzen 3000 chips are dropping this summer if you can wait.

[WOWBOX40]

Nice system you got there.


If i were you:

1. Try play in 1920 x 1080 (full hd, 1080p).
If this doesnt suit your looks, or fps..

2.
Get a better cpu (pri 1 i9-9920x, pri 2 9900k, pri 3 8700k).
Get the 2080 ti.

3.
Wait...maybe something new and juicy comes out later this year.
(ideally if there is any bargain 12 core / 24 threads cpu or better)

[Ughmahedhurtz]

That's about what I'm running, but with a 980Ti. I have no plans to upgrade for Classic. If you want to run dx12 and stream, it might be worth updating the CPU to a current gen, but if you can live with DX11, I can't see a big onus on upgrading. Streaming (if you do that) is apparently a pretty big drain that might suggest an upgrade but I don't stream so others will have to suggest how much that matters.

[Fuzzyboy]

That's about what I'm running, but with a 980Ti. I have no plans to upgrade for Classic. If you want to run dx12 and stream, it might be worth updating the CPU to a current gen, but if you can live with DX11, I can't see a big onus on upgrading. Streaming (if you do that) is apparently a pretty big drain that might suggest an upgrade but I don't stream so others will have to suggest how much that matters.

Thanks for the input - so you don't see any significant gains in terms of framerate / graphics quality from upgrading the CPU or the GFX? I was considering waiting for the 3rd gen Threadripper coming out this summer, but if it's barely noticable, there's no need to throw money out the window :-)

I would love to be able to run with higher quality graphics settings and still get a smooth experience, just not sure how much of a difference a gpu/cpu upgrade will yield.

Btw, I'm using ISboxer and my windows are running in around 3840 * 1200 resolution (not sure of the exact number)

The new AMD zen 2 / Ryzen 3000 chips are dropping this summer if you can wait.

Thanks, I was actually considering that. I'm not in a rush, so that might make sense :-)

Nice system you got there.


If i were you:

1. Try play in 1920 x 1080 (full hd, 1080p).
If this doesnt suit your looks, or fps..

2.
Get a better cpu (pri 1 i9-9920x, pri 2 9900k, pri 3 8700k).
Get the 2080 ti.

3.
Wait...maybe something new and juicy comes out later this year.
(ideally if there is any bargain 12 core / 24 threads cpu or better)

2. I'm not entirely opposed to that, but if I'm shelling out USD 1300 / EUR 1100 for a graphics card upgrade, it would have to be a hell of a big difference and not just a marginal upgrade, which I suspect it will be?

[WOWBOX40]

2. I'm not entirely opposed to that, but if I'm shelling out USD 1300 / EUR 1100 for a graphics card upgrade, it would have to be a hell of a big difference and not just a marginal upgrade, which I suspect it will be?

If you insist on playing in 3840 x 1600 and you arent happy with your current rig (dispite trying all the usual optimizing tactics, slot swap macroes etcetc), then you will need to upgrade.

Pri 1: better cpu (and RAM, try get 3200 speed minimum).
Pri 2: better gfx card.


The cpu that will allow you "flawless" play is over 1000 dollars aswell, so you will need 2000 ++ dollars to get this new rig up and running. Such is the cruelty of life. I wish the extra fps was cheaper aswell.

[Fuzzyboy]

If you insist on playing in 3840 x 1600 and you arent happy with your current rig (dispite trying all the usual optimizing tactics, slot swap macroes etcetc), then you will need to upgrade.

Pri 1: better cpu (and RAM, try get 3200 speed minimum).
Pri 2: better gfx card.


The cpu that will allow you "flawless" play is over 1000 dollars aswell, so you will need 2000 ++ dollars to get this new rig up and running. Such is the cruelty of life. I wish the extra fps was cheaper aswell.

It's actually more like 3840 x 1200, but I get you'r point

Regarding the CPU - is there any argument for going with more than 10 cores?


Regarding RAM - would 64 GB make sense or is 32 sufficient?

[WOWBOX40]

It's actually more like 3840 x 1200, but I get you'r point

Regarding the CPU - is there any argument for going with more than 10 cores?


Regarding RAM - would 64 GB make sense or is 32 sufficient?

A single physical CPU core with hyper-threading appears as two logical CPUs to an operating system. The CPU is still a single CPU (central processing unit), so it’s a little bit of a cheat. While the operating system sees two CPUs for each core, the actual CPU hardware only has a single set of execution resources for each core. The CPU pretends it has more cores than it does, and it uses its own logic to speed up program execution. In other words, the operating system is tricked into seeing two CPUs for each actual CPU core.


Hyper-threading allows the two logical CPU cores to share physical execution resources. This can speed things up somewhat, if one virtual CPU is stalled and waiting, the other virtual CPU can borrow its execution resources. Hyper-threading can help speed your system up, but it’s nowhere near as good as having actual additional cores.




Wow uses a old engine, so 2 proper cores (+ 2 hyperthreaded) should be good, for each game. Then overclock the cpu best you can.


5 games = 5 x 2 cores = 10 cores (20 threads) for best results.
But its good practice to also have some extra resources for the "win 10" etc (atleast 2 cores).
So if you can afford it, a 12 core (24 threads) = pro.




I have no idea how much RAM it uses at 3840 x 1200, im sure you can figure that out yourself right now.
If you have lots to spare, and you have 32, then it seems 32 should be enough.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

Thanks for the input - so you don't see any significant gains in terms of framerate / graphics quality from upgrading the CPU or the GFX? I was considering waiting for the 3rd gen Threadripper coming out this summer, but if it's barely noticable, there's no need to throw money out the window :-)

Oh, no, don't mistake what I was saying for "you won't see any improvement." I'm running 5 clients at 1080p and across two 1440p monitors. I'm positive I'd see some noticeable improvements in framerate stability if I were to update to a 9900k, and I've been strenuously resisting just that. I'm happy with my current unit as it does work for my current use case without any issues, I'd just love to have ultra settings at super-stable 60fps everywhere. Kinda like, "my current F150 is a nice truck but damn, those 2019 Limited models are sweeeeet."