PC gamers, what do you do when you hit the limits of your system?

[ResonanceSD]

A (somewhat) hypothetical question.

When you've reached the limits of what you can push in terms of performance, what do you do? Upgrade or live with it? I'm asking because a recent gaming session knocked my graphics card offline for a few minutes due to temperatures XD

EDIT: Solved the issue by removing the overclock on my GPUs.

 

[Supertegwyn]

Plan for my next upgrade. If Nvidia is going to release a new graphics card in say a week, I'm not going to go out and buy one today.

 

[Dryk]

Turn the settings down, start thinking about new components

 

[Supernova1138]

Your video card shouldn't be shutting down, even if it is working at maximum for an extended period. Try blowing out the dust that's built up on the cooler, that should help your temperature problems. Blowing the dust out of your entire system will definitely help your temps overall. If you are overclocking your card, turn the clocks down, your card just doesn't have the cooling ability to maintain that high an overclock for an extended period.

Right now, I just live with it when I run into a game that I can't max out. There are very few games out there that my system has trouble with so I can't justify dropping big money to get a GPU that is significantly better than what I have now. Once there are actually a large number of games out that push past the limits of my system, then I would probably upgrade, money permitting of course.

 

[ResonanceSD]

Your video card shouldn't be shutting down, even if it is working at maximum for an extended period. Try blowing out the dust that's built up on the cooler, that should help your temperature problems. Blowing the dust out of your entire system will definitely help your temps overall. If you are overclocking your card, turn the clocks down, your card just doesn't have the cooling ability to maintain that high an overclock for an extended period.

Right now, I just live with it when I run into a game that I can't max out. There are very few games out there that my system has trouble with so I can't justify dropping big money to get a GPU that is significantly better than what I have now. Once there are actually a large number of games out that push past the limits of my system, then I would probably upgrade, money permitting of course.

Triple monitors running Anno 2070 at 1080p on ultra without a decently aggressive GPU fan profile? Yeah, top temps don't take that long to get to. I might remove some of the OC though, there's no dust in the system.

Plan for my next upgrade. If Nvidia is going to release a new graphics card in say a week, I'm not going to go out and buy one today.

That's the thing, how far in advance are you plannign to build?

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Your video card shouldn't be shutting down, even if it is working at maximum for an extended period. Try blowing out the dust that's built up on the cooler, that should help your temperature problems. Blowing the dust out of your entire system will definitely help your temps overall. If you are overclocking your card, turn the clocks down, your card just doesn't have the cooling ability to maintain that high an overclock for an extended period.

Right now, I just live with it when I run into a game that I can't max out. There are very few games out there that my system has trouble with so I can't justify dropping big money to get a GPU that is significantly better than what I have now. Once there are actually a large number of games out that push past the limits of my system, then I would probably upgrade, money permitting of course.

Triple monitors running Anno 2070 at 1080p on ultra without a decently aggressive GPU fan profile? Yeah, top temps don't take that long to get to. I might remove some of the OC though, there's no dust in the system.

Plan for my next upgrade. If Nvidia is going to release a new graphics card in say a week, I'm not going to go out and buy one today.

That's the thing, how far in advance are you plannign to build?

Why in god's name do you need TRIPLE monitors?!

 

[Vault101]

cry.......

but seriosuly that already happned to me...my laptop did well for a laptop

right now I'm think it sbest to wait untill next gen before I decide to do anything...though somtimes its so tempting to get a game for PC

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

I live with it. I have a decent laptop that I need for professional purposes, so it's not a dedicated gaming machine. It can't really run most new games, but that's fine, I've got consoles for that. What it can run, I can't max out. But that's fine too. So long as I get to play at a comfortable framerate, I have no compunctions about dropping everything to the lowest settings. Although I've noticed performance can be wildly incoherent. Some games I shouldn't be able to run properly, run fine, while others I should be able to, don't.

Then again, I mostly play older games (as in GOG old), so hitting performance limits isn't really an issue in the majority of cases.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

Upgrade or replace. I've only done four full system replacements since 1995 as I can often get away with slapping in a new video card.

Of course, my standard for "limits" is probably pretty low for a PC gamer. I've never bought a top end video card or processor given that I can never seem to justify spending 300% more for 12% more power.

 

[RA92]

When you've reached the limits of what you can push in terms of performance, what do you do?

Well, time of the year to visit GoG.

 

[Luftwaffles]

Tweak settings and if that doesnt work. Slap myself for being an idiot and preordering il2 COD without thinking ahead.

 

[octafish]

I currently have a GTX580 and a 1080 monitor, I'm seriously considering one of those Korean 1440p IPS monitors like the Catleap though. If I do that I'll sell the 580 and grab a couple of 670s when they come out with the 4Gb models. I'm always planning or at least desiring my next upgrade.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Oh you are one of those "300% or nothing!" performance junkies, well for you the only solution is buying new, every month.

But for the more sensible user you just tweak the games to run smooth, until there are too many that you can't breathe life into anymore, then it's time to plan for a swap.
I always advise people on a simple split: 1-3 years swap components / 5+ get a new box, because by then you will usually have tech so old upgrading is just money down the wrong pipe.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

how far in advance are you plannign to build?

From the moment I build the PC. But that's just me. I plan and analyze things all the time.

 

[Supertegwyn]

Your video card shouldn't be shutting down, even if it is working at maximum for an extended period. Try blowing out the dust that's built up on the cooler, that should help your temperature problems. Blowing the dust out of your entire system will definitely help your temps overall. If you are overclocking your card, turn the clocks down, your card just doesn't have the cooling ability to maintain that high an overclock for an extended period.

Right now, I just live with it when I run into a game that I can't max out. There are very few games out there that my system has trouble with so I can't justify dropping big money to get a GPU that is significantly better than what I have now. Once there are actually a large number of games out that push past the limits of my system, then I would probably upgrade, money permitting of course.

Triple monitors running Anno 2070 at 1080p on ultra without a decently aggressive GPU fan profile? Yeah, top temps don't take that long to get to. I might remove some of the OC though, there's no dust in the system.

Plan for my next upgrade. If Nvidia is going to release a new graphics card in say a week, I'm not going to go out and buy one today.

That's the thing, how far in advance are you plannign to build?

Not very far, but not so short sighted that the above example would occur.

 

[ResonanceSD]

Your video card shouldn't be shutting down, even if it is working at maximum for an extended period. Try blowing out the dust that's built up on the cooler, that should help your temperature problems. Blowing the dust out of your entire system will definitely help your temps overall. If you are overclocking your card, turn the clocks down, your card just doesn't have the cooling ability to maintain that high an overclock for an extended period.

Right now, I just live with it when I run into a game that I can't max out. There are very few games out there that my system has trouble with so I can't justify dropping big money to get a GPU that is significantly better than what I have now. Once there are actually a large number of games out that push past the limits of my system, then I would probably upgrade, money permitting of course.

Triple monitors running Anno 2070 at 1080p on ultra without a decently aggressive GPU fan profile? Yeah, top temps don't take that long to get to. I might remove some of the OC though, there's no dust in the system.

Plan for my next upgrade. If Nvidia is going to release a new graphics card in say a week, I'm not going to go out and buy one today.

That's the thing, how far in advance are you plannign to build?

Why in god's name do you need TRIPLE monitors?!

why the hell not.

When you've reached the limits of what you can push in terms of performance, what do you do?

Well, time of the year to visit GoG.

I loled hard at that. Then cried.

Oh you are one of those "300% or nothing!" performance junkies, well for you the only solution is buying new, every month.

But for the more sensible user you just tweak the games to run smooth, until there are too many that you can't breathe life into anymore, then it's time to plan for a swap.
I always advise people on a simple split: 1-3 years swap components / 5+ get a new box, because by then you will usually have tech so old upgrading is just money down the wrong pipe.

Pretty sure nothing in here will be obsolete in 5 years =D

 

[JesterRaiin]

PC gamers, what do you do when you hit the limits of your system?

I stop playing new games and hope for upgrade in the future...
...you know, funny thing. Lately i've upgraded my old piece of garbage. Now i have quite powerful machine, but i don't play games that much anymore. I feel like most of them aren't really worth stressing my new computer. ;]

 

[Dandark]

My labtop is kinda old now and can't run a lot of the new games coming out but I just live with it since Im not sure how to go about getting a new PC. I have no idea how to build one and they are so damn expensive that I don't want to buy one yet.

 

[lRookiel]

When you've reached the limits of what you can push in terms of performance, what do you do?

Well, time of the year to visit GoG.

Good man,

OT:

I havn't.... yet.

I seem to be able to run most modern games on high settings without mishap.

However when it does eventually happen, then I guess I'll just upgrade my hardware a bit.