Is a gtx 980 still good for running this game?

[Haakon]

Asking because it's a lot of work to get it to play without crashing at the start. Once my save loads, it works fine. It's just the loading that makes it crash for some reason.

[UncreativelyNamed]

It's below the current minimum requirements for the game. I run the game with a 1050Ti, which is also technically below minimum requirements, and the game runs acceptably well for me. I don't get crashing, though. Your crashing may or may not be related to your GPU. Are the drivers up-to-date?

[Haakon]

Yes, they are updated.

Everything is very old, I'll just have to get a new computer with updated everything.

[The Exile]

Originally posted by Haakon:

Asking because it's a lot of work to get it to play without crashing at the start. Once my save loads, it works fine. It's just the loading that makes it crash for some reason.

Without knowing what the rest of you build is like, it's hard to say. We kinda need to know what CPU and how much RAM you have, as well as know what type of hard drive you are using and how much free space it has to give you a better idea but...

The GTX 980 is just fine for running this game at it's minimum quality settings, aka all Standard.

A GTX 980 outperforms the game's minimum spec GPU by around +15% so you have the GPU horse power for minimum quality settings at around 1080p probably max, although to get some performance you should probably run at a lower resolution.

1920x1080 = 16:9 = 1080p
1920x1200 = 16:10 = 1080p
1600x900 = 16:9 = 900p
1440x900 = 16:10 = 900p
1280x720 = 16:9 = 720p
1280x800 = 16:10 = 720p

If you are able to enable AMD FSR, I would recommend using max resolution on your monitor in the game settings and then setting FSR to ultra performance, This should give you a decent looking experience. I also recommend limiting your frame rate to 30 fps to give the GPU and CPU breathing room to maintain an experience that is as stutter free as possible. Make sure you have motion blur to 45 at least to help blend frames together. If you do frame limit, don't do it in the game settings, do it in the Nvidia driver with the Nvidia Control Panel option called Max Frames. Make sure you using vsync as well as it will help make things look much nicer.

Cheers.

GTX 980 vs GTX 1060 3GB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeL9hQlOCeo

https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-980-vs-Nvidia-GTX-1060-3GB/2576vs3646

[The Exile]

To give you a better analysis of your system and why it might be doing what it's doing...

Please provide a dxdiag.

===

Let's try to troubleshoot and resolve your issue...

I am assuming you are using Windows.

If you aren't, let me know, because the following won't help you if you are on a linux distro.


Information Collection Guide
--------------------------------

In order to help you figure out what's wrong and troubleshoot your issue you need to provide information about your system. Your word is not sufficient as many have claimed they are " " up to date " " and it actually turns out they aren't. Evidence data points need to be provided to do any sort of real troubleshooting.

There are a few ways to do this...

1. Dxdiag
----------

Use DxDiag, a Microsoft Windows Application, to get information about your system that can be used to troubleshoot issues on your system.

Click open the search menu.
Search for "DxDiag".
Run DxDiag.
Save the results to a text file.
Use PasteBin to post the results recorded in that text file.
Pastebin's website - https://pastebin.com/index.php
Make sure the pastebin expires after a few days.
Provide the pastebin link here in the forum And we can go from there.


2. Alternative Option ( PowerShell )
------------------------------------

First, you will need Windows PowerShell installed to gather the information needed to troubleshoot your issue and the version installed needs to be fairly recent. Windows 10 comes with version 5.1. So, if you have Windows 10, you can skip the next step here (Getting PowerShell).


Getting PowerShell
----------------------
By default you should already have Windows PowerShell installed if you are using any version of Windows, however, sometimes the version installed is out of date and isn't able to grab information needed. To get around this, you can install the most modern version of Windows PowerShell via Microsoft's website.

You can download the latest version of that here...

Windows PowerShell 7.2.6+ Winget or MSI Packages
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/install/installing-powershell-on-windows?view=powershell-7.2

When installing this software, make sure you tick the "Add to right click context menu". This will make it so that whenever you right click, you will have an option to run whatever you are highlighting through Windows PowerShell 7.2+.

Why do I need PowerShell?
You don't really need it but, you need it in this case to gather the troubleshooting information using a script I am providing to you as an alternative to a DXdiag. I highly recommend providing results from both the DXdiag and the script output but, a Dxdiag is plenty to start troubleshooting. You can also uninstall PowerShell after you are done gathering the info, if you installed PowerShell 7.2.6+, the version that came with your version of Windows is part of the operating system and while there are ways you can remove it, I highly recommend not removing portions of the Operating system willy nilly. The information provided is important in figuring out where the issues may lie and gives us a base line to help you get your problem resolved.

If you aren't willing to do it, I understand. Some people get scared when they are met with stuff they don't understand and well, good luck. No one can really help you without some sort of solid base line info to help you start troubleshooting. There is no way to really figure out what could be wrong without knowing what you are using in the first place.



Get the Script
-----------------

The following pastebin link will link you to the Windows PowerShell Script you are going to use to gather the info needed.

PowerShell Info Gather Script
https://pastebin.com/B9KBQWB2

Visit that link.
Copy the text in the pastebin link provided above.
Open a Windows Notepad and paste the stuff from the pastebin link into the Notepad.
Next hit file, Save as, and name the Notepad PSInfo.ps1.

Remember where you saved it. Example, C:\User\(Your User name)\Downloads or wherever you saved it.



Using the Script
-------------------

Once you have the script ready...
Navigate to the script location and right click, run with Windows PowerShell.

You will need admin rights for the script to run properly. So be aware of that.
If your account isn't admin, you need to start an admin Windows PowerShell window and navigate to the location of the script to run it. If you need help with that, let me know. There are also instructions within the script's comments to help get scripts running as most of the time scripts are disabled by default by Windows and you have to make changes on a per user basis to allow the running of said scripts. Again, instructions on how to do that and the commands required are inside the script itself, just open the script with notepad and start reading, it should be somewhere at the top of the script.

Wait for the script to gather the info.
Once done it will prompt you with...
"Press Enter to exit"

Hit Enter. It exits the script.
Open Windows File Explorer and go into the folder labeled C:\PSDiag, the script creates this folder to place a text file with the info collected by the script. Once you copy and paste all that info into a paste Bin link and post here on the forums you can then just delete the folder and the text file inside.
Inside the folder will be a text file, PSDiag.txt.
This text file will have a lot of the information needed to help start troubleshooting.
With the info in the PSDiag.txt Text file copied...
Create a temporary Pastebin post and provide the link to said post here on the forum.
Pastebin's website - https://pastebin.com/index.php

We can go from there.

Good Luck

[Haakon]

Yes, its Windows.
https://pastebin.com/cGyWK5X3

[Guyver8]

the No.1 cause for the problem you've described is out-dated graphics card driver
the No.2 cause is out-dated mods

the latest/current GeForce Game Ready Driver version for the GTX 970 is 536.67
EDIT: my card is a GTX 910 Lol ...so yeah you should be ok-ish

[The Exile]

Originally posted by Haakon:

Yes, its Windows.
https://pastebin.com/cGyWK5X3

Thank you for providing a DXdiag it makes troubleshooting much easier.

Let me go through it with you step by step and provide some feedback and suggestions that should help improve performance as well as ask a few questions.

==============

Your OS is up to date, which is great. Many times people aren't so that is a good start.

you:
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (10.0, Build 19045)

latest:
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (10.0, Build 19045)

Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 19045.3208 (22H2) General Availability Channel

So again, very good. No issues there.

================

You are using an ASUS VG248 1080p Monitor.

Can you give us the exact model #?

==================

Your motherboard:
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3-rev-10/support#support-dl-bios

Since I don't know which revision you are using, that will be something you will have to determine yourself and then select the correct revision from the link previously provided. aka 1.0 or 1.3.

==================

1. Why are you using BIOS instead of UEFI?

2. What BIOS are you even using? It doesn't even seem like it's a legitimate BIOS from Gigabyte? You should be using U1C in UEFI mode. If you are going to use regular BIOS mode, you should be using BIOS F10.

3. Your CPU exceeds the minimum requirement but, I don't know if the No Man's Sky minimum requirement is legitimate or just what is barely needed to run the executable without crashing.

Game's minimum and recommended requirements:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/275850/No_Mans_Sky/

Your CPU is older though and I would recommend locking to 30 fps with vsync enabled for a good experience. Also, this game just runs bad, period. You will want the 30 fps lock to reduce as much stutter as humanly possible.

4. Your Windows Pagefile, aka virtual memory pool, is not setup up properly and Windows is automatically allocating Pagefile. Do not allow Windows to auto allocate. Set a fixed amount and you want to do this on your fastest drive, if you have the space available, which it looks like you don't, which is unfortunate. Your Pagefile should be set to min+max of 32,768 MB, aka 32 GB. Why? Because you have 16 GB of RAM and you want to be able to take that entire set and store it in the virtual memory pool while offering another PAGE, or another 16 GB set for the computer to work with. I can help you alter this at a later date, just message me or necro this thread asking for the process when you are ready.

5. GTX 980 is barely one setup above the game's minimum GPU requirements. So following the advice of #3 from before, it's best to limit your FPS to 30 to help keep thing running smooth and with as minimal stutter as possible and I don't recommend running the game at 1080p+, and instead recommend 900p(1600x900 -16:9 or 1440x900 - 16:10) or even 720p(1280x720 - 16:9 or 1280x800 - 16:10) for better performance. I also recommend turning all graphics options to their lowest settings, as well as using AMD FSR 1.0 Ultra Performance, for the best possible performance.

GTX 1060 3GB vs GTX 980 4 GB
https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-980-vs-Nvidia-GTX-1060-3GB/2576vs3646

6. Your Nvidia Driver version is ... 31.0.15.3598 , aka 535.98. The latest Nvidia driver is actually 536.67, release date 2023.7.18 - YYYY-M-DD. You should consider updating your video driver to the latest on offer by Nvidia for the best compatibility and support.

https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/209266/en-us/

7. I recommend installing and running the Intel Driver & Support Assistant (Intel DSA) and updating all your Intel related hardware using this application.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/detect.html

8. I highly recommend you upgrade your C: drive to something larger than 120 GB, you should be using a 256 GB drive for C: drive, at a minimum. I recommend 512 GB+. The Mushkin Enhanced Chronos 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MKNSSDCR120GB-G2 you are using also doesn't even have a proper DRAM cache for a example, and isn't really suitable as a boot drive from both a size and performance perspective. This is a storage drive for storing pictures and video, not a full on operating system that is constantly reading and writing.

9. Your D: drive is insufficient as a gaming drive. If the game is installed on it, that could be the issue. The Western Digital WDC WD10EURS-730AB1 is only a 5,400 RPM hard drive and lacks the seek and read times to keep up with the demands of a game proper. Consider using this drive only for storage of pictures and music, not for installing games to. It has a very small 64 MB cache and has very poor mixed performance. On average it has a mixed I/O performance max of 56MB/s, and that is on a good day.

I recommend wiping and selling off your current drives and swapping for something like this...

Samsung Evo 870 2TB:
https://www.newegg.com/samsung-2tb-870-evo-series/p/N82E16820147794?Item=9SIBMRAK073348&SoldByNewegg=1&cm_sp=product-_-from-price-options

Article on DOD wiping a hard drive:
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-wipe-your-hard-drive

10. Windows Defender is causing issues and is crashing. See #12 for steps on how to deal with it.

11. You are using GOG Galaxy, I highly recommend you uninstall that piece of software.

News Article:
https://wccftech.com/gog-has-had-a-severe-internal-vulnerability-problem-for-nearly-2-years/

12. Ok so it looks like Windows is somewhat corrupt currently and is causing issues. This is probably due to the poor choice of SSD and it not being a good choice for a boot drive.

So... let's try to salvage this until you can get a new drive...

12a. First we want to run a TRIM command on the SSD.

What is TRIM?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trim_(computing)

To do this we will use the Windows Defrag utility. On a modern Windows computer, aka Win 10+, it won't defrag the SSD and will instead perform the TRIM command in it's place. We want to do this before we do anything else.

Start > Defrag and Optimize Drives > Select the C: Drive > Hit the Optimize button > wait for it to complete before moving on.

12b. Now that TRIM has completed we will move on to the next step which is trying to restore the corrupt windows files causing issues, naming Windows Defender.

To do this we will want to open an administrative command prompt or Windows PowerShell Window.

That is Start > Windows Search > CMD > Right click Command Prompt > Run As administrator.

This should give you and administrator command prompt window.

In that window you will type the following command.

sfc /scannow

What is sfc?
Windows Utility know as System File Checker.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_File_Checker

We have to run this to repair any corrupt/damaged Windows Kernel files or other critical system components, that your system is showing it has which are causing crashing and other issues. Reboot the system.

12c. Once the system file check completes we want to run the following command in the a new administrator command prompt window...

dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

What is DISM?
Deployment Image Service and Management Tool (DISM)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Imaging_Format

This will repair any Windows Update damages, among a host other other repairs, that will get the system where it needs to be, assuming it can be completed successfully. If it doesn't things get vastly more complicated and in that scenario I recommend just re-installing Windows as going the other route requires a lot more know how. I can try to walk you through it but, it's difficult. Anyway we can cross that bridge when we come to it. If it does complete successfully, run Windows Update, download whatever updates it has for you, install them, reboot, and you are done. Your Windows system should be fully repaired, assuming there isn't any malware or other things you might have done, such as registry manipulation, which have caused issues that can only really be repaired by reformatting and reinstalling the OS.

[The Exile]

You are also using a large monitor size for 1080p, in my opinion. Although only slightly, so it's not to bad. Just be mindful of resolution, screen size, and PPI for future monitor purchases, which is why I am providing this table and information to you.

The max size you would want for a 1080p display is around 20".

Why do I say that?

Well...

Pixels Per Inch (PPI) determines how crisp the display will look to you at a given resolution. Higher PPI values are better.

Today's standard is 1440p @ 27"
@ 27" = 108.79 PPI ( Today's standard )

So we want to go for a monitor size that fits the resolution we want to use that either meets or exceeds that 108. This will provide a very crisp and clean looking image that looks great.

Resolutions
3840 x 2160(16:9) = 2160p = 4K UHD
3840 × 2400(16:10) 4K UHD+/WQUXGA
2560 x 1440(16:9) = 1440p = 2K QHD/WQHD
2560 x 1600(16:10) QHD+/WQXGA
1920 x 1080(16:9) = 1080p = Full HD
1920 x 1200(16:10) Full HD+/WUXGA
1280 x 720(16:9) = 720p = HD
1280 x 800(16:10) HD+/WXGA

4K
3840 x 2160
@ 83" = 53.08 PPI
@ 77" = 57.22 PPI
@ 65" = 67.78 PPI
@ 55" = 80.11 PPI
@ 48" = 91.79 PPI
@ 42" = 104.90 PPI
@ 41" = 107.46 PPI
@ 40" = 110.15 PPI ( Max recommended size for 4k gaming )
@ 32" = 137.68 PPI
@ 27" = 163.18 PPI

2K aka 1440p
2560 x 1440
@ 42" = 69.93 PPI
@ 40" = 73.43 PPI
@ 32" = 91.79 PPI
@ 27" = 108.79 PPI ( Today's standard )
@ 24" = 122.38 PPI
@ 13.3" = 220.84 PPI

1080p
1920 x 1080
@ 42" =52.45 PPI
@ 40" = 55.07 PPI
@ 27" = 81.59 PPI
@ 24" = 91.79 PPI ( Where the average PC monitor was before 1440p was a thing. )
@ 23" = 95.78 PPI
@ 21.5" = 102.46 PPI
@ 20" = 110.15 PPI ( Max recommended size for 1080p gaming )
@ 17" = 129.58 PPI
@ 15.6" = 141.21 PPI
@ 13.3" = 165.63 PPI

900p
1600x900 -16:9 or 1440x900 - 16:10
@ 23" = 79.82 PPI
@ 22" = 83.44 PPI
@ 21" = 87.42 PPI
@ 20" = 91.79 PPI
@ 19" = 96.62 PPI
@ 18" = 101.99 PPI
@ 17" = 107.99 PPI
@ 16" = 114.73 PPI


720P
1280 x 1024(5:4) ( Most common size before 1080p was a thing )
@ 19" = 86.27 PPI
@ 17" = 96.42 PPI

720P proper
1280 x 720 or 1280 x 800
@ 42" =34.97 PPI
@ 27" = 54.39 PPI
@ 17" = 86.39 PPI
@ 15.6" = 94.14 PPI
@ 14" = 104.90 PPI
@ 13.3" = 110.24 PPI ( Max recommended size for 720p gaming )

Valve's Steam Deck
1280 x 800 @ 7" ( 16:10 Aspect ratio 720p ) = 215.63 PPI

Nintendo Switch - Uses a dynamic resolution that varies from game to game.
OLED Model 7" screen @ 1280 x 720 = 209.80 PPI
Launch Model 6.2" @ 1280 x 720 = 236.87 PPI
Lite Model @ 5.5" @ 1280 x 720 = 267.02 PPI

===

Great 1080p Monitor:
https://www.viewsonic.com/us/products/shop/monitors/vx1755-17-2-portable-omni-1080p-144hz-ips-gaming-monitor-with-freesync-premium-and-60w-usb-c.html

[The Exile]

When it comes to your system memory on that CPU, the i7 2700K, you should be using DDR3 1333 MHz max. If you using faster modules, make sure they are supported by your motherboard by looking through the motherboard vendor's QVL list.

Inteil i7 2700K Spec Sheet:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/61275/intel-core-i72700k-processor-8m-cache-up-to-3-90-ghz/specifications.html

From reviewing your motherboard manual, it looks like your motherboard can support DDR3 2133 MHz in select configurations and it would be worth going for those configurations to help improve CPU Performance, as well as Memory bandwidth Performance, as much as possible to extend your hardware's usefulness.

Anyway, let me know if you have any questions.

[The Exile]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YoSdfrb5GM

[Pilot YELDAH]

Originally posted by The Exile:

Great 1080p Monitor:
https://www.viewsonic.com/us/products/shop/monitors/vx1755-17-2-portable-omni-1080p-144hz-ips-gaming-monitor-with-freesync-premium-and-60w-usb-c.html

freesync is generally incompatible with nvidea gpus

[The Exile]

Originally posted by Pilot YELDAH:

Originally posted by The Exile:

Great 1080p Monitor:
https://www.viewsonic.com/us/products/shop/monitors/vx1755-17-2-portable-omni-1080p-144hz-ips-gaming-monitor-with-freesync-premium-and-60w-usb-c.html

freesync is generally incompatible with nvidea gpus

This is 100% false. Lol. It's compatible with any GPU, it just depends whether or not Nvidia will allow you to turn it on or not and you need a display port to use it with an Nvidia card. This is an arbitrary requirement Nvidia has imposed and isn't necessary in reality.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/blog/does-amd-freesync-work-with-nvidia-graphics-cards/

I know the monitor linked doesn't use display port and instead uses HDMI but, it's fine, you really don't need the adaptive sync, you can just use a standard VSYNC and be just fine. The monitor is a great option for 1080p since it's fast, performative, has a decent color output, and has a good size for proper 1080p PPI, which is why I recommended it. However, you can shop around for something else as it is a portable monitor so, some might find that distasteful or whatever.

[Pilot YELDAH]

Originally posted by The Exile:

Originally posted by Pilot YELDAH:

freesync is generally incompatible with nvidea gpus

This is 100% false. Lol. It's compatible with any GPU, it just depends whether or not Nvidia will allow you to turn it on or not and you need a display port to use it with an Nvidia card.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/blog/does-amd-freesync-work-with-nvidia-graphics-cards/

I know the monitor linked doesn't use display port and instead uses HDMI but, it's fine, you really don't need the adaptive sync, you can just use a standard VSYNC and be just fine. The monitor is a great option for 1080p since it's fast, performative, has a decent color output, and has a good size for proper 1080p PPI, which is why I recommended it. However, you can shop around and it is a portable monitor so some might find that distasteful or whatever.

Sorry I meant lower range GPUs like the 980 OP is using, only 10 series and above have support for freesync using >2019 drivers, though it is still very unreliable on even high end Nvidia GPUs, before I got one of the few specifically NV VRR supported displays I tried multiple freesync displays that were not specifically certified and therefore one simply wasn't recognised and another had significantly increased delay, but were both well regarded by blurbusters and rtings with AMD usage

[The Exile]

Whoops I linked X4 Foundations instead of no Man's Sky. My bad. Lol. I fixed it.

[The Exile]

Originally posted by Pilot YELDAH:

Sorry I meant lower range GPUs like the 980 OP is using, only 10 series and above have support for freesync using >2019 drivers, though it is still very unreliable on even high end Nvidia GPUs, before I got one of the few specifically NV VRR supported displays I tried multiple freesync displays that were not specifically certified and therefore one simply wasn't recognised and another had significantly increased delay, but were both well regarded by blurbusters and rtings with AMD usage

Ah yes. Correct.

The game performs badly even with great hardware. It's mostly due to how the game streams in new assets. It tends to stutter, a lot. You have to really lock to 30 fps to reduce their frequency and improve how smooth everything feels.