Understanding Capability & Compatibility

[Tac Nav]

I have very quickly (level 3) run into difficulty understanding what a 'better' component is, especially with graphics cards. How can I learn what the next evolution up is, and if the component is compatible? The shop listings by brand and price are not helpful. For example, at level 3 I have a guy asking for an upgrade on an MSI 1050 Ti graphics cards with a budget of just $70 after labour costs. I can't work out what's better as that card seem great already. BTW, Happy New Year.

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Originally posted by Jim Lawson:

I have very quickly (level 3) run into difficulty understanding what a 'better' component is, especially with graphics cards. How can I learn what the next evolution up is, and if the component is compatible? The shop listings by brand and price are not helpful. For example, at level 3 I have a guy asking for an upgrade on an MSI 1050 Ti graphics cards with a budget of just $70 after labour costs. I can't work out what's better as that card seem great already. BTW, Happy New Year.

There's a part ranking app in the shop. Buy it. Install it in your computer. Open it and read it. It's in the game for this exact reason.

One of the more confusing things about video cards is determining which is "Faster and better" than the other. The big reason this is confusing is because (both in real life and in-game) it is possible to have for example: a GTX 1050 Ti, which is released in 2016 and runs with a core clock speed of 1290 Mhz (The default from Nvidia, some cards may be faster) is actually slower than a GTX 680, which was released in 2012 and has a core clock speed of 1006 Mhz (Per Nvidia).

So I understand why folks can be confused with video cards and their performance. Just because something is newer and has a higher core Mhz speed, or a bigger Vram capacity (4GB Vram vs 8GB Vram) does not automatically mean it is faster.

[Tac Nav]

Thanks Aquafawks. The rank card helps. One last question though. Now at level 5, a guy wants an MSI Radion RX470 Gaming X 8G upgraded. It is number 9 on the list. How can I tell if the ones above it are compatible? Which numbers should I be comparing?

[BonPadre]

Originally posted by Jim Lawson:

Now at level 5, a guy wants an MSI Radion RX470 Gaming X 8G upgraded. It is number 9 on the list. How can I tell if the ones above it are compatible?

Actually, unless a customer asks specifically for a DUAL gpu (caps for emphasis, not shouting) you don't need anything that is compatible, as you simply could pick #7 in that list, remove the existing card (and as thus keeping it for "free" for a later use) and install the upgrade card.

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Further informations for dual graphic cards (dual GPU)
If you want to install dual GPU you need this to match

#1 You need a capable Motherboard (wich then has a SLI or CrossFire indication in text description). Some motherboards are SLI only compatible, some are CrossFire only compatible, some are SLI & CrossFire compatible and finally some DON'T allow dual GPU (and as thus have absolutely no mention of SLI/CrossFire in description

#2 If a Motherboard is SLI able, then you need 2x SLI GPU, and ofc if you have a CrossFire able Motherboard, you need CrossFire GPU

#3 2 identical series GPU (like 2x GTX1080, but could be different GPU's or even 2 different brands, like 1x a 1080 MSI and 1x 1080 EVGA)

Now be aware that if you install 2 diferent GPU, sometimes the PC (in game) can crash under stress test, so you need to apply a small overclocking (available later game), so I would simply advise to install 2x the exact same GPU at least early to mid game, until you get very familiar with the game.

Final note, ofc as you then have 2 GPU that are drawing power, you need a way more powerful PSU, so don't forget to check if the PSU has enough wattage to allow dual GPU.

Last, I can only recomand that you use that tool to learn what you can do, as it will not allow you to plan incompatible builds, and it will as well calculate the power draw, so you know what you may need as a PSU wattage
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2120941673