Over the years, I don't think any other GPU architecture has brought so much value, performance and longevity to PC Gaming than Graphics Core Next's 4th Generation; Polaris.
Over the years, I have played more games and had more fun on Polaris-powered graphics cards than any other, I have fallen back to the trusty workhorse of graphics processing many times, even switching back and forth from other GPUs like Navi 14, but forever respecting Polaris's status as a Legend.
Today I find myself looking back to Polaris, once more, to provide me with rendered frames in games, of many names and I have no shames for loving POLARIS! Sorry, that was bad. Okay, so I'll get to the point and explain what this post is all about.
You might have read on my blog that I am choosing to play video games on Zen+, despite having Zen2 CPUs, and even using a GTX 1650 SUPER instead of my RTX 2080 Ti. That would be correct. However, I decided to make another last moment change to my plans (nothing unusual) and switch one of the Science Farm! machines with the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X to use as a 'daily gaming / use' system for my casual gaming habits.
That just entails switching it over from Ubuntu Server to Windows 10; so it can pull double duty as a WCG cruncher and gaming system, too. Oh, and the point of this post?
The RX 590 returns.
That's right, this video card has endured more physical, electrical and emotional (don't ask) abuse from yours truly than, well... any other graphics card I have ever owned. He has become derpy over the years, which I never managed to get to the bottom of, but still he outputs completed, rendered frames reliably. I couldn't ask for more! Well, I could, but that's beside the point. You know what I mean.
Originally, I was going to use the GTX 1650 SUPER for my 'daily' gaming habits, which I mentioned in the previous post. That would be fine if not for two reasons;
The GTX 1650 SUPER is still really great at FAH;
It only has 4GB of video memory which is the difference between Medium and Ultra preset for texture quality on Fallout 76, even at 1080p.
Now, I don't usually care too much about that, despite being quite vocal on the longevity aspect of graphics card video memory, despite admitting that some games really don't benefit from the additional memory despite hitting the limit on software reporting (allocation). That said, Fallout 76 is one of those games that really needs the extra memory.
High and Ultra presets have inconsistent frame-times as the GPU / Driver is shunting the texture assets around trying to fit stuff in the 4GB buffer. That is not enough, I tested it thoroughly and the "medium" preset is the highest for the 4GB GTX 1650 SUPER.
Which, I will admit, is completely fine. Despite the fact that the textures in Fallout 76 are a bit... bad, and the drop from high to medium is extremely noticeable, (maybe I will post a comparison soon), I didn't really care... But...
It was a really nice 'excuse' to dig out this old, abused, trusty, forever relenting and completely and utterly eternal, Polaris graphics card, the RX 590. With 8GB, I can run high or ultra with no issues! Ha! Meow!
TLDR: The 2700X Pro and RX 590 are now my daily gaming system and crunching when I'm not using it. :D
But Sash, this blog post is pointless! No one cares or even wants to know or care about what computer you use for your daily gaming habits! Why do you even bother to type this?
IT'S MY BLOG I'LL DO WHATEVER I WANT WITH IT YOU BIG SMELLY WILLY.
I'M NOT FORCING YOU TO READ THIS, AM I? HUH? NO.
I just like pretending I have friends. :3
<_<"
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