Intel Core i3 12100F worth considering?

[FlyingNutcase]

Hi chaps,

 

My computer pooped itself a while back and I don't want to buy a beast until I can go the full hog with VR (happy to wait until the tech matures a bit more).  In the interim (1-2 years) I'm planning to get by with a basic rig, good enough for a 2560x1440 monitor to fly mainly in IL2 but also as feasible in DCS (warbirds/cold war) and fingers crossed FS (gliders coming, oooooooh).

 

So, is a Core i3 12100F worth considering here?

 

Other proposed specs:

• 32 GB RAM (2 x 16GB to allow the option of adding another 2 x 16GB later, mainly thinking DCS and I guess FS)
• GTX3060 (but let's see what nvidia announces I think on Sept 20th in terms of 40 series releases. A 4060 would be nice. )
• Is an NVMe SSD the way to go or is just a normal SSD okay?

 

Cheers guys. My brain and heart were beginning to ache with Normandy on the verge of release, so time to get clear about the way foward and get this sorted. Six months of no flying. Not cool!

[chiliwili69]

38 minutes ago, FlyingNutcase said:

My computer pooped itself a while back and I don't want to buy a beast until I can go the full hog with VR (happy to wait until the tech matures a bit more). 

 

You posed an interesting question. You want something simple and cheap but expandable later (1-2-years) for VR and other sims like DCS and FS.

 

So I assume that you want to keep Mobo+RAM+PSU+case and expand on more RAM, better CPU, better cooler, better GPU... later on.  Right?

 

If this is the case, then you have two choices: Intel or AMD route (depending on time):

 

1.- You want it now: So go for a basic Intel CPU (i3 or perhaps i5 for few more dollars). Both 12th and 13th will run on the same socket (LGA1700) so you will be able to go later to better 13th gen CPUs reusing the Mobo. I would go for a DDR4 mobo since 13th gen will also support DDR4. And DDR5 still have not provided measurable gains over DDR4 in IL-2. And DDR4 is cheaper and will go cheaper.

 

2. Wait for October: So go for the cheaper new Zen4 CPU (Ryzen 7600X for 299$) using the new AM5 socket and DDR5. You can expand later to higher CPUs in that socket if it is really needed. Probably it will not be needed for IL-2 in VR, but maybe other games will benefit.

 

I think 13th gen of Intel and Zen4 will be on pair regarding Single-threaded performance, so I will go to Intel line since you can have it now.

 

But talking about IL-2 in your future VR, the RAM is an important item, and probably the best to invest now. So, independently of the chosen option you first thing to do will be to check prices and availability of the best and better first word low latency RAM memory. HOW?  well you need to check this page and short the list by first word latency:

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/memory/#b=ddr4&Z=32768002&sort=fwl&page=1

 

You have to pick a model from a known brand and thinking that will be also available in a year time when you buy more RAM. (For IL-2 VR 32GB is more than engouh, in fact 16GB is also quite enough, look here, but other games is another question).

In fact, paerhaps it could be a wiser option to go to 2x8Gb now and buy another 2x8Gb later. With 2x8Gb you are plently for IL-2 (VR and Monintor). Since there are more availability of 2x8Gb sticks and better specs. For example Gskill Trident Z (Neo or RGB) at 4000MHZ and CL14.

 

Then you have to go to the Qualified Vendor List of that RAM memory an pick an Intel Z690 mobo that support that RAM. Only option is then MSI:

https://www.gskill.com/qvl/165/326/1620976016/F4-4000C14D-16GTZN-QVL

 

So answering to your questions;

 

CPU: i3-12100F is quite OK and rally cheap for your purposes now. In fact I will be quite interested in your performance running the IL-2 becnhmarks. Later, you can easily upgrade CPU if required.

RAM: I would go for the best DDR4 with 2x8Gb. And later get another 2x8Gb if required for FS or DCS.

GPU: for 2560x1440 monitor any card with more than 14000 mark (https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html) will be OK. So a 3060 is plenty.

SSD: I have SATA SSD and it is more than enough. Regarding performance the SSD only helps in loading time but no play game. Don´t spend money there.

 

 

[FlyingNutcase]

@chiliwili69 Oh man, thanks heaps for the detailed reply. Assumptions correct.

 

So 400MHz RAM is worth it rather than 3600? I was of the understanding that quantity was more important than speed, so just wanting to check.

 

Also, do you think the i3-12100F will survive in DCS and FS? Maybe it would be best just to go to 32BG RAM now to help out with those titles?

[chiliwili69]

7 minutes ago, FlyingNutcase said:

So 400MHz RAM is worth it rather than 3600?

 

Fro the same latency, going from 3600 to 4000 the gain in fps is small, in the order of 2-4 fps perhaps.

If you could get 3600 with 14 Latency it would be a good one as well.

 

For RAM size, one you have more than used by the game (and system) it doesn´t provide any extra value or performance.

 

Now I only play IL-2 (no FS or DCS), but I believe they dont need more that 32Gb. If you get 32Gb now (either 4x8 or 2x16) then you will avoid getting trapped in future looking for the same RAM memory to expand.

 

I really don´t know how the i3-12100F will go in DCS or FS. It has 4 cores, so that´s quite OK for most of games. Then on cache size 12Mb which is also quite OK. And regarding CPU performance in singlethread it is as good as the  ryzens 5900X. So I would go for it.  

 

It is only 109$ on risk, if it is not enough is easy to upgrade CPU and sale 2nd hand the i3-12100F

[dburne]

1 hour ago, FlyingNutcase said:

@chiliwili69 Oh man, thanks heaps for the detailed reply. Assumptions correct.

 

So 400MHz RAM is worth it rather than 3600? I was of the understanding that quantity was more important than speed, so just wanting to check.

 

Also, do you think the i3-12100F will survive in DCS and FS? Maybe it would be best just to go to 32BG RAM now to help out with those titles?

 

You will certainly want more than 16 GB for DCS.

[Sokol1]

Quote

...Intel CPU (i3 or perhaps i5 for few more dollars)..

 

I really don´t know how the i3-12100F will go in DCS or FS.

 

A local "reviewer" use MSFS2020 in their tests, running New York discovery flight.

ASUS TUF Gaming Z690 Plus D4 + XPG D45 2x8GB 3200 Mhz CL16 + ASUS TUF RTX 3080 Ti OC 12GB + Aorus WaterForce X 280 (WC)

 

With i3-12100F ($107 on Newegg)

 

1% FPS Low - 50

FPS average - 72

 

With i5-12400F ($175  > $68 more +63,55%)

 

1% FPS Low - 62 (+24%)

FPS average - 80 (+11%)

 

With i5-12600K ($205 > $98 more than i3 ~91,6% for KF version > $30 +17% more than i5-12400F)

 

1% FPS Low - 65 (+30% than i3 - 4,8% than i5-12400F)

FPS average - 88 (+22,2% than i3 - 10% more than i5-12400F)

 

https://www.rapidtables.com/tools/bar-graph.html

 

 

Edited September 4, 2022 by Sokol1

[Dallas88B]

11 hours ago, FlyingNutcase said:

So 400MHz RAM is worth it rather than 3600? I was of the understanding that quantity was more important than speed, so just wanting to check.

With DDR4 RAM 3600MHz and a low CL, say a CL of 14 or 16 I think is the sweet spot.

RAM without RGB (eg Kingston Fury or G.Skill Ripjaws V Series or Corsair Vengeance) is a lot cheaper and higher performing than its RGB equipped competitor.

Buying 2 sticks of 16G each is better than 4 sticks of 8G. The downside is that it negates the option of staring with 2X8 and then adding another 2X8 later. That said it is best to buy a matched kit of ram (eg either a set of 2 X 16 or a set of 4 X 8). This video explains pretty much everything you would need to know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duFlFgDDXW0&t=958s

It does talk about DDR5 RAM in parts of the video too but I think that is still way to expensive (at Sept 2022) and doesn't perform any better than good DDR4 ram.

[FlyingNutcase]

9 hours ago, Dallas88B said:

With DDR4 RAM 3600MHz and a low CL, say a CL of 14 or 16 I think is the sweet spot.

RAM without RGB (eg Kingston Fury or G.Skill Ripjaws V Series or Corsair Vengeance) is a lot cheaper and higher performing than its RGB equipped competitor.

Buying 2 sticks of 16G each is better than 4 sticks of 8G. The downside is that it negates the option of staring with 2X8 and then adding another 2X8 later. That said it is best to buy a matched kit of ram (eg either a set of 2 X 16 or a set of 4 X 8). This video explains pretty much everything you would need to know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duFlFgDDXW0&t=958s

It does talk about DDR5 RAM in parts of the video too but I think that is still way to expensive (at Sept 2022) and doesn't perform any better than good DDR4 ram.

 

Thanks Dallas for your input. I'm set on 32GB now, but not hot-rod RAM, to keep the price reasonable. This is one option that is available (in New Zealand), which ties in with what you have mentioned above:

Kingston FURY Renegade 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16

 

Happily, there is an NZ version of PC Part Picker: https://nz.pcpartpicker.com

 

I'll likely wait until the nVidia presentation on Sept 20th just in case the 4060 will be released this year. If the price and availablility were to look okay it would presumably be worth a little extra patience. Not easy though, haha.