How much GPU power does someone need to run 2X SSAA in 2014?

[Ericmopar]

So what kind of GPU will run at 2 x 2 SSAA or higher with most settings at high or med (shadows).

Anybody actually able to run 3x SSAA?

[BNSFdude]

I run 3x3 with my GTX660

[peterhayes]

Eric
As I understand it for a single monitor 2 x 2 SSAA in TS2014 is enough - I use this and get a constant 30fps with occasional drops in fps on the newer routes.
These are my thoughts:
RSC say you need a card with a bandwidth in excess of 60 Gb/sec so any of the GTX 56+, 66+, 75+ easily meet that requirement - but the more the better.
Your monitor size comes into it wrt VRAM, on a lot of routes using a 1920 x 1200 Monitor I see up to 1.5GB of VRAM being used (in bursts) and around 800MB baseline.
You also have to match the cpu to the gpu so that you do not bottleneck one or the other.
So up to 4.6GHz overclock on an Intel/NVidia rig I would use at least a GTX 670, 760, 770 w 2GB VRAM. (Sandy Bridge, IvyBridge or Haswell)
CPU running between 3.8 - 4.4Ghz I would use a GTX 760, 660Ti 2GB VRAM etc
Over 4.8GHz I would be using a GTX 780 or Titan
Below 3.6GHz and of the GTX 560, 660, 750 etc would be fine.
You may need more VRAM for a monitor large than 2560 x 1600 - I would be looking at a 3/4GB VRAM card.
On an i7 860 @ 3.3GHz running TSX OFF I use 2 x 2 SSAA with a GTX 560TI @ 1920 x 1200 with a very smooth experience with few stutters except at tile boundaries.
Its really to do with balance and although you won't see a great increase in frame rates with these cards you should see a smoother stable experience. You also get what you pay for I do not believe that a $150 card will perform as well as a $400 one, the differences may be subtle, but they will be there.

Yes you can run TS2014 with lower specs than the ones shown here, and if the balance cpu/gpu is good then TS2014 will run fine.

I have no experience with AMD rigs so offer no advice wrt them.

Just seen Woody's reply - I cannot run @ SSAA 3 x3 on any of my rigs without experiencing low fps and microstutters and that's a Sandy Bridge o/c to 4.6GHz coupled to a GTX770 - so I'm envious of that!!

pH

[Ericmopar]

Yes, I have a GTX 660 and can't quite run 2 x 2 SSAA. Asset heavy routes like Donner Pass are the problem.

But! I got a taste of "very nice" in that AA mode, so now I am considering a faster card.

BTW I always run TSX. I like driving in the rain.

[peterhayes]

Eric
That's a good card, IMHO you would need at least a GTX 770 to top it.
What cpu do you have? Monitor Size etc?
My routes that have low INITIAL fps @ 2 x 2SSAA are the GEML - starting from St Pancras station. Pacific Surfliner ex San Diego and LA.
The older routes are very clear with good constant fps.
Even with 2 x2 SSAA supplemented with 4 x SGSS in NVI - I still see a lot of shimmering in points, O'head lines etc.
On my old rig with TSX off - no shimmering and crystal clear in the distance anf NVI tweaks seem to "take" better.
pH

[Ericmopar]

My monitor is 1920 X 1080
CPU is a 3570K on a MSI Z77A-GD65 main board.
One thing people need to understand is that the GTX 660 has few ROPs. Those are necessary for AA, at least according to what I've read.
Apparently a GTX 560 has more ROPs, which would explain why I've never been quite happy with the AA performance of my GTX660. It was one of those things that took me months to find out about and why I've never really been able to use 8X MSAA, like when I owned my GTX560.

I might say it would be as simple as putting the 560 back into my machine, but I've gotten used to the nicer textures with the 660.

[peterhayes]

Eric
Nice Rig - needs a GTXx70 series to keep in top form although the 760 looks pretty good.
pH

[arizonachris]

Maximum PC's August 2013 issue had a top notch article called "Expert's Guide to PC Hardware" I have the mag right here, I'll see if I can find it online (way too much for me to type out )

There is a "sidebar" called "antialiasing explained" which is also really good. Explains what FSAA, MSAA and FXAA all do. FSAA is the most simple, sampling at either 2x or 4x (big performance hit at 4x) the screen resolution, then down-sampling to your screen res. MSAA is more efficient with less performance hit. FXAA is an Nvidia thing, Shader based with little to no performance hit. It smooths every pixel onscreen including ones born from pixel shaders.

Seems the frame buffer (or VRAM) size has a lot to do with 2x or 4x AA, 2Gb is best for resolutions over 1080, 3 or 4Gb for higher resolutions, and 6Gb (think Titan cards) for the highest resolutions available (for the price of a used car!)

I have been using FXAA for quite a while now and I get great detail, no jaggies, not too much stutter (GTX670 2Gb)

EDIT: this is the issue: http://magazine3k.com/magazine/consumer ... 3-usa.html not sure if it's a free download or not.

[Ericmopar]

The answer is.... A lot.....