Age and PC specs

@xpl0its

Thanks for your advice. I'll keep an eye on the prices of everything here and see how it goes.

I'm looking forward to (and hoping) that the switch up from 60hz to 144hz is a very noticeable difference and advantage.

For those people who have enough money, a 240hz monitor can also be set to a lower hz I think, until they can get a faster GPU, etc.

I agree that for now it could be ideal to get a 144hz one.

I originally liked the idea of a 1660ti (for 1080p). I know that the MSI ones are nice and quiet, which is good for me here in my small (wooden) apartment in Japan.

Maybe the EVGAs are quiet too. It would be nice to enjoy a decent overclock, etc. and still have a nice quiet system for gaming through the night or whatever.

Cheers mate. Never too old to talk about computers !

WAIT FOR THIS!

https://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-navi-rx-3080-specs-leaked-8-shader-engines-2560-sps-8gb-vram-256-bit-bus/

@FaZaaa_82 

Thanks. I'll keep an eye on the news..

If you can get a good used 1080Ti for <600, then that's your best option by a very large margin. And by good I mean one that won't die within a couple of months. If it looks unburned (no discolorations, burn marks, bloated condensators, etc), doesn't make weird noises (well fan replacement is not terribly expensive, so it's always an option) and can hold during stress tests - it should be fine. Don't buy one if you can't look at it and run the tests though.

1080Ti was so extremely powerful and ahead of the previous cards, that it's still going to be one of the best cards after 2-3 years.

The bitcoin mining boom and collapse ensured that the 2nd hand market is way oversaturated with 1080Ti's (the main choice for mining), so the pricing is lower than normal.

For the same price you could get something like new 2060, which is noticeably weaker. 1660Ti is not worth the price, since it's on the level of a 1070 - buy a used 1070 for pennies instead then.

2080Ti and 2080 are most definitely not worth the price, unless you simply need the best.

P.S. Got my used 1080Ti a year ago for 400 eur and it's still working like a bee.

The thing with nvidia cards go look on ebay and second hand ones for parts or not working and there is loads.

Its a massive risk buying nvidia second hand. 

The best way to buy used card is in person, preferrably straight out of the PC it was used in. I would never buy one on ebay.

I stopped buying nvidia because they are the only cards that break in my opinion, i have never had a amd or ati card break once.

The components nvidia use are not good quality the vrm's are weak also.

Nvidia is greedy they want you to buy a card every generation they gimp the drivers down so you get less fps in games 2 years down the line.

They are not a trust worth company and they put their prices up everu year and you get hardly any more performance for the money.

Since everyone else has helped you on the computer front I will address the other question you posed about age and reaction and all of that. I am 45 and while I played video games casually off and on over the years not really into online or competition style play until a couple of years ago. 

I could and did write a novel(just deleted all of it and started over).

To make this short I suffered a severe brain injury 4 years ago and have used video games as a source for recovery. The most important factor for me has been watching clips of my gameplay to see where I struggle and to see where I am improving. In Apex I would recommend watching battles you lose to see if you are clip strafing. Are you shooting to the right or left without realizing it? If so adjust the next game and see if it improves. There can be alot more to this game then just land die rinse repeat if you want it to.

BTW I play on PS4 not computer for specific reasons, I spec out and build/ maintain our network, engineering and programming computers so playing on a computer in my free time does nothing for me. I just want to hit power on and go play. You have gotten some good suggestions on video cards and monitors. My suggestion on top of all others would be to get the best monitor first that you can afford with the best refresh rate possible. Video card would be second on my list.Also since I don't remember seeing it listed RAM would also be on my list if you have availabilty I would look at configuring my RAM to optimize my computer. Depending on options of available slots and capacity of your desktop RAM cards are pretty cheap and will help most computers process better. (If you have 4 slots for RAM utilize them, you are better off with 4X 2 gigs vs. 2X 4 gig cards, it makes a world of difference in any graphics driven program)

Anyways I was responding primarily to let you know that you are not the only salt and pepper player out there. I play primarily with 20-22 year olds because there are not alot of us (Atari) generation players on Apex. On a side note I do remember standing in a line to buy my copy of Pac-Man for the 2600 so I will date myself.

Good luck and enjoy your trips to the battle ring.

@FaZaaa_82 

You've just been unlucky if you are saying that Nvidia cards break more then AMD, there are no facts to back up what you are saying.

The VRM issues started several years ago, this is old news and not relevant now.

I've used probably 10 generations of Nvidia cards, mainly from EVGA over 15 years,  and never once ever had any issuses.

EVGA are great video cards and it's the only company to use. I personally own a stock GTX 1060 6GB at present, that I've been using for almost 2 years, on average 10 hours a day, and not one problem at all, rock solid!

@Biochemikas 

Everyone's needs are different, just because a 1080ti might be a good card, if someone doesn't have $600 USD to blow, then what does it matter?

Best is based on the Needs of the Individual and their pocket book, and if GrantBarker is only going to play some various games that will never meet up to the gaming specs of a 1080TI, then it's a waste of money, and a card half the price like a 1660ti could work just fine for someone, for several years, again, based on their needs.

Next question no one ever asked!

@The-Babysitter4U 

Do you ever plan on using Linux? If you do, Nvidia support is much better in Linux.

Linux by the way, if there are games someone plays, that are supported in Linux, from the track record I have seen in Linux run and perform better.

Steam has a Linux version and Valve has a Linux gaming platform, 'Steam OS'.

@Biochemikas 

Thanks. I have been looking online at the different prices for used. It's very appealing, yet a bit risky too as you say.
I'm keeping my eyes open though. It would indeed be nice to have the best of everything related to PCs, but unfortunately I can't afford it at the moment.

It's good to hear that you got a decent used 1080Ti. 

I appreciate your input and advice.

@mastiffslinger 

Why did you delete the novel you were typing? I'm just curious. (At my age, it's all too easy to want to give up sometimes..)

That's a great idea about recording gameplay. I swear Apex is making me physically lose my hair. I have felt the same with stressing over BF4 in the past too, which is actually the main reason why I stopped playing it.

I've never recorded gameplay before, even for myself. Truth be told, I'd like to be a streamer if I felt up to it. But talking and listening to people is where it's mostly at for me (as opposed to saying hey look at my gameplay). I even found myself recently stop bopping a downed opponent, empty all my ammo and weapons on the floor in front of him, kneel beside him and let his teammate find me and kill me. (I was so surprised to have beaten him, I must have felt sorry for him or his hardware.) (It takes all sorts.)

I'm pleased you have found a source of recovery for your severe brain injury, especially when it's as fun as game related. (Side note - I often research NDEs and OBEs as a source of faith in the future or inspiration to think less about stuff nowadays.)

I'm such a pu55y in game. I swear I flinch or panic in a cqb situation, plus I don't think I or my monitor keep up so well so as not to panic.

I'm using 2 sticks of 3200 RAM (16gb each) thinking that I would get more when I can afford it. However, I probably should have gotten 4000 mhz anyway (which was the original dream or plan.)

I've watched quite a few Apex videos including PS4, etc. I assume that most console players have similar specs to each other, compared to PC players. I've even noticed that some top PC  players do better from home as opposed to a place where the hardware is the same for everyone. (I know the XL2546 has the ability to brighten up hard to see dark areas. So, sometimes on Twitch what we are seeing is not necessarily a true representation of what the op is seeing.)

There has to be a cooler expression than salt and pepper. Bangalore says things like Ready Up, Rock and Roll or something like that, but never let's go.. salt and pepper. (I'm missing the coolness of youth enough, without having to relate to myself as salt and pepper something..) (Just kidding.)

Thanks for your advice and input. May you loot less and help your teammates - more than I do.

@xpl0its 

Thanks. I don't plan on using Linux, even within Windows 10. I've tinkered with and used Ubuntu (and openSuse) in the past, but usually come back to or mostly use Windows 10. I'm probably a little lazy when it comes to using the command line for things like setting up internet connections or audio, drivers etc. As recently as 2 months ago I installed Ubuntu on an old laptop only to kind of give up and go back to Windows 7 for that device, after having to fiddle too much to get the ethernet port working. I only use that laptop as a device for occasional visitors to chill and use at my home.

Thanks for your input. Much appreciated.