As remasters grew in popularity, it was inevitable that we would see a return to the Grand Theft Autos of generations past. GTA 3, GTA: Vice City, and GTA: San Andreas saw the Grand Theft Auto series fully come into its own. Beloved characters, settings, and stories are back with upgrading graphics and modern controls thanks to the new trilogy release.

While it hasn’t been without its problems – many users reported terrible rain effects and optimization ruining the experience – many people are still interested in reexperiencing games that defined their younger years. Still, the overall experience seems greatly improved, and the trilogy serves as a welcome reason to go back in time.

The system requirements are more demanding than Grand Theft Auto V, which surprised some. While that game did come out all the way back in 2013, it set a landmark for graphical fidelity that many games still strive toward.  Let’s see what they are now and how to best upgrade for the nostalgia trip.

Can I Run Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy?

While the system requirements have seen an upgrade since Grand Theft Auto V, they’re still within reach for most gamers. A dedicated graphics card, 8 GB of RAM, and a decent processor will get you into the game with ease. In fact, most systems still in use today will probably hit the recommended specifications as well.

Despite the slight differences in requirements, Grand Theft Auto V is a good benchmark for running the new trilogy remasters. If your system is truly old – a decade or more – you’ll want to start by upgrading your graphics card, followed by your RAM.

For a good place to start, check out our PC building guide. Along with a full showcase on how to replace and build your computer, you’ll find a great list of parts to consider for different budgets. Or, if you want concrete evidence, just compare your computer to the minimum requirements below.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy System Requirements

Minimum Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy System Requirements   

Processor: Intel Core i5-6600k or AMD FX-6300

Video Card: Nvidia GTX 760 2 GB or AMD Radeon R9 280 3 GB

Memory (RAM): 8 GB

Storage Space: 45 GB

Operating System: 64-bit Windows 10

Meeting the minimum requirements for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy won’t break the bank. Lenient RAM and Video Card requirements ensure that most people will have no trouble getting a consistent 30 FPS on low settings. If you want slightly better performance, you can check out our $500 build guide. Everything there will put you above and beyond these requirements while keeping costs low. Otherwise, look at our guide on prebuilts under $500. While the performance will be worse, you’ll avoid the hassle of building and still beat the minimum specs.

Recommended Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy System Requirements

Processor: Intel Core i7-2700K or AMD Ryzen 5 2600

Video Card: Nvidia GTX 970 4 GB or AMD Radeon RX 570 4 GB

Memory (RAM): 16 GB

Storage Space: 45 GB

Operating System: 64-bit Windows 10

These recommended settings represent a sweet spot in PC building right now. The GTX 970 and RX 570 are some of the last graphics cards that haven’t seen drastic price increases over the past few months. Especially for people just entering the PC gaming space, they are attractive options. Plus, most games will run on medium to medium-high settings using the card. Our $600 PC guide is a perfect launching point for those looking to build an entire system around these specs.

If you want to get the maximum experience for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy, consider upgrading even more. Costs are hard to estimate these days, but our $1000 build will get you firmly into 1440p gaming in San Andreas and beyond.

Running Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy

This game’s recommended specifications hit a wonderful balance of achievable and cheap, which is hard to do right now. Especially if you’re building a new computer or upgrading parts, we suggest aiming for more than the minimum. The price difference between builds is small enough to be worth it.

The post GTA: The Trilogy System Requirements appeared first on PremiumBuilds.

The RTX 3060 sits as a mid-range GPU champion. Its MSRP of $329 places it perfectly among the rest of NVIDIA’s stock, although getting your hands on any graphics card at the recommended price is still a challenge. This card is not meant to push 4K gaming or anything close. Instead, it serves the 1080p crowd perfectly, and can respectfully manage a few games at 1440p. Perhaps more than any other card from the 3000 series, the rest of your rig will have to pull its weight for the best performance.

With all of that in mind, the question of the best resolution to play it with this card comes up. Note that everything we just said is about the RTX 3060, not the RTX 3060 Ti. If you manage to upgrade to that even more elusive card, your resolution options open up significantly. While this article focuses mostly on the original 3060, we’ll reference the 3060 Ti a few times. And, to put it out there; if you have the choice between the 3060 and the 3060 Ti at MSRP, choose the upgrade. The extra $70 will be worthwhile.

Above all else, the 3060 is a 1080p GPU. You should always look at what games you play and their requirements, as well as the rest of your rig. However, for those looking to future-proof their build or game in high resolutions, you’ll have a better time waiting for an upgrade. Let’s see why and how to optimize this card.

The Champion of 1080p Gaming with RTX

For those looking to play the most modern games at good frame rates on the RTX 3060, there’s only one resolution option. 1080p became the standard monitor resolution years ago, and for good reason. It’s sharp enough to be usable at almost all screen sizes, games can hit ludicrous frame rates on it, and 1080p monitors are relatively cheap.

Compared to other cards in both the 2000 and 3000 series, the RTX 3060 is an exceptional deal for playing at 1080p. This is especially true for those interested in utilizing RTX technology for ray tracing and special effects. At only $329, it’s one of the cheapest ways to access this tech and get great performance. Across benchmarks, its performance is almost equivalent to the 2060 Super while being slightly cheaper.

Techspot’s analysis of modern games such as Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, and Death Stranding all place this GPU around the middle of the pack at maximum settings. While this might seem like a lackluster result, it’s actually great performance for the price. Most GPUs ranking higher than the RTX 3060 are much more expensive and made for gaming at higher resolutions. Notably, the 3060 Ti breaks this mold. It’s only $70 at MSRP but consistently beats more expensive cards, even outperforming the RTX 2080.

RTX 3060 performance suffers moving up to the 1440p range. In fact, at maximum settings, it rarely even hits 60FPS on the same titles. While many gamers would be fine using the 3060 for 1440p gaming, it will not be useful for monitors with a refresh rate higher than 60Hz.

What Refresh Rate to Aim for While Gaming At 1080p

As we mentioned earlier, the exact performance you’ll get with this card depends heavily on the rest of your setup. However, assuming you don’t have a major bottleneck for your CPU, there are some general guides we can provide. Most people gaming at 1080p on the RTX 3060 will comfortably hit 120 or 144 frames per second using medium settings. If you bump that up to ultra-settings or care more about RTX, you’ll probably be closer to about 60 frames per second.

If you’re looking to upgrade your monitor, a 120 Hz monitor is a safe bet. With that said, it may not be worth upgrading specifically because of this card. Due to how long 1080p monitors have been the standard, many of them at 60 Hz refresh rates, your current setup may be more than enough.

However, for those of you who need an upgrade, consider grabbing a monitor with a higher refresh rate. We recommend splurging for the upgrade for three reasons:

1. You will likely play many games that can reach those higher frame rates
2. The monitor will be better for future upgrades to your build
3. The difference in price between a 60 Hz and 120 or 144 Hz 1080p monitor is minimal

Choosing A Higher Resolution

While the RTX 3060 performs best at a 1080p resolution, gaming at 1440p is certainly a possibility. If you’re considering leaving behind higher frame rates for graphical fidelity, you’re not making an incorrect choice. We recommend upgrading to a 3060 Ti instead if you can find one, however. It simply performs far better while gaming at 1440p than the basic 3060 can.

Consider that RTX features and ray-tracing capabilities will be limited while playing at 1440p on this card. With these effects on at a higher resolution, it’s easy for the 3060 to fall well below 40 FPS, which many people consider unplayable. Think about your personal tolerance and preferences before deciding.

Closing Thoughts

The RTX 3060 is currently one of the easiest graphics cards on the market to place. When found at MSRP, it is a respectable deal that serves all gamers who aren’t interested in upgrading to 1440p resolution just yet. Its graphical prowess will get you through all modern games and likely the next few years with no issues, even on maximum settings.

It’s not the choice for those with enormous budgets or who want to push the very edge of gaming, but it’s not supposed to be. However, there is enough zip in this to carry a few games through nice 1440p performances. As always, consider what games you play and their requirements to make your final decision. If it were us, we’d choose a 1080p resolution with a high frame rate for this card every time.

Relevant Guides

Want to read more about the RTX 3060 and its capabilities? We’ve written plenty about NVIDIA’s 3000 series and have the answers to all your questions. Check out these articles to get a head start:

• RTX 3060 vs RTX 3060 Ti: What Are the Key Differences?
• RTX 3060 Ti vs 3070 vs 3080: Benchmark Comparison (Real World Tests)
• 5 Best Monitors for the Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti
• AMD RX 6700 XT vs Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti: Which is Best?

The post What is the Optimal Monitor Resolution for RTX 3060 Builds? appeared first on PremiumBuilds.

Microsoft’s announcements around Windows 11 have focused heavily on gaming. The quote “if you’re a gamer, Windows 11 was made for you” has been making rounds since the operating system was released on October 5^th. While Windows has always been the platform of choice for computer-based gaming, any major upgrades to a system can have adverse effects. And while Microsoft wants to appeal to gamers with their new generation, there are some early worrying signs.

Let’s check out some of the new features introduced in Windows 11, as well as some early benchmarks and comparisons, to see if it’s worth switching yet.

The Pitfalls of New Technology

Any new release comes with hiccups. These hiccups are often exclusive to early adopters and quickly get patched away. Windows 11 is still only about one month old, and some growing pains have yet to be solved. Some of the controversies from pre-launch – such as the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0 requirement – seem to be sticking around, while other bugs and features get squashed and refined.

All this is to say that Windows 11 is sure to see more problems moving forward. While the software will inevitably improve, Windows 10 is stronger for now. Some of these bugs and performance issues are sure to affect games in unforeseen ways. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing – somebody must be the first to test their system with new software – it is important to consider. You’re likely looking at a less stable version of Windows for now.

Luckily, those of you interested in upgrading will face little risk. Windows 11 is a free upgrade for anybody currently on a genuine Windows 10 device. Notably, this doesn’t seem to be a limited-time offer. Unlike the upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10, Microsoft has not announced an end date on the offer. We recommend holding off until more patches for the operating system have released.

Security Measures Could Prove Harmful For Gaming

Windows 11 has faced some controversy for its security-based system requirements. Luckily, most gaming rigs will be new enough that the before-mentioned TPM 2.0 requirement is negligible. That’s not the true concern for some gamers; instead, it’s the inclusion of VBS.

VBS stands for Virtualization-Based Security. This is a setting that was only available on Windows 10 that helps with security. By creating an isolated, virtual subsystem in your machine, VBS limits the spread of malware and secures your files. Microsoft’s exact wording is as follows: “Virtualization-based security, or VBS, uses hardware virtualization features to create and isolate a secure region of memory from the normal operating system. Windows can use this “virtual secure mode” to host a number of security solutions, providing them with greatly increased protection from vulnerabilities in the operating system, and preventing the use of malicious exploits which attempt to defeat protections.”

Microsoft plans to enable VBS on all newly sold Windows 11 devices automatically. However, those of you upgrading from Windows 10 to 11 likely don’t have to worry. Your computer will not automatically apply VBS unless you’re running a Windows 10 Enterprise key. This is an issue for the future – if you buy a pre-built device or laptop running Windows 11, VBS will be on by default.

This is a fantastic feature for improving system security. Yet, its results on gaming performance are debatable. Some reports show that enabling this feature can impact frame rates by as much as 28%, while others have found only negligible changes. Like most things, results seem to rely on the specific game and computer.

The Promised Benefits of Windows 11 for Gaming

Now let’s move on to the upgrades that Windows 11 brings to gaming. Windows 11 touts a host of features for gaming. Faster load times, automatic HDR, and Xbox integration are the key features. Combined with Microsoft’s apparent focus on gaming, Windows 11 will likely be the best Windows for gaming yet. Just, not yet.

The two biggest features that will impact gaming are DirectStorage and Auto HDR. DirectStorage is the most important and comes from the newest line of Xbox’s. It improves load times for textures and games in general. The tech behind it is complicated, but it’s basically a new interface for games to fetch data as they need it. This is most applicable for loading screens and textures on large, detailed games.

Before, most games would need to search the hard drive for a texture, send it to the GPU, and then render. DirectStorage allows the game to fetch the textures and store them temporarily on the system’s RAM. From here, the texture moves to the GPU as necessary. This introduces an extra step but is much faster in the long run. Your computer needs to search through dramatically fewer files in the loading moment.

One important note about DirectStorage; the game must support the API. Older games won’t see any benefits from this, but newer ones optimized for the Xbox Series X should perform better than ever.

While DirectStorage is exciting, it’s not a feature exclusive to Windows 11. Microsoft has also enabled it on Windows 10, meaning that the biggest benefit is one that you don’t even have to upgrade for.

Auto HDR is a Windows 11 exclusive feature. As the name suggests, it automatically detects and applies HDR settings to games. This happens whether the game supports it or not. This is a cool feature for users with HDR-compatible monitors.

Finally, Windows 11 is deeply integrated with the Xbox app. Gamers still used to Xbox Live for Windows may groan at the prospect, but the modern Xbox app is actually pretty good. This should be a welcome integration for gamers who use both an Xbox and PC, or who use Game Pass.

Waiting It Out

There’s plenty of excitement around the future of gaming on Windows 11. A clear focus from Microsoft on gaming is a great sign. They’re also backing up their talk with the new features: reduced load times and auto-HDR are welcome changes. It seems like Windows 11 will be the best for gaming yet. The operating system just needs some time to come into its own.

Those of you willing to test the software yourself may find great results. At the least, most people making the switch aren’t noticing worse performance. For your system’s safety, however, we recommend waiting until Windows 11 is more stable.

If you are upgrading, try to avoid pre-built machines and upgrade from Windows 10 when you can. This will avoid potential issues with VBS and ensure that you’re not suffering lag because of a security feature. If you are upgrading, let us know why and how it performs!

Relevant Guides

Want to read more about how Windows 11 might impact your system? Or get the scoop on upgrading from Windows 10? We’ve got you covered:

• Which CPUs (Intel & AMD) are Compatible With Windows 11?
• How To Upgrade Windows 10 To Windows 11
• Windows 11 System Requirements: Can Your PC Run it?

The post Is Windows 11 Worth The Upgrade for Gaming? appeared first on PremiumBuilds.

Curved monitors seem to be taking over the market. With different screen sizes, curves, and viewing distances available, it can be hard to decide what options are right for you. Luckily, there is a standardized system of measurement which should make things easier.

Most monitor manufacturers measure the curve as a radius. This is usually expressed as “0000R”, where relevant numbers replace the zeroes. So, for example, a 1000R curved monitor means that the monitor has a radius of 1000 millimeters, or one meter.

The larger the number, the bigger the curve on the monitor. This translates to softer curves – to help, imagine the monitor wrapped around a large ball. The radius is half of the imaginary ball.

For consumers, this means that different measurements are better for different things. Let’s explore what the radius of the curve means, go over some of the more common sizes, and then decide what style is best for you.

The Radius of the Curve

As explained, curved monitors are measured as a radius. Most monitors range between 1500R and 4000R in curvature. As you might expect from the previous explanation, the higher the number, the more curved the screen. Generally speaking, larger screens will have a more drastic curve, although this does not have to be the case.

The point of any curved monitor is to provide an experience similar to our peripheral vision. By extending the monitor from a flat view into one with an arc, manufacturers reduce eye strain and make the monitor “match” our eyes.  Different curves are better at this than others, depending on monitor size and viewing distance.

Knowing the monitor’s curve lets us figure out how “aggressive” the curve is and what our viewing experience can look like. If you have ever seen a monitor that seemed too curved, it likely had a low radius, like 1500R, on a screen that was too small to support it.

Maximum viewing distance is intrinsically tied to the curve of the monitor. Whatever the radius of the curve is, you should view the screen from no more than that distance away. Let’s use a real-world example – a 1800R monitor has a radius of 1800 millimeters, or 1.8 meters. That’s roughly six feet. This means that you want to stay within six feet of the monitor whenever you use it. Otherwise, viewing the screen can become difficult due to the curve.

1000R – Matching the Human Eye

1000R screens are rare to find because of how aggressive this curve is. The most popular monitor with this curve is likely Samsung’s Odyssey Neo G9, a massive 49” ultrawide screen. Because the size is so large, getting a reasonable curve requires it to be more aggressive than normal.

Rather than trying to find monitors with a 1000R curve, use this number for reference. The field of view of the human eye is said to have a curvature rating close to 1000R (or an optimal viewing distance of about one meter). This is what our peripheral vision is, and is one of the key reasons why curved monitors can help with immersion while playing games and watching movies.

Usually, to support such a drastic curve in a monitor, you can expect these chasses to be thick and heavy. Especially if the monitor is small – for this curve, likely anything under 40” – it will extend far out onto your desk or look awkward while wall-mounted.

1800R – A Sharp Curve in The Monitor

1800R tends to be the sharpest curve you can find for most monitors on the market. While some 1500R models are available, they tend to be so dramatic that they become unusable at most available sizes. At a 1800R curve, you open up a significant number of possibilities.

Slight differences in curvature are difficult to notice; a 1800R curve compared to a 1900R to a 2000R curve will be incredibly difficult to spot. Instead, consider whether you want your curve to fall into the “sharp” category or the “subtle” category.

Sharp curves like a 1800R tend to be perfect for gaming, watching movies, and other activities where you want immersion. This is because the curve hits more of our peripheral vision, allowing us to see more of the screen and less… everything else.

Most monitors with a sharp curve will be quite large – 27” is the average minimum, but plenty of them start above 30”. This is common across the board for curved monitors, as they can quickly get unwieldy and uncomfortable for small screens.

If you do more productive work or are searching for a monitor for your home office, consider a more subtle curve. How much of an effect they will have depends on your work, but severe curves can alter the appearance of straight lines or video and photo effects. Unless you are looking to get immersed in a fantasy world or racetrack, choosing a radius larger than 1800R is a good idea.

3800R – A Subtle Curve

3800R curves are a subtle step up from flat monitors. They can help with focus and immersion without creating a dramatically different experience than what you’re used to. Notably, they are available at almost all monitor sizes, although they are still most popular above 30”. One example is this monitor from Samsung, a 34” 3800R monitor focused on providing a nice business experience.

Softer curves like a 3800R allow for multiple monitors, a slimmer profile, and easy wall-mounting. The more subtle look and general stability of a longer curve is the biggest difference between this and other curves. They are also more useful for people who need longer viewing distances; with a 1800R curve, it is hard to show others what you are working on and get feedback. A 3800R curve makes it easy.

Of course, this does not mean that a subtle curve makes the monitor worse for gaming. They are still available with all the bells and whistles like low response time, high refresh rate, and great color accuracy.  While competitive players will probably want a more aggressive curve, casual gamers will find a 3800R to be more than enough.

What Style Is Best for You

There is no one style that works best for everyone, regardless of what they do at their computer. You may enjoy a dramatic curve even while working on spreadsheets, while others may find that it is too different an experience to continue with.

In general, however, those looking for a monitor for gaming will benefit from a more aggressive radius. Look for something between 1500R and 2400R and remember that the higher the number, the more subtle the curve.

Those looking for a monitor for work may want a less drastic option that allows them to view things without distortion or still use multiple screens.

Regardless of your choice, it is always a better idea to focus on other monitor aspects first. Things like refresh rate, color accuracy, and resolution have a larger impact on your experience. And, of course, monitor size – different curves perform well at different monitor sizes. While not always true, larger monitors can have more aggressive curves without causing issues.

Relevant Guides

Interested in checking out more curved monitors? Take a look at some of our articles comparing different options to see which one is best for you:

• Alienware AW3821DW vs LG 38GN950: Battle of the Ultrawide IPS Monitors
• 6 Best 1440p 240Hz Monitors for 2021
• Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 vs Odyssey G9: What are the Key Differences?
• Dell AW3821DW vs AW3420DW: What are the Key Differences?

The post Comparing Different Monitor Curvatures: 1000R vs 1800R vs 3800R appeared first on PremiumBuilds.

Everyone interested in PC gaming has heard about how important a good graphics card is. As the avenue that lets you experience the newest titles, you want to be sure that your card is up to the task. VRAM is a major factor in that decision. It’s an important statistic in determining the power of your graphics card, but how much do you actually need?

Modern cards range from 4GB all the way to over 12GB of VRAM. While more VRAM is never a bad thing, prices can quickly get out of hand, so setting a target range is a good idea. Plus, VRAM isn’t the only thing that affects game performance. Let’s explore what VRAM is and the biggest things that affect how much you need before diving into specific numbers.

What Is VRAM?

VRAM is an acronym for Video Random Access Memory. It’s built and optimized for the graphics card, making it exceptional at certain tasks like texture loading and frame buffering. You can think of it as a specialized version of the RAM that already exists in your computer, although there are a few key differences.

To start, VRAM cannot be upgraded or swapped out later. It is soldered directly into the graphics card, so you will have to replace the whole unit to see better performance. This makes future-proofing during your initial purchase a good idea, as game requirements see constant updates. The more demanding the game, the more VRAM you need, with some exceptions based on other metrics.

Like normal RAM, VRAM serves to speed up common tasks or parts of computing. The VRAM on your graphics card is used to temporarily store various graphics-based tasks, making your graphics card far faster. The more VRAM you have, the more can be stored in the quick-access state. If your graphics card must retrieve something that cannot be stored in the VRAM, it has to go to your SSD or HDD and grab it from there. This causes significant slowdowns.

Finally, know that VRAM is not the only important part of a graphics card. Cards with 6GB of VRAM can sometimes outperform cards with 8GB due to better optimization and more power elsewhere. Be sure to research other parts of the graphics card and look for how many teraflops of power it has before making a final purchase decision.

Resolution Greatly Affects VRAM Usage

The first and biggest factor in how much VRAM you need is resolution. Higher resolutions need significantly more VRAM to achieve the same performance. This is because the number of pixels on the screen increases exponentially between resolutions; a 4K resolution has twice as many pixels to capture as a 1080p resolution. For the purposes of VRAM, this drastically increases the memory each frame takes on the card. If you have ever lagged in a game and lowered your resolution before, you probably noticed immediate performance gains.

Every frame while gaming has to be processed and pushed out at the set resolution. Most monitors have resolutions of 1080p, 1440p, or 4k. If you are interested in gaming at these high resolutions, you need enough VRAM to support the same number of frames. 8GB of VRAM quickly becomes the minimum for AAA gaming in 4k while stepping up to 12GB for higher FPS.

The Games You Play Decide How Much VRAM You Need

This is a well-known rule of graphics; the more advanced the game’s graphics, the more powerful the graphics card needs to be. While there are other factors that determine the power of a GPU, VRAM is a decent starting point.

How much VRAM a game requires depends on how well optimized it is, the style of the game, and its graphical prowess. As expected, running Red Dead Redemption 2 is quite a bit more taxing than Team Fortress 2. In general terms, more modern games require more VRAM to play. While you can adjust in-game settings to improve performance – we’ll talk about that in the next section – all games have a base VRAM floor that must be met. Otherwise, you will always lag and see poor performance.

While new games can require a daunting amount of VRAM, this may be a blessing in disguise. Even the cheapest card on the market can likely run games through 2014 flawlessly. Plus, there are games that rely more heavily on the CPU or don’t need much at all, like Minecraft or Risk of Rain. If you mainly play indie games or older titles, you can get a great graphics card for cheap. You can (and should) check the system requirements for your favorite games to get an idea of what you need. Be sure to add an extra 2-4GB of VRAM for high-resolution gaming.

In-Game Settings Affect Performance

Finally, in-game settings can be tweaked to your heart’s content. For those of you looking to save on VRAM, you can turn down most settings and see major performance jumps. Those of us lucky to have a top-of-the-line graphics card can do the opposite, launching VRAM usage through the roof in the name of graphical fidelity.

Some modern games, like Warzone, show you how much VRAM the game uses vs. what is available. This is a nice feature to have while tweaking settings but is not necessary. While some settings have a stronger effect on VRAM usage than others, you’ll want to lower most settings for the best performance.

One of the key settings to keep an eye on is anti-aliasing. This is the setting that smooths out the edges of 3D models in the game, providing a nice, polished look. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most intensive settings due to how it works. In the simplest terms, anti-aliasing multiplies the images around certain objects and copies them to smooth the edges. For reasons similar to the resolution effect above, this can quickly get out of hand. Try lowering or even turning off anti-aliasing to lower VRAM usage.

Other areas like texture quality and particle effects are also notoriously draining. For most intensive games, you can find guides online to optimize the settings. There is almost always a good balance to be struck between performance and looks to help you out.

How Much VRAM Do You Need?

We’ve touched upon the numbers throughout the article, but here is a definitive list of what you need. While we’ve listed these by resolution, you should remember that other factors also play a role. You probably don’t need 8GB of VRAM to play Minesweeper, even in 4K. Use your best judgement and look up other systems and the FPS they get in your favorite games.

• 1080p – 2GB-4GB of VRAM
• 1440p – 4GB-8GB of VRAM
• 4K – 8GB+ of VRAM

A final quick note: these are recommendations for modern games. If you find yourself returning to classics like Portal 2 or Dark Souls, you will not need as much power under the hood.

Summary

The amount of VRAM you need depends on several factors. While shopping around for a new card or checking if your system is up to snuff, always assume that more is better. You can still be reasonable, however – if you are comfortably gaming in 1080p, you do not need to splurge on an RTX 3080.

Refer to our list above to find the resolution that will best suit your gaming needs. Keep in mind that resolution, game, and in-game settings all have dramatic effects on how much VRAM you’ll need. If your budget allows for it, go higher.

Future-proofing your expensive hardware like the GPU and CPU is a good idea, especially given how quickly game requirements can advance. Given their price in the current market, we recommend starting with at least 4GB of VRAM and going from there. 8GB of VRAM is ideal for new builders. This will let you play modern games at max settings – a performance that will likely carry into the next generation of titles too.

Relevant Guides

Interested in exploring the newest graphics cards and seeing how they compare? We’ve got you covered with plenty of guides here:

• Best RTX 3090 Aftermarket Cards for 2021
• Nvidia RTX 3080 vs AMD RX 6800 XT: Benchmark Comparison (Real World Tests)
• RTX 3060 Ti Vs RTX 3070 Benchmark Comparison: Which is Best for You?
• AMD RX 6700 XT vs Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti: Which is Best?

The post How Much VRAM Do I Need for Gaming? appeared first on PremiumBuilds.

Samsung’s been an innovator in the monitor sphere for years now, pushing the boundaries of both professional and gaming monitors. Offering monitors across the spectrum of budgets, their best work comes at the high-end. While offering some of the most expensive monitors we’ve ever seen, Samsung’s also pushed gaming monitors to new heights. This was true of the original Odyssey G9, and the new Odyssey Neo G9 continues the tradition. Both monitors feature an incredible 49”, 5K ultrawide screen with everything a gamer could need. 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, plenty of connection points, picture-by-picture – both offerings are simply top of the line. So, what are the differences between the two?

The first and most notable difference between these screens is their LED structure. The newer Odyssey Neo G9 is a Quantum Mini-LED monitor. As the newest monitor change on the block, mini-LED technology has received plenty of hype in the past, and it generally lives up to it. Featuring massively better contrast ratios, absolutely no backlight bleed, and better HDR, it offers one of the most significant changes to panels since QLED. Speaking of – the original Odyssey G9 utilizes this slightly older QLED technology for its massive panel. To make it clear, it’s not that this technology is bad. By all accounts and metrics, the G9 is still a cutting-edge monitor. The release of the Neo G9 could easily be thought of as Samsung simply flexing its technological muscles.

Neither of these monitors offers any compromise, and they are certainly not budget options. In fact, they are two of the most expensive monitors on the market, both retailing at $2500. The price of the Odyssey G9 has decreased slightly due to the release of the Neo G9, but it will still run consumers over $2,000. So what justifies the extravagant price tag? And, more importantly, does the release of the Samsun Odyssey Neo G9 make the Odyssey G9 defunct?

Specification Comparison

Monitor	Odyssey G9	Odyssey Neo G9
Design
Panel Type	QLED 1000R Curve	Mini-LED 1000R Curve
Response Time	1ms	1ms
Refresh Rate	240Hz	240Hz
Static Contrast	1900-04-13 04:01:00	1,000,000:1
Brightness	420 cd/m2	420 cd/m2
Resolution	5120 x 1440	5120 x 1440
Screen Size	49”	49”
Adaptive Syncing	NVIDIA G-Sync, FreeSync Premium Pro	NVIDIA G-Sync, FreeSync Premium Pro
Price	$2499	$2499

1. Samsung Odyssey G9

The original Odyssey G9 was Samsung’s first foray into combining their professional and gaming monitor’s technology into one, beautiful package. They succeeded, putting forward an incredible 49” screen packed with just about every feature someone could think of. The QLED panel gets bright, features a 5K resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time. Putting together a rig that can take full advantage of this screen is already a monumental task, so the extra $2500 might not make much of a dent.

One of the only weak points on this monitor is the contrast ratio. With a static contrast ratio of 2500:1, it offers fine functionality, but plenty of room for improvement. Users largely report that this is noticeable during scenes or games with deep blacks or lots of shadows. While the peak brightness of 1,000 can help with some of the problems, it’s not the optimal solution, and certainly not usable long-term. The other detriment is backlight bleed. Backlight bleed is when an LED or QLED panel “leaks” light from the sides due to uneven lighting. While not present on every model of the Odyssey G9, it is a common complaint among buyers that feels cheap given the hefty price tag.

There’s no gamer out there who could complain about the speed of this monitor, however. It’s rare to find 4K panels featuring 1ms response times and 240Hz refresh rates; the Odyssey G9 offers both in 5K. The 5k resolution is equal to running two 1440p monitors side-by-side. The panel is also NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certified for buttery smooth frames regardless of your GPU manufacturer.

Everything Else

The 1000R curvature is significant, but not overbearing. This is likely due to the size of the monitor; on a smaller screen, the dramatic curve could easily be too much. Instead, it works to draw your eyes in and immerse you in the gameplay. Alternatively, the screen easily splits into the equivalent of three normal-sized panels. This makes it great for working or playing games while catching up on some Netflix at the same time (or all three!). Samsung’s also included picture-by-picture and picture-in-picture, allowing you to show two different sources at once.

Port selection is more than enough to make the screen serve as the hub of an entertainment center. 2x Display Ports, 1x HDMI, 1x USB Hub, and 2x USB Ports. It also includes a 100 x 100 mount option for taking it off the stand and clearing up some desk space.

Samsung includes what they call Infinity Lighting, an LED ring on the back of the monitor. You can change the color in the monitor’s settings or turn it off if RGB isn’t your style. Core Sync, a lighting module on the back of the monitor.

2. Samsung Odyssey Neo G9

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 seeks to improve on everything the original Odyssey G9 introduced. Almost everything remains the same, besides one key feature. As mentioned before, the biggest difference between the two monitors is the new mini-LED panel on the Neo. Among other things, it dramatically improves the contrast ratio and solves the problem of the backlight bleeding that was common in the original.

The static contrast ratio on the Neo G9 is 1,000,000:1. To note how much of an improvement that is over the original, its static contrast ratio is 2500:1. Deep blacks and proper color notes are basically guaranteed on this monitor. The sharp increase in contrast is thanks to the mini-LED technology, which changes the way that the LCD screen is lit. Because the LEDs are mini, more of them fit, giving the monitor more control over how bright it can get. This translates to brighter highs and darker lows while simultaneously fixing the backlighting problem.

Notably, better backlighting from mini-LEDs also improves HDR on the monitor. Samsung’s Quantum HDR2000 utilizes the new brightness to improve colors while retaining the 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time. In a market with plenty of HDR options that disable the advanced gaming features, it is a fantastic upgrade that does upgrade the feel of using the display.

Most other parts of the Neo G9 resemble the original. The connection ports have been slightly upgraded to include a headphone jack, and the Infinity Lighting system can now sync with your monitor to match the action. A feature called Auto Source Switch+ automatically detects when new devices connect and switches input, letting you get right into the action quicker. It’s a nice upgrade for certain users, but certainly not the star of the show.

Perhaps what’s most impressive about the Neo G9 is that it retails for the same price as the original Odyssey G9. Mini-LED technology is relatively cheap to produce, so Samsung was able to keep the same price point while upgrading the small issues with the original. This is fantastic news for consumers now and in the future when mini-LED technology becomes more common.

Final Verdict – Samsung Odyssey Neo G9

The Odyssey Neo G9 offers a rare strict upgrade over the Odyssey G9. Taking a flagship monitor and improving the only complaints people had about it and releasing it for the same price is a notable move for a company of Samsung’s size, and it should be commended. It would likely have been easy for them to increase the price even further and claim the monitor as part of the future. Instead, they left it at the exact same MSRP, leaving only one question behind: what happens to the original Odyssey G9 now?

Truthfully, I expect the Odyssey G9 to fall out of production and stock quickly. Unless we see dramatic price drops, there seems to be simply no reason to choose it over the Neo. While some drops have already started, the monitors are still within a few hundred dollars of each other. That’s notable at lower price points, but users will end up paying at least $2,200 anyway – is far better contrast and no backlight bleed worth the difference? For most users, the answer is a resounding yes.

With that said, if the price of the Odyssey G9 drops below $2,000, there is certainly a conversation to be had there. It is still a blazing fast monitor that offers incredible specs, after all. The only reason it’s not at the top of most lists of the best monitor anymore is the release of the Neo G9. Keep an eye out for deals if you’re in the market for a massive workstation replacement.

Relevant Guides

Want to see how the Samsung Neo Odyssey G9 lines up against other great ultrawide monitors? We’ve got you covered with comparisons between other heavyweight contenders:

• LG 34GK950F vs Dell AW3418DW: Which Ultrawide Monitor is Best?
• Alienware AW3821DW vs LG 38GN950: Battle of the Ultrawide IPS Monitors
• Dell AW3821DW vs AW3420DW: What are the Key Differences?
• Acer Predator X35 vs Asus PG35VQ: Battle of the 35″ Ultrawides

The post Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 vs Odyssey G9: What are the Key Differences? appeared first on PremiumBuilds.

A power supply is the hidden heart of a computer. While it’s often a boring task for first-time builders – putting the money toward a killer graphics card or new CPU is always more fun – it’s one of the most important parts to get right. Otherwise, you run the risk of damaging the rest of your system, ruining your aesthetics, or not even being able to get the build on.

One of the biggest decisions to make for this part comes in the field of modularity. Modular designs have all the wires separate from the power supply brick, allowing for customization and convenience. Non-modular designs all come pre-connected, meaning there are more wires to deal with, but setup may be easier. Semi-modular designs lie somewhere in between.

Everyone has a preference, and there’s no wrong answer. Let’s get into the specific differences between the three and the benefits they all hold.

Fully Modular Power Supplies

Fully modular power supplies have gained steadily in popularity since hitting the mainstream in the mid-to-late 2000s. Every single cable on the power supply is individually seated, meaning that you have total control over what connections exist in your computer. This comes with a host of benefits and few drawbacks; as such, fully modular power supplies are often considered the top of the line (though there are plenty of other factors to consider for power supplies, too).

To start, airflow tends to be much better while using a fully modular PSU. While the other options almost inevitably have some wires that get in the way of air, fully modular ones don’t. You know that pile of unused connections that you try to find a corner of your case to hide in? With a fully modular option, you just take them out and put them in a nice little bag.

They’re a great step up that really feels more professional. It also helps with the aesthetics of your build; every wire has a purpose, and you often have more control over what route they’ll take. Plus, if custom sleeving is your thing, a fully modular option will make that a lot easier.

Now for the common downsides. First, you must plug in every wire. Even though every computer in existence will use, for example, the main 24-pin connector, you need to put the manpower in to connect it. While it’s a small note, it can get somewhat frustrating if you have a lot of connections to work through. They also tend to be slightly larger than non-modular options, although they still follow the normal forms for power supplies. This is mostly something to note if you’re going for a space-constricted build.

Finally, the price; for all the extra convenience you get with these, you’ll end up paying more. High wattage and high-efficiency models can easily run for almost double their non-modular counterparts.

Semi-Modular Power Supplies

Semi-modular power supplies are a great middle-ground for most users. They work exactly as the name implies; some of the wires are fully removable, while others are rigidly connected like in a non-modular option. Normally, the consistently used cables like the 24-pin connector, 8-pin CPU connector, and one or two more are the non-removable options, but this varies between models.

These are meant to give users the basic benefits of fully modular options while being cheaper and offering a slightly easier setup. In exchange, you lose out on the custom cabling options and may need to deal with an extra wire or two.

 You still retain the option to take all those unused connections and store them outside of the build, improving airflow and reducing dust collection. For builders looking to strike a nice balance between usability and value, semi-modular options are hard to beat.

Non-Modular Power Supplies

Non-modular power supplies have every wire soldered to a single circuit board, making removing them impossible. These are cheaper to produce and extremely common; anyone using a pre-built PC from a major manufacturer like HP or Lenovo is almost certainly running one of these. Until just a decade or so ago, they were also the only option on the market.

The unfortunate downside of non-modular power supplies is that, inevitably, you’ll be left with extra wires. Rather than removing them from the case – like you can with semi-modular or fully modular options – you have to bundle them up somewhere inside. Hopefully, your case has a space to hide them away, but that may not be an option if the case is small or you have lots of extras.

This nest of wires easily collects dust, prevents customization, and often interrupts airflow. Plus, if your case doesn’t have a hide-away hole, it plain doesn’t look good. With the negatives out of the way, it’s important to note that most builds will still be fine with a non-modular option. Especially for people on a tight budget, you’ll find the best bang for your buck here. You may have to do a bit more upkeep on your PC to reduce temperatures – you can check out our guide on doing that here – but it’s hard to beat the price.

Comparing The Three Styles

Non-modular, semi-modular, and fully modular options are all still power supplies. There are plenty of similarities between the three, meaning that there aren’t that many categories where the differences are noticeable. If, for example, you’re most interested in energy efficiency, you can find highly rated models across any of them. Wattage, form factor, and extra features like self-testers all follow this trend as well.

So, what are the categories where you can notice the most differences between the three? Let’s take a look.

Price

As alluded to earlier, there can be drastic price differences between the three options for power supplies. Generally speaking, fully modular options are the most expensive, followed by semi-modular, then non-modular. This is largely due to manufacturing costs rising as more modular options are added.

Semi-modular options tend to offer the most value for their price. They perfectly balance a lot of the drawbacks and benefits of fully modular power supplies while meeting most builder’s needs for a cheaper cost.

It’s important to note that there’s not a notable difference in quality between the three options. A non-modular power supply is cheaper than a fully modular one because of circuit boards and connections, not because it’s made from lower-quality materials. Differences like that largely come down to the manufacturer. For a quick recap:

• Non-modular: Cheapest
• Semi-modular: Great Value
• Fully modular: Most Customization

Aesthetics

Aesthetically, fully modular power supplies take a clear win. The ability to take away extra wires instead of just hiding them is a game-changer for case space. However, semi-modular options can also do this. What really sets fully modular options apart here are cable sleeves.

While browsing the web, you’ve likely seen pictures of beautiful builds featuring custom-colored wires that match perfectly. This is only possible with a fully modular power supply, as it allows the wires to be removed and re-sleeved.

Especially if you’re trying to match everything in your build, or even if you just have a case with a window, consider upgrading to a modular option.

Temperature Control

This category technically pulls double duty, as it focuses heavily on airflow. Put simply, the better air can flow through a PC case, the cooler it will stay. You can read about more specifics in the thermal throttling part of this article, but that’s really all you need to know while choosing a power supply.

Non-modular power supplies have more physical objects getting in the way of airflow. The amalgamation of wires is particularly bad for airflow because it traps dust and hot air, too. While it won’t have the largest effect on your PC temperatures, it can be noticeable.

Instead, semi-modular and fully modular power supplies deal with this problem by just removing the wires. This allows for more empty space in the chassis, leading to better airflow and lower temperatures.

It’s important to note that the heat creation of each type of power supply does not change. That relies mostly on its efficiency, not how the wires are connected. If you’re going to use all or the majority of the available wires, go ahead and save your money with a non-modular option.

Summary

There are plenty of factors that go into choosing a power supply, and some are arguably more important than modularity. However, the differences between the three can have long-lasting effects on multiple parts of your system, so it’s a good idea to devote some time to it.

For most consumers, a semi-modular power supply is likely the best option. They retain a host of options, allow for just enough customization, and hit a sweet spot in price that’s hard for fully modular ones to meet. Of course, there are specific use cases for either side that can change that recommendation.

Consider your budget, the size of the computer, and what connections you need before finalizing any decision. Finally, be sure to take into account wattage and efficiency, too. They’ll have a much bigger impact on performance than wire connections.

Relevant Guides

Looking for more information on choosing a power supply? We’ve got you covered with a host of guides to find the best choice for you:

• 5 Best 750W Power Supplies for 2021
• The 5 Best Power Supplies (PSUs) for Gaming in 2020
• 5 Best Power Supplies for RTX 3060 Ti Builds

The post Full vs Semi vs Non-Modular Power Supplies: Which Is Best For You? appeared first on PremiumBuilds.

Livestreaming has seen consistent growth over the past few years, exploding in popularity particularly among young viewers. For those interested in putting up their own content, one of the key limiting factors is internet speed. To provide a high-quality experience to viewers and ensure that everything looks good, high upload speeds are a necessity.

The question “What should my internet speed be to stream games?” comes up most often. In truth, however, it is not the best metric to ask. What really matters for stream quality is bitrate, and that’s affected by upload speeds. Let’s explore why and what upload speeds are necessary for your preferred quality.

Understanding Download/Upload Speeds

To begin, it is important to note the differences between upload and download speeds. Your internet speed as advertised is for download speeds – numbers like 50 Mbps or 250 Mbps are download speeds. Downloads are important for watching videos, playing online games, and generally browsing the internet. The vast majority of what most people do online – that is, consuming content – involves download speeds.

By livestreaming games, you are switching to the other side and creating content. To do that, you need good upload speeds. These are much smaller than download speeds – between 3 Mbps and 10 Mbps is common. Uploading can be thought of as adding to the internet while downloading is viewing and taking in the internet.

Download speeds only matter for streaming games to make sure that your connection to your game is stable. In practice, it has absolutely no effect on the quality of your livestream and can effectively be ignored. If you are looking at upgrading your internet speeds or switching providers, do some research into upload speeds and choose the best for your budget.

What Upload Speed to Shoot For

Finding the right upload speed to aim for is tricky. In truth, there is no straightforward answer to this question, besides “more is always better”. You should aim to stream the games you want (those affect what speed you need too!) at a quality you think is acceptable. That’s basically the only rule.

You should test your upload speeds before streaming anyway, even if you think you know the number. Often, the rates that providers advertise are warped or under optimal conditions that are hard to achieve. You can use any number of speed tests online; even simply Googling “speed test” brings you to Google’s own version. Note the number and see what bitrate that will generally let you stream at.

Why Bitrate Is What Actually Matters

Bitrate is the metric that affects the quality of your stream. Although it is tied heavily to your upload speed, they are slightly different and need to be considered separately.

To properly stream games, you need to hit certain bitrates. The action happening on screen, quickness of the game, and encoder all affect what bitrate is necessary. As things get more intense, a higher bitrate is needed to keep things clear. Have you ever joined a stream that said it was in HD, but everything looked muddled and unclear? A low bitrate was likely to blame.

Bitrate is the amount of data you send out to whatever server you use while streaming. Servers are based on whatever platform you choose to stream on, like Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook Gaming. To put it simply, the higher the bitrate, the faster your upload speed needs to be. It is measured in kilobits per second, or kbps.

Streaming In High Quality

As you might expect, higher quality streams require high bitrates. Although there is variation here, Twitch and YouTube have provided general guidelines. They are roughly the same across all platforms:

Remember that these are general guidelines. If you use an ineffective encoder, stream rapid and intense games, or have other things running on your computer, these numbers can quickly rise. If you stream on a platform that supports higher-quality streams than 1080p 60fps, your upload speeds will need to increase dramatically.

Improving Your Upload Speed and Bitrate

There are a few different ways to improve your bitrate before coughing up more money to your internet provider. In fact, these are good steps to take anyway, even if your speeds are fast enough to stream in 1080p 60fps. Having a large buffer on top of what is necessary will help your streams stay consistently in consistently good quality.

• Use A Wired Connection – The chances of you hitting the necessary upload speeds on a wireless connection are almost impossible. Still, even if you are during tests, it is best to switch to an ethernet cable. It is more stable and always faster.
• Stop Other Internet Uses – While streaming, it is best if you are the only one using the internet. Remember that the upload speeds you need to hit are available internet; other people downloading or uploading on the network will slow you down.
• Adjust Your Encoder – Encoding settings are a different beast entirely, but some are far more efficient than others. The better they are at encoding, the less strain on bandwidth, the better your stream. Look up guides for your system; in a pinch, Twitch recommends using NVIDIA NVENC or x264.
• Update Your Drivers – There’s a chance your computer is running an outdated internet driver, or your graphics card driver is slowing down your whole system. Do a check and ensure everything is set for the best quality.

If you are still not getting bitrates high enough to stream at the quality you want, then it is time to upgrade. Talk to your ISP about upgrading your upload speed specifically for the best results. Before you start paying extra, however, make sure that you actually need it; every major streaming tool includes ways to test streams. Doing a few tests for bandwidth, bitrate, and dropped frames will let you know how far off the mark you are.

Summary

The internet speed you need to stream games online changes dramatically based on several factors; what you really care about is bitrate. Streaming in high-quality, 60fps will take a pretty hefty upload speed. Luckily, if you are just getting started, most internet plans have good enough upload top stream in 720p at 30fps at least.

You should also consider what types of games you play most consistently. The more effects happening on screen, the higher the bitrate must be to keep clarity. The same goes for extra effects on alerts or overlays. If your internet speeds are struggling, reduce those first.’

If you need to improve your internet, focus on improving your upload speeds first. This is what will affect your streaming and you can see dramatic improvements with only a small bump.

Relevant Guides

Looking to expand further into streaming with a great setup or extra tips? Not to worry; we’ve got you covered:

• Building the Ultimate Streaming Setup: A Step-by-Step Guide
• What Is Discord’s Streamer Mode and How Does it Protect Your Personal Information?
• $1100 Ryzen 5 3600XT + 5700 XT 1440p Gaming PC Build

The post What Internet Speed Do You Need to Stream Games? appeared first on PremiumBuilds.

Discord is one of the most popular chat platforms in the world, and far and away the most popular gaming-based one. You’re more than likely already part of a few servers and have an account. One of the biggest draws of the service is its price – that is, free. While the free offerings like voice and text chat, custom emojis, video streaming and calling, and more are enough for most people, there are extra options out there.

These extra options are hidden behind a paywall. That’s where Discord Nitro comes in, offering services like server boosts, higher-quality streaming, expanded emoji access, and more personalization. There are two levels of Nitro – Nitro and Nitro Classic. Let’s explore more of what each offers and figure out if it is worth it for you.

Discord Nitro and Nitro Classic

Discord Nitro and Nitro Classic are two different structures for unlocking additional features on Discord. They’re extremely similar and are best split between server owners and regular users. Both Nitro and Nitro Classic are subscription services a discount for annual purchases instead of yearly. Classic is cheaper because it does not include server boosts, making it the best option for non-server-owning users.

Otherwise, if you own any servers and are interested in the benefits of server boosts – explained in detail in our article here – opting for the more expensive Nitro is a better deal. It comes with two free server boosts on top of a 30% discount for future ones. Otherwise, the services are almost identical in their offerings. What few things Nitro has over Nitro Classic that aren’t server boosts are likely overkill for the average user anyway.

Pricing

Nitro is available for a $9.99 monthly subscription, or a $99.99 annual one. Going annual saves you 16%, so if you enjoy the service and want to save some extra money, it’s worth taking the larger upfront hit.

Nitro Classic has a similar structure for about half the price. It is available for $4.99 per month, or $49.99 annually. Once again, this is 16% savings for an annual plan. Do note that you cannot upgrade from Nitro Classic to Nitro from an annual plan; it would have to be rebought entirely.

Otherwise, if you’re interested in starting with Nitro Classic and upgrading to Nitro, we recommend choosing a monthly plan. This way, you can cancel one and pick the other at any time and not overpay.

Personalization Options

Most personalization options are limited on Discord. The basics like changing your name and profile picture are free for everyone and do not require a plan (as a bonus, you can set different names in different servers, too).

Nitro offers some more personalization options like:

• Animated avatars
• Profile banners
• Custom tags
• A custom Nitro profile badge

For most people, animated avatars and custom tags are likely the most relevant features. Your avatar is seen every time you message anyone, or someone looks at your profile. It is likely the way most people recognize you.

Tags are a bit less relevant, but important for those of you who have plenty of friends to add. Discord adds randomly generated numbers after a pound symbol (#) to the back of your name. These numbers are what actually identifies you – so you can share an account name with someone else without it affecting your account.

Nitro allows you to customize the numbers at the end of your username, provided no one else is using the same combo. It’s a nice touch that can make your name easier to identify.

Personalization options are one category where Nitro Classic falls short – it does not provide access to profile banners, animated avatars, custom tags, or a badge. It is up to you how many of these features matter, of course, and if they’re worth paying double every year.

Improved Streaming and Quality of Life Features

Nitro and Nitro Classic make their strongest case in offering improved quality of life features. Have you ever sent a message that was too long for Discord? How about trying to send a file larger than 8MB? Have you been told that you’re part of too many servers?

Nitro and Nitro Classic are the keys to fixing these issues and making Discord just slightly nicer to use. Here’s a list of the features they include and if they’re specific to one plan or the other.

• Longer Message Cap up to 4000 characters (Nitro only)
• Join up to 200 servers, up from 100(Nitro only)
• Bigger File Support (Nitro 100MB, Nitro Classic 50MB)
• HD Video Streaming (Nitro 4k 60FPS, Nitro Classic 1080p 60FPS)
• Anywhere Access for emojis
• Animated emojis
• 30% off server boosts

As you can see, there’s quite a bit. While some of them are more relevant than others – looking at you, file size increase – almost anyone can benefit from the list here.

One important note about the server boosts – both Nitro and Nitro Classic include the 30% off server boosts perk. The key difference here is that Nitro also includes two free boosts in the plan. This immediately makes it the better deal over Classic if you’re looking to boost some servers.

Summary

Discord Nitro and Nitro Classic are cool offerings for those looking to expand their Discord use and support but are likely overkill for the average user. If you’ve been using Discord with only minor complaints, we recommend saving the expense for other fun uses. However, if you’re a server owner or someone who routinely gets frustrated with the program’s limitations, the plans may be right for you.

Also consider what servers you frequent before updating. Depending on how much of a boost the server is getting (if at all), they may already have some of the features you’re interested available, such as better streaming and increased file sizes. You can find out by going on the server’s info page or messaging a moderator. Of course, this is unlikely to be the case if you mostly use Discord for friends and small chats.

Relevant Guides

For how good a program it is, Discord can often run into issues. We’ve got plenty of guides available to help out if that happens. Or, read about some of the different features it offers:

• Can’t Hear People in Discord? Here’s How to Fix it
• Discord Not Updating? – Here’s How to Fix It
• What Is Discord’s Streamer Mode and How Does it Protect Your Personal Information?
• Discord Mic Not Working? Here’s How to Fix it

The post What is Discord Nitro and Is It Worth it? appeared first on PremiumBuilds.

Discord is one of the most popular chat platforms in the world, and far and away the most popular gaming-based one. You’re more than likely already part of a few servers and have an account. One of the biggest draws of the service is its price – that is, free. For most people, there’s no need to pay extra for Discord (although those interested can check out Discord Nitro). The free offerings like voice and text chat, custom emojis, and video streaming and calling are more are enough for most people. Sometimes, though, server owners may want to offer more. That’s where server boosts come in.

Server boosting allows for server owners and members to pay Discord a monthly fee and gain access to improved perks and extras. Things like extra emojis, improved audio, and even max file size upgrades are all available at different levels. Let’s explore how these boosts work, their different offerings, and their value.

How Server Boosting Works

Server boosts grant extra perks to everyone in a server for a set monthly fee. Server boots are available at different “levels”, with each option increasing in price and services. It all stays very on-brand for Discord and their gaming themed marketing. The entire thing is based on people coming together to help, so every member of a server can come along and contribute a server boost.

For example, level one perks unlock when two server boosts have been applied to the server. These boosts can come from one person boosting twice, or two people boosting separately. Level two unlocks at 15 server boosts, and level three at 30 server boosts.

Each boost is $4.99 per month, with some options like a Nitro subscription available to reduce costs. Even still, one person or company boosting a server to level 2 or 3 quickly gets expensive. To unlock the really nice perks, you’ll either need a large community or deep pockets.

For a quick breakdown of the math, here’s the cost of each server level:

• Standard Server – Free
• Level One – 2 Boosts – $9.98 per month
• Two – 15 Boosts – $74.85 per month
• Three – 30 Boosts – $149.70 per month

Discord Nitro – another monthly subscription – can reduce costs significantly. It provides two free server boosts, instantly getting a server to level one, and 30% off future purchases. If you’re interested in server boosting, it is almost always worth it.

As with any leveling system, each one builds upon the last. We’ll explore the benefits of each level here so you know what you and your community would be unlocking.

Standard Server Features

A standard server is the exact one you’re used to – a free option that’s easy to setup and requires absolutely no boost levels. This is what a standard Discord server comes equipped with:

• 50 Emoji slots
• 64Kbps – 96Kbps audio
• 720p, 30FPS screensharing and livestreaming

Everything is the bare minimum for Discord, but most small servers will find it more than enough. As you’ll see, most level upgrades add extra features or slightly improve these numbers.

Level One Boost Features

A server reaches level one when two boosts hit the server. Before any discounts, it translates to $9.98 total per month and comes with the following features:

• 100 Emoji slots (+50)
• 128 Kbps audio
• 720p, 60FPS screensharing and livestreaming
• Custom Server Invite Background
• Animated Server Icon
• 15 custom sticker slots

A nice bump in features over a standard server. Most serves that get boosted will end up at level one, especially because a Discord Nitro subscription gets you here immediately. If you plan on boosting a server to level one, it is a better deal to just subscribe to Discord Nitro. It is the same price but comes with some added personal perks to make Discord even better.

Level Two Boost Features

Level two occurs at 15 boosts, or $74.85 per month. It is a big upgrade in price and effort from level one. For that added strain, the server gains the following features:

• All previous perks
• 150 Emoji slots (+50)
• 256 Kbps audio
• 1080p, 60FPS screensharing and livestreaming
• Server Banner
• 50MB upload limit
• 30 custom sticker slots (+15)

The most notable change here is the 50MB upload limit, up from 8MB. It applies to all members of the server, although only when uploading files to that specific server – no joining one to gain the perks elsewhere. This is a nice boon for servers that focus on image sharing or collaboration.

Better audio quality and streaming are also nice, especially for servers where people often hang around and share what they’re doing.

Level Three Boost Features

Level three is the maximum level for a server and requires 30 boosts. This translates to $149.70 per month for the following features:

• All previous perks
• 250 Emoji slots (+100)
• 384 Kbps audio
• 100MB upload limit
• Vanity URL
• 60 custom sticker slots (+30)

In addition to a further upload limit bump, the key feature here is a vanity URL. This is useful for any business or large group that uses Discord, as it makes joining the server much easier. Rather than relying on Discord’s random string of numbers to create an invite link, you can replace it with (almost) anything you want.

Vanity URLs come with a few caveats, like making the server publicly available to anyone with the link and requiring a Read Messages channel. Still, almost any server that becomes larger enough to benefit from level three will almost certainly enjoy the nice benefit of easier access.

Summary

Whether your servers will benefit from server boosting is largely a matter of personal preference. People who heavily engage with a server or are part of its organization will see the most benefits – for example, servers based on guilds or in-game groups. Otherwise, if you largely use Discord to talk with friends and catch up, you’re probably better off saving your money.

Server boosts are an interesting experiment in working toward a common goal and can be a great way to pull a community together. One person will rarely be able to boost a server very high, so it’s worth polling your community and explaining the benefits. This way, you’ll be able to judge how much effort server boosts deserve.

Relevant Guides

For how good a program it is, Discord can often run into issues. We’ve got plenty of guides available to help out if that happens. Or, read about some of the different features it offers:

• Can’t Hear People in Discord? Here’s How to Fix it
• Discord Not Updating? – Here’s How to Fix It
• What Is Discord’s Streamer Mode and How Does it Protect Your Personal Information?
• Discord Mic Not Working? Here’s How to Fix it

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