PC Specialist Spectrum Pro GTX 1050 Ti Gaming PC Review

Gaming Performance

Grand Theft Auto V

Despite being a few years old, Grand Theft Auto V is a visual treat and scales really well across different tiers of graphics hardware. The system’s GTX 1050 Ti performed admirably alongside a 1080p monitor and managed to maintain a frame rate above 60 using the very high preset. This is an exemplary result for a GPU costing so little. Once the resolution is set to 2560×1440, the performance remains fairly consistent and should be playable enough for most people. Evidently, running the game on a 4K panel isn’t recommended as shown by the extremely low 21.6 average.

Scaling back the settings allows you to enjoy a much smoother experience, especially with a 1440p monitor. During 1080p testing, the graphics card attained a wonderful frame rate and the minimum rarely dropped by a significant degree. This makes the gameplay perfectly fluid and it’s difficult to detect drops in more intense sections without monitoring software. As previously mentioned, the 1440p performance is much better and suitable for those who demand at least 60 frames per second. Unfortunately, the jump in performance isn’t substantial enough when deploying a 4K monitor. While a 35.3 average might seem acceptable, there are moments with lots of stuttering.

Rise of the Tomb Raider

In Rise of the Tomb Raider, the system’s graphics solution performed pretty well given the extremely demanding preset. I wouldn’t advise playing the game on these settings because the frame drops are substantial even when the resolution is configured to 1920×1080. The frame rate dips considerably throughout 1440p benchmarking and it becomes clear that the GPU cannot contend with the game’s visual fidelity. This situation is compounded even further at higher resolutions.

Once the High preset was applied, the PC Specialist Spectrum Pro enjoyed a decent performance boost but it’s not enough to make the game playable at higher resolutions. Nevertheless, it’s paramount to employ the high preset because it allows you to teeter towards the 60 frames per second mark on a 1920×1080 monitor. As a result, the gameplay is less jarring thanks to the lack of major frame drops. On another note, the 1440p performance is fairly stable and might be adequate if you’re not overly concerned by 60 frames per second gameplay. As expected, the 4K frame rate remains very low.

Hitman

During the Hitman benchmark, the system’s graphics card struggled once the ultra preset was applied. This is to be expected and it takes a pretty impressive GPU to contend with the preset’s extreme effects and advanced AA. As you can see, the GTX 1050 Ti achieved an average 1080p frame rate of 38.2 which might seem acceptable to some users. However, there are several occasions when the frame rate plummets and you’ll want to opt for more sensible settings. Also, the performance at higher resolutions showcases that the card is lacking in horsepower to drive the ultra preset properly.

Here we can see there is a relatively good improvement after switching to the high preset. More specifically, the GTX 1050 Ti was able to output a higher average frame rate which doesn’t appear to suffer from hitching or dips below 30. Additionally, the 1440p performance was better and edged passed the 30 frames per second mark. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t recommend it because it’s still too taxing for the GPU. Evidently, the 4K performance is fairly lacklustre and requires more potent graphics hardware.

Far Cry Primal

The PC Specialist Spectrum Pro managed a commendable 1080p frame rate when utilising the ultra preset. Even though it’s just short of 40 frames per second, the experience is pretty good and the lowest number I encountered was 28. This should be okay for those accustomed to 30 frames per second gameplay on consoles. Unfortunately, the GPU cannot cope with the graphical demands at higher resolutions and begins to struggle.

If you decide to make some concessions in the options menu and select the high preset, it’s possible to enjoy a more fluid user experience. During 1080p testing, the frame rate increased by a large degree and wasn’t too adrift of reaching the magical 60 frames per second mark. Also, the high preset allowed the system to go beyond the 30 frames per second range and become more playable. Of course, the 4K result was very similar and choosing lower settings has a minimal effect.