8800GT with Opteron at 2.8Ghz and 1280x1024

[BlueWeasel]

Original Post

Current setup:
Opteron 165 @ 2.8Ghz
2GB PC3200
BFG 8800GT 512MB

I took advantage of BB recent sales on the BFG 8800GT 512 and got one for $240 after tax. I was also thinking of upgrading to an overclocked C2D system, but given that my native resolution is 1280x1024, would a CPU upgrade be worth it?

Currently, my Opteron runs at 2.8Ghz. I know that the CPU is the bottleneck at the lower resolutions, but would I gain much at 1280x1024 with a C2D running at 3.2Ghz vs the Opteron?

I'm willing to accept a minimal bottleneck. I'm leaning toward holding off on the C2D upgrade for a few months.

[Edit]
The only current game that I'm playing is COD4. Since the upgrade to the 8800, I'll probably play some relatively new games (Bioshock comes to mind).

 

[soccerballtux]

What games?

Please give more infos. If you already have DDR2 ram, a $180 upgrade (Ip35-e is in stock at newegg for $90, and a 2180 for $80 from mwave...and might need a CPU cooler, or not if you don't care too much about overclocking) would keep you un-CPU bottlenecked for a while. Then down the road you could drop in a top of the line Quad Penryn when they're cheap and you'd be good to go for longer.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
What games?

Please give more infos. If you already have DDR2 ram, a $180 upgrade (Ip35-e is in stock at newegg for $90, and a 2180 for $80 from mwave...and might need a CPU cooler, or not if you don't care too much about overclocking) would keep you un-CPU bottlenecked for a while. Then down the road you could drop in a top of the line Quad Penryn when they're cheap and you'd be good to go for longer.

That's the C2D I thought about initially, but since Penryn (and also possible pricecuts) is just around the corner, I'm leaning toward sticking with the Opteron for a couple more months.

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
If you already have DDR2 ram,

An Opteron 165 and PC3200 suggests an standard DDR400 set-up. 2GB DDR400 can be sold for decent money if OP makes the jump to a DDR2 system.

What games?

Please give more infos.

:thumbsup: Important questions, because Crysis and some newer games can easily be GPU-limited at 1280x1024. Even so, COD4 and Bioshock should be sweet at high details.

However I think ppl worry too much about "bottlenecks". OP's setup should play most games very well at his resolution. It's only when it begins to struggle that you should be looking to determine the weakest link and upgrade.

 

[Puffnstuff]

My youngest son has an opty 175 and 8800gt on vista and it handles games pretty well. My oldest has an am2 5600+ and g80 8800gts 640 ssc and it chokes on the same games unless you turn down the graphics details. My c2d and 8800gts 512 does pretty good but when my q6600 gets here next week it should do even better. Your opty should suit you for a few more months until things get sorted out. I'll be looking to move to a penryll system next summer and give my setup to my youngest son.

 

[cboath]

I run a 939 opt 185 at 2.88 at the moment with the bfg 8800gt and i can play bioshock maxed out in every way possible at 1280x1024 - no problems at all and it's smooth as silk On the same basic machine with a 6800 ultra i had to play at lowest possible levels at 800x600 for it to be playable. I shortly hope to be able to order a pair of 22" LCD's then i can tell you how it'd work at 1680x1050. I've read elsewhere on here that the cpu isn't going to bottleneck these cards at that resolution either - it isn't until further down the line (1920x1080 or more) that the cpu starts bottlenecking.

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: cboath
... I've read elsewhere on here that the cpu isn't going to bottleneck these cards at that resolution either - it isn't until further down the line (1920x1080 or more) that the cpu starts bottlenecking.

1920x1080 or more = GPU-limited resolutions i.e. the CPU isn't the bottleneck.

 

[Avalon]

You've got a system faster than 95% of gamers out there...why are you worried?
Your CPU is probably equivalent to an E6550, which is definitely no slouch in any modern game. Yeah, it's a "bottleneck", and if you're not happy now, then go ahead and get a new processor.

 

[SlowSpyder]

It may hold back the card a little at that res, but it's the kind of bottleneck that I doubt will matter much at all... like 100 frames per sec instead of 120 frames per sec.

 

[cboath]

Originally posted by: betasub

Originally posted by: cboath
... I've read elsewhere on here that the cpu isn't going to bottleneck these cards at that resolution either - it isn't until further down the line (1920x1080 or more) that the cpu starts bottlenecking.

1920x1080 or more = GPU-limited resolutions i.e. the CPU isn't the bottleneck.

Meant to phrase that as 'i think i read' - Obviously not, or i remembered incorrectly. I do seem to recall people being extremely happy with their results at 1680x1050 with this card and processors equal and lesser than what the poster is at. (Hopefully i'm remembering that part right

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
It may hold back the card a little at that res, but it's the kind of bottleneck that I doubt will matter much at all... like 100 frames per sec instead of 120 frames per sec.

Exactly. You will still be glad you got a 8800gt once you try the latest games with max settings.