939 X2 4400 2.2ghz big difference OCing to 2.53? or no, guessing no?....

[bozack]

So I have this aging system I am trying to run COD 4 on, I just updated the video card to an 8800gt 512 which is a huge difference but noticed in the recommended system requirements that a 2.4 ghz dual core processor is needed whereas I only have a 2.2.

I am wondering if it is worth it to either upgrade to something newer and or try to overclock what I currently have to hit the necessary speed?

I notice a little slowdown in heavy scenes of the game, nothing major but still I was hoping to hit the recommended settings.

If overclocking is the best option can anyone give me an idea of what settings I need to get a 4400 X2 toledo up to about 2.5, the only overclocking I did was back when the celeron 300a's were hot and that was alot simpler than it seems now. I assume the chip has to go up to 230 with a multiplier of 11 but don't understand the whole HTT thing and also if memory timings would have to be changed for a small bump like that.

My board also has auto settings for the multiplier and the HTT, could I just set those to auto and then bump the other setting or does it all have to be manually configured?

Thanks

 

[MarcVenice]

No, overclock it. An extra 200mhz should be easy. Set the HTT multi to 4 so it stays beneath 1000,, set ram to a lower multiplier, like 166mhz instead of 200mhz, or even 133mhz, and crank up the FSB. That's 2 easy steps. Chances are you'll run into trouble somewhere, or want to know more, so check this guide: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...t_key=y&keyword1=howto

You also want to lock your pci-e bus and such.

 

[SlowSpyder]

According to wiki it's a P4 2.4ghz dual core (they even made them that slow?) or better. Your processor is faster then that by a decent amount. I really wouldn't worry about it, I doubt you'd notice much (if any) difference in game play with another 200mhz.

 

[bozack]

Thanks, I was kinda thinking that the jump wouldn't be enough to warrant the bother given it is only 200mhz.

 

[DSF]

Are you sure the CPU is what's holding you back? Have you tried reducing the resolution or turning down the eye candy to see if that improves the framerate?

 

[bozack]

Its not major, and it is only when alot of smoke and what not kicks in, just a little slow....but I can live with it. I can cut back detail a little more to see if it improves, my framrates are consistently about 50 or so, typically more but around there.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
According to wiki it's a P4 2.4ghz dual core (they even made them that slow?) or better. Your processor is faster then that by a decent amount. I really wouldn't worry about it, I doubt you'd notice much (if any) difference in game play with another 200mhz.

LOL, that is the same problem I had with steam when I upgraded to a Core2Duo. Steam would put up a big notice saying my E6300 1.8 GHZ cpu did not match the 1.9 GHZ minimum requirements to run DOD:source.

 

[Extelleron]

Both the Socket 939 X2 4200+ and X2 4400+ run at 2.2GHz. The X2 4200+ has only 512KB of L2 per core, the X2 4400+ has 1MB of L2/core.

X2 3800+ = 2.0GHz/512KB
X2 4200+ = 2.2GHz/512KB
X2 4400+ = 2.2GHz/1MB
X2 4600+ = 2.4GHz/512KB
X2 4800+ = 2.4GHz/1MB

 

[AsusGuy]

You have a good system. If you need more performance overclock your CPU, don't worry about memory timings for a 200-400Mhz bump. The 4400X2 is not worth getting at this point. If you need a faster CPU get a new motherboard, RAM and a CPU.

 

[magreen]

LOL... Specifying a minimum GHz of a cpu for a game is like specifying the minimum size engine you need to get on the freeway. I saw on Top Gear a Lotus with a 1.8L engine destroy a Ford GT with a 5.0L engine around the track. It wasn't even close.

 

[taltamir]

good system? upgrading to AM2?

Your system is ancient. It IS golding you back for games. You need to upgrade it... And there is NOTHING worth upgrading to in AM2 right now...
Get an E8400 wolfdale + P35 mobo. It will be several times faster.

Its a shame to combine such a nice new video card with such an old system. Also, OCing it will be giving you the same as "upgrading" to a 4400. (technically its an upgrade, but insignificant one)

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: taltamir
good system? upgrading to AM2?

Your system is ancient. It IS golding you back for games. You need to upgrade it... And there is NOTHING worth upgrading to in AM2 right now...
Get an E8400 wolfdale + P35 mobo. It will be several times faster.

Its a shame to combine such a nice new video card with such an old system. Also, OCing it will be giving you the same as "upgrading" to a 4400. (technically its an upgrade, but insignificant one)

It seems as if there is some kind of miscommunication here, I have a 4400 now, so there is no plan to upgrade to that CPU....I was talking about possibly overclocking my 4400 (which clocks in at 2.2ghz) to slightly higher so I can get a bump to the recommended MHZ....

As for the video card, that is tough beans if you consider it a "shame" as I had the money and it did make a massive improvement.

My only goal is to play COD 4 well and nothing else, so far I am pretty pleased with the performance however was just wondering if a little tweak would go a long way....apparently from the replies here it seems not.

As for a full upgrade (or at least a major one) well that isn't in the cards for now as there are other more important things pending, thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[taltamir]

Well, its not like the video card will go to waste after the upgrade. No matter what you upgrade to you will still be keeping that nice new video card.
I got one a month ago, and yesturday I ordered an E8400 because the CPU I had was just too slow to keep up with the video card.
The video card is definitely giving you an edge compared to a slower one. It just could be giving a lot more. But I did not mean to imply that it is being wasted.

I am not TOO familiar with the COD4 performance... overclocking always works... and if you have the time but the money you can always go ahead an lap your CPU/heatsink and get an improved OC. (lapping takes about 3 hours but provides great improvement.. I don't do it cause i would rather just pay more money, the worth of 3 hours salary more)

As for the misunderstanding...
The thread title is: "939 X2 4200 big difference going up to 4400? or no, guessing no?.... " That indicates to me that you own a 4200, and want to upgrade to a 4400.

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: taltamir
Well, its not like the video card will go to waste after the upgrade. No matter what you upgrade to you will still be keeping that nice new video card.
I got one a month ago, and yesturday I ordered an E8400 because the CPU I had was just too slow to keep up with the video card.
The video card is definitely giving you an edge compared to a slower one. It just could be giving a lot more. But I did not mean to imply that it is being wasted.

I am not TOO familiar with the COD4 performance... overclocking always works... and if you have the time but the money you can always go ahead an lap your CPU/heatsink and get an improved OC. (lapping takes about 3 hours but provides great improvement.. I don't do it cause i would rather just pay more money, the worth of 3 hours salary more)

As for the misunderstanding...
The thread title is: "939 X2 4200 big difference going up to 4400? or no, guessing no?.... " That indicates to me that you own a 4200, and want to upgrade to a 4400.

I see what you meant about my typo in the header, I have since fixed that error to hopefully avoid any future confusion with the thread.

What you said was basically my thought, if I upgrade later in the year the video card should last me, especially since the only game I care about and play is Call of Duty 4, plus alot of guys I know playing the game do so on alot less of systems than what I am running.

Oh well, I will play longer and see if I notice anything else...if I do then I might be motivated to just upgrade the rest of the system as I would only need a CPU and mainboard, my PS should suffice and I get ram for free.

 

[secretanchitman]

overclock it to 2.5Ghz and you'll be good. i play COD4 at fairly high settings with my 8800GTS 320MB (well, when i had it in there, now its a 7950GT 512MB) so im pretty sure you'll be fine. i have an opteron 170 @ 2.5Ghz currently.

 

[Doclife]

You probably can go higher than 2.5GHz with that X2 Toledo 4400. My other computer is an AMD X2 3800+ socket 939. I overclocked it to 2.9GHz and been running stable for about a year now. The settings I used are as follows:

CPU multiplier : x10
Mobo bus speed: 290 MHz
HTT multiplier: x3 (since max is 1000MHz, 290 x 3 = 870Mhz)
Vcore = 1.575V
RAM divider : 10:15 (or 266MHz)

Your settings will be a little different from mine because you have CPU multiplier of x11; therefore, the RAM divider table will be different from a x10 CPU multiplier. If you tell me what your RAM speed is (i.e PC3200 ?), I can help you with the settings.