Am I cpu or gpu limited in games?

[lastig21]

I am kicking around the idea of upgrading some component of my system. I probably need to upgrade the entire system to get into current technology. If I decide to upgrade a certain piece though, what do you think is my limitation in games. My cpu or my vid card.

CPU: P4 3.0E Prescott (socket 478)

Video: 6800GT (AGP)

On another note, would there be a noticable improvement to switch to an FX55. This would be a "hold me over" cpu until a full system overhaul.

 

[happy medium]

You have allmost no bottleneck thats a balanced system.
The best you can do is overclock the cpu and gpu you might increase performance by 15/20% if your lucky for free!
The fx-55 is a waste of money for you sorry.

Advise= hold off till you can do a total overhaul.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Both for the latest games at high resolutions, neither if you move the resolution down a step or two.

You need a full upgrade of CPU and GPU for newer games like Oblivion for all of the eye candy.

You're better off waiting for a full upgrade than buying one of those second-rate AGP + PCI-E boards to pair the 6800 with a modern CPU, and the 3.0 is probably maxing it out already anyway.

 

[50cent1228]

ya i say you would need to do a full upgrade as the other posters have already told you

 

[myocardia]

I personally think that he's cpu limited. A 6800GT is still no slouch. When 2.8C's (the equivalent of a 3.0E) debuted, the fastest video card was the brand new 9800 Pro. Any 6800GT is about twice as fast as a 9800 Pro. OP, you need to try your hand at overclocking, IMO.

 

[DasFox]

Stick to what you have until you can afford a full upgrade, no need to waste money.

ALOHA

 

[fire400]

a Pentium D 805 Oc'd to 4 GHz is way faster than the 3.0e, same price

6800GT is about 130 bucks now, on it's good side.

200 bucks each for a video card and new CPU could get you an entry level Conroe, and a Geforce 7900GS 2565megs

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: fire400
a Pentium D 805 Oc'd to 4 GHz is way faster than the 3.0e, same price

good luck in getting those speeds on air :thumbsdown: