Answer my video card upgrade questions please.

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
ibex333

ibex333

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2005
4,094
123
106
My current rig is in my sig.

I want to upgrade my video card so I can play Supreme Commander, Medieval 2, and Oblivion. I know that I have to upgrade my system, but I dont want to, since aside from games, my rig does everything I need it to do, and I really dont need a dual core processor yet. ( I want to upgrade my CPU later, sometime when quad cores become mainstream or when I can get a core 2 duo for $130 or less)

I'm thinking to only upgrade my PSU and GPU. I know that my CPU will bottleneck my GPU, but the question is, HOW MUCH? Just how badly will it slow down the g80?
As long as I can play Oblivion with everything on high at 1280x1024 with around 40-50fps, that's all I need. I am not planning to play at higher resolutions any time soon!

Also, I heared numerous times that SupCom benefits greatly from dual core processors, but found that it's not entirely true, since the demo ran perfectly well on my rig at low settings only slowing down when I increased the gfx settings.(my video card is the only culprit really)


My main questions:

1)How much will my old CPU bottleneck my GPU, and is it even viable to do what I want to do?

2)Is it wise to get a "castrated" g80 when 8600's are coming in March? If I'm not mistaking they will be slower than the g80, no? Unless the new cards coming in March will be faster, the 320mb g80 suits me just fine since I dont care about very high resolutions.
 
Shamrock

Shamrock

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,441
567
136
The more you add AA/AF to the 8800 320mb the less it performs. Spend the extra $30 and get the 640mb version. Newegg has EVGA for $359 (after rebate)
 
ibex333

ibex333

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2005
4,094
123
106
Originally posted by: Shamrock
The more you add AA/AF to the 8800 320mb the less it performs. Spend the extra $30 and get the 640mb version. Newegg has EVGA for $359 (after rebate)
Click to expand...

See, that's the thing.. - god knows when I'll get that MIR. I hate mirs...
I saw a review on gamespot, and just about every game they tested, the 320mb version gets about the same frame rates as the 640mb version as long as the res is not pushed to the limit. The differences are usually around 3 frames.


I shall meditate on your advice though.... ;)

 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
Originally posted by: ibex333
My current rig is in my sig.

I want to upgrade my video card so I can play Supreme Commander, Medieval 2, and Oblivion. I know that I have to upgrade my system, but I dont want to, since aside from games, my rig does everything I need it to do, and I really dont need a dual core processor yet. ( I want to upgrade my CPU later, sometime when quad cores become mainstream or when I can get a core 2 duo for $130 or less)

I'm thinking to only upgrade my PSU and GPU. I know that my CPU will bottleneck my GPU, but the question is, HOW MUCH? Just how badly will it slow down the g80?
As long as I can play Oblivion with everything on high at 1280x1024 with around 40-50fps, that's all I need. I am not planning to play at higher resolutions any time soon!

Also, I heared numerous times that SupCom benefits greatly from dual core processors, but found that it's not entirely true, since the demo ran perfectly well on my rig at low settings only slowing down when I increased the gfx settings.(my video card is the only culprit really)


My main questions:

1)How much will my old CPU bottleneck my GPU, and is it even viable to do what I want to do?

2)Is it wise to get a "castrated" g80 when 8600's are coming in March? If I'm not mistaking they will be slower than the g80, no? Unless the new cards coming in March will be faster, the 320mb g80 suits me just fine since I dont care about very high resolutions.
Click to expand...

With no aa/af the 8800gts-320 will do this at 1280x1024. If fact I'd bet a new driver will solve this problem with the 8800gts- 320
 
C

chizow

Diamond Member
Jun 26, 2001
9,537
2
0
Originally posted by: ibex333
2)Is it wise to get a "castrated" g80 when 8600's are coming in March? If I'm not mistaking they will be slower than the g80, no? Unless the new cards coming in March will be faster, the 320mb g80 suits me just fine since I dont care about very high resolutions.
Click to expand...

Unless they can manage MUCH higher core and memory clock speeds on these parts, I'd expect a significant decrease in performance compared to the 8800s. Even at the same clock speeds, a GTX significantly outperforms the GTS. I don't see much headroom on the RAM side (8800s are already running 900-1000MHz GDDR3), but in order to get similar performance out of an 8600 taking into consideration what they plan to castrate, it'd have to run at something like 800-900MHz core clock to eclipse a stock 8800 GTS/GTX at low-end resolutions.

I agree with what everyone else posted though about the CPU and resolutions. At 1280x1024, a 320MB GTS should suit you just fine with the potential for significantly better performance at higher resolutions w/ AA as drivers are optimized. Oblivion might be an exception, since it tends to run like its 1 resolution notch up the ladder compared to other games.
 
ibex333

ibex333

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2005
4,094
123
106
Guess I'll have to bite the bullet and get the 640mb version. I dont want higher resolutions than 1280x1024, but I DO need all the eye candy turned on in Oblivion.
Besides, I bet I'll get better mileage with the 640mb version. (I intend not to upgrade the card again any earlier than the middle of 2008)
 
I

imported_JeReMY

Golden Member
Oct 10, 2004
1,576
0
0
Originally posted by: Shamrock
If that's the case, it's best to "future resistant" your investment and get the 640 version. The more eye candy you lay down, the more it will strain the card. There is a thread going on in the forum about the different versions. And with eye candy on, @ 1280x1024, the 320 version is losing by upto 20-30%, at only 4xAA.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=31&threadid=2005694&enterthread=y
Click to expand...

It wouldn't be worth the extra money for him, he only wants the card mostly for something that can run oblivion good. I would wait if you could for the new ati and nvidia cards. A lot of cards will probably drop in price and you will have more choice with the newer cards.
 
T

tuteja1986

Diamond Member
Jun 1, 2005
3,676
0
0
Originally posted by: ibex333
Originally posted by: Shamrock
The more you add AA/AF to the 8800 320mb the less it performs. Spend the extra $30 and get the 640mb version. Newegg has EVGA for $359 (after rebate)
Click to expand...

See, that's the thing.. - god knows when I'll get that MIR. I hate mirs...
I saw a review on gamespot, and just about every game they tested, the 320mb version gets about the same frame rates as the 640mb version as long as the res is not pushed to the limit. The differences are usually around 3 frames.


I shall meditate on your advice though.... ;)
Click to expand...


Gamespot GPU review are pretty much a joke. Made for general public !!!
 
N

nZone

Senior member
Jan 29, 2007
277
0
0
I would buy additional hard drive and raid them (raid 0). I know in my situation it helps; I play Titan Quest. In contrary to the reviewers' believes about 8800GTX requires the fastest CPU. It may be true if you do 3DMark06 as your every day game :).

My original system config:
7600GS (SLI them)
Pentium D 805
Raid 0
1GB RAM.

Titan Quest plays like craps. OC the cpu to 3.6Ghz didn't do squat! So I saw the deal from MicroCenter store: $519 8800GTX plus a $100 instant rebate when apply for the store card I bought it ($419 price bought). I was kind of hesitated because many reviewers said it needs the fastest CPU. Took it home; removed the 7600GS; plug this giant in. Oh man; Titan Quest plays silky smooth with 16xAA and 16xQ AF; V-Sync on...basically everything all on and max and all these with my Pentium D 805 at stock speed.

For a kick; I OC my CPU to 3.6Ghz to see if there is any noticeable performance increase. My naked eyes don't see any improvement so I put my pentium D back to stock speed.

If Titan Quest is not graphically intensive enough; how about Company of Heroes? This game run silky smooth as well with my GTX with all max settings.

If your CPU usage is above 70% consistently; then you are CPU bottleneck :) otherwise; what gives?
 
Shamrock

Shamrock

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,441
567
136
Originally posted by: JeReMY
Originally posted by: Shamrock
If that's the case, it's best to "future resistant" your investment and get the 640 version. The more eye candy you lay down, the more it will strain the card. There is a thread going on in the forum about the different versions. And with eye candy on, @ 1280x1024, the 320 version is losing by upto 20-30%, at only 4xAA.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=31&threadid=2005694&enterthread=y
Click to expand...

It wouldn't be worth the extra money for him, he only wants the card mostly for something that can run oblivion good. I would wait if you could for the new ati and nvidia cards. A lot of cards will probably drop in price and you will have more choice with the newer cards.
Click to expand...

Why wouldn't it? he wants the eye candy, and the extra memory allows for that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom