athlon II x3 435 vs ATI 5770 in crysis

[OS]

so i just built a new computer first time in maybe 5 years

i got a frys combo athlon 435/msi for $90 and a diamond ati 5770 off newegg

the cpu unlocked and seems bulletproof stable at stock speeds
the video card i squeezed out extra 100 mhz from the ram

it plays crysis very high 20-30 fps at 1680, it looks good but i could use another 10 or 15 fps, is either one a significant limiting factor?

 

[JEDIYoda]

whether you believe me or not there are valid reasons the CPU was only rated an X3 and not an X4.....

 

[Fayd]

probably the CPU. OC it.

 

[f4phantom2500]

whether you believe me or not there are valid reasons the CPU was only rated an X3 and not an X4.....

that's not necessarily true, it's very possible that the 4th core is totally functional and that they just locked it to meet demand for the x3 part. of course, there could be something wrong with it.

OP, i really don't know if crysis has a tendency to be cpu-limited at 1680 resolution, but just try overclocking your processor and see what you can get from that. i have my x3 435 at 3.5ghz, but the 4th core is a dud.

then again, it could just be a driver issue with the video card.

 

[OS]

whether you believe me or not there are valid reasons the CPU was only rated an X3 and not an X4.....

thats ok, no ones life depends on my computer
maybe my facebook status will get messed up
if it really bugs me later i'll buy another cpu

 

[OS]

that's not necessarily true, it's very possible that the 4th core is totally functional and that they just locked it to meet demand for the x3 part. of course, there could be something wrong with it.

OP, i really don't know if crysis has a tendency to be cpu-limited at 1680 resolution, but just try overclocking your processor and see what you can get from that. i have my x3 435 at 3.5ghz, but the 4th core is a dud.

then again, it could just be a driver issue with the video card.

ugh now you guys have me running my brain thinking about this now, i do not get paid for this, lol

i'm actually an EE and got masters degree last year, but transistor level was not my concentration.

my thesis was about a memory controller though and product whitepapers list very strict timing, voltage and temperature spec/requirements.
It's entirely possible the locked extra cores were marginal cores that did not meet tight requirements for the combined timing/voltage/temperature, but in nonextreme operating conditions will probably run fine.
IE a marginal core that does not meet spec at temp/voltage limits but will run in a good/best case environment.
If this is the situation, then marginal cores would be marked together with outright defective cores.

I am just speculating though, i do not work in the semiconductor industry.
My computer doesn't run anything important anyways.




also thx, i will try messing with the cpu/gpu clocks, i just want to see which makes my crysis run better..

 

[Rifter]

you need more GPU im fairly sure its not CPU. Get another one a CF them. My rig in sig gets about 30fps in crysis at 1080p res. Ive considered another 4890 for CF but might just wait till Nvidia gets the shit together and releases there next product and see what that does to prices then pick a new GPU. FYI OCing my CPU does nothing to my crysis numbers, im GPU limited.