BFBC2 upgrade time

[AgentUnknown]

My current rig is an E8400 w/ 4GB ram OC to 3.6ghz. I have a 550GTX Ti. I want Bad Company 2 to run better for me. It starts slowing down when there are many things going on the screen. Is it my GPU or CPU? Q6600 or should I get an i5 2500K? If I upgrade mobo and cpu, and hook up my old hd, will it boot up normally or do I need to do a fresh and clean install?

 

[mfenn]

The best way to test whether or not you have a CPU or a GPU bottleneck is to first monitor your framerate at your "normal" settings with FRAPS. Then go into the game options and turn the resolution and graphics settings all the way down (leave anything related to physics enabled). Then play again and note your framerate.

If your framerate pretty much stays the same, then you are CPU limited.
If your framerate increases, then you are GPU limited.

 

[fffblackmage]

I would normally do a fresh and clean install for a new cpu+mobo, but not for a new gfx card.

According to this, you're fine with the OC'ed E8400.

I know BC2 is pretty GPU-intensive - even my 5870 slows down a bit on some occasions. I'm betting it's the GTX 550.

 

[goobernoodles]

I just upgraded from a e6750 @ 3.4Ghz to a 2500K without upgrading my GPU's.

I had recently installed a 2nd 4890 in crossfire hoping to hold me over, but it really didn't do that much. I was obviously CPU limited.

The 2500k alone made a HUGE difference, but it also let me see the increase in performance from the 2nd 4890 that I installed as well. I'm not sure how your card compares off the top of my head, but I would think that the CPU alone should give you a significant increase in performance. That's what I saw.

 

[Zargon]

I would normally do a fresh and clean install for a new cpu+mobo, but not for a new gfx card.

According to this, you're fine with the OC'ed E8400.

I know BC2 is pretty GPU-intensive - even my 5870 slows down a bit on some occasions. I'm betting it's the GTX 550.

BC2 is CPU intensive as well, and will use 4 cores if you have em