Can my processor run todays games?

Nvidiaguy07

Platinum Member
Feb 22, 2008
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I have an Intel Pentium 4 550J processor @3.4Ghz paired with a motherboard with a P15 chipset and 1 gig of DDR400 memory.

This was my original post but maybe it was in the wrong category:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=27&threadid=2178434

Basically i wanna know that if i upgrade my videocard, will it be a serviceable gaming rig running @ 1280x1024 res.

Not crysis but most other games
 

JWMiddleton

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2000
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Hi Nvidiaguy07,

Possibly one reason you are not getting responses has to do with your sig. You talk about gaming on an old P4 system, but have a kick-a$$ box listed in your sig. Makes ppl wonder.

Anyway, I have a Gen 1 Dell XPS lappy I used for gaming when I travel. I has the same P4 3.4Ghz CPU as your system and 1 GB of DDR400 RAM. The video is a Radeo 9800 mobility with 512 MB of video RAM. The screen is only a 15.4" widescreen format, but the native res. is an insane 19xx-1xxx (I forget the exact rez without looking at it.) I play World of Warcraft and it works nicely. I've often felt that 2 GB of RAM would improve the overall performance, but just can't see laying down over $150.

So, the system you have with an 8600GT would work at 1280x1024 with some of the setting reduced.
 

BrownTown

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2005
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Well I run DOD:S (and any other Half Life 2 based game) just fine on a 1.6G Banais, so a 3.4G P4 should be fine for most games. I think it would be more than enough to get playable framerate at those sorts of settings on most games, but maybe chug down a little in a few spots.
 

GarfieldtheCat

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2005
3,708
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Originally posted by: Nvidiaguy07
I have an Intel Pentium 4 550J processor @3.4Ghz paired with a motherboard with a P15 chipset and 1 gig of DDR400 memory.

This was my original post but maybe it was in the wrong category:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=27&threadid=2178434

Basically i wanna know that if i upgrade my videocard, will it be a serviceable gaming rig running @ 1280x1024 res.

Not crysis but most other games

Most any modern CPU running at or over 3GHz can provide enough CPU power for todays games. The VC is usually the limiting factor nowadays.

With any of the 8800GT's you should be fine.

You might also want to bump your RAM up to 2Gig....1Gig might be a bit limiting.
 

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
Super Moderator
Aug 22, 2001
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Originally posted by: JWMiddleton
Hi Nvidiaguy07,

Possibly one reason you are not getting responses has to do with your sig. You talk about gaming on an old P4 system, but have a kick-a$$ box listed in your sig. Makes ppl wonder.
.
Why would they wonder? He prefaces the post in GH by saying-

"Ok ive recently upgraded my computer and this is what i have left over:

Intel Pentium 4 550J processor with HT tech 3.4Ghz
Asus P5gd1-vm motherboard P15 chipset
1 GB kingston DDR-400 memory 512x2
500watt PSU "


Certainly isn't unusual for a PC gamer to want to keep an older rig in the service for a little LAN gaming. Provided they can get it to an acceptable level inexpensively enough.

Originally posted by: GarfieldtheCat


Most any modern CPU running at or over 3GHz can provide enough CPU power for todays games. The VC is usually the limiting factor nowadays.

With any of the 8800GT's you should be fine.

You might also want to bump your RAM up to 2Gig....1Gig might be a bit limiting.
:thumbsup: And depending on the game in question, at that res. I'd be turning on eye candy to keep it GPU and not CPU bottlenecked.

 

Jax Omen

Golden Member
Mar 14, 2008
1,654
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bumping the RAM would be expensive (DDR1 is way overpriced now that there's no demand), and an 8800GT would probably be bottlenecked. Get a 9600GT and call it good.

Should run everything just fine except for maybe Crysis and DEFINITELY Supreme Commander.