CPU limitation for my system

[spittledip]

My system specs are as follows:

x2 4200 @ 2.6 (939)
2 gigs DDR400 RAM
2900pro (512 bit)

Do you think my current video card is limited by my CPU? I was planning to do one more upgrade to my PC, possibly a 4870 or a 9800GTX+. Would there be any advantage to getting cards like those or not? And please explain how the system (or any system for that matter) is CPU limited.

thanks

 

[DaveSimmons]

Read this TomsHardware CPU / GPU scaling comparison:
SCALE!!

Basically, in a game the CPU builds data to feed to the GPU. For higher resolutions and higher framerates the CPU has to load, arrange and stuff in more data.

If the CPU is "too fast" and gets its work done faster than the GPU can work, you are GPU limited.

If the CPU is "too slow" it can't feed data as fast as the GPU can work, so it's the GPU that twiddles its thumbs.

 

[spittledip]

Good link, thanks. From reading that article, am guessing that although I will be limited by my cpu, there would still be noticable differene if I did get a better gpu. Is this correct?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

tbh, what are you going to do, get a faster 939 cpu? no, it's a dead socket, get a 4870, its the only logical choice. I'm sorry, get a GPU either of your choosing... wanted to be more pc, no pun intended.

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
tbh, what are you going to do, get a faster 939 cpu? no, it's a dead socket, get a 4870, its the only logical choice. I'm sorry, get a GPU either of your choosing... wanted to be more pc, no pun intended.

what? I had no intention of getting another cpu.

So you think the 4870 won;t be too limited by my setup then?

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
tbh, what are you going to do, get a faster 939 cpu? no, it's a dead socket, get a 4870, its the only logical choice. I'm sorry, get a GPU either of your choosing... wanted to be more pc, no pun intended.

what? I had no intention of getting another cpu.

So you think the 4870 won;t be too limited by my setup then?

What's going to happen, for the most part, is that your minimum FPS will remain the same with the 4870. I personally can't imagine pairing a $300 graphics card with your cpu, no offense.

If you get anything, go for a 4850. It's a better value, and two of them in crossfire would go quite well with an intel platform upgrade down the line. Actually you may be able to run 'frankenfire' with your current gpu and something new on an intel board with the right layout.

 

[Corpun]

Your CPU wouldnt be hopelessly outclassed by a 4870. A lot will depend though on what kind of games you play and at what resolution. If you play RTS's like world in conflict or supreme commander, those are far more cpu dependent than say Crysis or most other FPS.

 

[biostud]

Basically you need to look at the charts, choose your resolution with 4xAA 16xAF, and look at the 2.4Ghz C2D to get an idea of your performance. Personally I'll hope to get a 4850 around august when the prices and availability have settled.

 

[spittledip]

After consideration and reading some more, I will probably go with a 9800GTX+ or a 4850 if they get some with dual slot cooling solution. thanks for the input.

 

[BFG10K]

For higher resolutions and higher framerates the CPU has to load, arrange and stuff in more data.

CPU load is constant regardless of resolution.

 

[Lorne]

You are really bottlenecked in the CPU area, YOu can test this by running stock and seeing what gives the best benchmarks, OC'ing the CPU or GFX.
CPU is cheaper and will give you an all around performance improvement (desktop incuded) and gives time for newer GFX to drop in price BUT,,, Though if you go newer GFX it can be carried over to a new system which you will have to do at somepoint as 939 and DDR has reached there end.
Check this out, You have so much more overhead compared to the 2600 used in this test if its already not equil to the 3850.
http://www.tomshardware.com/re...agp-3850-agp,1939.html

I have a X2 4800 2.5Ghz and a Nv 8600GT, If I OC my GFX there is no improvement in the benchmarks and when I OC the CPU to 2.9Ghz I get a really nice improvement in benchmarks.
The Nv 8600gt is simularity sit about a Ati 2400-2600.

 

[SlowSpyder]

I ran almost the same setup as you for a while, a 2900Pro (512bit) at 800mhz on the core with an Opteron 165 at 2.56GHz. I thought that it was a pretty decently balanced system, but I have no doubt that you will gain very nice performance increases with a 4850/4870/9800GTX even if you keep you current CPU.