CPU vs. Video Card

[stelleg151]

I seem to have general disagreement with most folks about what to spend more money on as a gamer. I feel that a good performing CPU is more important than a good Graphics card if you want to keep your computer for more than a year. Why? You cant turn down the physics and the other CPU demanding factors of a game like you can turn down the graphics settings. So if your CPU can handle games well for a few years, you can play those games just fine, just as time goes on at lower and lower graphic settings.

I would like to hear anyones argument against this, so shoot away if you would like.

 

[Appledrop]

i dunno, i use a pentium 266mhz with my x800xt pe and 32mb edo ram and i can still play counterstrike source @ 100 frames per second at 2048x1536

 

[Acanthus]

At the moment, you can get 80% of the cpu speed for 20% of the money (overlcocked Athlon64 3000+ 939 vs FX55).

You CANT do that with video cards, you get what you pay for, if not less, if you dont do your research.

A $200 vid card is not within 20% of a $500 card

 

[dug777]

nah- look at d3- i can run it fine on my XP2000+ o/c to 2600+ and 9800 pro- but on my mates XP2500+ and fx5200 its totally unplayable.

My processor is pretty ancient, and certainly gets thrashed by the A64s, but you could have a fx-55, and if it's paired with a sh*thouse kard you would be in a similar position- your argument only holds if you have a really crap CPU- where it would massively limit your GPU.

Taking you argument further- i could have bought a xp3000+ or whatever was top of the line, and a gf4mx440- compare that with if i had bought a xp2000+ and a gf4ti4200/4600- i know which would be be the better gaming rig 2day...if u see what i am getting at

 

[Zeav]

You should also concider the fact that when it comes down to it, you can tweak your gaming by installing more RAM.

It all comes down to RAM and the video card.

A good configuration is this:

CPU - Athlon 1500+ , 2.0Ghz P4
Video Card - Nvidia or ATI (Nothing less than 128MB)
RAM - 512MB should be enough to start out with but I recommend nothing less than 1GB

 

[BFG10K]

The GPU is probably the most important in terms of overall gaming performance but many people neglect the CPU, which is also important.

 

[Vee]

"I feel that a good performing CPU is more important than a good Graphics card if you want to keep your computer for more than a year."

Where do you get a notion like that from? 2, even 3 year old CPUs are viable for gaming with a new videocard.
Dell's hardware configs are truly disgusting. :frown: They focus on what they know clueless customers are looking for, CPU GHz. :roll:

For a PC used for gaming: The videocard should be at least twice as expensive as the CPU. And the CPU&MB should also see a halflife videocard upgrade.

When CPUs are benchmarked for gaming performance, an extreme videocard is used and resolution is down, so as not to bottleneck the performance. The result then is typically hundreds of frames per second.
You only need about 30Fps for smooth action. (For truly blistering FP shooters, it seem to get a bit easier if you can hit 40-50, don't know why.) This means the videocard will mostly be the bottleneck.

Last time I checked, the best affordable processors were still just 50%-60% better than stuff like the AthlonXP 2200+. Available videocards, paint a completely different picture. The top cards are 20 times faster than the budget cards. Not to mention older cards...

 

[fuzzynavel]

I have XP1800+ with a 266mhz bus and 4x AGP and my Fx 5900 is bottlenecked by my slow bus....so there comes a point where you have to upgrade to get the best from a graphics card!...

to the guy who said that he can get 100fps on counterstrike source using a P266 with 32MB EDO RAM and an x800XTPE.....Bull shit!!!!! must be running at a minute resolution with all the eye candy turned off!

 

[effee]

always upgrade your gfx card first then your CPU.

lol, the mobo can support a x800XTPE? =o

 

[dug777]

but-depends how sh*thouse your cpu is....not much point dropping a 6800 ultra into your big-gun 1ghz processor

just remember that its all governed by a degree of common sense- and BTW isnt it totally obvious that the champ (azzy) is ripping on...?

 

[imported_kouch]

gpu upgrade is always more impactful on gaming performance. Simple example, I right now have the last gen cpu and gpu. For me, I would get much better gaming performance with curreng gen GPU then with current gen cpu. i.e. if I upgraded my 2.7ghz mobile to an A64 (even the fx-55) vs if I got the 6800u or x800xtpe.

 

[deldd]

Originally posted by: Azzy64
i dunno, i use a pentium 266mhz with my x800xt pe and 32mb edo ram and i can still play counterstrike source @ 100 frames per second at 2048x1536

lol.....:laugh:

 

[uOpt]

What kind of games do you play?

Generally speaking, if you are short of money and want to play newer games you cannot expect those games to run with all the bells and whistles no matter what you do. So you will turn down the graphics options and then the GPU becomes less important than the CPU.

If instead of barely running new games you want to run older games at high settings and high resolutions, then the GPU becomes relatively more important than the CPU.

 

[RealityTime]

Originally posted by: Azzy64
i dunno, i use a pentium 266mhz with my x800xt pe and 32mb edo ram and i can still play counterstrike source @ 100 frames per second at 2048x1536

bull

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: RealityTime

Originally posted by: Azzy64
i dunno, i use a pentium 266mhz with my x800xt pe and 32mb edo ram and i can still play counterstrike source @ 100 frames per second at 2048x1536

bull

I concur. there has to be a typo. pentium 266mhz????

 

[stelleg151]

Yeah, sorry I dont think I made myself clear enough, the thing most concerned with is longevity. My brothers computer has an Geforce 2 MX, and it has been able to play all (popular) games until Farcry Doom 3, etc. This has been achieved by maximizing performance at resolutions like 1024x768. You turn everything down at that resolution and your video card will still hold up.

The point made about overclockability is a good one. Cpu's have a lot more potential for value in that sense. However, I think a 6600gt overclocked just a little or even at stock will allow me to play games fine for the next couple of years. Look at my setup now, and Im still smokin people left and right in source.

Vee, I think we had a little bit of a misunderstanding, I think we actually agree. I didnt mean to put 1 year, I am speaking in terms of 2 or 3. But I believe that a midrange videocard now will last me that long as well.

I guess what I was trying to say is that it seems like buying a quality CPU will be much more beneficial for future games, because Graphic cards get outdated so quickly, even if you dump a lot of money into them.

 

[DaveSimmons]

The best balance is to buy medium-high versions of each but not the extreme versions. You seem to be advocating buying a $600 CPU and $200 graphics card, when a $300-400 CPU will offer almost identical performance over 2 years, and could be paired with a $350 graphics card for much better gaming than that $600 CPU for the same or less money.

The "ultra" versions of CPUs and graphics cards aren't worth buying unless money is no object.

 

[Mik3y]

Originally posted by: Oyeve

Originally posted by: RealityTime

Originally posted by: Azzy64
i dunno, i use a pentium 266mhz with my x800xt pe and 32mb edo ram and i can still play counterstrike source @ 100 frames per second at 2048x1536

bull

I concur. there has to be a typo. pentium 266mhz????

i dont suppose the ram is a typo also?

 

[techwanabe]

Originally posted by: RealityTime

Originally posted by: Azzy64
i dunno, i use a pentium 266mhz with my x800xt pe and 32mb edo ram and i can still play counterstrike source @ 100 frames per second at 2048x1536

bull

I concur also. That is beyond reason.

Dell's hardware configs are truly disgusting. They focus on what they know clueless customers are looking for, CPU GHz.

Well, yes and no. What matters the most is that people educate themselves before buying a computer so they will get a machine that gives them what they need. If they need a gaming machine, they need to consider the components necessary to making a good gaming machine. I just bought a Dell via the HOT deal forum because I couldn't build a computer as good for so cheap and it should handle games fairly well for $1047 total cost:

Dell Dimension 8400
-Pentium 4 HT @ 3.2 Ghz
-1 Gb DDR2 533 mhz memory
-160 Gb SATA hard drive (7200 rpm)
-16X DVD-RW drive
-Radeon PCIexpress X800 SE 128 mb video card
-19" LCD Flat Panel monitor.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: stelleg151
I seem to have general disagreement with most folks about what to spend more money on as a gamer. I feel that a good performing CPU is more important than a good Graphics card if you want to keep your computer for more than a year. Why? You cant turn down the physics and the other CPU demanding factors of a game like you can turn down the graphics settings. So if your CPU can handle games well for a few years, you can play those games just fine, just as time goes on at lower and lower graphic settings.

I would like to hear anyones argument against this, so shoot away if you would like.

Yeah, we definatly disagree. My gfx cards always cost me more than my cpu. AND will be updated just as often, prolly more so, than my cpu.

The thought of buying a new game, and having to lower the graphics is repellant/depressing to me (damn, how I want a 6800GT). It's like having a date with a super-model and she's wearing a bag over her face. Good lookin but you can't see/enjoy it.

But then I really like the eye candy.

When I finally get the 6800GT or equivelant, I'll just OC my cpu/mobo/ram more to try to keep up. That's life with a budget. Gotta prioritize.

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: Oyeve

Originally posted by: RealityTime

Originally posted by: Azzy64
i dunno, i use a pentium 266mhz with my x800xt pe and 32mb edo ram and i can still play counterstrike source @ 100 frames per second at 2048x1536

bull

I concur. there has to be a typo. pentium 266mhz????

Sheesh you guys are unbelievable. I expected more from a diamond member though.

404 Sarcasm detector not found. :roll:

 

[Oyeve]

Sheesh you guys are unbelievable. I expected more from a diamond member though.

404 Sarcasm detector not found. :roll:[/quote]

Just busting balls.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: Oyeve
Sheesh you guys are unbelievable. I expected more from a diamond member though.

404 Sarcasm detector not found. :roll:

Just busting balls.[/quote]

I know....lord i hope they realize that the AGP spec is different...the voltages make for unhappy pair~