• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Half-Life 2 GPU Article Posted to AnandTech

Starbuck1975

Starbuck1975

Lifer
I am currently running:
Athlon 1800+
512MB PC-2100 DDRAM
Radeon Pro 9700

I posted a topic about a month ago requesting recommendations for upgrading my system, and I thought I was set on going to a Athlon 64 socket 939 system with a GEFORCE 6800GT and 1GB of value RAM.

Then I read this article where it states:
If you happen to have an older Radeon 9600/9700/9800 based card, then even an Athlon 64 2800+ will be overkill for your GPU. If you are stuck with one of those older but still well-performing GPUs, don't bother upgrading your CPU unless it's something slower than a 2.4GHz Pentium 4 - you'd be much better served by waiting and upgrading to dual core later on.
Click to expand...

After reading this I was like crap, that is me...I was getting all ready to upgrade my system, and now the wise Anand Tech sages are recommending that I wait...geez.

The whole AMD/Pentium nomenclature confuses me, so I am not sure of my Athlon XP 1800+ is below 2.4Ghz.

However, I do know that I have a copy of Half Life 2 and Dawn of War sitting on my desk that I can't play because my system stutters when the action gets intense.

So what is the answer...I know that if you end up waiting for the next generation of technology to upgrade, you end up waiting forever...because once that next generation arrives, the next next generation is already in the development stages that will make your upgrade obsolete.

So should I just upgrade now, or is dual core worth the wait?
 
your system should be fine to play half life 2. it shouldent slutter. my brother has a 9700pro and works good. just upgrade your ram, and cpu to like a 2500, then OC to 3200. and then you will be smokin!
 
The right time to upgrade is when your system can't do something you want it to. You've reached that point.

Your 1800+ is equivalent to a P4 1.8 - 2.0, so you would see some benefit from just upgrading the CPU, preferably to an A64. If you want smooth gameplay at higher than 800x600 or 1024x768 (depending on game and settings) then you'll also need to upgrade the graphics card (and definitely upgrade the CPU to an A64 not just a faster XP).

is dual core worth the wait?
Click to expand...
No! I expect it will be at least a year from now before it offers good price - performance on the desktop, possibly much longer.
 
your system should be fine to play half life 2. it shouldent slutter. my brother has a 9700pro and works good. just upgrade your ram, and cpu to like a 2500, then OC to 3200. and then you will be smokin!
Click to expand...
Will I really notice much of a performance boost just with the hardware recommendation you made...I am somewhat reluctant to jump into overclocking.
 
Your 1800+ is equivalent to a P4 1.8 - 2.0, so you would see some benefit from just upgrading the CPU, preferably to an A64. If you want smooth gameplay at higher than 800x600 or 1024x768 (depending on game and settings) then you'll also need to upgrade the graphics card (and definitely upgrade the CPU to an A64 not just a faster XP).
Click to expand...

I was hoping to salvage my GPU, especially since jumping from XP to 64 will require a new motherboard as the socket is different...and a RAM upgrade for good measure, this time 1GB.

I have never really seen the benefit of playing about a 1024x768 resolution, as that tends to look just fine...but I wouldnt mind being able to play with all the effects and details settings turned up for a change, instead of having to balance the graphics quality settings to keep the game running smoothly
 
Yep, for silky-smooth 1024x768 you'd want:
$225 A64 3000+ and mobo (socket 754 has good but cheap motherboards)
$130 1 GB PC3200 (2x512)
$200 nv 6600GT

And probably a new PSU ($30-100).

Less whatever you can get for your existing mobo/CPU, RAM, 9700 (I'd guess $150-175 total).


...but even at stock speed an XP 2400+ would make some difference, as would just the A64 mobo/CPU.
 
I am still debating the 754 vs 939 tradeoff as price wise, the discrepancy is not that great at the moment...by the time I upgrade, which will probably be a month from now, the 939 option may be as affordable as the 754 option.

I will probably go with a 6800GT only because the last time I posted on this topic, most people recommended going for the 6800GT if I can afford it...I may hold off and use my RADEON 9700 Pro until prices come down a bit on the 6800GT.
 
I got a 1800+ o/ced to 3200+ speeds. Also 1gb Corsair Value and a 9700 pro non o/ced. I finished HL2 max detail 1024x768(no FSAA or anything) and had very minor stutters(maybe 2-3 times max on each chapter) and when it did it wasn't during fire fights. The stuttering only lasted a second or 2. I think a little tweaking would had fix it. Anyway if you bought 1gb PC3200 and have a good o/cing board you would be good to go.

Dual core is gonna be expensive for a while after its release. Look at the FX chips
 
You are some of the first posters to recommend going FX as opposed to a 754 vs 939 solution.

The vibe I am getting is that 754 is the budget alternative, but does not leave much room for future expansion or incremental upgrades.

Socket 939 seems to be a favored CPU chipset for people who like to upgrade frequently, and especially for those who intend to upgrade to PCI-e.

I am not sure where the FX chips fall in the spectrum...or are they simply the high end alternative as opposed to say the 754 being budget and 939 being midrange.

I dont have an unlimited budget, so the prohibiting factor could be cost.
 
I think FX is a 939 socket CPU. So if you bought say a nForce 4(would have to get a new video card) board now and a Athlon 64 you could upgrade the CPU to a FX(which are very expensive) later on. Of course nForce 3(can use your current 9700) 939 board support the Athlon FX chips aswell I think.

If your upgrading now and have the money go 939. Heck I don't think theres much difference in price between going 754 or 939.
 
Originally posted by: ^Sniper^
I think FX is a 939 socket CPU. So if you bought say a nForce 4(would have to get a new video card) board now and a Athlon 64 you could upgrade the CPU to a FX(which are very expensive) later on. Of course nForce 3(can use your current 9700) 939 board support the Athlon FX chips aswell I think.

If your upgrading now and have the money go 939. Heck I don't think theres much difference in price between going 754 or 939.
Click to expand...

The newer FX's(of a particular Model) are Socket 939. There's little reason to go Socket 754 anymore, I'd avoid it.
 
I will probably go 939 because it does offer the potential to upgrade to a significantly higher performance FX chip later down the line when their prices come down...of course depending on new technology, it could require a whole motherboard swap anyway, but 939 is as affordable as 754 at the moment.

I am also leaning towards nforce4, but I am waiting to see if there are any solid AGP solutions that come out of the nforce4 boards...of the offerings right now, it seems that nforce4 and PCI-e come hand in hand, and as I cannot see myself ever utilizing SLI, I may wait a bit.

Decisions decisions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top