HD 4850 or 8800GT?

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videogames101

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2005
6,783
27
91
Originally posted by: PacificGeek
Originally posted by: taltamir
Anyways, the e8400 is too slow. I oced my E8400 to 3.6ghz and I am still CPU bound in some games at under 60fps... many higher end games today that are CPU hogs run quite well on quad cores, and really require a quad core at at least 3ghz to be really smooth.

I didn't think games were fully utilizing quad core cpu's yet.

What games/software use the quad cores to their full potential?

Folding@home and POV-ray are examples of programs that love multi-core systems.
 

geoffry

Senior member
Sep 3, 2007
599
0
76
Originally posted by: PacificGeek
Any games use quad-core?

Supreme Commander does. Crysis supposedly does but not very well.

Flight Sim X might as well.

Aside from those none that I currently am aware of.
 

taltamir

Lifer
Mar 21, 2004
13,576
6
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Mass Effect. Any UT3 engine game, but except mass effect they are all at over 60fps with dual cores. Mass effect NEEDS a quad core.
I personally tested Mass Effect only, and it absolutely NEEDS a quad if you want it to be smooth. No ifs, ands, or buts. You want it smooth, you get a quad and OC it past 3ghz!

Supreme commander also needs a quad core
crysis is actually better run under an E8400 then a Q6600 from what I heard.
Flight sim X needs a quad.
and you can really benefit from a quad on oblivion or so I hear.
 

bunnyfubbles

Lifer
Sep 3, 2001
12,248
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Flight Sim X will scale just about perfectly when moving from dual to quad (ie your cores double, your performance doubles), and can even take advantage of dual processor quadcore skulltrail, maxing out 6-7 of the 8 cores...
 

octopus41092

Golden Member
Feb 23, 2008
1,840
0
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I'd go with the HD4850 since you're guaranteed that it'll run well at only maybe $40 more. Plus, it wouldn't hurt if you got the HD4850 because then you can throw in some AA and AF if you wanted.
 

bryanW1995

Lifer
May 22, 2007
11,144
32
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4850 is usually ~ 30% faster than 8800gt. the 66.5 vs 49 fps is almost exactly that. however, if you turn up the eye candy to 8x AA you will see a MUCH LARGER advantage for 4850, probably over 50%. 4850 is more of a slam dunk today than 8800gt was last year because at least last year ati had a viable alternative that was the same generation and competitively priced (15-20% less price for 15-20% less performance). 4850's competition (9800gtx and +) doesn't perform as well and costs a LOT more.