how cpu limited am I

[gac009]

I have a
P4 3.0 E 800 FSB running at 3.2
1 gig sual channal ram

I want to get a new card to replace my 9600xt but dont want to spend on say a x800xt only to find that my cpu is a bottleneck, I personally think it is good enough for anything under a 7800 GTX but I could be wrong. am I? what is the best performance card I can get that wont have to worry about my cpu being the bottleneck?

 

[qbackin]

Originally posted by: gac009
I have a
P4 3.0 E 800 FSB running at 3.2
1 gig sual channal ram

I want to get a new card to replace my 9600xt but dont want to spend on say a x800xt only to find that my cpu is a bottleneck, I personally think it is good enough for anything under a 7800 GTX but I could be wrong. am I? what is the best performance card I can get that wont have to worry about my cpu being the bottleneck?

AGP I assume.
ATI: X800XL
Nvidia: 6800GT

 

[Emultra]

Ditto.

 

[Dman877]

3.2 P4 is plenty of cpu for just about any card out right now (except the 7800 which is cpu limited by all cpu's of course). What res/settings do you play at?

 

[1ManArmY]

Dont mean to highjack this thread but I been playing BF2 lately and I miss playing at high resolutions so I am going to upgrade from an ATI 9800 PRO. I really only want to spend 300 to 350 max as this card will hold me over til the holidays because I am going to switch out my CPU and MOBO with AMD and PCI-express then use my current CPU and MOBO to piece together a second rig. YOur thoughts...........

Been looking at X800XL, really would like 6800 GT but I will buy a new card in the fall when I decide on the CPU and MOBO.

 

[gac009]

Personally I would wait, before buying anything if its only to play BF2 at high res, but obviously you dont want to wait so that dosent help you. if your not afraid of refurb cards
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102492R
I cant recommend gettng a refurbished video card but this is what im going to get.

Dman77-
with the 9600xt, i play at 800*600 with 6AA and 4AF with all settings to max.
for some reason it just looks better on my 22' screen to me than at say 1080*760(with anywhere from 120-40 FPS is what i get with either setting) with no AA or AF, i mean its my first real pc game that I have played so I may not know what "good" looks like yet

 

[hans030390]

get the 6800gt since it hs Shader model 3.0

but read up about it to see if you want it or not.

 

[Gamingphreek]

At that AGP price point there is really no reason not to go with the GT. If it were the PCI-E version however, the GT still has a somewhat large price delta. But at AGP it is no contest. Additionally, the GT should last longer as it has a few features that the R4xx series lacks.

-Kevin

 

[gac009]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150102
this one then.

 

[Gamingphreek]

No. XFX does not have a good reputation for anything. I would look at EVGA. THat way in 90 days if you feel you need more speed you can step up. Stay away from PNY and XFX.

-Kevin

 

[1ManArmY]

thanks, I know the prudent decision would be to get the 6800 GT AGP. I really didn't want to drop 400 bones for a video card on my eventual 2nd rig then turn around and spend another 500 on the new rig. The original plan was to buy AMD CPU and MOBO with PCI express, keep the sound card and PC3500 RAM and then by a new PCI express video card for the new Rig then move the 9800 PRO to 2nd rig.

I was hoping for a short term solution guess not.:frown:

 

[lambasa]

I also am going to upgrade for BF2. I seem to be in the same boat as most of you guys (P4 2.8 + Radeon 9800 AGP (non-Pro)... heheh, okay maybe just a tad bit slower. Anyways, I wasn't really planning on upgrading, but my 9800 broke the very first time I put in BF2!!! It seemed to work fine for the demo, but as soon as the full game started up, I started getting video corruption both inside the game, in windows, and in BIOS. Anyways, now I have a great excuse to upgrade!

I also think the 6800GT is the way to go. BF2 doesn't seem to be too CPU limited, so I should get good distance out of this card. My other choice is the 6600GT simply because I don't know if I should spend so much money on an AGP video card that I won't be able to move to my next system (PCI Express of course).

 

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: 1ManArmY
thanks, I know the prudent decision would be to get the 6800 GT AGP. I really didn't want to drop 400 bones for a video card on my eventual 2nd rig then turn around and spend another 500 on the new rig. The original plan was to buy AMD CPU and MOBO with PCI express, keep the sound card and PC3500 RAM and then by a new PCI express video card for the new Rig then move the 9800 PRO to 2nd rig.

I was hoping for a short term solution guess not.:frown:

6800GT AGP can be had for around $300...

Still the best card in that price range IMHO.

 

[Lorn]

Originally posted by: Captain_Howdy

Originally posted by: 1ManArmY
thanks, I know the prudent decision would be to get the 6800 GT AGP. I really didn't want to drop 400 bones for a video card on my eventual 2nd rig then turn around and spend another 500 on the new rig. The original plan was to buy AMD CPU and MOBO with PCI express, keep the sound card and PC3500 RAM and then by a new PCI express video card for the new Rig then move the 9800 PRO to 2nd rig.

I was hoping for a short term solution guess not.:frown:

6800GT AGP can be had for around $300...

Still the best card in that price range IMHO.

Hate to advertise in there but I feel it's rather pertinent.

I'm selling a eVGA 6800 Ultra (Dual DVI, AGP, 256mb) for $315 shipped. That is probably the best card in this price range.