How critical is a CPU upgrade for gaming?

[gbryant]

I've been looking at some systems and it seems like people that have old CPUs (AthlonXP, old 939s) game fairly well as long as they are running a good video card like a Geforce 7800+ or a X1800 or X1900 (which are ultra cheap now). If you're looking at a bare bones bang-for-the-buck upgrade it seems like you're better off just throwing a newer GPU in an old box then upgrading the entire thing, especially if you're looking at *current* gaming and not theoretical games in the future that demand multi cores. I realize an old CPU will hold back an 8800gtx or something and would be necessary for ultra high resolution gaming, but what about something more modest?

 

[MarcVenice]

I'd dare say that any AMD athlon 64 running at 2.4ghz, single core, won't be holding you back much, or perhaps a P4 at 3.2ghz. Having that said, a dual core AMD or Intel Core 2 Duo running at 2.2-2.4ghz will improve gaming performance in games optimized for dualcores, like shadowrun for example.

 

[Skott]

Also be aware people running older components run games at lower resolutions or with lower game settings. A good many people are happy running games at medium or low settings. If you are the type of person that has to run high resolutions and have all the highest settings on then you'll need the better components to achieve that. 'Good Enough' is a credo of many people although what constitutes 'good enough' is a matter of personal opinion.

 

[bryanW1995]

I just upgraded from an fx 55 (2.6 ghz single core) to an opteron 180 (2.4 ghz dual core), both on a 7600 gt. I mostly play civ4 and nwn, both at max settings on my 19" widescreen (1440x900). They both run smooth as silk, but I doubt that either one of them has a dual core optimizer built in, either. I have c & c 3, but I got the 10yr anniversary set and I'm currently working through the older titles. I'll let you know if c & c 3 runs at max settings. Hmmmm, maybe I'll try that now...

 

[harpoon84]

It's somewhat important... it really depends on the type of games you are playing. I don't want to generalise and say 'CPU doesn't matter' because it does in certain games, namely simulation and online fps/MMORPG type games, as well as some RTS titles.

 

[apoppin]

my last system was a P4 3.4EE at 3.74Ghz with an AGP x1950p/512M ... upgrading the CPU to my C2D brought up the minimum Frame Rates in a lot of games - especially STALKER ... i think 3DMark05 went up 1,000 Marks

of course upgrading that x1950p to HD2900xt with the Same e4300 makes the biggest difference ... Waay more than a CPU upgrade ... from around 5,500 with e4300 and x1950p to over 10,700 in 3DMark06 with my same e4300 and 2900xt

from our testing in Video a 3.0Ghz p4 bottlenecks a x1950p slightly to moderately ... the 3.4EE/FX-55 barely bottlenecks it ... C2D allowed it "full expression"

for HD2900xt, my OC needs to be at least 2.45Ghz to not bottleneck her severely ... 1.8Ghz chokes it ... 3.0Ghz is full expression