How does CPU performance effect GPU performance for an ATI 9800Pro?

[bupkus]

I built a new pc recently and found something interesting about GPU performance. Using 3DMarks2001 only, just for a reference, I tested my pc(see sig) @1.8GHz. I got about 18,500 3dmarks. At an overclock of 2.3GHz I tested yesterday at 22,000 3dmarks. I'm happy to say the game I play, UT2004, plays quite well with this setup.

So here comes my nephew...
He has an ATI 9800Pro that on his system scored a lowly 13,692 3dmarks. He's using an epox 8K5A2+, (single memory controller) 1GB(2x512) of PC2700 @333MHz, and an unlocked 2500+ Barton @1822MHz(166x11). I say "lowly" because I tested my other nephew's ATI 9600XT which scored about 12,500 3dmarks on my epox 8RDA+ with 1/2GB of 2.0-3-3-7 OCZ and an AXP Barton @2.2GHz.

Here's the question:
I'm wondering how the 9800pro would perform should I give him my 8RDA+ which can make that AXP go up to 2.2GHz with a 200MHz fsb. Unfortunately, I'm not thinking of upgradeing his memory.

Did I make this clear as mud?

 

[BenSkywalker]

It depends on the game- 3DM2K1 is more of a CPU test for anything remotely current.

Load up 3DM2K3 or 2K5 and you will see that the CPU becomes less and less of a factor. This will translate into games as well. If the games he is playing are CPU limited then the mobo swap+OC will help considerably- if they are GPU limited then it won't do anything. Most titles fall somewhere in between, it depends on which end of the spectrum they fall on how much it will benefit him.

 

[xtknight]

Yup it really depends on the game and how much it taxes the GPU. We should have a sticky on this, because it's asked enough to warrant an FAQ. After the swap my guess is he will be able to play Battlefield 2 at low and Doom 3 at medium. UT2004 shouldn't have any problems at high. HL2 should run fine at medium or perhaps high without antialiasing.

 

[Kogan]

A lot of games are highly dependant on FSB and Memory speed. If your video card has 64mb ram, the game is most likely using 128-256mb worth of video memory - It uses the on-board memory when the video memory is full. So the faster the FSB/Memory, the faster it goes.

Also in your bios, be sure AGP Aperature size is set to 128-256mb. 256 is about the max you will need for current games. If it is turned off or set to 32mb, you will get a huge increase in some game benchmarks by increasing it.

 

[bupkus]

I guess I should have pointed out that he too is an UT2004 enthusiast and I believe UT2004 is a cpu limited game.

 

[bupkus]

Originally posted by: Kogan
A lot of games are highly dependant on FSB and Memory speed. If your video card has 64mb ram, the game is most likely using 128-256mb worth of video memory - It uses the on-board memory when the video memory is full. So the faster the FSB/Memory, the faster it goes.

Also in your bios, be sure AGP Aperature size is set to 128-256mb. 256 is about the max you will need for current games. If it is turned off or set to 32mb, you will get a huge increase in some game benchmarks by increasing it.

I'm gonna check the default bios memory settings on my own pc, although I can test the 8RDA+, too.
I just rebooted and checked in my 9NPA+U for the bios setting of the AGP Aperature size and I couldn't find it. I don't know why.

 

[dug777]

UT2004 is ancient....if he can't run it with everything maxed, at least 8xAF, 4xAA at 1280 then he;s got problems...well at least that runs great for me

i run hl2 at 1024, high very smoothly with the 5.8 Cats (well at least i'm very happy with it...), hl2 at 1024, 2xAA, 8xAF (very smooth), CS:S at 4xAA, 8xAF, farcry at 2xAA, mid (level 2) AF...

on my 2.1Ghz AxP, 1Gb RAM, 9800 pro, A7V8X mobo.