Is is my video or cpu holding me back?

[Topshelf]

Guys, I stopped upgrading my pc a while back and now that I got a few new games things aren't looking too good and I don't know which it is. I'm running a 1Gig Athlon/512MB PC133/V5 5500(yes, a V5 ) Anyway, after installing NHL2003 and NFS - HP2 I can't believe how bad they run on this system. Do you think upgrading the video card would fix that? Or is 1Gig not enough power? I would just pop a nice 1900XP in there but my Iwill KK266+ doesn't support it. Any opinions on what I need to do? I'm thinking it's time for a new system, but I'd rather just buy one thing if I could. Maybe even goto a 1.4Gig Athlon just to top it out? Help please

 

[Viper96720]

video card

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: Viper96720
video card

 

[AnAndAustin]

Well both really, although the gfx card is the biggest problem. The V5 was great in its day but it can't really keep up with a GF2GTS let alone GF4MX440, Rad7500, Rad9000 etc which are all now very cheap alternatives ... but of course Rad8500 and GF4TI4200 don't cost a whole lot and are great cards, much better than GF4MX etc.

SDR RAM won't hold you back too much at 1ghz, even on the fast AthlonXP it only takes roughly a 10% perf hit over DDR. A new mobo will give you a little boost too, although the main reason would obviously be to take advanatage of the low priced and fast AthlonXP CPUs.

I'd suggest you get a gfx card first and foremost, adding a Ath 1.4ghz or XP2000+ is not going to show any real improvement if you're still using a V5. Rad8500LE-128MB is very cost effective while GF4TI4200 are the other great 'bang for buck' card, a bit more expensive but well worth it if you are planning to get an XP CPU in the coming months. I don't think buying an Ath 1.4ghz is going to give you a worth while perf boost considering the cost relative to a new mobo and XP CPU. I'd suggest you get Rad8500 or GF4TI4200, then save up for a new PC or mobo+CPU (and ideally DDR RAM too). Here's a couple of guides to how CPU speed and diff gfx cards measure up:

AnAndTech CPU Scaling 1 (many gfx cards and many games)

AnAndTech CPU Scaling 2 (many gfx cards focusing on UT2003)

TomsHW VGA Chart (many gfx cards)

Tech-Report Rad9000PRO review (includes a lot of other cards)

 

[Topshelf]

Thanks a ton guys. You've probably saved me ton of money and hassle. So the Radeon 8500 or the Gf4Ti4200 are my best bets?

Just took a quick look at one of those guides. Looks like the 4200 might be the better choice to hold me over for awhile.

Thanks again

 

[Topshelf]

Oh, 64MB or 128MB version the better choice?

 

[AnAndAustin]

Quick answer 128MB. To ellaborate a bit more it isn't quite as easy as just memory sizes as the 4200-64MB come with faster RAM which is clocked faster at default and o/c's higher too. Even so the 13% faster RAM speed on the 4200-64 only equates to a 3%ish perf advanatage but the hit when more than 64MB is needed is very significant. It is true that very few games need more than 64MB, mostly JK2 and Commanche4 IIRC but when you look in to it all it makes a lot more sense to go 128MB, esp when you look at the price diff.

Given that almost all GF4TI4200 exceed 4400 speeds once o/c'ed they are a very good purchase. Manu does make very little diff for GF4TI cards, the ones to avoid which are known to skimp on the RAM in some of their 4200 cards are EVGA, AOpen and std Gainward, other than that there is very little diff so price, bundle and features should be the top priorities.

Tech-Report look at 128MB vs 64MB but note all cards are set to 250/500 clocks to isolate only the diff RAM size

AnAndTech 4200 roundup

 

[BFG10K]

You're being held back by both but your video card is the worst offender.

If you upgrade to a Radeon 8500 or a GF4 Ti4200 you can get a good performance boost without breaking the bank.

 

[Insidious]

1G will only hold you back on a few titles (Nascar Racing 2002 is my biggest hog so far)

I would agree to do the Video Card first (almost always the biggest bang for the buck upgrade option) and see
where that gets ya before doing the CPU/MoBo/memory

-sid

edit: I just tried to run that CodeCreatures Benchie...... I'm still trying to decide whether to laugh or cry

My comp. could barely run it (see MyRigThingy). Hovered around 10 to 11 fps. Poor lil' pooter

 

[rogue1979]

If you 1GHz bird has AXIA, AVIA or AYJHA stepping, slap a good cpu cooler on there and enjoy 1400MHz for free.

 

[AnAndAustin]

Hey rogue1979, is there an easy way of telling what stepping a CPU uses without having to plug it in to the mobo. What's the best methos of finding out the core stepping of an AMD CPU, or good info on the diffs between these steppings?

 

[Topshelf]

Yeah, I guess I'll do some research and see what I got in there. If I can get near 1.3 or 1.4 out of it that would be great.

Actually, after doing some more research, I'm thinking of going with the RadeonLE-128 now. I figure that will hold me over until I do an upgrade at which point I'm going to do a full upgrade.

So again, thanks everyone. Now I just need to overclock that 1Gig

 

[AnAndAustin]

Yeah 8500LE-128 is a great card, do check the clocks though, they should be about 250/500 and if you want dual display ensure the card truly has dual RAMDACs too. Other than ythat it's a very fine card and a great choice, run it with 16tap AF all the time and you'll be laughing.

 

[Topshelf]

Dam man, you are the answer man. Thanks a ton. Can't wait to get one now and setup the 16tap AF. Guess it's time for my V5 to step down. She's done a great job over the years though.

 

[AnAndAustin]

Be sure to let us all know how you get on. There should be a big diff, esp if your mobo can o/c that CPU a little as it should hit at least 1.2ghz if not 1.4ghz!

 

[rogue1979]

Well, since I recommend upgrading the cpu cooler, you can just wipe off the thermal grease and read the printing on the core. Any of those steppings I mentioned should yield 1400MHz with no more than 1.85v. If you are lucky enough to get the AYJHA stepping, then 1500MHz would be attainable. Just remember, as I recall a 1500MHz T-bird at 1.85v puts out over 100 watts of heat. Some of the very first steppings only managed 1150MHz, but the ones in between should get you 1200-1250MHz.

 

[Topshelf]

Hey guys, just wanted to update everyone that helped out real quick. I installed my new Radeon 8500LE 128 last night and all my games run perfect at 1024 with high details. I haven't had a chance to play with the control panel yet, so no FSAA settings have been turned on, but either way I'm very happy. So thanks a ton. This should hold me over until the big upgrade comes sometime next year.

Top

 

[sc0tty8]

The video card, and then I would say the proc/ram/mobo.