Is this CPU upgrade worth it?

[NickelPlate]

Hey All,

I recently ordered an EVGA 8800gtx and an OCZ 850 PSU to go with it. I'm looking at a CPU upgrade also. Current system specs are:

Intel P4 630 HT @ 3.2Ghz (Prescott)
MSI 6800GT Video
Asus P5GD2 Premium Mobo
2 gigs DDR2
Raptor 150 HD
Soundblaster Xfi

I've read alot of confusing info regarding CPU limitations for the new 8800 cards. Some say you shouldn't buy the card unless you also have the lastest CPU. I don't really want to go down the completely new C2D setup right now. I can get a P4 661 Cedar Mill @ 3.6Ghz for $179 which I should probably be able to OC to 3.8Ghz or higher and hopefully will run cooler than the Prescott I have now, and wouldn't require purchasing anything else.

I guess the big question is, would the CPU be a decent upgrade? Or am I doomed to be CPU limited in games with any single core intel? I know that the P4 6xx CPUs were never at the top in terms of performance, but $179 for another 20% or more clock speed that would run cooler to boot doesn't seem like a bad deal to me.

Thanks for the advice,

NP

 

[The-Noid]

You are going ot be limited in games with the Intel regardless. That card is very fast unforunately.

 

[NickelPlate]

Originally posted by: Yoxxy
You are going ot be limited in games with the Intel regardless. That card is very fast unforunately.

I figured that, but by how much? 20 fps, 30 fps or more?

 

[The-Noid]

My guess is 50% or more. 7,000 3dmark06 marks compared to 11,000 3d06 marks.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

It all comes down to what resolution and details you play at, which you left off your original post. At high resolutions, with max details, you won't be limited by your CPU. And certainly not by 50% fps. If you are playing at a lower resolution such as 1280x1024 or below, the GTX wasn't the best purchase right now.

 

[NickelPlate]

Originally posted by: deadseasquirrel
It all comes down to what resolution and details you play at, which you left off your original post. At high resolutions, with max details, you won't be limited by your CPU. And certainly not by 50% fps. If you are playing at a lower resolution such as 1280x1024 or below, the GTX wasn't the best purchase right now.

Most stuff I do play at 1280x1024 right now, but my hope with the new card is that I can crank up the detail and possibly resolution (1600x1200, which is my monitors max) and run higher AA/AF and still stay above 60 fps with some overhead to spare. As long as I'm at or above 60fps sustained I'm good.

I really like to run at least 4xAA/4xAF on most games but my 6800GT chokes on that sometimes especially with newer titles and at 1280 x 1024 or higher. If the 8800gtx will allow higher AA/AF with smooth gameplay that's all the better.

I'm supposed to get the card tomorrow. We'll see then. Is anyone here running an 8800 card with a single core CPU? Thanks for the reply.

NP

 

[espress0]

U could blow another 500 and get a core2 and mobo

 

[espress0]

ASUS P5N-E SLI Socket T (LGA 775) NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: P5N-E SLI
Item #: N82E16813131142 $149.99


Update Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail
Model #: BX80557E6600
Item #: N82E16819115003 $309.00
total:
$458.99
And thats on new egg, i am sure you could find cheaper. It would be a sweet upgrade for sure. And lots of performance and ocing!

 

[Captante]

Anybody who says you need the fastest CPU possible to upgrade to an 8800GTX is simply incorrect ... if you game at 1280x1024 or higher you'll see huge performance gains with any reasonable cpu although with that P4 you have now you will see less of an increase then if you had a low-end AMD X2, never mind a C2D.

I'd suggest sitting tight with the CPU you have now & stick with the GTX, then grab a new CPU & mb later when you can afford it. The gain in moving to a higher clockspeed P4 will be so small its just not worth it and while a P4D might help somwhat more, I'd still say wait until you can afford to go with a Conroe.

 

[harpoon84]

A 3.2GHz Prescott will no doubt bottleneck a 8800GTX, but I wouldn't upgrade to another Netburst based CPU, especially one costing $179. It's just not worth it for the minimal increase in performance.

The E4300 is coming out next month and will cost about $160. Grab a cheap P965 board for $100 or so and you're set. You can reuse your old DDR2, the E4300 will overclock great even with slow memory.