Might be time for an Upgrade...

[hondaf17]

So I'll soon be buying Battlefield Bad Company 2...

I'll be running it on a 22'' 1920x1080 monitor.

My rig is in my sig, which includes a 512MB Radeon X1800XT video card.

This system is about 4.5 years old, but actually runs COD:MW2 pretty well.

I notice the quoted minimum specs of BC2 is a Radeon X1900...

But given that my system currently runs MW2, will it also be able to run BC2?

If I upgrade, where do I get the best value? Would you recommend a 5770 or 4870/4850? I have Windows 7 so I would see a benefit from DX11.

Thoughts, please.

TYIA,

 

[cbn]

Would you recommend a 5770 or 4870/4850? I have Windows 7 so I would see a benefit from DX11.

HD5770 by all means.

(I have HD4870 1GB myself)

 

[hondaf17]

Do you think prices on the 5770 will be dropping anytime soon (within 1 month or so)? I could wait, if that's the case. Also, how much of a bottleneck do you think my CPU will be??

TYIA,

 

[toyota]

Do you think prices on the 5770 will be dropping anytime soon (within 1 month or so)? I could wait, if that's the case. Also, how much of a bottleneck do you think my CPU will be??

TYIA,

your cpu will be a massive bottleneck in general with a decent gpu but especially so for games like Bad Company 2. really some games will barely be playable at times with that cpu while cranking the settings. also 2gb of ram isnt going to cut it some newer games.

 

[cbn]

Do you think prices on the 5770 will be dropping anytime soon (within 1 month or so)? I could wait, if that's the case. Also, how much of a bottleneck do you think my CPU will be??

TYIA,

You will need a new CPU (Toyota is right).

4200+ x2 is below minimum requirements for BC2.

 

[Schmide]

You will need a new CPU (Toyota is right).

4200+ x2 is below minimum requirements for BC2.

Actually considering the Athlon64 is about 10% clock for clock below a core 2 duo and the minimum requirements for BC2 is a 2.0ghz c2d, it is actually about equal to the minimum requirements.

It will still suck when the effects hit the screen but could be playable in general shooting.

 

[toyota]

Actually considering the Athlon64 is about 10% clock for clock below a core 2 duo and the minimum requirements for BC2 is a 2.0ghz c2d, it is actually about equal to the minimum requirements.

It will still suck when the effects hit the screen but could be playable in general shooting.

A64 X2 is much slower than 10% clock for clock than Core 2 cpus in modern games. we also know that minimums are usually a joke so coming in below them is just asking for a bad experience.

 

[cbn]

Actually considering the Athlon64 is about 10% clock for clock below a core 2 duo and the minimum requirements for BC2 is a 2.0ghz c2d, it is actually about equal to the minimum requirements.

It will still suck when the effects hit the screen but could be playable in general shooting.

Core 2 duo is something like 30-40% faster clock per clock compared to Athlon II x2.

If you take a look back at the original Anandtech gaming benchmarks (from 2006) you can see what I talking about.

 

[Schmide]

It really depends on the cache.

Allendale 1mb cache + 10%
Conroe 2mb cache + 15-20%
Conroe 4mb cache + 20%+

I don't think you'll ever see 30-40% better. I'd like to see it if it exists.

 

[toyota]

It really depends on the cache.

Allendale 1mb cache + 10%
Conroe 2mb cache + 15-20%
Conroe 4mb cache + 20%+

I don't think you'll ever see 30-40% better. I'd like to see it if it exists.

3.0 E8400 is 38% faster than 3.0 6000 X2 in FEAR 2 at 1680 max settings. http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,...us-graphics-settings-compared/Reviews/?page=3

3.0 E8400 is 47% faster than faster clocked 3.2 6400 X2 in Prototype at 1680 max settings and even 4x AA. http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,...System-Requirements-and-Screenshots/Practice/

 

[hondaf17]

So pretty much you guys are telling me to build a new computer, my budget would be $500-$600 (including that $150 5770), which I really can't afford and would prefer not to spend right now...

DAMN!!

Or I guess I could try over-clocking my processor...it's supposed to be a decent over-clocker...

 

[Rebel44]

So pretty much you guys are telling me to build a new computer, my budget would be $500-$600 (including that $150 5770), which I really can't afford and would prefer not to spend right now...

DAMN!!

Or I guess I could try over-clocking my processor...it's supposed to be a decent over-clocker...

If you overclock it it might be ok for now but if I were you I would start saving for new PC.

 

[SlowSpyder]

So pretty much you guys are telling me to build a new computer, my budget would be $500-$600 (including that $150 5770), which I really can't afford and would prefer not to spend right now...

DAMN!!

Or I guess I could try over-clocking my processor...it's supposed to be a decent over-clocker...

Overclock it for all it's worth, but don't spend money on a faster s939 processor.

If I were you, I'd overclock, get a new video card, and see how it runs. If it's not running well with the new video card then you'll probably have to get a new MB/CPU/RAM combo.

The good news is, a pretty quick PhII x3 combo with MB can be had for under $160. Also, that's a Black Edition x3, so getting another few hunderd MHz is as easy as a multiplier change.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Size=10&page=1

Find some cheap ram and you're in business. $160 for that combo, $150 for vidoe card, $90 for memory puts you at $400. Just a thought.

 

[hondaf17]

Thanks for the responses guys. Wouldn't I also need to buy a new PSU?? I don't know that my 4-year old PSU (while very reliable and enough power) has the extra PIN that the new AM3 mobos require, does it??

Maybe it would work....that would save me $50+...

Here's a link to the power supply that I have:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104934

 

[SlowSpyder]

PSU you have will likely be ok.

 

[solofly]

PSU seems ok. I would check the voltages just to be sure...

I'm in a very similar boat as the OP with my AMD4400+ slowing the 4870x2 down. This is what I'm planning to upgrade...

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16813131633
and
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16819103843
(these are Canadian prices so subtract ~10 bucks)

And some memory to speed things up. In a years time I'll spend another hundred bucks and get a faster CPU.

Intel doesn't gave anything in this price range that's why I'm going AMD route. This upgrade is all about spending as little as possible, more or less. Yes I know could spend even less on a different motherboard but I'm used to Intel's 400 dollar mobos so this one feels real cheap...lol