P4 2.2 Ghz and 9700 Radeon

[MexicanGuy]

I Have a nice PC (I Guess) My Question is : can I get the max performance of the Radeon 9700 with my system :

My Specs:


P4 2.2Ghz
Mobo P4VMM Via Technologies
AC 97, sound (motherboard default audio)
PS: ¿DURO? 400 Watts
512 MB DDR RAM
Win XP PRO

Thanks for any answer.

 

[nRollo]

"can I get the max performance of the Radeon 9700 with my system"
No. AFAIK there are no cpus available that make the R9700 the limiting factor, rather than the cpu, so you can't get "max" performance. You'll get very good performance though.


More importantly, watch how a bunch of guys will now post that you should buy a 9500, or a Ti4600, because "you will be wasting your money" because you didn't buy a cpu as fast as theirs, and they want to brag about theirs. If I had a $100 for every time I've seen this (and laughed about it) I would not be going back to work this afternoon.

The posts will read something like" I would get a R9500 Pro for your system. I have a P4 2.8, and I am barely able to scratch the R9700's mighty potential. You will be cpu limited with your 2.2GHz."

I bet that even though I've pointed this out, the urge to brag will be so great these guys do it anyway.

Oh well, grab a beer, make some popcorn, and laugh at their folly.


BTW- I had a 1.4GHz Athlon XP and went from low 8000s 3dMark 2001 with a Ti4400, to low 11000s with a R9700. (and I could for sure tell the difference in gaming)
So don't let the "I bought a fast PC so now I'm an expert" crowd confuse you- your system will get a big boost whatever you have.

 

[EdipisReks]

Originally posted by: Rollo
BLAH BLAH BLAH .

if you aren't going to run with FSAA and AA, then there is no point in getting a 9700 over a 9500 Pro right now. if you are going to run with FSAA and AA, then get the 9700.

 

[CurtCold]

There is no way I would get a 9700 PRO, your cpu is going to limit you sooo much unlike my 9.8Ghz AMD Athlon processor, that pushes the 9700 to almost half of it's Silicon Given capabilities. It sucks to be you and your 2.2Ghz CPU. You should get something like a VooDoo3. That video card would fit your CPU and Ram better in your situation.....


Ok Rollo here it goes. Why not get the 9700Pro? That 2.2Ghz processor should push your whole system just fine. Besides when you upgrade your Mobo, CPU or the rest of your system, then the card will still be going good, and scale up the CPU charts well. AA, and FSAA is where the 9700's really shine anyway. You might not get MAX performance, but you'll get good performance, and have a card that will last you for a while

 

[selfbuilt]

If you've got the money to burn, might as well go for the best (and that would be the 9700 Pro). And the P4 2.2 is certainly good enough to run it! However, if funds are limited (as they are for most), I don't see why it would be so terrible to recommend components that avoid obvious bottlenecks.

For example, for the same price as a Radeon 9700 Pro, you could pick up a Radeon 9500 Pro and replace your built-in sound with a Sound Blaster Audigy (first generation, oem) and a decent 4-speaker surround sound system (e.g. Logitech Z540). Maybe it's just me, but I think that would give you a better overall gaming experience than just upgrading the graphics card! Of course, nothing says you can't do both, or buy even better sound parts, but my point is raw graphic power isn't everything on a fixed budget.

 

[Jadow]

so, if the CPU is the great limiter, why do people care so much about what is the faster card, and are getting all excited for the R350?

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Jadow
so, if the CPU is the great limiter, why do people care so much about what is the faster card, and are getting all excited for the R350?

The faster card is still the faster card, despite the cpu becoming the bottleneck. Why buy the card that would be the bottleneck from the get go?

 

[nRollo]

" There is no way I would get a 9700 PRO, your cpu is going to limit you sooo much unlike my 9.8Ghz AMD Athlon processor, that pushes the 9700 to almost half of it's Silicon Given capabilities. It sucks to be you and your 2.2Ghz CPU. You should get something like a VooDoo3. That video card would fit your CPU and Ram better in your situation....."
LOL

"Ok Rollo here it goes. Why not get the 9700Pro? "
No reason I can think of- that's why he should get one. The rest of your post I've posted many times in regard to this question, you and I agree.


BTW- I'm truly AMAZED all the 2.8-3.06 guys have been able to resist the temptation, even though I pointed out what they'd be up to. As far as the sound goes, he didn't ask about it, so I didn't comment.

 

[nRollo]

"despite the questions i have recieved, i am not a woman. yes, i know, i'm using a girl icon, but i am no more a female than apoppin is a wolf or Viper GTS is the devil (i hope). cheers."

I am a trout, Edipis. BTW, "Old School" barley wine by Dogfish Head is the stuff- 15%abv and smooth as silk. Now THAT'S some creamy beer poontang......

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Jadow
so, if the CPU is the great limiter, why do people care so much about what is the faster card, and are getting all excited for the R350?

Because they are knobs