Should I get a beter CPU

[Eomer of Aldburg]

currently I am running a PCI-express socket 754 AMD 3000+ at 2.4Ghz and a 8800GTS 320. My biggest concern is in areas like Oblivion within the city like looking down a long street or many people attacking my frame rate takes a serious dive down into the teens and its pretty annoying. I get better frame rate in the heavy foliage of oblivion than looking down a narrow street, I'm thinking its got to be my CPU. I also am having pretty low Average framerate on Stalker which is about 25FPS, and I also get much high frame rate in the wilderness when theres not to much activity. Is my conclusion right that these problems are my crappy CPU and im in need of better one like a E6300? How much of a difference is it like going from a Low end CPU with a high end graphics card to mid end CPU and high end graphics card? I'm 17 and I don't have money to blow away so I'd like to know how much of a difference it could make.



Thanks for reading!

 

[Boyo]

You don't mention your RAM, but you might want to just upgrade that to 2GBs. You'll see a big difference with that.

 

[Eomer of Aldburg]

oh, I'm using 1.5GB of DDR1 400

 

[imported_Imp]

You don't mention your settings in game. Have you trued turning them down? There's no arguement that pairing a brand new, top of the line VC with a processor that was in its prime 3/4 years ago will cause slowdowns.

 

[PhoenixOrion]

i know that for oblivion, you can lower your draw distance and that should help.

but then again you won't see archers and other mages/monsters trying to throw things at you from a distance.

 

[MobiusPizza]

Sounds like it's either your CPU or amount of RAM

Your CPU is definitely dragging down a 8800GTS
However, as you mentioned about money, upgrading CPU to a different socket means new CPU, new motherboard, new RAM

Try turn down game setting on texture detail, particle effects

 

[jkresh]

since you have a single core system try disconnecting your network cable and turning off anitvirus/firewall/antispyware before running the game as they are all eating cpu cycles you dont have. Though as has already been said that cpu is a significant bottleneck for your graphics card (especialy at low resolution)

 

[bob4432]

i would see how much ram is being used. even with my rig in sig that idles at ~250MB, when gaming bf2 it can use 1.5GB by itself, so 1.75GB total ram usage. if i was hitting the pagefile all the time my fps would drop drastically too. and i am gaming at 1280x1024...

 

[firebyyrd]

im not hijacking.. but

what about a 4000+ and a gts?

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: firebyyrd
im not hijacking.. but

what about a 4000+ and a gts?

2.4=2.4???

 

[Eomer of Aldburg]

Originally posted by: bob4432
i would see how much ram is being used. even with my rig in sig that idles at ~250MB, when gaming bf2 it can use 1.5GB by itself, so 1.75GB total ram usage. if i was hitting the pagefile all the time my fps would drop drastically too. and i am gaming at 1280x1024...

I have checked how much ram I'm using and I barely reach over 1.5GB. Tomorrow i'm going to add another 512 stick to get a sum of 2GB and see if thats the issue I'm facing.

You don't mention your settings in game. Have you trued turning them down? There's no arguement that pairing a brand new, top of the line VC with a processor that was in its prime 3/4 years ago will cause slowdowns.[/b]



I've been using Max everything and only 2AA
I'll try lowering some settings so its less CPU intense

****update****
I lowered some settings to see which one was taxing my system and the View distance was right on the money. Max view distance in a large city like the gold cost while looking down a long ally I get 18FPS and have way to max its like 30 and practically off I get like 60FPS. The game totally looses the atmosphere when u cant see far at all
I'll try some settings in stalker and see what results I get.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Eomer of Aldburg
Should I get a beter CPU

How much of a difference is it like going from a Low end CPU with a high end graphics card to mid end CPU and high end graphics card?

You should see a 32.7% increase.

 

[Eomer of Aldburg]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: Eomer of Aldburg
Should I get a beter CPU

How much of a difference is it like going from a Low end CPU with a high end graphics card to mid end CPU and high end graphics card?

You should see a 32.7% increase.

oh alright :roll:

Bah stalker had little result from changing settings, will decide in the next few days if I'm going to take the plunge

 

[magreen]

You might want to think it through before you invest more in DDR... it won't be useful with an AM2 system or with Core2Duo (except that AsRock board).

Also, each core of an E6300 at stock is approximately equal to your Athlon 64 at 2.4GHz. Since games don't take advantage of dual core right now, I don't think upgrading to an entry-level C2D is going to help unless you overclock it. Which leads me to believe your CPU isn't really the bottleneck with a GTS 320. Are you playing at very high resolution?

 

[Eomer of Aldburg]

The thing is, those resolutions dont matter that much. At 1280x1024 or 1080P res, I still get 18FPS with Max view distance in a large city like the gold cost while looking down a long ally
Pic -Oblivion PIC 1
In the wilderness like this- Oblivion Outdoors PIC I get a nice high 30's mid 40's


Tom's Hardware CPU charts so how CPU's can have a big difference CPU chart
Problem is, they are mostly low res like 1024 x 768

I'm not sure what else to do :/

 

[Atheus]

Your bus and memory aren't that fast, and you're in single channel... you might try overclocking but you'll be limited by the socket 754 board.

 

[bob4432]

after reading a couple of reviews on the 8800gts 320, it looks like you #'s are in order. the anandtech review of the card, with a c2d x6800 (2.93GHz dc cpu) put their fps @ 33 "while running in a straight line towards an Oblivion gate in the Great Forrest." now i don't play oblivion but am assuming this is considered the outdoors where you are getting your 30-40fps (Anandtech article), sadly they don't list what they get when in the city looking down the alley like you do.

on the same page the reviewer says that cpu power or memory bandwidth is the issue - using a x6800??, but if you are getting the same fps as they are taking into acct the cpus, i would say it is the card and game. correct me if i am wrong about the area in the game or possibly find their area and run some benches and see what you get. even possibly email the reviewer and ask him where he was in the game so you can make a pretty close benchmark and if they are still the same you will know you are not cpu limited - if you are scoring the same speeds as a x6800 then i would say you are definately not cpu limited.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Atheus
Your bus and memory aren't that fast, and you're in single channel... you might try overclocking but you'll be limited by the socket 754 board.

it is a known fact that the 754 vs 939 single vs dual channel only change a couple of % at most....

 

[Eomer of Aldburg]

DDR2 is really cheap! I might aswell get a E4300, DDR2 and mb. I wish there were cheaper Core2 motherboards though :/

 

[Eomer of Aldburg]

Sorry for the double post but should I get an AMD X2 3600+ and overclock that or
a Conroe Core 2 duo E4300 ? I preferebly want to go with the AMD one cause its much cheaper, any say? Would the conroe be way better or is the AMD one a better bang for my buck?

I was looking at this mb - GA-M55SLI-S4 Socket AM2 GIGABYTE
or the DFI INFINITY NF ULTRAII-M2 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra

And this ram Text G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200)

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: Eomer of Aldburg
DDR2 is really cheap! I might aswell get a E4300, DDR2 and mb. I wish there were cheaper Core2 motherboards though :/

This board for 118.00$

http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=CA4830994

and this ram for 105.00$ for 2x1 gigs

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=2003479&enterthread=y

and the e4300 will give you a 3.0 to 3.3 overclock.

Not bad for 388.00$ ANd faster then any amd system out there

Edit : this system is also quad core 1333 bus ready

 

[Eomer of Aldburg]

Newegg.com - Computers, Computer Parts and Electronics
My Wish List Details

Wish list details
Adam's PC Upgrade


Qty. Product Description Unit Price Savings Total Price
1 MSI P6N SLI-FI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: P6N SLI-FI
Item #: N82E16813130082

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock
$112.99 $112.99
1 Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E4300 - Retail
Model #: BX80557E4300
Item #: N82E16819115013

Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

In Stock
$169.00 $169.00
1 G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model F2-4200PHU2-2GBNT - Retail
Model #: F2-4200PHU2-2GBNT
Item #: N82E16820231044

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock
$114.99 $114.99
Subtotal: $396.98


I think i'm going to stick with this, I'm a fan boy of Newegg
Any suggestions or last thoughts before buying?

 

[Amaroque]

Absolutely go with the C2D! I love my X2's but they are old technology already.

Plus C2D's overclock like crazy.

Edit: I have an E4300. I have it at 2.4 GHz without even touching any voltages.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Eomer of Aldburg
DDR2 is really cheap! I might aswell get a E4300, DDR2 and mb. I wish there were cheaper Core2 motherboards though :/

in one of my last posts i gave reference to a x6800 setup running near the same fps as you are getting in oblivion @ 1920x1200, so i don't think getting a new cpu/ram/mobo is going to fix the issue you have, i think the card is maxed.

but if you are going to upgrade, go a c2d route as they can be moved over to the quad cores (make sure the m/b will support this) when it is needed.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Eomer of Aldburg

Newegg.com - Computers, Computer Parts and Electronics
My Wish List Details

Wish list details
Adam's PC Upgrade


Qty. Product Description Unit Price Savings Total Price
1 MSI P6N SLI-FI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: P6N SLI-FI
Item #: N82E16813130082

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock
$112.99 $112.99
1 Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E4300 - Retail
Model #: BX80557E4300
Item #: N82E16819115013

Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

In Stock
$169.00 $169.00
1 G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model F2-4200PHU2-2GBNT - Retail
Model #: F2-4200PHU2-2GBNT
Item #: N82E16820231044

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock
$114.99 $114.99
Subtotal: $396.98


I think i'm going to stick with this, I'm a fan boy of Newegg
Any suggestions or last thoughts before buying?

i have read that the 650i chipset was not that good, i think it was/is the 680i line that is the king in that group. the gigabyte 965p-ds3 or 965p-s3 are known to be very good o/cers and many people have gotten their 6300 and 6400 to over 3GHz with these boards and it should be even easier with a 4300/4400.

also, with the setup you have listed you want to go with faster memory, at least ddr2 667 or even 800 if you can find a deal.