should i switch to ATI? (only game i play is CS/HL2)

[evolucion8]

Originally post by: ronnn

Nope hl2 runs better on nv cards. My son plays css and at 1024 x 768 with 2 x aa and 2x af, high settings he gets fps drops to the low 40's during firefights. This is with an x800xtpe. He finds it annoying as there is more recoil. Stress test gives ~122. Actually not much fps drop using 1280 x 960 - Maybe I need more cpu power.

Really you need CPU Power urgently, I got the same card and I was able to push Half Life 2 with 1024x768 @ 6xFSAA and 16X Aniso, or 1280x1024 with the same settings (I got a CRT, it strains my eyes with it's 60Hz refresh rate) That's why I'm limited to 1024x768 ( For now) And I'm using a P4 Northwood, better gamer CPU than Prescott, but not better than AMD 64.

 

[Zebo]

budget of about $150 max

no, try 800x600

Seriously something is wrong with your install or drivers or bios settings or all three. Should be running at a 70FS click with 10x7.

 

[Acanthus]

Please ignore the people saying you need a better cpu.

You have some other underlying issue, having a sempron doesnt cause a 80% peroformance loss. Period.

I sincerely reccomend following the steps i posted above.

 

[Leper Messiah]

Its not the sempron. 256K cache isn't the issue here, my bro's AXP with an OC'd 9800pro did 10x7 high settings never dropped below 40 fps. Gotta be chipset drivers.

 

[ronnn]

Originally posted by: evolucion8
Originally post by: ronnn

Nope hl2 runs better on nv cards. My son plays css and at 1024 x 768 with 2 x aa and 2x af, high settings he gets fps drops to the low 40's during firefights. This is with an x800xtpe. He finds it annoying as there is more recoil. Stress test gives ~122. Actually not much fps drop using 1280 x 960 - Maybe I need more cpu power.

Really you need CPU Power urgently, I got the same card and I was able to push Half Life 2 with 1024x768 @ 6xFSAA and 16X Aniso, or 1280x1024 with the same settings (I got a CRT, it strains my eyes with it's 60Hz refresh rate) That's why I'm limited to 1024x768 ( For now) And I'm using a P4 Northwood, better gamer CPU than Prescott, but not better than AMD 64.

I can run hl2 at much higher settings than css. Mainly because of the fps drop during firefights. I have a 2.4c running at 3.0 and I think the cpu just craps out during the heavy action. Actually I just need to upgrade to 2006 - but am feeling cheap at this moment and was hoping to wait until this vista thing shows up.

edit: sorry back on topic, i agree with Acanthus seems like you have a software (driver) issue here.

 

[kmmatney]

If its a socket 754 Sempron, then running @ 2.0 GHz is a bit low. You should at least get up to 2.2. I'm running 2.4 Ghz on the stock HSF. The performance in games and apps is about the same as an Athlon64 3500+.

 

[larciel]

well my board only goes to 280mhz, and I've tried GENCLOCK but can't go much further because of shuttle board's lack of oc ability. (and weak HSF)

 

[dev0lution]

Yah..something wrong there for sure. My BBA X800 XL is pushing decent rates with high settings at 1600x1200.