Updated card in older system

[zigzag03]

based on my system specs below, how do you all think i will fair performance-wise by updating the old sli config with something newer from the midrange; a gtx460 for instance. opinions pls? thanks!

 

[zigzag03]

must be a dumb question. clearly the 460 will improve things considerably...

 

[toyota]

it shows 8800gts sli in your sig but you don't specify if those are 512mb, 640mb or 320mb models. a gtx460 would certainly be slower than an 8800gts 512mb sli setup.

 

[netxzero64]

is your Q6600 overclocked?

 

[toyota]

is your Q6600 overclocked?

it says stock in his sig.

 

[betasub]

"fair performance-wise"

In what games? At what res/detail?

Vagueness FTL.

 

[zigzag03]

sorry, i should say that currently i am only playing bbc2 which i can run at 1600x1024 at medium detail. if i bump it to high detail it stutters. i also run rfactor and gtr2, neither of which have any problems at high detail.

 

[Termie]

sorry, i should say that currently i am only playing bbc2 which i can run at 1600x1024 at medium detail. if i bump it to high detail it stutters. i also run rfactor and gtr2, neither of which have any problems at high detail.

This is most likely a CPU limitation. You'll need to overclock your CPU to get any more frames out of BC2. Notice here that even a slower clocked i7 will limit a GTX285, which is in the same class as your SLI setup: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/battlefield-bad-company-2_8.html.

And to be clear, no, a GTX460 will not be much of an upgrade. Try overclocking that CPU before you do anything else.

 

[happy medium]

which i can run at 1600x1024 at medium detail. if i bump it to high detail it stutters.

If this is happening,you need a faster gpu. A gtx 460 will be much smoother and faster.

 

[Arkaign]

A stock Q6600?

That's a fantastic CPU, virtually all of them will do over 3ghz, so clock it to 3ghz and watch a big improvement in pretty much everything.

 

[zigzag03]

you know, i have never been able to overclock this thing one single tick without it bsoding, or not booting, or otherwise failing instantly. the bios has a turbo setting, even that won't work. i've given up screwing with it long ago, have forgotten the particulars, but never has it ever allowed the slightest overclock. i am using the stock cooler.

 

[Arkaign]

Hmm. That is an Nvidia mobo, have you found the memory divider settings? Try underclocking your memory while bumping the FSB, if it's still a no-go, then it's probably just a mobo that refuses to OC.

I would normally be hesitant to recommend a mobo for something of that era, but if you combo'd that Q6600 with this :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131377

You could probably hit ~3.4ghz or so, definitely 3.2ghz (have never heard of a Q6600 that wouldn't do that). That would be dramatically better than a GPU replacement alone, and would also allow you to get another boost whenever you did move to GTX460 or whatever.

Basically, P45 chipset >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Nvidia chipset.

 

[zigzag03]

thanks man i will investigate this tomorrow, as i'm about played out for this day. i do appreciate your input and everyone elses.

 

[BFG10K]

This is most likely a CPU limitation. You'll need to overclock your CPU to get any more frames out of BC2.

Nope, if he’s increasing game details and his framerate is dropping, that means his GPU system is limiting him.

 

[Termie]

Nope, if he’s increasing game details and his framerate is dropping, that means his GPU system is limiting him.

Well, BC2 seems to be a little different in that way. Perhaps the game details require more physics...a lot of people with serious VGAs have had problems getting good frame rates with this game. It sounds like he has a pretty strong VGA setup already.

 

[toyota]

Nope, if he’s increasing game details and his framerate is dropping, that means his GPU system is limiting him.

not always true. plenty of games get more demanding on the cpu too when increasing the settings. only way to tell is to drop the res at the same settings and see if performance goes up. if it doesn't then you know your cpu is limiting you in that particular case.

 

[zigzag03]

i love this forum, go to bed and wake up with more answers and more to think about! thanks everyone. i will try dropping res and increasing detail and see what happens!

 

[RaiderJ]

Hmm. That is an Nvidia mobo, have you found the memory divider settings? Try underclocking your memory while bumping the FSB, if it's still a no-go, then it's probably just a mobo that refuses to OC.

I would normally be hesitant to recommend a mobo for something of that era, but if you combo'd that Q6600 with this :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131377

You could probably hit ~3.4ghz or so, definitely 3.2ghz (have never heard of a Q6600 that wouldn't do that). That would be dramatically better than a GPU replacement alone, and would also allow you to get another boost whenever you did move to GTX460 or whatever.

Basically, P45 chipset >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Nvidia chipset.

I have almost that exact same board (P5Q-EM), and I hit 3GHz with my Q6600 so easily that I wasn't sure it actually took until I verified my processor speed within Windows.

 

[Scali]

Nope, if he’s increasing game details and his framerate is dropping, that means his GPU system is limiting him.

Yea, could be because of the relatively low memory on his 8800GTS cards that doesn't work well when high resolutions, detailed textures and AA are used.
A 1 GB GTX460 may improve things considerably. Although I'd suggest checking benchmarks, because I'm not familiar with this particular game.

 

[Narrlok]

Hmm. That is an Nvidia mobo, have you found the memory divider settings? Try underclocking your memory while bumping the FSB, if it's still a no-go, then it's probably just a mobo that refuses to OC.

I would normally be hesitant to recommend a mobo for something of that era, but if you combo'd that Q6600 with this :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131377

You could probably hit ~3.4ghz or so, definitely 3.2ghz (have never heard of a Q6600 that wouldn't do that). That would be dramatically better than a GPU replacement alone, and would also allow you to get another boost whenever you did move to GTX460 or whatever.

Basically, P45 chipset >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Nvidia chipset.

Wouldn't he need to run a hack to continue using his 8800 GTS in SLI on that board?

 

[BFG10K]

not always true. plenty of games get more demanding on the cpu too when increasing the settings.

The only settings that can influence CPU load are those not related to rendering, like physics. For rendering settings, the CPU’s workload is constant. That includes things like resolution and AA too.

 

[toyota]

The only settings that can influence CPU load are those not related to rendering, like physics. For rendering settings, the CPU’s workload is constant. That includes things like resolution and AA too.

for the most part you are right but how do you think a game like Uncharted runs on the PS3? its because many of the features are done on the cpu. now look at the settings in GTA4. nearly every one of them clearly says it will impact cpu as well as gpu performance. every game engine is different so again many of the settings do have an impact on the cpu.

 

[zigzag03]

i think bfg10k might be right that asus board suggested by arkaign is a crossfire setup as sold. can it be bios modified? this i don't know, but i could certainly see investing $100 odd to get an overclockable board. and maybe what i really need to do is start with raiderj's advice and push into the bios further on the one i have. it's not a process i have any experience with and this board never gave me a break. i have other odd reliablity issues with it anyway, things i have to pull the power cord to clear, so truth be told i don't trust the board.

 

[Arkaign]

Yep, good catch on the SLI, it's technically capable of it (PCI-E 2.0 x16 x2), but no official SLI support, so I don't recommend even trying that.

It's hard because most high-end users have left S775, so the selection of boards with SLI and the like are drying up.

 

[zigzag03]

alas i think "well behind the curve" would describe my computing experience, so i'm used to it! but i will look around. anyone got an "overclocking for idiots" guide that would pertain to the bios on my current board?