Is my cpu or gpu bottlenecking?

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colton1111

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Aug 23, 2013
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Before I explain what's going on, here's my PC specs: Quad core @ 2.4Ghz (Intel Q6600), Radeon HD 6870 1GB, 8GB (4*2GB) DDR2 (Pretty sure 667Mhz. But it's dual channel, so it's around 1330Mhz I think), and the mobo is Asus P5Q-Pro.
I started playing BF3 again, and I was telling my friend how I was only getting 40-60 fps on low/medium settings with the res at 1920x1200. He told me that it should get about 60-70 on high and probably 50-60 on ultra. I'm thinking it might be because of my cpu, but he's telling me that there might be something wrong with my gpu. I've had the 6870 for 2 years, almost 3 (Christmas day) and I get pretty amazing fps when it comes to other games. I've had the cpu for even longer using the 4870.
I'm considering upgrading my cpu to the AMD FX-8350 (And because of that I need a new mobo and ram). But before I go through with the upgrade, I'd like to know if anyone could confirm if there's something not right with my fps I'm getting, or if I should OC my cpu/gpu instead of getting an upgrade.
Thanks in advance for any information.
 
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Darren Kitchin

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Aug 22, 2013
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Ram and CPU bottlenecks there. DDR2 is quite old and the next item that would bottleneck would be the cpu.
If you are going AMD, do the full research for best value vs performance vs future use (eg an oc to make it viable for another year or so). Hope this helps :)
 
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aevm

aevm

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May 18, 2007
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These reviewers got 34 fps with an HD 6870 on Ultra at 1920x1080
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2011/11/10/battlefield-3-technical-analysis/4

They had a more powerful CPU than yours (Core i7-965) and still didn't do much better than you. IMO this proves a CPU upgrade wouldn't help you and you don't have a CPU bottleneck. You want more fps in BF3, you upgrade the GPU, not the MB/CPU.

If you get a new GPU, make sure your PSU can handle it, or upgrade the PSU too.
 
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colton1111

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Aug 23, 2013
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Not sure if this'll help with the RAM problem you're getting at, but I forgot to mention it's dual channel, so it's around 1330 or so mhz.
 
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colton1111

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Aug 23, 2013
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Well another friend of mine has an i7 (Didn't say with model) with a GTX 650Ti, which my card is slightly better and he says he gets about 60 fps on ultra @ 1080p
Edit: I looked at the link, and I guess nVidia cards run better on BF3. I guess nothing's truly wrong with my setup. Thank you for the post, Aevm :)
 
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coozie7

coozie7

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Jun 2, 2007
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Few points:
BF3 is quite hard on the CPU, so overclocking that venerable warhorse will help.
The card has only 1Gb of VRAM, something of a tight squeeze for a 1920x1200 screen so make sure AA is turned off, both ingame and in the drivers. Also check the shadow settings, soft shadows or detailed lighting effects can also hit the framerates pretty hard.
Does the system have a 64 bit OS? If not you're wasting half that memory BTW.
 
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colton1111

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Aug 23, 2013
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I know that 32-bit OS only uses 3-3.75 GB of RAM. So of course I have 64-bit. And I have custom settings on BF3, and everything is on low and AA is off, even in the drivers. And catalyst has a thing where you can change how the gpu works, as in would you what more performance or quality? There's a slider to change it, and I put it all the way up to performance.
 
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