Soon-to-be-rig - Is my CPU Bottlenecking?

[MTLink]

I'm upgrading my rig very soon, but I want to know if my CPU will bottleneck it. Specs will be:

-AMD Athlon 2500+ XP (OC'ed to 3200+ speeds)
-Shuttle AN35N-Ultra mobo (Yay, nForce 2!)
-XFX GeForce 6800GS AGP
-1GB (2x512MB) Corsair XMS Dual Channel RAM
-XCLio 450W PSU (17A V1, 15A V2)

All my other specs are good but I'm afraid my CPU (and maybe my motherboard) will bottleneck it. I don't have enough money to spend on a new mobo/proccy (and if I did I wouldn't have enough for the rest), and I don't think getting a faster proccy will help since I'm stuck on Socket A and I'm already OC'ing it to 3200+ speeds.

 

[hashv2f16]

NF2??? The mobo and the CPU will be next on your soon-to-upgrade list

 

[bill_bright]

I'm upgrading my rig very soon, but I want to know if my CPU will bottleneck it. Specs will be:

-AMD Athlon 2500+ XP (OC'ed to 3200+ speeds)
-Shuttle AN35N-Ultra mobo (Yay, nForce 2!)
-XFX GeForce 6800GS AGP
-1GB (2x512MB) Corsair XMS Dual Channel RAM
-XCLio 450W PSU (17A V1, 15A V2)

All my other specs are good but I'm afraid my CPU (and maybe my motherboard) will bottleneck it. I don't have enough money to spend on a new mobo/proccy (and if I did I wouldn't have enough for the rest), and I don't think getting a faster proccy will help since I'm stuck on Socket A and I'm already OC'ing it to 3200+ speeds.

Your CPU is already creating a bottle neck. The 2500+ runs on a 333FSB, your current board can run at 400. That mean your board has already toggled down the BUS (and maybe your RAM) to accomodate the CPU.

 

[MTLink]

So would it be better to get DDR333 RAM rather than DDR400?

I'm running DDR266 right now I believe...

 

[hashv2f16]

8O You are aiming for DDR400

 

[bill_bright]

So would it be better to get DDR333 RAM rather than DDR400?

I'm running DDR266 right now I believe...

Get what your motherboard supports.

 

[MTLink]

Since my CPU is bottlenecking...

Would there be a big difference if I get a 6600GT , rather than a 6800GS?

There's a deal at my local Fry's where I can get a 3500+ 64 and a mobo (ECS, has AGP and PCI-E slots) for about $200 bundled. I know it's a great deal but unfortunately I don't have enough money to get it.

 

[hashv2f16]

looking good from my angle

 

[bill_bright]

Since my CPU is bottlenecking...

Would there be a big difference if I get a 6600GT , rather than a 6800GS?

"Big" difference? No. But I would go for the GS if I had a choice. But since you already have a video card, and you are looking at a CPU/motherboard on a limited budget, I would not worry about a video card yet and just go for a board/CPU/RAM upgrade - then upgrade the video at a later date.

Also, make sure you have a good PSU to support the added demands.

 

[HA_ZEE]

The Athlon XP processor will not be bad. I have a Athlon XP 3000 OC'd to 2.509 GHZ (FSB is turned up to 193 from 166). With 1.5 gig corsair XMS ram (only three slots--each has a 500 meg stick), an ASUS A7N8X-E DELUXE MB and a ATI X850XT video card the system still works very well. Make sure you have any programs that are running in the background turned off. This will help PC focus on game. If you OC make sure you have a good cooling solution too (I use a thermal take silent tower heat pipe set up). You may need to turn up the Vcore when OC'ing also (I have it set to 1.8 volts). In BF2 the game plays very well. No glitches and it launches very quick too.

 

[mpasternak]

here's my first concern

-Shuttle AN35N-Ultra mobo (Yay, nForce 2!)


Shuttle.. so you're in a small barebones system. with VERY VERY limited space I believe. what particular Case do you have? this may change what your future upgrades. you may Not be able to support a 6600GT or 6800GT as some of them will be a very tite fit

 

[FlyGuy]

here's my first concern

-Shuttle AN35N-Ultra mobo (Yay, nForce 2!)
Shuttle.. so you're in a small barebones system.

Nope! I have the same mobo and it's actually friggin' huge for an ATX mobo! It does support DDR400 so go with that, it probably won't cost anymore.

I have a 6600GT and most of my games are CPU limited, watching the task manager and all of the games these days do max it at 100% the whole time I'm playing.

 

[mpasternak]

ohh, OK

wasnt sure, when i see "shuttle" i wrongly assumed that it was a shuttle form factor case and CPU (SFF Computer)

but isee now that shuttle makes standard ATX products now

 

[FlyGuy]

ohh, OK
wasnt sure, when i see "shuttle" i wrongly assumed that it was a shuttle form factor case and CPU (SFF Computer)
but isee now that shuttle makes standard ATX products now

Actually I think all they make now is SFF, haven't seen any recent full size boards. I have had this board for 2 years now and I have been pleased with it but they haven't released any new bios or driver updates for at least a year and half. Not that I need an update but if I did.......

 

[mpasternak]

I always enjoyed shuttle's computers when it comes to the SFF sizes.

but unfortunately, being a gamer, you can't fit SLId 7800GT's in any shuttle I've seen