Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > CPUs > Soon-to-be-rig - Is my CPU Bottlenecking?

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

Forum CPU & Components : CPUs - Soon-to-be-rig - Is my CPU Bottlenecking?

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MTLink   02-12-2006 at 09:52:28 AM

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.

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hashv2f16   02-12-2006 at 10:36:45 AM
- 0 +

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

Reply to hashv2f16
Bill_Bright   02-12-2006 at 04:01:53 PM
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Quote :

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.

Reply to Bill_Bright
MTLink   02-13-2006 at 05:22:21 AM
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So would it be better to get DDR333 RAM rather than DDR400?

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

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hashv2f16   02-13-2006 at 05:24:56 AM
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8O You are aiming for DDR400

Reply to hashv2f16
Bill_Bright   02-13-2006 at 05:48:08 AM
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Quote :

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.

Reply to Bill_Bright
MTLink   02-13-2006 at 05:54:45 AM
- 0 +

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.

Reply to MTLink
hashv2f16   02-13-2006 at 06:22:17 AM
- 0 +

looking good from my angle

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Bill_Bright   02-13-2006 at 02:23:36 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

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.

Reply to Bill_Bright
HA_ZEE   02-13-2006 at 02:53:36 PM
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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.

Reply to HA_ZEE
mpasternak   02-13-2006 at 03:48:02 PM
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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

Reply to mpasternak
FlyGuy   02-13-2006 at 04:37:07 PM
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Quote :

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.

Reply to FlyGuy
mpasternak   02-13-2006 at 04:48:17 PM
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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

Reply to mpasternak
FlyGuy   02-13-2006 at 05:18:39 PM
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Quote :

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.......

Reply to FlyGuy
mpasternak   02-13-2006 at 05:21:11 PM
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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

Reply to mpasternak
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