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What will bottleneck me please?

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - What will bottleneck me please?

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yiffraptr   02-01-2007 at 11:33:17 PM

Hi there. This is my first post. I read today's article on AGP cards as upgrades but need some more info tailored to my situation if anyone cares to take a stab at it. My computer has 1 gig of ram and a pentium IV 2.6 c processor that is not overclocked. I started with an Nvidia 5600 non ultra then later got a ati 9800 pro as a gift which I still use now.

It ran world of warcraft just fine but recently I gave up that addiction and am now enjoying the source engine for games like half-life 2 and counter-strike. I probably will build an entire new system later this summer but for now I am wondering what would be the most cost effective upgrade for my graphics at this point in time keeping in mind that I don't want to exceed the limits of my CPU.

Thanks

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apt403   02-01-2007 at 11:39:13 PM
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What kind of mobo do you have? a cpu upgrade would net you a nice all around performance boost, and you wouldnt have to worry about bottlenecking as much.

Reply to apt403
yiffraptr   02-02-2007 at 12:05:13 AM
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dfi lanparty pro875 revision A

I was also wondering if anyone knew the best CPUs this board could take?

Reply to yiffraptr
enforcerfx   02-02-2007 at 02:59:35 AM
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Yea, I agree. Maybe a CPU upgrade is the only thing it sounds like you need in your department if your gonna overhaul it this summer. Look for a P4 3.2-3.4ghz on ebay. Reckon they'll come cheaper than retail.

Reply to enforcerfx
Corvus   02-02-2007 at 10:44:49 AM
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Apparently this type of MOBO can handle a CPU upto a "Intel® Pentium® 4 (Prescott and Northwood) processor up to 3.2GHz+
- Intel Hyper-Threading Technology"

Here`s a link with the full specs of your MOBO
http://www.thetechlounge.com/artic [...] evision+B/
Hope this helps you out.

Also you say cost effective graphics card upgrade. If you are building a new PC in the summer I would hold on to your money and put it to a better CPU Graphics Card or Extra RAM. Fair enough you have to wait an extra few months but you will benefit from it in the long run. However if a graphics card upgrade is a must foryou then check out the different cards you can get for the money you have to spend and compare them with this link.
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html?

Reply to Corvus
pauldh   02-02-2007 at 02:42:06 PM
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I also have a P4 2.6C as well as an XP2500+ like CLeeve used in Tom's recent review. The P4 2.6C is easily above the XP2500+, so you will bottleneck less than he showed for the XP2500+. Check out his results:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/0 [...] -analysis/

With the top AGP's, you will be CPU limited at times though, just depends on the game. His second review is on a system much faster than your P4.
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/0 [...] index.html

I would not buy a new CPU for that rig. Not enough of a difference, and your 2.6C will hit 3.0GHz if you ever wanted to OC it. The 9800 pro should do ok in HL2 without fsaa, but I would upgrade the GPU as that is what's most holding you back. I had a 9800 pro in my P4 2.6C and went to a 6800U, huge difference.

If you don't want to do a X1950 pro(the best AGP, but $200+), a card of the X1650XT, 7600GT, 7800GS caliber would be great choices. This card has a nice iceQ cooler and is currently the cheapest of the 3 at $149 AR. (Great price; I ordered one yesterday.) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161064 It would be equal to the 7600GT in his article, but some games like Oblivion and NFS Carbon it would lead the 7600GT. Source games they should be about equal.

My vote is a X1950 pro for $200 AR on Newegg, or that $150 X1650XT.

Reply to pauldh
byrddogg77   02-02-2007 at 03:02:47 PM
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One of my PC is a 2.6c 800 FSB, with 1 gig of ram. It still rocks even in Half-life and Doom 3. I would say your bottle neck is your video card. I have a PNY 6800 AGP video card it I don't have any problem running current games.

GL

Reply to byrddogg77
kaotao   02-02-2007 at 08:00:08 PM
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I totally agree.

Reply to kaotao
Featherstone   02-02-2007 at 08:37:24 PM
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Quote :

One of my PC is a 2.6c 800 FSB, with 1 gig of ram. It still rocks even in Half-life and Doom 3. I would say your bottle neck is your video card. I have a PNY 6800 AGP video card it I don't have any problem running current games.

GL



I second that. If you are looking to boost your game performance you want a new video card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161070
this is what I think i'd get

You need AGP right?

Reply to Featherstone
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