7950GT? x1950PRO? Or nothing at all?

[jatheney]

I need help big time. I'm very confused =\

Here is my current system:

3.4ghz P4 hyperthreaded
2 gigs ddr400
7600GT

I am trying to get more FPS in HL2 mods while being able to run dx9 instead of dx8.1

I know my CPU is a bottleneck... I'm trying to find out if I upgrade to a 7950GT or x1950pro will it do the job? Is my CPU so bad that I'll only gain like 20 fps, or will this act as a big enough crutch and get me to 100 fps constant?

Please help!

 

[cleeve]

We can't give you a number if FPS because it depends on the resolution, eye candy, and wether it's a CPU or GPU limited game.

However, your CPU is fine to take advantage of an X1950 PRO or 7900 GT. At higher resolutions or when using AA/AF you'll get impressive gains over the 7600 GT.

You'll be able to play at resolutions/eye candy levels that would cripple the 7600 GT...

 

[jatheney]

Thanks for the reply.

Some people tell me what you just said (that it will be ok) and others tell me that I'm crazy and should replace my cpu/ram/motherboard...

Any other opinions on this? I can't afford to upgrade the cpu and everything that goes with it right now, but I don't want to spend $250 or so on video card stuff and have it do nothing either.

 

[AdamJ]

I just got an EVGA 7950GT and the card is very nice, including HL2 max'd out. But, the Source Engine is more cpu than gpu so keep that in mind

 

[locky28]

Your 7600GT can run DX9. Try updating Direct X and your video card drivers before you go buying anything and see how that goes, steam should tell you when your drivers are out of date anyway.

 

[jatheney]

Your 7600GT can run DX9. Try updating Direct X and your video card drivers before you go buying anything and see how that goes, steam should tell you when your drivers are out of date anyway.

oh it runs in dx9, just like crap =\

 

[locky28]

I ran source on my 3500+ 2gb ram and 6800GT for ages and it ran great. 7600gt should perform better than 6800GT so I think there could be more to this. Install Direct X 9.0c and the latest Nvidia drivers then see how it goes and come back if it still sucks.