Frame Rate Restriction due to CPU?

[Godzing]

Specs:
cpu: +3200
gfx: x1950 pro (agp 8x)
ram: 2GB

There is no problem in older games (quake3 @ 90-130fps, ut2k4 80-120fps) but in games from hl2 to the ut3 demo it appears my frame rate is capped. I can max out hl2,ep2,team fortress 2 and get 30fps then i can lower it to min settings and still get 30fps !
In more advanced games like the ut3 demo i can run it at 1024X768 (or w/e) with everything set to medium and get 20-30 fps so naturally i would turn down the settings to get a better frame rate, but to no avail ! at 800X600 and min settings i still get 20-30 fps! what is going on. How can i improve my framrates?!

ps: vertical sync is not on lol
bioshock also appears to be capped at 30fps no matter the settings (using FRAPS)

 

[Hatman]

quake wars has a cap of 30frames per second, Idk why.


I dont play the other games but I guess they have it too. Maybe demos?

 

[skittle]

fraps is likely capping your framerate.
your cpu shouldnt bottleneck your video card that much.

 

[Godzing]

FRAPS was only used for bioshock

 

[justinmcg67]

Your CPU is going to bottleneck in those games. Shoot, even my CPU bottlenecks my 8800GTX OC. I get 60+ in UT3 DEMO though and in most other games. Cell Factor was the only game I had sub 30 FPS. Cell factor giving me sub 30 FPS though is because it has to render physics and help with graphics as well.

It's the CPU.

 

[Hatman]

Its probably because they are deeeeeeemooooooooos.

And how the hell can fraps cap your framerate?

 

[justinmcg67]

Its probably because they are deeeeeeemooooooooos.

And how the hell can fraps cap your framerate?

I don't think FRAPS does cap the FPS. I didn't find anything in the FRAPS menu that stated an such thing. This raises an interesting question...

 

[blade85]

fraps doesnt cap your fps. It only lowers your fps while recording a video.

the ut3 demo has a framerate cap of 60 (which can be removed). I average 50 ish (going upto 120 indoors at settings 3 and 3 for texture and world detail) with my e6600 and x1950pro. It may be your cpu.

 

[Falken699]

Quake Wars is capped at 30 (demo anyway). This is done, I am guessing, because they plan to release the game on PS3.

According to PS3 owners, nothing over 30 FPS is visible.

I find 30 FPS is crap, and I find that companies using a common system denominator holds back progress. 60 FPS makes the game so much better.

 

[marvelous211]

Newer games take advantage of dual core CPU. Your cpu is not dual core. You need a dual core to get your frame rates up.

 

[Hatman]

No he doesnt...

I think supcom and possibly 1 or 2 other titles actually take advantage of cores at all and get any significant boost out of it.

And even then its only when sued with high end gpu's. Put a 50ghz octo core in your pc and its still going to be crap if uve got a crap gpu.

 

[marvelous211]

Actually supcom is quad core enabled.

Bioshock, Unreal 3, half life 2 team fortress, COD4 are dual core enabled or more. Depending on your gpu you get a boost 20fps or more with a dual core over single core.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3127&p=4

http://www.gamespot.com/features/6177688/p-7.html

 

[justinmcg67]

Wow...

People saying only 1 or 2 games take advantage of a dual core. Right, lets compare than shall we...

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=945&model2=932&chart=418

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=945&model2=932&chart=425

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=945&model2=932&chart=419

Equal clock frequencies, one single core, one dual core. HUGE difference.

Your CPU is not on par with titles like UT3. Plus, it's a demo. in addition to that, getting 30 frames across more than a few games tells us that you don't have enough CPU power. If you had more, you'd get higher frames. This is an easy trouble shoot here, the problem is within the CPU and the fact that it isn't able to keep pace with your GPU in those titles. And even than, when you've got games MAXED out on a single core, you shouldn't expect high frames anyways. Tax the system when it can't supply a lot in the first place, what do you think is going to happen? X6800 frame rates? haha.

 

[Hatman]

So if you use a 8400gs at 1920x1200 with everything at max, even when it runs at 0fps, you're going to get a 20FPS boost?

It only helps a lot WHEN you have high end graphics.


justinmcg6 7 3dmark06 USES the cpu for its test, and the reason why that helps so much is because a single core and that dual core are BOTH a bottleneck on the 8800GTX that is being used!! Moreso the single then the dual. Compare the q6600 and e6850 in prey if you dont believe me.

 

[marvelous211]

I was editing message before you replied. Read again. Dual core helps a lot even if you have 1950pro. You are being unreasonable and being foolish with your replies.

 

[Hatman]

The 2nd link doesnt prove anything, but they are both brand new games they do support multi core.

 

[justinmcg67]

So if you use a 8400gs at 1920x1200 with everything at max, even when it runs at 0fps, you're going to get a 20FPS boost?

It only helps a lot WHEN you have high end graphics.


justinmcg6 7 3dmark06 USES the cpu for its test, and the reason why that helps so much is because a single core and that dual core are BOTH a bottleneck on the 8800GTX that is being used!! Moreso the single then the dual. Compare the q6600 and e6850 in prey if you dont believe me.

Well true, it does help when you have higher end GPUs, but it also helps out overall as well. If you can process more, than you can display more. E.G you'd get higher frames. And I am very skeptical about a 20% increase in frames across the board b going from single to dual. i know there is a gain, but I'm not sure if 20% is entirely accurate.

In my opinion 3DMark06 is not a very good scale any more. 3DMark08 or whatever would be better in the future if it utilizes multi core platforms.

The point is, if you're maxing a game out on a single core CPU and using a mediocre GPU, don't go and expect crazy frame rates; especially on newer titles. (On old titles, like DOOM 3 for example, expect high frame rates, but not on newer titles.) It's just common sense...

 

[marvelous211]

The 2nd link doesnt prove anything, but they are both brand new games they do support multi core.

Actually second link is relevant.

AMD 2.4 ghz single core is getting 17 fps less than AMD 2.0ghz dual core.


You are waste of time. You should just argue with yourself.

 

[Hatman]

I expect dual core will help more then single in nearly all games though, because it offloads all other work to one CPU and uses one for the game.

 

[Hatman]

You are waste of time. You should just argue with yourself.

According to you lots of ppl wasted £600+ on high graphics cards because they get 20fps with a dual core cpu anyway, so yes, I think I may aswell argue with myself, atleast id put up a better argument.

 

[marvelous211]

According to you lots of ppl wasted £600+ on high graphics cards because they get 20fps with a dual core cpu anyway, so yes, I think I may aswell argue with myself, atleast id put up a better argument.

I said I edited the message. But you are foolish and rock headed. Go argue yes. with yourself.

 

[Hatman]

I said I edited the message. But you are foolish and rock headed. Go argue yes. with yourself.

I saw you edited the message, it didnt prove anything though.

 

[Ilander]

I too think it has to do with using games that are all also on consoles...does anyone know if TF2 or HL2ep2 have frame caps?

 

[maswift]

I too think it has to do with using games that are all also on consoles...does anyone know if TF2 or HL2ep2 have frame caps?

I don't believe any Valve/Source game has ever had frame caps, seeing as I can get them to run anywhere from 80-100fps.

The only game I can cite that I know does cap your framerate is Final Fantasy XI, which keeps it at about 30fps to be in sync with the console versions.