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Apocca   11-07-2007 at 07:52:34 PM

Not sure if this belongs in here or in a CPU forum, but here we go.

I've decided to go for 2 8800GT's and putting them in Sli, but before doing that i want to make sure my CPU won't bottleneck the GPUs. What CPU would be best? Obviously it has to be at a reasonable price. Otherwise i may just go with a single GT. I was looking at the Core 2 Duo E6850 3 GHz, but i've been meaning to get a Quad Core, sadly i have no idea what kind of Quad is good. I'm a AMD kinda guy myself, so i don't know too much about the Intel products.

Maybe i should add i currently have a AMD Athlon 64 4200+

Other than that i understand motherboards mean a lot, i got: A8N-SLI SE
http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx [...] =15&l3=148

Finally i've never actually switched out CPUs before, is that even possible without getting a new motherboard? The CPU has always confused me.

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Hatman   11-07-2007 at 08:38:56 PM
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Wait until the phenoms come out if you want, it really shouldnt be long.

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ Na na na na na na na na HATMAN!
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Apocca   11-07-2007 at 08:47:09 PM
- 0 +

Hatman wrote :

Wait until the phenoms come out if you want, it really shouldnt be long.



The thing is i was planning to get the upgrade within a few weeks. Besides, i know there is a CPU that can handle the two at this point in time, the thing is i don't know which is the best choice.

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systemlord   11-07-2007 at 09:09:41 PM
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Quads aren't really needed in games right now, but if you must have one go for the Q6600 overclock it to 3.0-3.6GHz. The Q6600 only go's for under $300 dollars.

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ Intel C2D E6600 @ 3.2GHz * Asus P5E * 2x1 GB Crucial Ballistix Tracers * Raptor X * EVGA Geforce 8800GTX 768MB 651MHz/1525MHz/2100MHz * X-FI Fatal1ty Pro * Enermax Infiniti 720W PSU * Creative THX5.1 * Tuniq Tower 120
Silverstone TJ09 * Windows XP
 Reply to systemlord
Apocca   11-07-2007 at 09:15:37 PM
- 0 +

systemlord wrote :

Quads aren't really needed in games right now, but if you must have one go for the Q6600 overclock it to 3.0-3.6GHz. The Q6600 only go's for under $300 dollars.



The only thing that would make me get a Quad is if it was needed to stop any bottlenecks for 2 8800GTs, any dual core that could handle them would be great. Other than that, what about a single GT? How exactly does the 4200+ X2 stand up to that?

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Hatman   11-07-2007 at 09:30:00 PM
- 0 +

No idea, I don't expect it to do that well though.

I think a quad is necessary, its with high and graphics that they really shine over dual cores in optimized games like SupCom.

Plus things like crysis according to the game makers will love quads as an essential upgrade. I expect amost games from the new year on will support them.

------------------------------ Na na na na na na na na HATMAN!
 Reply to Hatman
jwolf24601   11-07-2007 at 09:41:36 PM
- 0 +

Some games are very cpu limited, others are not. I would think upgrading to an x2 would yeild great results and not be a debilitating bottleneck.

------------------------------ Old Enermax Case G. Skill DDR2 1000mhz 4gb(2x2gb)
PC Power & Cooling 610 Silencer EVGA 8800GT 512mb
Gigabyte P35-DS3R 2x WD1600AAJS RAID0
Intel Core 2 Duo e8400 @3.6ghz Windows Vista Premium 64bit
Reply to jwolf24601
Apocca   11-07-2007 at 10:13:38 PM
- 0 +

Well, i might just get a single 8800GT if my current CPU can handle it. The 4200+ X2 just seems bit too old for such a card, but i guess i will give it a try. I suppose i could always upgrade the CPU and get a new GT afterwards, if the performance ain't as expected. I just hope i can run Crysis with a few things on high with it :)

Message quoted 1 times
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systemlord   11-07-2007 at 11:01:27 PM
- 0 +

Apocca wrote :

Well, i might just get a single 8800GT if my current CPU can handle it. The 4200+ X2 just seems bit too old for such a card, but i guess i will give it a try. I suppose i could always upgrade the CPU and get a new GT afterwards, if the performance ain't as expected. I just hope i can run Crysis with a few things on high with it :)



This thread tells all about how each setting affects performance.>>>

http://www.tweakguides.com/Crysis_1.html

------------------------------ Intel C2D E6600 @ 3.2GHz * Asus P5E * 2x1 GB Crucial Ballistix Tracers * Raptor X * EVGA Geforce 8800GTX 768MB 651MHz/1525MHz/2100MHz * X-FI Fatal1ty Pro * Enermax Infiniti 720W PSU * Creative THX5.1 * Tuniq Tower 120
Silverstone TJ09 * Windows XP
 Reply to systemlord
chiptouz   11-07-2007 at 11:47:36 PM
- 0 +

Well, I had a significant jump in 3d marks when I upgraded my AM2 3800+ to the 6400+ with the 8800GT card. MY specs are below:

M2N-SLI deluxe, bios 1203
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ 3.20 ghz (Zalman 9500 AM2)
Corsair XMS2 6400 c4 4,4,4,12, 2T, 2.1v
XFX 8800 GT 512 extreme 640/950
mushkin 550 watt PSU
Coolermaster Centurion (120mm back, 120mm and 90mm front) qfan is off
idle 36^c cpu, 30^c mobo
Viewsonic VX922 - 19" LCD
11,100 in 3dmark06

I received 7593 marks with the 3800+ and 11,100 with the 6400+.

Reply to chiptouz
systemlord   11-08-2007 at 12:44:58 AM
- 0 +

With my system in my sig with my OC disabled I got 10300, but when my OC enabled I got 12200. A 1300MHz OC on my CPU got me 2200 points on the total 3dmark06 score of 12200. I hav not even OC my 8800GTX yet.


Message edited by systemlord on 11-08-2007 at 09:14:51 PM
------------------------------ Intel C2D E6600 @ 3.2GHz * Asus P5E * 2x1 GB Crucial Ballistix Tracers * Raptor X * EVGA Geforce 8800GTX 768MB 651MHz/1525MHz/2100MHz * X-FI Fatal1ty Pro * Enermax Infiniti 720W PSU * Creative THX5.1 * Tuniq Tower 120
Silverstone TJ09 * Windows XP
 Reply to systemlord
decripple   11-08-2007 at 01:25:12 AM
- 0 +

to the OP:
in order to really utilize the power of 8800s in SLI you need the fastest AMD or an Intel C2D E6750. If you are going to get a quad core get the Q6600. In any case, you should use a motherboard that uses full 32 pipeline SLI as in these chipsets: nforce 680i SLI or nforce 590 SLI.

Reply to decripple
Apocca   11-08-2007 at 11:52:43 AM
- 0 +

Thanks for the replies, helps out!

I managed to find a "Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4 GHz / 1066 MHz" at a pretty good price. Or so it seems to me. About the same price as a single 8800GT? The E6750 is good deal cheaper though, but i might aswell go for Quad if it's this low anyway. Aslong as you guys are sure i wouldn't waste 2 8800s with those CPUs :P

Anyone have a link for the right 680i SLI? Did a search but keep finding all kinds of different things.

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