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GPU Upgrade or CPU Upgrade?

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - GPU Upgrade or CPU Upgrade?

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zukster   04-08-2009 at 10:42:54 AM

I had my mind set about upgrading my CPU to a Q6600 from an AMD x2 6400+ but then saw some benchmark tests and it made me wonder. Basically should I spend around 220$~ on a video card or get a Q6600.

This computer is only for gaming. I'm using Vista 64 Ultimate with 4 gigs of ram. Here is my current setup.
Amd x2 6400+
4 gigs ram
8800 GT
Some crappy 50$ motherboard with a PCI-E x16 slot not PCI-E x16 2.0 (M2A-VM) is the name from Asus

Here is the benchmarks I was looking at.

AMD 6400+ with a 260GTX (Got Better FPS than the Q6600)
http://service.futuremark.com/resu [...] ultType=19

Q6600 with an 8800 GT (Worse FPS for some reason)
http://service.futuremark.com/resu [...] ultType=19

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FlorinR   04-08-2009 at 11:22:07 AM
- 0 +

I don't think it's a good ideea to consider the results in Futuremark are direct related with the ones you will get in "real " games. But if you'll "play" 3D Mark - go ahead :)
Serious, why not something else (maybe a PII X3 with a 48580?)

Reply to FlorinR
thelvyn   04-08-2009 at 11:27:32 AM
- 0 +

zukster wrote :

I had my mind set about upgrading my CPU to a Q6600 from an AMD x2 6400+ but then saw some benchmark tests and it made me wonder. Basically should I spend around 220$~ on a video card or get a Q6600.

This computer is only for gaming. I'm using Vista 64 Ultimate with 4 gigs of ram. Here is my current setup.
Amd x2 6400+
4 gigs ram
8800 GT
Some crappy 50$ motherboard with a PCI-E x16 slot not PCI-E x16 2.0 (M2A-VM) is the name from Asus

Here is the benchmarks I was looking at.

AMD 6400+ with a 260GTX (Got Better FPS than the Q6600)
http://service.futuremark.com/resu [...] ultType=19

Q6600 with an 8800 GT (Worse FPS for some reason)
http://service.futuremark.com/resu [...] ultType=19



I would definitely upgrade the gpu before the cpu in this case.
For gaming the gpu is the largest bottleneck in most cases.

Reply to thelvyn
outlw6669   04-08-2009 at 11:36:05 AM
- 0 +

What games do you play and at what resolution?
What is your budget?

IMO, if you can not play 3dMark, why base your decision on it?
It would be better to look at your performance in the games you play and make a decision from there.

If you lower your in game resolution while keeping all the eye candy where it is and your FPS do not get a major boost, you are CPU limited.
If you do the same and get a major increase, you are GPU limited.
Do this with several of your games and make a decision based on that.

------------------------------ If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce today would cost $100, get a million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.
PSA
 Reply to outlw6669
Helloworld_98   04-08-2009 at 12:47:39 PM
- 0 +

replying to your first post, the reason why the amd 6400 build had a higher fps was because it is using a now mainstream card vs a q6600 with whats now considered a low end card.

Reply to Helloworld_98
dekw   04-08-2009 at 01:10:46 PM
- 0 +

Please excuse the ignorance but does a faster GPU speed up rendering for apps like Cinema 4D or even Photoshop or does it only really speed up on screen rendering in gameplay for example?

Reply to dekw
zukster   04-09-2009 at 04:24:10 AM
- 0 +

Thanks for the input guys, I think I will go with a new video card. Leaning toward the 260GTX right now. I hear they will drop in price soon also.

On a side note should I get a new mother board with a PCI-E 2.0 instead of my PCI-E 1.0?

Edit: Also I'm playing at 1400x900


Message edited by zukster on 04-09-2009 at 04:33:57 AM
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