Worth Getting a GTX 295 w/ Dual Quad Core 2.8?

Hello everybody,

I just got back into gaming and computers and I am at a lost to the new stuff that is on the market. It seems like a whole new language with all the dual cores, quad cores, phenom, xeon, extremes,qXXXX... and so on. Last I remember were the pentium chips.

I currently have a computer with these specs:

Processor: Two 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeo
Memory: 4GB (4x1GB)

I just bought a gtx 285 and although it was a huge improvement from my other card it still lacked the jawdropping visuals and frame rates I wanted out of games like Crysis. So my main question is that is it worth getting a gtx 295 with my setup? i can return my gtx 285 for a full refund.

Will my processor severly limit the gpu? or should i just stick the 285.

Would I get more fps upgrading my cpu's?

Thanks.

P.S. Is there a reason why XP only shows I have 2 GB of memory in system information?

If you already own a GTX 285, replacing it with a GTX 295 would be a pretty big waste of money. Although I have to ask.......im assuming you are using a Skulltrail system, if so then....im sorry.

what is a skulltrain system? I am running an early 2008 mac pro. Reason I am asking is that i can return the gtx 285 for a full refund and get a 295 for 200 dollars more but it seems that you guys are all in unison that the 295 is not worth the money.

Are my processors any good or do they suck and are they limiting my gpu?

I see, so you're not running skullrail

Anyway if you can get all your money back then you may as well. Basically a 295 is two downclocked 275s SLI'd together in one dual PCB card. If you're motherboard supported SLI then you would be better off getting another 280, but since it doesn't a 295 will be an improvement. Still, Crysis will stress just about any system, so don't expect to run it at something like 1900x1200 with full AA and AF and still expect to always get good frame rates. Even though NVIDIA drivers are now more optomized for multiple cores, they will still suffer somewhat on your system due to the CPU architecture in comparison to an i7 system. Of course, it's not really a fair comparison since Mac Pros are meant for work, not windows games.

Even though I say that I still dislike macs

Easiest way to test if the CPU(s) is(are) bottle-necking your system is to run a game and record the framerates. (You can use Fraps or try to remember them at key points. Game demos that do it for you would be easier.) Exit the game, reduce your resolution, and run the same exact portion of the game (or the same demo) again. If the framerates stay the same at the reduced resolution, you have a CPU bottleneck. If they go up, the GPU is giving you more frames, making it the "bottle-neck" (or cap) in that case.

You can only run an aftermarket video card in windows, so yes I am dual booting. I will try the technique mentioned above. thanks to the responders.

w

Yeah skipped over the p.s. Sorry about that.

Make sure you have downloaded all patches for Crysis.

I'm running a dual core at about 2.8 ghz, and using a 4870. I have all my settings in crysis set to high or very high (most on very high) at 1680x1050 (no AA or AF) and am pleased with the performance. Smooth after the first minute of loading a level.

As for your RAM count in XP it's most likely that you are using a 32 bit version of XP, which can only address 4gb of memory all together (including graphics card and other system memory). You need 64bit windows to read larger amounts of memory.

MS isnt offering downloads for beta anymore. Not to mention he would need a key.

One last thing, I basically have 25 more days to return my video card if I want to get the gtx 295. What's the possibility that the price of the card will go down or rebate will be offered by then?