Another Bad Company 2 upgrade thread...

[drewbear]

Hey all,

Just recently tried the BC2 beta. Whether i am on low or high, on a full server i get no more than 15fps. On an empty server, on low, im lucky to hit 30. Also, i'm not too sure whether it's due in part to the beta but the textures look jagged, and the general look of the game seems rather, well, awful.

My setup:
8800gts
2gb of ram
2.80GHZ single core
asus p5n-e sli mobo

Now before everyone jumps and says "My god, change EVERYTHING" (lol) i realize that generally my entire computer is...out of date, we'll say. Currently my budget is $200, maybe a little more. MAYBE. Even $200 is stretching it for me, but...

I just want to, at the very least, play BC2 on medium settings comfortably at lowest fps rate of 30 during high-volume/combat situations. Later in the year i will upgrade my comp, but for the interim i am looking just for a quick fix. Make this game at least playable for me.

I'm guesing simply upgrading my graphix card will be the rest route. Any suggestion?

If someone can even suggest a card for -$150 and under ill consider, too.

Thank you very, very kindly.

 

[Rustyy117]

Your CPU is likely bottlenecking the performance of the 8800GTS, I'd recommend you overclock your CPU. So get a decent air cooler and one that you can use on a future build.

As you already know your entire system is outdated, and theres not really any upgrade path, for that reason I wouldn't spend alot of money trying to update it.

What resolution do you play at?

 

[drewbear]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I play at 1440x900. Do you think OCing the CPU would give me considerable difference? Enough so that it's worth doing?

I plan to overhaul my system but that wont be until at least August. Bearing in mind how dated my system, can i find this game decently playable with a simple card upgrade? As i said, i just need to get by until i can overhaul.

Thanks again.

 

[Rustyy117]

Yes I think overclocking your CPU will give you a noticable benifit, whether it will be enough I don't know.

If you are CPU bottlenecked already then upgrading your graphics card will do nothing.

If I were you I'd buy a prolimitech megashadow CPU cooler that comes with Socket AM2/775/1156/1366 so that you can use it now and reuse it when you do your overhaul.

If that doesnt work then maybe try a graphics card upgrade, but I'd try overclocking first as its cheaper and may solve your problem.

The Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus is a cheaper alternitive to the prolimitech and performs well (although not quite as good as the prolimitech)

 

[Rustyy117]

Okini55 you truly have a way with words. Drewbear knows that his system is outdated and is looking for a cheap way of getting by until he decides to do a overhaul.

Buying a PS3 is not cheap, and buying a Q6600 (s775) is not a smart idea.

 

[will31]

I would look at upgrading to atleast a Core 2 Duo you can get a E7500 for $115.99 with free shipping. You say you are running a single core CPU this is hurting your perfomance, and bottlenecking your GPU.


Or you could upgrade to these:

POWERCOLOR AX4850 512MD3-PH Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814131162


$99.99


Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Model BX80571E5200 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819116072
$65.99


Subtotal: $165.98

 

[gamerk316]

Get at least a C2D, if not a cheap C2Q [Q8400 works well in this regard]. Also might want another 2GB of RAM at some point...

CPU is the biggest bottleneck. 8800GTS is getting on in years, but "good enough" for mid-res gaming.

 

[AMW1011]

I guess I'll ask it, because no one else will, what 8800 GTS is your card? If it is the 320mb or 640mb variants then you need to upgrade it aswell as your processor. If it is the 512mb variant then it should do fine.

What is your PSU?

This processor is a good bet:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116091

if your PSU is good enough you could get another 8800 GTS 512 off ebay used and SLI it.

If you do not own the 512mb variant then you would do best with this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131331&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-Powercolor-_-14131331

 

[drewbear]

Hmm, i had the boxes to everything not too long ago, now i'm not too sure where they are.

At any rate, i am almost positive i have the 320mb card, and that processor looks about right.

So if i upgrade to say, a C2D Q8400 and a 4850 or 5750?

Let's put it this way,

If i can decently upgrade both my cpu and card for less than $300 while improving my BC2 experience well enough, i'll do it.

So would will31's option be best, or getting the 8800's in sli or the 5750? What do you guys think would be my best combo for $300. I say $300 but really what im saying is, 300 is my cap. Im really looking for the best bang for my buck, hoping that would be well under 300.

What about omgitzfatal's idea of OC'ing my cpu? Would that give me significant improvements? I'm not familiar with OC'ing at all so i don't know what kind of performance boosts to expect from what. Could overclocking my single make it perform at an identical level to a dual?

And also, thank you all very much for your help. I really appreciate it.

 

[AMW1011]

If you can afford both a Q8400 and a 5750, then I would recommend getting the E6300 and a 4890. With an E6300 and a 4890 you should be able to max BC2 or come damn close.

That said, what is you power supply? This is very important information.

 

[drewbear]

Mios 545w, sir.