My computers performance

Both CPU and GPU are important for gaming, you have to make sure your CPU is not bottlenecking your GPU.

Your system does not have a lot of performance and so obviously can't handle every game at max settings. I have a HD 4830, doesn't mean I think I can play Crysis on 1920x1080 maxed.

I was unsure about the requirements of AC2 (horrible game) so I looked it up, which was NOT hard:
http://au.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic...
Here they are discussing someones FPS on max settings and they have 2 HD 4870s

If you want to upgrade your GPU is obviously the bottleneck so that is what you should upgrade if you are not happy with your performance...

To cut short, you will need a better PC.

And like what pubkinator is saying, if you want to play a game in high settings, you will need to pay good money for both the CPU and GPU.

Your CPU is more than good enough, if you'd like to see a good increase in FPS, you will need to upgrade the GPU first.

Ditto on the GPU, get yourself a 5870 I've a 4870 and a quad q6600 and I run into the same probs. Next step is a 5870, just waiting to see if ATI bring out a 3D set in the next year or if they plan to, if not I might just go for a nividia 470

Your GPU and CPU are not bad. What is your monitor resolution?

Indeed. I was able to almost max assassin's creed at 1920x1080 with my radeon 3870 at 60+FPS... that was the original.
Assassin's creed 2's system requirements seem to have increased dramatically. Suggesting a 4700 or better. Perhaps you will notice better performance with a better graphics card. Don't listen to all these rich buggers who apparently think that unless you have $400+ to spend on a GPU, you have a crap system and $150 on a card isn't "good money". You have a good card in the 4850, which is equal to the 5750 and can play most games today very well.

But really, if you cannot play the game with lowered settings at 60+ FPS, there is something wrong. So what settings are you trying to play at? Do you run into the same problems with lowered settings? What is your monitor resolution?

I run the games at just 1280 x 1024 which is my monitors highest resolution


And my motherboard is only pci e 1.0 not 2.0

And i run windows 7 32 bit

There is no reason it could be the HD4850. That is already overkill for the 1280x1024 resolution.
It could be the PCI e 1.0 although I doubt it since your monitor is not high resolution at all. Where did you see the pci e 1.0 anyway? I can not see it in foxconn website:
http://www.foxconnchannel.com/product/Motherboards/deta...

In the motherboard box and the catalog it was written as pci e 1.0

I see. If you are going to upgrade at all, I would suggest to upgrade the mobo. The pci e 1.0 may just be it although I am not very sure. But I am sure your CPU and the 4850 are not it specially at your 1280x1024 resolution.

Pcie 1.0 is plenty for a 4850.

A 4850 is also plenty for 1280x1024 in most games.

Assassins Creed 2 is very demanding. Much more so than AC1. I'm pretty sure Assassins Creed 2 is pretty CPU dependent, meaning your CPU is likely the thing limiting the game.

The GPU is more important for games, but your resolution is pretty easy for a GPU to handle, meaning the CPU will likely come into play a little more, to keep up with the higher frame-rates/faster calculations.

Are you capable of overclocking that CPU at all?

What other games are you lagging in? Do you feel like you're getting less performance than a 4850 should? Try running a 3dmark06 and let us know the scores.

I'm thinking both your CPU and GPU may be to blame here.  

Games like Split second and modern warfare 2 lag in some situations rarely.

My pc mark vantage score for gaming suite is 2851

Will the motherboard pull back the performance of the GPu or CPU???

Your computer should be fine for most games mixed with Medium to High settings.

I would suggest updating your videocard drivers if you haven't done so in the last 6 months.

Updated graphic drivers can help in some situations, specially if your setup is running slower then it should.

I run Modern Warfare 2 @ 1920x1080, Full everything with lowered AA (I think I put 2 or 4x) Never seen any lag in that game.

My CPU is a Phenom9950 (similar or worse performance to the Q8400) and my videocard is perhaps a little faster but not by much (GTX260)


Let us know if the latest ATI drivers helped...

Your PC isn't that bad... What I would recommend is.

If you get anything, get a videocard such as a Radeon 5850 or 5870... expensive but a good investment as if you later on make a new pc using either a Phenom965 or an I5-750 or I7, the videocard is one thing that you won't have to change.

I have the latest drivers