Upgrade

[casey10]

Hello,
Currently i have a M3a78-em Mobo and i dont want to upgrade that, i just upgraded to a 450 GTS, have 6 gigs of ram, and a dual core 2.7 Ghz athlon x2, and im still getting low FPS in a few certain areas in Dark age of camelot, i run 2 accounts could the low fps be due to my processor?

 

[rolli59]

What resolution? If low then the game is more CPU dependent than GPU dependent.

 

[ActionHobo]

It sounds to me like your CPU is bottlenecking your GPU. My friend has the same problem with his GT 120 and a 2.2GHz processor.

Since it's an AM2/AM2+ mobo, AM3 Processors will work in it with the only drawback being the RAM supported, which in your case is not much of an issue since you just upgraded it.

This thread here has more information on using AM3 processors on an AM2+ socket:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/263231-28-mobo-significant-bottleneck


As far as suggestions go for a low cost processor upgrade, I would suggest the Phenom II X4 965 BE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727



I hope I helped

 

[casey10]

I dont plan on overclocking so black edition wouldnt be needed for me, for processors i was looking at getting this http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7026019&CatId=3496 it's AM 2+ so

 

[casey10]

Reso is 1680x1050

 

[rolli59]

I dont plan on overclocking so black edition wouldnt be needed for me, for processors i was looking at getting this http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7026019&CatId=3496 it's AM 2+ so

It is a good CPU but going to something like this would be a better upgrade since you are already running AM3 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6620917&CatId=4919
The faster core clock will help with gaming.

 

[casey10]

It is a good CPU but going to something like this would be a better upgrade since you are already running AM3 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6620917&CatId=4919
The faster core clock will help with gaming.

I dont have a AM 3 processor already im using AMD Athlon x2 64 bit 7750

 

[rolli59]

The good thing is though that your board supports AM3 CPU´s http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=KjpYqzmAd9vsTM2D
You can even run PhenomII 965BE or X6 1090T

 

[casey10]

I dont see where it says AM3

 

[casey10]

I'd have to upgrade this bios and im a noob with all that.

 

[rolli59]

If you click on CPU support tab it will show all the supported CPU´s and BIOS rev needed!

 

[casey10]

If you click on CPU support tab it will show all the supported CPU´s and BIOS rev needed!

Yea i saw it but i dont know to update bios especially since it's a RoM file

 

[rolli59]

There are good instructions on their support page http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?id=20070215223109668&board_id=1&model=P5B+Deluxe%2fWiFi-AP&page=1&SLanguage=en-us
And http://support.asus.com/technicaldocuments/technicaldocuments.aspx?no=960&SLanguage=en-us

 

[casey10]

So dumb that i probably still wont understand it lol, i just know about parts and everything

 

[rolli59]

Give it a read over it should be simple enough. Start by checking what BIOS version you have!

 

[casey10]

i have build 1206 it says

 

[rolli59]

Yep you would have to upgrade for AM3 support!

 

[casey10]

Can you show me which one i'd need for the processor you linked me to?

 

[casey10]

Another thing is L3 cache needed for gaming?

 

[rolli59]

L3 cache helps with gaming. You would be good with a X3 or X4 at 3+GHz. If you are upgrading maybe Phenom II X4 955BE or 965BE is the one to go for http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808
Little more expensive at Tigerdirect http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5752143&CatId=4431

 

[casey10]

See i dont need black edition b/c i dont OC

 

[ActionHobo]

They don't make those non BE, so you're technically not paying more for it

I would suggest the 965BE out of those two options, as I said earlier.

 

[casey10]

So i cant get L3 cache w/o black edition?

 

[rolli59]

Yes you can but they are slower X4 945 for example is not BE.

 

[casey10]

945 doesnt even exist on newegg or TD