Rebuilding Gaming Computer

[genjaguar]

Back in November I built what I figured would be a good gaming pc. However, my Phenom IIx4 is just not giving me the performance that I thought it would(low fps and even stuttering in WoW at 1400x1050 resolution, tried out both a gtx460 and hd6850 and the same issue still exists, when entering combat in raids my frames drop below 20 on this resolution and good settings). I haven't been able to solve what is going on and so figured I would build a new pc that will be more future proof and be more of a higher mid-ranged gaming pc.

Approximate Purchase Date: Would like to purchase soon...maybe even by the end of the weekend


Budget Range: 600-700(I'm flexible with my budget depending on what else I need to upgrade)


System Usage from Most to Least Important:gaming by far, then any other activities


Parts Not Required: CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-620HX 620W ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 SLI Certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

I think my PSU is still very reliable and steady...as for my HDD not sure if that would hold back this computer or if it still is good enough.


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: mostly thinking about newegg since I've always ordered from them but I'm open to any trust worthy website


Country of Origin: Chicago, USA


Parts Preferences:
CPU : i5 2500K - from everything I've seen the performance is great...especially overclocked. Seems to be the best higher mid ranged CPU available and works great in Blizzard games.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072&Tpk=2500k

MB : ASRock P67 Extreme 4 - keep reading about this motherboard but I guess it's not available at retailers yet. Everything says that this is one of the best...but again I'm open to suggestions

GPU : GTX560 TI - Nvidia gpus seem to perform better in Blizzard games...and the overclocking seems to bring this card way up and scale very nicely. Not really sure which version to get...was thinking about the Asus. Not sure if buying and overclocked version is worth it since I usually overclock myself...but I keep hearing about the Gigabyte version and it's great overclock. Not sure if the premium is worth it instead of doing it myself.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121424&cm_re=560-_-14-121-424-_-Product
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125362&cm_re=560-_-14-125-362-_-Product

Ram : G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
That is what I have from my current build...would it work well in my new build or should I switch to some higher speed ram...any sort of upgrade required. Not really too sure on RAM and what would be a better deal...but I am trying to build a rig that will last for a while\
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276



Overclocking: Yes, I pretty much always overclock to get the most out of everything I can


SLI or Crossfire: Yes, SLI


Monitor Resolution:currently using 1400x1050 but will upgrade to a full 1080p monitor in the future so want a PC that can handle it


Additional Comments: just looking for the most performance I can squeeze out at a decent price and also a PC that will last me and be able to handle upcoming games well(especially Diablo III) and also handle my current games (mostly World of Warcraft but also some shooters TFT2, CoD)

 

[WR2]

.. my Phenom IIx4 is just not giving me the performance that I thought it would(low fps and even stuttering in WoW ... when entering combat in raids my frames drop below 20 on this resolution

Hello genjaguar;
How many different WoW servers have you tried? You're problem might not be related to your hardware.
I'd hate to see you spend all that $$$ on an upgrade only to have the same thing happen.

 

[jb6684]

I'd agree with WR2, I believe your current hardware should be more than up to the task.

1st; - try several WoW servers, as suggested by WR2, and see if they are all the same
2nd; - To prove that a bit, drop the settings for AA & all quality levels to min and try your WoW servers....


If No change: (it's likely Not an issue with your CPU/GPU (current hardware...) BUT instead maybe related to your connect TO the servers..
- what type of internet connection to you have DSL/Cable?
- what is your connection speed? (try to measure it @ http://www.speedtest.net/ )
- do you have a wireless connection to your router?
- what is the brand & model of your wireless card ?
- do you have a hard wired connection to your router ?


You could also try playing single player version of CoD to see if it plays better than on-line version. (so we can eliminate connection speed or issue from the search for the problem)
- if the locally run single player version runs better, look to my questions above and we'll help isolate for you
- if the local version on Absolutely MIN settings run great:
- then gradually bump up the quality settings to see When things slow down, and let us know..

If even a locally run single player version of CoD runs poorly at that resolution, there is likely an issue with something in the HW or SW on your current system. It really SHOULD work very well. Let us know the results of the above tests and we'll isolate further

 

[genjaguar]

Well most games run fine...there was some stuttering in TFC2 but that has mostly gone away(or seems to...it was just minor stuttering where you could barely tell but the game just didn't look fluid. The issue in WoW is much more pronounced. During raids I drop to sub-20 fps(even single digits with my gtx460) and get bad stuttering. Even when playing at 30 fps I can tell the game is not fluid. The issue comes up every time I get into combat in 25 man raids. Even on trash my frames drop considerably.

I monitor my gpu usage and temps using MSI Afterburner. During raid combat my gpu usage stays in the low 20%s. When flying around outside I can go up to 200-300+fps. The problem is anytime combat starts in a 25 man raid...my fps drops. It seems to be a CPU bottleneck because nothing else really makes sense.

I have had two threads on the WoW forums...here is my current one.
http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/2211961379#1

It details all my issues and all my current specs. It also has a link to my older thread that went on for pages with my gtx 460 card.

My current internet speed is 6mbps DSL and I am wired directly into the modem through a router. The router sends out wireless signals on a pass word protected network. I connect my router directly in my motherboard.

 

[jb6684]

Based on your DSL speed and use of a hardwired connection you should be communicating with the server fast enough to play.....

But, you must play a local game and note the performance. If the local game plays really well, then, it must be the server that sucks.... (as your connection to the server appears solid)

 

[genjaguar]

Well I can't play WoW locally as this pretty much only occurs in 25 player raids. 10 player raids seem to go fine...so the issue happens with more players and in combat. If it was the server...I'm sure more people would complain of the issue...but others have awesome fps during raids.

The issue now is mostly just limited to WoW...but of course since that's the game I play most it's a pretty big issue for me.

 

[WR2]

I'm sure more people would complain of the issue...but others have awesome fps during raids.

Most of them probably don't have better hardware than you do.

 

[jb6684]

Sorry, showing my ignorance of this particular game. There are no 10, or 25 player raids in a local SINGLE player game. Those only occur when interacting with a server. Single player is the only case where you can measure the performance of the computer you have in front of you. In all these multiplayer raids your on the server....

I scanned the previous posts... couldn't see what I was looking for (what OS & version).... Tons of players to me (as a programmer) means, tons of RAM..

Are you running Win 7 64 bit? Do you have at least 4 Gb RAM ? (there are a Million technical reasons NOT to run Win XP.... so Win7 is really what needs to be there...)

 

[genjaguar]

I am running Windows 7 64 bit...I tried reformatting and fresh install twice already. I have also tried Windows xp and had the same issue. And I am running 4gbs of ram.

And I realize most other people probably aren't running the same hardware as me...which makes me think something on my computer should be causing the issue. I would imagine most people probably have lesser hardware and don't have the issue.

And while I realize I'm on the server, I don't think that is what is causing the lag...since it is pretty much only in 25 player raids during combat and the other members of my raid have no where near the fps drop and stuttering that I do.

The only other game I have noticed issues with is Magicka...there is one part in a level which makes me drop to sub 20 fps...my friend who I play coop with has no such issue at that part and is running hardware that is years behind mine. The game is in no way graphically intensive and I'm not sure what could be causing the issue.

 

[WR2]

And while I realize I'm on the server, I don't think that is what is causing the lag...since it is pretty much only in 25 player raids during combat and the other members of my raid have no where near the fps drop and stuttering that I dot.

Think about this some more. This is screaming network issue to me.

 

[WR2]

A network issue for you - not them.

 

[genjaguar]

What can I do to test it? Or correct it?

 

[WR2]

You can do some testing using the tools at http://www.dslreports.com/tools

See if anyone else in your area and using your ISP is also having issues.

 

[genjaguar]

I haven't done much testing with networking...and not really sure what to check for. Most tests I ran on there seem to show everything as being fine. I would guess I should run those while playing WoW(although not sure how that would work). What should I be looking for in those tests?

 

[WR2]

How many other servers have you tested?

 

[genjaguar]

Well I can't test any other server...to raid in a 25 man you need a max level character and be in a guild on another server....which means leveling up from scratch

 

[genjaguar]

I updated my WoW post with more info...not sure if this will mean anything to you if you don't play WoW

So raiding Sinestra tonight and here are my observations so far.

No addons : about 35 fps with dips down to 25 fps
No addons and combat log disabled command : around 40 fps with dips to the low 30s
All addons : upper 20s fps with dips below 20 fps
All addons and combat log disabled command : 35 fps with dips to the high 20s

Keep in mind that this is only on 1400x1050 resolution on good settings (shadows at fair) on a computer that was built in November and is pretty well overclocked and tweaked...I would be sure it should be more capable than this...

 

[genjaguar]

Also from reading articles...it doesn't seem like AMDs cpus do as well in Blizzard games. They seem to fair poorly compared to even the older Intel cpus(althought this still wouldn't explain the huge performance drops I'm getting I would think).
Intel :
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-directx-11-performance,2793-9.html
AMD :
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-directx-11-performance,2793-10.html

And the new Sandy bridge 2500k seems to just blow the AMD cpus away in Blizzard games :
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu-core-i3-2100-phenom-ii-x6-1075t,2859-8.html
Scroll down to WoW and SCII :
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/the-sandy-bridge-review-intel-core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/20

Seems like either way...the 2500K would blow the PhenomII x4 away for the games I play and would stand up better to future game. Not really sure though if it is more future proof.

 

[genjaguar]

While I know this isn't the forum to look for help with the game...if I do decide to make a new build I am still looking for advice at the pieces I proposed...is there any improvements or changes I should make to my build?

 

[genjaguar]

Anyone have any advice on the build?