What can i do with $100?

[PanicMaster85]

So here is my system:

CPU- FX-8120 oc'd to 4.5ghz
GPU- GTX 670 msi power edition
RAM- 2x4gb 1333mhz
mobo- GA-970a-UD3
PSU- 850w corsair enthusiast series
HDD- Caviar Black 1tb

OK so im getting not amazing frames in bf3 and with strange choppiness even at 50-60 i have 100 dollars to spend and i was wondering if there was any upgrade i can make maybe with the hdd or ram etc. etc.

Thank you in advance!

 

[manofchalk]

No idea why you would be getting bad performance from that.
I would be more suspicious of a failing component than inadequate hardware.

 

[PanicMaster85]

well i guess its not "bad" but my bf3 is dropping to 30 quite frequently and this is not normal so it could be my hdd or something because im playing crysis2 maxed with high res pack at liike 56-60

 

[manofchalk]

Have you tinkered with settings, particularly AA? Might just be that BF3 stresses the memory portion of the card more then Crysis 2 does, which is where Nvidia cards aren't at their strongest.

 

[PanicMaster85]

yeah i actually set the aa off and really no difference at all i got like 5 fps more also the most i see it go up is to 1756mb so I mean its not filling it up

 

[manofchalk]

Was more thinking the memory bus than amount of VRAM, but it seems this isn't the issue.

I'm stumped.
If the problem is specific to BF3, then it just may be bad optimization for your AMD CPU (which is strange, BF3 is one of the better titles for taking advantage of multiple cores).

 

[PanicMaster85]

you know what i think i may have found it out even though my cpu is at freaking 4.5ghz [anicmaster85:7]
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/364729-33-minimum-normal-1920x1200#t2747998

not sure but i think even though i may have 8 cores it still gives me low fps

 

[manofchalk]

Its debatable whether its even a true 8-core.
Typical definition of a core requires its own L2/L3 cache (forgot which), Bulldozer modules (Two cores) share a single cache.
And Bulldozer is also notoriously weak (compared to Intel and previous Phenom Chips) in single-threaded performance, which despite the Frostbyte engines ability to use multiple threads, is still a big decider in performance.
Bulldozer is most useful when you need multi-threaded performance (so computing, video editing) on a budget.

Though despite all that, I don't think an overclocked 8120 would bottleneck BF3.

 

[adgjlsfhk]

I'd spend it on an SSD. It might not help the specific problem, but it will make everything else nicer.

 

[swifty_morgan]

maybe it's EA's Origin ? maybe it's your internet connection ?maybe it's malware ? maybe you need to clean up the HD ? maybe, maybe, maybe.... ????? maybe there are programs on your machine that like to auto update themselves.... windows/anti virus/malware software/driver updates/maybe you have too many apps open ? maybe it's insta chat or whatever program you use. ??? save your money. use an e-mail notifier ? ding-ding----- i'm eating up your resources...... e-i-e-i-o

 

[PanicMaster85]

maybe it's EA's Origin ? maybe it's your internet connection ?maybe it's malware ? maybe you need to clean up the HD ? maybe, maybe, maybe.... ????? maybe there are programs on your machine that like to auto update themselves.... windows/anti virus/malware software/driver updates/maybe you have too many apps open ? maybe it's insta chat or whatever program you use. ??? save your money. use an e-mail notifier ? ding-ding----- i'm eating up your resources...... e-i-e-i-o

in english please

 

[PanicMaster85]

Its debatable whether its even a true 8-core.
Typical definition of a core requires its own L2/L3 cache (forgot which), Bulldozer modules (Two cores) share a single cache.
And Bulldozer is also notoriously weak (compared to Intel and previous Phenom Chips) in single-threaded performance, which despite the Frostbyte engines ability to use multiple threads, is still a big decider in performance.
Bulldozer is most useful when you need multi-threaded performance (so computing, video editing) on a budget.

Though despite all that, I don't think an overclocked 8120 would bottleneck BF3.

yeah i dont know but im having the exact same issue as the guy in the thread i sent to you

Oh, and hey i just remembered I know you manofchalk... I talked to you alot when you first joined i joined or really started posting around the same time... dang thee ranked up fast! XD

never see you though... what kind of threads you get into now? I stick with the problems like no boot or something

 

[PanicMaster85]

I'd spend it on an SSD. It might not help the specific problem, but it will make everything else nicer.

yeah, im not sure i was thinking about a external harddrive because i like to record videos but it really stressest the hdd, also the windows live index gives my hdd a 5.9 for data transfer if that means anything

 

[manofchalk]

Windows Experience Index will give 5.9 to any HDD, its not exactly the best bench-marking tool out there.
Would get another internal drive before external. More space and faster read/writes (which is important if you are recording a large resolution @ a decent FPS).

Think Swifty may have been suggesting your problem is software based, which is also what I am leaning towards as well. Might just be BF3 doesn't like AMD systems.

 

[PanicMaster85]

maybe... I would not be suprise im also not getting good fps in gta IV when I really should

also why not exernal just for recording its only 60 for 1tb and is easier to use and install

 

[manofchalk]

External drives are slower than internal because of power and form factor restraints.
When recording, you disc speed will directly impact performance, as shown here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEGDgzlc7mA

And you can get a 1TB external for $60, thats pretty good. Where I am you would be looking at $100.

 

[PanicMaster85]

yeah i see what you mean... i guess the deal is done but I guess that means i can get internal... the onlything im worried about is issues with it is it easy to install do you know?

 

[manofchalk]

Its just as easy as installing your first HDD. Screw it to the case and plug it in.
Boot to Windows, open Disk Management and format it. Should be good to go.

 

[swifty_morgan]

in english please

learn how to read.

 

[PanicMaster85]

yeah now i want a ssd XD but im not sure that a ssd can meet the space i would need for 100

 

[PanicMaster85]

learn how to read.

[anicmaster85]

 

[manofchalk]

You could use an SSD as a recording drive. Just record in small bursts so you dont fill the drive. Or you could buy a lower spec drive (which will still be faster than a HDD) with a larger capacity.

 

[PanicMaster85]

yeah i dont know... the videos are so large! I mean how much would you say is a good for lets say just one recording but sometimes I like to record hour long videos :/

 

[adgjlsfhk]

For 100, you could buy 180 gigs of ssds. To be fair, this is by getting 3 60 gig last gen ssd's, but in shear price/capacity this can't be beat. For a more reasonable solution you could get a current 120 gig ssd, or for $30 more, a 240 gig one.
60 gigs $29
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227811&name=Internal-SSD

120 gigs $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227726&name=Internal-SSD

240 gigs $230 (after $20 mir)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227552&name=Internal-SSD

 

[PanicMaster85]

yeah... not sure what im going to do because im kinda stuck with the $100 :/ by this i mean i have no more to spend on it, im just not sure if 120 is enough to videotape a long game