Who is working harder with better resolutions?

[nirdinur]

Hi,

If I increase the resolution of a game does it increase the load on the cpu or just the 3dcard? and by how much?

 

[Col_Kiwi]

It greatly increases load on graphics, with a marginal effect on cpu usage.

Resolution, texture detail, etc have the biggest effect on video cards usually.

World detail, geometric detail, have a bigger effect on cpu usage.

-Col.Kiwi

 

[nirdinur]

Great, Thanks,
I'm thinking of getting me a 9700 with an amd1200 so you helped me a lot knowing what I might gain with this unbalanced match

 

[eden]

Hmm the CPU will be a big bottleneck IMO. If it can support AthlonXPs, go for those as well. I'd settle with the 9700 Non-Pro, if that was what you were getting then great, it'll run fine!

--
The worst of enemies shall be prone to later be the best of friends. -Eden

 

[Col_Kiwi]

With a Radeon 9700 and AMD 1200, you'll have to limit yourself to medium - high detail settings (not highest), but should be quite able to use very high resolution.

If you want to be able to increase details to enjoy the higher resolution more, you will need a faster CPU.

If you're not quite ready for that yet, but find some detail problems, if you only have 256 ram you could upgrade to more, that'd make a difference as well.

Of course, you'll enjoy the graphics performance boost even if you don't add anything but the Radeon 9700.

-Col.Kiwi