New CPU...?

[DecomposingStar]

I think my CPU is choking the rest of my PC. I built this PC with the intentions that it would pretty much be able to handle anything, but it seems my CPU is holding everything else back. I mainly use it for Gaming.

Any thoughts? Anything I should change?

All criticisms welcome (expect the flaming fan-boy type).

[staffsMike]

Are you running it stock?

[Lucio]

It's possible, but it's more likely atm you're trying to set things up in games that play to the weak points on the HD2900XT card, Anti-Aliasing being the main issue.

One way to test things is to overclock your CPU a bit and see if it makes a noticeable difference to the way your system behaves.

[DecomposingStar]

Heres the problem. The motherboard i have sucks... I can overclock to about 2.3ghz stable. So really, do i buy a P5B/P5K and overlock my CPU?

[staffsMike]

It should run pretty well even at stock but yeah you might try overclocking it on a better board.

Like Lucio said it could simply be the graphics drivers which suck for high eye candy settings in games.

[twicksisted]

hey dude... my Q6600 @ 3ghz bottlenecks my HD2900pro!
So for sure you are bottlenecked... try doing a 3Dmark test stock... then try overclocking the card... you wont get much difference.
Then try overclocking your CPU to at least 3GHZ... soo the difference then...
Try overclocking the card again... and youll see not much... then take the CPU to 3.2ghz or 3.4ghz... major leap again. Definately bottleneck

These are powerfull GFX cards

Anyways, if you dont want to overclock your cpu and want the card to run harder, then just bump up all the settings that pertain to the card and keep other stuff like AI and physics and sound low settings.

[DecomposingStar]

Well i think i might get a new CPU and Mobo. I was thinking E6750(Faster than E6600... And cheaper.. ?) and Asus P5K Premium.

Anyone think of better, cheaper or more effective options? Any other suggestions?

[kungpo]

Don't change the CPU. If needs be, get a P5K delux and OC the processor a little. The major difference with the new CPUs is the higher FSB speed (and cache as you have a E6400, but that makes nominal difference) I would expect you to get similar performance with fairly mild overclocking to a new E6750.

If it still isn't enough, then perhaps get a new processor, such as a Q6600, which seems to be the best bang per buck.

[DecomposingStar]

Don't change the CPU. If needs be, get a P5K delux and OC the processor a little. The major difference with the new CPUs is the higher FSB speed (and cache as you have a E6400, but that makes nominal difference) I would expect you to get similar performance with fairly mild overclocking to a new E6750.

If it still isn't enough, then perhaps get a new processor, such as a Q6600, which seems to be the best bang per buck.

Ok, sounds like a good idea. I suppose i can always get a new CPU if it is lacking.

I have Vista OEM... So swapping my Mobo will mean i have to re-activate. That should be fairly easy if i lie, right?

[Hottentot]

Unless you are playing your games at 800 x 600 its normally the graphics card thats holding you back. The only game I can think of that is really CPU limited is Supreme Commander.
Which games are you being held back in ?

[kungpo]

Activation - It often depends on how long ago you activated it the last time. You might find it goes through without any fuss. Otherwise you ring the automated number and the machine will give you a new activation code. No need to worry.

[DecomposingStar]

Unless you are playing your games at 800 x 600 its normally the graphics card thats holding you back. The only game I can think of that is really CPU limited is Supreme Commander.
Which games are you being held back in ?

I don't think its my card. Sup Com can be slow, but as its a RTS game, I can deal with 7fps at times.
It's odd, i can run BioShock on the higest settings, but HL:EP2 and Portal cap at 30fps with higher visuals. I just don't think i'm getting the most out of my system.

Activation - It often depends on how long ago you activated it the last time. You might find it goes through without any fuss. Otherwise you ring the automated number and the machine will give you a new activation code. No need to worry.

I've had to call up quite a few times, but i haven't activated for a while now. Usually I go through to some bored as hell employee who can't be bothered.

[Lucio]

I don't think its my card. Sup Com can be slow, but as its a RTS game, I can deal with 7fps at times.
It's odd, i can run BioShock on the higest settings, but HL:EP2 and Portal cap at 30fps with higher visuals. I just don't think i'm getting the most out of my system.

TBH, I'm surprised at the game you say is lagging, HL: EP2 is one of the few games where the HD2900's have excelled

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...50aHVzaWFzdA==


I'd double check just exactly which options you've got set in the display tab, as it shows that AA definately gives a big performance hit compared to using Quality Adaptive Supersampling

[iranu]

Graphics cards these days will not be bottle necked by a cpu running above 2.5Ghz by anymore than 5% if you are running at a decent resolution with some eye candy turned on.

I'd set your cpu to stock and run some actual games benchmarks (NOT 3dmark) then run them again at 2.3ghz and see what the (frames per second) difference is.

That cpu should overclock quite nicely. If it's the board that's holding it back then a new one is required. You may want to check Clunk's overclocking guide before you start. I'm surprised at the HL2:EP2 results. A 2900XT is a higher end card so it should be performing. As Lucio says check your settings. I'm wondering whether it's a Vista issue, but there's no way to tell unless you dual boot.

Note for the future. You hard drives are getting on a bit. A 500gb drive will give you better performance although not with the gaming issue.

[DecomposingStar]

TBH, I'm surprised at the game you say is lagging, HL: EP2 is one of the few games where the HD2900's have excelled

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...50aHVzaWFzdA==


I'd double check just exactly which options you've got set in the display tab, as it shows that AA definately gives a big performance hit compared to using Quality Adaptive Supersampling

It's definately the AA. With AA off it hits 60 (i think it's capped). How do i turn QAS on?

Graphics cards these days will not be bottle necked by a cpu running above 2.5Ghz by anymore than 5% if you are running at a decent resolution with some eye candy turned on.

I'd set your cpu to stock and run some actual games benchmarks (NOT 3dmark) then run them again at 2.3ghz and see what the (frames per second) difference is.

That cpu should overclock quite nicely. If it's the board that's holding it back then a new one is required. You may want to check Clunk's overclocking guide before you start. I'm surprised at the HL2:EP2 results. A 2900XT is a higher end card so it should be performing. As Lucio says check your settings. I'm wondering whether it's a Vista issue, but there's no way to tell unless you dual boot.

Note for the future. You hard drives are getting on a bit. A 500gb drive will give you better performance although not with the gaming issue.

I've overclocked to 2.39ghz but from past experience i know that pushing it any further is a bad idea. It shouldn't be a Vista exclusive issue. I am dual booting XP and Vista anyway.

I'll have a go on Portal and see if my frames have increased. I just updated my ATI drivers aswell, so that'd help.