biggest performance boost, what do you think

[Bruce]

my system specs are in my sig, the oldest item is the vid card and i am thinkking about getting a new one, alternativly i can upgrade the whole system for less cost. I am thinking about getting an Nvidia 6800 ultra, would my sytem be able to use this card and would i see a big increase in frame rates. bearing in mind a new vid card would cost me more than the rest of the sytem, alternativly would i see much improvemtn by going to an XP3200 instead at about half the cost. I am not interested in an ATI card because i need something that works well in Open GL. alternativly would i see just as big an improvment with a 6800 GT or even a 6600, becuase the limiting factor is my CPU?

[NonCon]

I purchased a 6800 (not the ultra or the GT) a few weeks ago and put it in my system (see below). I saw an increase of about 5-7 fps over my heavily overclocked 4200 and slightly overclocked XP 3000 (168*13.5). In some cases with heavy clouds at KORD with 100% traffic there was no increase. The card was waiting for the processor.

I attribute a lot of that to running low end, non matched PC 2700 memory. Nevertheless I sent the card back due to inadaquate system to run it to its full potential (couldn't justify $40-$50 per framerate). I think in your case you may see an increase, maybe 12fps if you are running really fast memory with an Nvidia chipset.

KJ

[psolk]

You would see much more gain with the video card than the processor. As long as your XP3000 is running at 333 or above and you are not using some cheap Ram you are fine.(Sorry noncon I started posting before you and did not mean that as a knock) Are you running 1.5 gigs as single channel? I would run a gig at dual channel rather than 1.5 gigs at single channel if that is an option. What Ram are you using? Going from a 4600 to a 6800 is like going from a schwinn to a harley if your machine can keep up but by the same respect I changed from pc2700 to PC 4000 on my new MOBO and it is a huge difference. You are only as good as your weakest link...

AMD 3.2 @ 400
Asus K7N8X-E Deluxe
1024 PC4000
GEForce 6800GT
Dual Samsung 997DF Monitors
Dual Maxtor 120 Gig SATA in Raid-0
SB Audigy 2ZS 5.1
Logitech THX 5.1 speakers
CH Yoke, Rudder and Throttle

[Bruce]

I have an N-Force 2 Ultra 400 chipset and 3200 ram, although i am only running it at 333 to match the CPU fsb. nothing is overclocked and my system temp is usually around 33 and cpu around 45 at idle, although I am not running my cpu fan at full speed (mainly due to the noise). the areas you mention that gave you no increase are the places i want an increase, an increase of 12 here would be great. most other places i am more or less happy with the performance. I would also like to see a boost in GPL and NR2003, the lowest i see in these 2 games is about 24, if i could get thse up 12fps i would be happy.

[Qballbandit]

Wow, this is a true AMD thread! :7
I run the specs below, and I know my card is a slight bottleneck. I have personally been waiting for the darned 9800pro's to come down in price already, but I never seem to catch anything below $200 anywhere. That's about all my budget can handle since I just threw 1gig of Corsair ddr in the box.
Currently I am running at 25-30+ in the skies, and the lowest - 15 at KORD full AI and weather. I have no problem with frames, but I get an occasional 1 to 2 second pause, so I hope the higher end card will stabalize me..:-hmmm

Neil :7

AMD Athlon XP3000 (333fsb) 2167mhz.
Asus A7N8X (pcb 2.0) nForce II ultra 400
1024 Corsair PC3200 ddr (down to 333)
ATI Radeon 9600 pro, 128mb
WINXP Pro, dx9b
4 case fans blowing six ways from Sunday

[zoynyne]

would i see just as big an improvment with a
>6800 GT or even a 6600, becuase the limiting factor is my
>CPU?

Run at 1024 x 768 with no AA or AF.

Now crank it to 1600 x 1200 and max out AA and AF.

Observe the huge decrease in framerates.

That's not a CPU bottleneck, that's a videocard bottleneck.

So whether or not a top end videocard will help your framerates depends on the resolutions and amount of AA/AF you're running or desire to run...

[Bigshot]

I am not interested in an ATI card because i need something that works well in Open GL. ""
________________________________________________

That's a myth!! Like so many other myths!! ATI runs OpenGL just fine with awesome IQ and plenty of power.

[Bruce]

i run at 1152x864 with 4XAA & 8XAF, the reason i do not run higher res is because the menus would be too small so these are as high as i would wish to go. I may wait untill i get another free video card the last new one i bought was a voodoo 4 when they where first released, i did get a second Voodoo 5 off ebay a few years ago but got given the G4 ti around christmas 2002 and it was a big improvment over the V5 on my old 1 gig rig i was using at theat time. i would need to see a similar improvement to justify a new card before this one breaks or is unable to play the games i buy. I had to return CFS3 and Rallysport challenge because they would not run without T&L.

[Bruce]

>I am not interested in an ATI card because i need something
>that works well in Open GL. ""
>________________________________________________
>
>That's a myth!! Like so many other myths!! ATI runs OpenGL
>just fine with awesome IQ and plenty of power.

it may be a myth but the consensus of opinion goes with the Nvidia also at the moment the 6800 is the top of the heap.

That said it may be more prudent to wait a while as much of the techonology i have in my system 32bit, AGP etc. is nearing the end of its life, and it may be more sensible to wait for the new stuff to come down in price. i would hate to spend a fortune and find 6 months down the line that it is all old hat.

[kc10]

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