How much is my CPU holding me back?

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Jamie_Manic

Current setup:

AthlonXP 2400+ (266)
1024mb PC2100 Ram
Radeon 9800XT
Audigy 1
Elite Systems K875S Mobo
WinXP

How much is my Radeon being pegged back by my older motherboard and CPU?

I play games, I plan to be playing the likes of HL2 and Doom 3 so am I
really gonna see major improvements in a better processor, say an Athlon 64
3200+ for example? Anyone who has made a similar upgrade got any comments to
make?

Thanks!
 
I wouldnt call this a slow system, at least not one I would change just yet...

The most outdated thing is probably the PC2100, but amount of memory seems to have a bigger effect
than type of memory in real life use, so I wouldnt worry even there.

You will get a performance increase with a '64, but thats a lot of money for something that doesnt
even have the software out to take full use of it, and when that appears, the part will be
superceded. To add that processor and make best use of it, you will also have to buy a mobo and
memory, and thats a lot of money (and then you'll be wondering if the GFX card is holding back the
processor!)

Keep your money in your pocket for a few months yet, wait for the second gen of the current cutting
edge cards come out and PC bus has settled down. Your system will be fine for the current crop of
games in the meantime

FWIW, I moved from a 9800 pro, XP2000, 1Gig PC2100 and moved up to a XP2800, 1Gig 2800 (well,
actually, I used the same memory, it works as a 333 dual in the nForce 2 :)

the 3DMark moved up from 12000 ish to 16000 ish. A 25% increase, but not really worth the cost if
that was the only reason to move up (other reason for me was simply that I need a second backup
computer because I work from home, so used some of the older stuff to build a second rig on the
cheap).

S
 
Sham B said:
I wouldnt call this a slow system, at least not one I would change just yet...

The most outdated thing is probably the PC2100, but amount of memory seems to have a bigger effect
than type of memory in real life use, so I wouldnt worry even there.

You will get a performance increase with a '64, but thats a lot of money for something that doesnt
even have the software out to take full use of it, and when that appears, the part will be
superceded. To add that processor and make best use of it, you will also have to buy a mobo and
memory, and thats a lot of money (and then you'll be wondering if the GFX card is holding back the
processor!)
Click to expand...

Too true! Thats my problem at the moment, if I upgrade, I have to do the lot
so it has to be the right upgrade. Memory, CPU, Mobo and a new power supply
too. I'm reasonably happy with what I have now tho, I can run Far Cry pretty
well with a decent amount of eyecandy for example, just interested in how
much a newer setup would benefit me. I'll probably just hang on a bit like
you say.
 
Sham B said:
I wouldnt call this a slow system, at least not one I would change just yet...

The most outdated thing is probably the PC2100, but amount of memory seems to have a bigger effect
than type of memory in real life use, so I wouldnt worry even there.

You will get a performance increase with a '64, but thats a lot of money for something that doesnt
even have the software out to take full use of it, and when that appears, the part will be
superceded. To add that processor and make best use of it, you will also have to buy a mobo and
memory, and thats a lot of money (and then you'll be wondering if the GFX card is holding back the
processor!)

Keep your money in your pocket for a few months yet, wait for the second gen of the current cutting
edge cards come out and PC bus has settled down. Your system will be fine for the current crop of
games in the meantime

FWIW, I moved from a 9800 pro, XP2000, 1Gig PC2100 and moved up to a XP2800, 1Gig 2800 (well,
actually, I used the same memory, it works as a 333 dual in the nForce 2 :)

the 3DMark moved up from 12000 ish to 16000 ish. A 25% increase, but not really worth the cost if
that was the only reason to move up (other reason for me was simply that I need a second backup
computer because I work from home, so used some of the older stuff to build a second rig on the
cheap).
Click to expand...


I totally agree with this advice. Give all of the new tech a chance to get
released and mature somewhat and maybe look at upgrading then. Personally,
I upgraded from a 2.26GHz P4 (533MHz FSB) to a 2.8GHz P4 (800MHz FSB) last
year and also upgraded from 512MB PC-2100 RAM to 1GB of PC-3200 RAM. In
retrospect, although the additional memory is obviously beneficial today, I
do wish I would have waited at least six months longer to upgrade since I
really did not think that the performance boost I got from that upgrade was
worthwhile. By waiting that additional amount of time, I could have gotten
something more powerful and/or at a better price.
 
Too true! Thats my problem at the moment, if I upgrade, I have to do the lot
so it has to be the right upgrade. Memory, CPU, Mobo and a new power supply
too. I'm reasonably happy with what I have now tho, I can run Far Cry pretty
well with a decent amount of eyecandy for example, just interested in how
much a newer setup would benefit me. I'll probably just hang on a bit like
you say.
Click to expand...
What I tell people is that if you're going to upgrade, go for a 64 bit
processor, but wait until there is really a need for a 64 bit
processor. They're fast and cool and sexy, but they don't outrageously
blow away my overclocked XP2500+ Barton.
I have my fingers crossed that when Longhorn finally comes out, they'll
have a nice oem deal or pairing with a 64 bit processor, something like
you get a good 64 bit CPU (by the time Longhorn comes out I'd think an
AMD 3500 might be middle of the road) and motherboard plus a Longhorn
upgrade for ~$300. If that deal is out there, 4Q of 2005, I'd be all
over it; I'll try to plug along with my 2.2 GHz 32 bit processor until then.
 
Inglo said:
What I tell people is that if you're going to upgrade, go for a 64 bit
processor, but wait until there is really a need for a 64 bit
processor. They're fast and cool and sexy, but they don't outrageously
blow away my overclocked XP2500+ Barton.
I have my fingers crossed that when Longhorn finally comes out, they'll
have a nice oem deal or pairing with a 64 bit processor, something like
you get a good 64 bit CPU (by the time Longhorn comes out I'd think an
AMD 3500 might be middle of the road) and motherboard plus a Longhorn
upgrade for ~$300. If that deal is out there, 4Q of 2005, I'd be all
over it; I'll try to plug along with my 2.2 GHz 32 bit processor until then.
Click to expand...


My second computer has an Athlon XP 2500+ processor and I think it's great.
I also don't see any real reason why it wouldn't be viable until late next
year. The only thing that sucks is the performance of the 9200SE video card
I have in the system (a carry-over from the old Pentium 3)!
 
hAD THE SAME xP2400 SYSTEM, upgraded to a Mobile Barton 2500, pc 3200,
GREAT, just need the Radeon 9800 Pro and my system would be complete
for many years to come.



I totally agree with this advice. Give all of the new tech a chance to get
released and mature somewhat and maybe look at upgrading then. Personally,
I upgraded from a 2.26GHz P4 (533MHz FSB) to a 2.8GHz P4 (800MHz FSB) last
year and also upgraded from 512MB PC-2100 RAM to 1GB of PC-3200 RAM. In
retrospect, although the additional memory is obviously beneficial today, I
do wish I would have waited at least six months longer to upgrade since I
really did not think that the performance boost I got from that upgrade was
worthwhile. By waiting that additional amount of time, I could have gotten
something more powerful and/or at a better price.
Click to expand...

HELLO NURSE.
 
AthlonXP 2400+ (266)
1024mb PC2100 Ram
Radeon 9800XT
Audigy 1
Elite Systems K875S Mobo
WinXP
Click to expand...

I have the XP 2000+ and Radeon 9600XT on a
GA-7ZXE which is one of the worst mobos in the
history of mobos. Runs fine, but in Far Cry at the
Reality level of play, I notice that the AI is weird,
and somewhat clipped.

johns
 
You don't watch Anamanics then, HELLLO NURSE :)



I have the XP 2000+ and Radeon 9600XT on a
GA-7ZXE which is one of the worst mobos in the
history of mobos. Runs fine, but in Far Cry at the
Reality level of play, I notice that the AI is weird,
and somewhat clipped.

johns
Click to expand...

HELLO NURSE.
 
Dreamaker said:
it would be interresting to know when you do a bench mark to tell us what's your cpu score
you see whit my barton 2600 @ 1.9 gigs no oc. i get 500 point.

so by this if you get the same then your find cause in therm of power the 2400 and the barton 2600
are clocked almost at the same speed.
Click to expand...

I did a 3DMark2003 test a few days ago and managed about 3500. Everything
seemed ok apart from the CPU tests which dragged along between 1-3 fps.
Click to expand...
 
Current setup:

AthlonXP 2400+ (266)
1024mb PC2100 Ram
Radeon 9800XT
Audigy 1
Elite Systems K875S Mobo
WinXP

How much is my Radeon being pegged back by my older motherboard and CPU?

I play games, I plan to be playing the likes of HL2 and Doom 3 so am I
really gonna see major improvements in a better processor, say an Athlon 64
3200+ for example? Anyone who has made a similar upgrade got any comments to
make?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

it would be interresting to know when you do a bench mark to tell us what's your cpu score
you see whit my barton 2600 @ 1.9 gigs no oc. i get 500 point.

so by this if you get the same then your find cause in therm of power the 2400 and the barton 2600
are clocked almost at the same speed.
 
Jamie_Manic wrote:
:: Current setup:
::
:: AthlonXP 2400+ (266)
:: 1024mb PC2100 Ram
:: Radeon 9800XT
:: Audigy 1
:: Elite Systems K875S Mobo
:: WinXP
::
:: How much is my Radeon being pegged back by my older motherboard and
:: CPU?

I saw a bigger increase just replacing the MB to one with dual channel
memory. XP2500 1GB PC3200, radeon 9700 Pro... old MB was a cheapo matsonic
one, new one is Abit NF7-S V2.0... XP Pro load times dropped from 30-40 secs
to around 12-15 secs, memory bandwidth jumped, everything loads twice as
fast. Only thing I replaced was the MB, cost me about £70 (UK)

Plus this puppy overclocks like a dream too. Even though it's twice as fast
in normal dual channel mode... I've clocked this XP2500 up from 1.83GHZ to
2.32GHZ temps (depending on season) are 38-40 in winter-spring to 46-48 in
summer (50 on extremely hot days) under a full load for a couple of hrs. All
air cooled in an ally case with very good HS/fan and ultra quiet.

The 2400 you have runs at 266FSB, with a decent MB and depending on the
quality of the ram you have and cooling... you might be able to overclock a
decent amount... that would see a big increase.


H
 
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