What is the minimal CPU thay can keep up with latest-generaion cards (like the 9800PRO)?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nissim Trifonov
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Nissim Trifonov

I have met the expression "if your cpu can keep up with this card" numerous
times on this newsgroop. Could anyone state what is the minimal CPU that
can keep up with modern cards such as the RADEON 9800PRO?
 
Depends on the game.
for example, a no-brainer like Bloodrayne doesnt require much in the way of cpu calculations even
with full eye candy, so its fast on most machines that have a 9800 pro. Lock-on is about the most
cpu intensive game I have played recently, and you are lucky not to dip below 25fps whatever your
system.

Best advice by far is to have a look at the recommended (not minimum) specs for a few games you can
see yourself buying, and build/buy hardware in that ballpark.

Having said that, my current CPU is a XP2100 (driving a Radeon 9800 pro). Although I know its the
limiting factor in my system, most games do not seem to be that limited when I play them, so I feel
no need to upgrade :)

It also depends on the resolution. If you increase the resolution to silly extremes, then
obviously, your GfX will slow down, and may become the bottleneck.


S
 
I could run BloodRayne, Max Payne 2, GTAIII: Vice City and Enter The Matrix at
1600x1200x32 w/highest detail settings. Why? Because all these games are
console ports. The strange thing is I can also run C&C Generals: Zero Hour at
the same resolution and max detail. Unreal2 is the only game that I've got that
challenges the system at all.

I've got an o'clocked Barton at 2346 w/a 9800 Pro on an Abit NF7-s V2.0. The
9800 Pro is the bottleneck because if I crank up aniso-filtering to max or AA
up the frame rate his is instantly noticeable.
Depends on the game.
for example, a no-brainer like Bloodrayne doesnt require much in the way of
cpu calculations even
with full eye candy, so its fast on most machines that have a 9800 pro.
Click to expand...


-Bill (remove "botizer" to reply via email)
 
Today's topend video cards like the 9800 pro can process anything they get
from the cpu faster than the cpu can sling it. The slower the cpu, the
slower the video card gets the data it needs, and the slower your game runs.
To really unleash the 9800 pro, and I think that's what you mean, I think
you need a Barton 2500 XP equivalent or better with the latest games.

JK
 
Wblane left a note on my windscreen which said:
I could run BloodRayne, Max Payne 2, GTAIII: Vice City and Enter The Matrix at
1600x1200x32 w/highest detail settings. Why? Because all these games are
console ports.
Click to expand...

So are Deus Ex 2, Halo and KOTOR. Would these run well at similar
resolution because these are console ports?

I don't think the fact that something is ported from a console gives
much in the way of indication on how it performs on PC.
 
Yes, it does, because console ports feature low-res textures, low polygon
counts and a general lack of textures. Console ports were coded to run on
console hardware w/console limitations. KOTOR looks like crap compared to Jedi
Knight:Academy.
So are Deus Ex 2, Halo and KOTOR. Would these run well at similar
resolution because these are console ports?

I don't think the fact that something is ported from a console gives
much in the way of indication on how it performs on PC.
Click to expand...


-Bill (remove "botizer" to reply via email)
 
Question..
Have you ever played Deus Ex 2?
It's a slide show on my PC. The fact that it's a port means nothing.
It's the quality of the port, not how many textures are in it.
 
Wblane left a note on my windscreen which said:
Yes, it does, because console ports feature low-res textures, low polygon
counts and a general lack of textures. Console ports were coded to run on
console hardware w/console limitations. KOTOR looks like crap compared to Jedi
Knight:Academy.
Click to expand...

So Deus Ex 2 and Halo runs silky smooth on any mid-level (very high
compared to XBox hardware) PC?

The port from a console to PC in performance terms is not as simple as
just comparing the hardware.
 
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