Best Decision for BF2 - Proc / Video Upgrade?

[rvacs]

Hello All,
Hope this is the right area to post..
I am wanting to better my BF2 online gaming.

I currently have:
AMD 64 3000+
ATI X850 Video
2GB RAM

Should I upgrade the video to say a 7800GTX / ATI 1900XT first or should I go to say a AMD 64 4000 processor first?
Which would I see the more bang for the buck. I am thinking my video is OK but that the proc may be best for now?

Love some feedback.
Thanks,
Rich

[Vundu]

Re: Best Decision for BF2 - Proc / Video Upgrade?

I would say GFX card first for bang for buck, it will bottlekneck on your CPU but will offer a greater performance increase than a new CPU alone.

[Sir. bzb]

Re: Best Decision for BF2 - Proc / Video Upgrade?

7900 series is actually better than the 7800gtx (in theory), may also want to look closely at the price difference and save some money getting the newer generation card.

[the_waffler]

Re: Best Decision for BF2 - Proc / Video Upgrade?

Which socket is your 3000+? 754 or 939? If it's 754 you probably need a new 939 mobo and processor before you update your gfx.

[Sabo]

Re: Best Decision for BF2 - Proc / Video Upgrade?

your Processor is definatly the bottleneck here even if it is 939.

[rvacs]

Re: Best Decision for BF2 - Proc / Video Upgrade?

It's a Socket 939....

So I will probably go with the Processor over the Video Card...

Thanks Everyone

[Desertfox]

Re: Best Decision for BF2 - Proc / Video Upgrade?

get the 4000+, If you get say a 7800GTX the 3000 will bottleneck it.

[193d DCAT1]

Re: Best Decision for BF2 - Proc / Video Upgrade?

Really you need to do both to get the game to play silky smooth.

I bought a new PC and it is like I am a whole new player, my KDR has gone from 1.3 before to 1.9 after!

[[2bit]Modmaven]

Re: Best Decision for BF2 - Proc / Video Upgrade?

Yeah, if you play at lower resolutions, 1024 and lower, your CPU is usually your bottleneck. Playing at higher resolutions (1280 plus) transfers more of the load to the Video card...
Use this link to compare video cards

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/12/02/vga_charts_viii/index.html

And this link to compare CPU

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html?modelx=33&model1=240&model2=260&chart=69

AS you can see comparing Doom 3 at 1024x768 going from the 3000+ to the 4000+ will give you 13 fps more. Clearly there is a CPU limitation here.

BUT if you move it up to 1280x1024, the two different CPUs are only separated by 1 fps!!

All that being said, the Video card is usually the better bang for the buck if you game at higher resolutions.

[robertgilbert86]

Re: Best Decision for BF2 - Proc / Video Upgrade?

How about clocking the CPU to max-stable when you upgrade your graphics?

[PHPT]

Re: Best Decision for BF2 - Proc / Video Upgrade?

your Processor is definatly the bottleneck here even if it is 939.

I've got a socket 754 3000+ and it plays absolutely fine.

Playing at higher resolutions (1280 plus) transfers more of the load to the Video card...

Your settings tend to be more important than your resolution. Setting filtering to medium = huge performance boost, for example.

[Alcorr]

Re: Best Decision for BF2 - Proc / Video Upgrade?

well if you want a performance increase and no graphics DEcrease....get a new graphics card.