CPU bottlenecking graphics card?

[Crosshairs]

Since the OP got the info he needed, this thread has run its course.

You guys are welcome to continue your debate, but please be respectful of each other.

 

[RamonGTP]

Thank you PrincessFrosty, someone who talks sense and with respect

I entirely agree with your final statement.
This test is currently a good approximation with current games, it has been a very reliable indicator so far.
However in the future, some Games will likely have threads that run independent of the main game thread, thus if they stall, it wont slow fps down but will affect game mechanics instead - for example.
At the moment I havent found a game that doesnt momentarily stall when a core in use by the game has its availability reduced.
I wouldnt have recommended the OP use a test that doesnt work, its good that all this is coming out though.
I am dismayed at the conduct of some forum members though!

If you agree with his final statement that you should not be advertising this flawed method since his last statement said there are better methods people should use. Frosty gave some of the same criticisms as the rest of us he just added scenario's where it might be ok to use as an approximation, and you did what you've been doing all along, ignoring everything that doesn't support you. So don't get too excited, he didn't exactly condone your method.

 

[Nenu]

HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW?

I've asked it like a bajillion times now and all you do is say what tool - that is a what not a HOW. Explain step by step exactly what you look at and watch and HOW you determine if one core is fully loaded. Explain it as if I was a child, because I'm having a hard time following your guesses at how a computer works since I know how it actually does.

Run Rivatuner, click the customise button (hover over and its name appears), select Hardware Monitoring.
At the bottom right of the monitoring window is a setup button, click it.
Click Plugins and select CPU.dll, Click OK.
Now select the cores you want to monitor.
Voila.

Easy, at some point during your run through you became GPU limited, or you were CPU limited at 0xAA but GPU limited at 16xAA (which is a freaking HUGE jump in AA). That probably also explain why your min FPS went from 6 to 1. AA doesn't use a CPU at all - it just doesn't. AA is a GPU operation. I really don't know how to make it any clearer.

Look at my Batman test with/without AA, the GPU didnt get near being fully loaded throughout the test.
In both tests (AA and no AA), my CPU was pegged at 100% most of the time.
I made a graph of it with ATI tools, in those moments when the CPU wasnt pegged at 100%, CPU use is higher when running AA.
I can show you the graph if you like?

 

[kllrnohj]

Run Rivatuner, click the customise button (hover over and its name appears), select Hardware Monitoring.
At the bottom right of the monitoring window is a setup button, click it.
Click Plugins and select CPU.dll, Click OK.
Now select the cores you want to monitor.
Voila.

So literally all you are doing is looking to see if any individual core hits 100%?

Jesus dude, I was giving you faaar more credit than that. Please dear god tell me that that isn't your test, please....

Remember, I asked what you were looking for, what *exactly* are you looking for to determine if it is CPU limited assuming a quad core. Explain step by step in exceeding detail.

Look at my Batman test with/without AA, the GPU didnt get near being fully loaded throughout the test.
In both tests (AA and no AA), my CPU was pegged at 100% most of the time.
I made a graph of it with ATI tools, in those moments when the CPU wasnt pegged at 100%, CPU use is higher when running AA.
I can show you the graph if you like?

Then your Batman test just proved that your methodology is flawed. I guarantee you that AA is entirely done on the GPU. What you are claiming is similar to saying that hard drive performance can affect your network ping time.

But sure, post the graphs.

 

[erf]

I still say the best/simplest way to pinpoint a cpu bottleneck is to turn all graphics options to "0" or "lowest" and run a test. This takes the gpu out of the equation for the most part, right? I'm no hardware wizard but for real world testing this has always been my way of doing it.

 

[evolucion8]

Jesus guys, why the attitudes, its a simple test that has worked for me a lot.
I'm hardly going to say it hasnt worked am I ? !!
I use Rivatuner and its CPU plugin to monitor and graph individual cores.
I already mentioned the tools I use.

Pls explain the fps drop when enabling AA in a non GPU limited environment.
Extra CPU 'is' required for AA, its not completely free.

Anti Aliasing doesn't have nothing to do with CPU cycles, it is completely done with the GPU's ROPs, how many times does I have to explain that to you? Anti Aliasing will always impact the performance no matter in which scenarios, unless if you are severely bottleneck like for example, coupling a HD 5870 with a single core, Anti Aliasing will always have an impact in performance and IS NOT related to CPU, what part of that you can't understand? Since when the CPU is used to calculate the pixels that will get blended and anti aliased and then displayed on screen?

 

[LVZX14]

I am considering this card as well to replace my 9800GT. Have never owned an ATI so don't know much about em but the specs look good.

Do you think this would be a good card for my setup?

Intel E8400 (3.6ghz)
4gigs memory
x2 WD raptor drives
1000watt PSU

Bad company 2 will most likely be the only game I see myself playing and is the reason why I want to update my card.

I figured I'd ask on here rather than make an entire new thread since I am looking at this card as well.

Your advice is much appreciated

 

[RamonGTP]

It'll be a good card in that system and will be well utilized in BC2. I've been playing the beta on and off all day today and the game is a beast. Much like BF2 was when it was released.

 

[LVZX14]

It'll be a good card in that system and will be well utilized in BC2. I've been playing the beta on and off all day today and the game is a beast. Much like BF2 was when it was released.

Word, thanks Romon. Yea I haven't had the chance to download the demo yet but I already know I will need an updated card to run it properly.