CPU limit for 5850?

[scaryogre]

I have an ASUS Radeon HD 5850 coming in the mail on Monday and am trying to figure out if I will be CPU limited based on my existing setup. Here is what I am currently running.

Current Build:
ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard BIOS 17
Intel C2D E6850 Conroe @ 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W
Tuniq Tower 120 Universal CPU Cooler 120mm Cooling Fan
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2@1000 (PC2 8000)
OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI 700W ATX12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready
​

I have always run my CPU at stock. Memory is running at rated speed. So, I am wondering if the system above will be a bottleneck once I throw in the 5850? I don't mind OC'ing if that will help. However, if current hardware will not be enough I would rather just build a new PC. This system is used as primary gaming machine.

Possible New Build:
ASUS Maximus III Formula LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model
COOLER MASTER Intel Core i7 compatible V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000)
CORSAIR CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80
​

Thanks for any advice/help.

 

[needmorecarnitine]

However, if current hardware will not be enough I would rather just build a new PC.

enough for what?

I think that in lots of games your current cpu clocked faster would net higher fps, just like the i7 would and the overclocked i7 vs a standard one would.

 

[R-Type]

I think you will be fine with your current platform. You should be able to get ~3.6ghz without much work considering the high binning of your chip. C2D systems are for desktop platforms what the 8800GTX was for video cards, still delivering relevent performance over 2 years after introduction.

 

[96redformula]

I am on a HD 5850 on a AMD Athlon II x2 Regor 240, which is CPU limited on some programs/games, just depends on the game. I was severely limited before on an Amd 5050e Brisbane core and it was quite apparent on just about everything.

 

[e-geek]

Why don't you try overclocing and see if it's "enough" for your needs?

Saves you buying a new system for nothing.

 

[Oscar Meyer]

I got basically the same setup: Asus 5850 on a 6850 @ 3.6ghz, 680i mobo. 2gigs ram. Games really fly. Play every game at 1920 by 1080, 4xAA 16x AF, max ingame settings. Most games will run above 60fps average, except Crysis. And a handful of games will always be cpu limited: Grand theft Auto, World in Conflict...but they are by no means unplayable. Hope this helps...

 

[scaryogre]

I got basically the same setup: Asus 5850 on a 6850 @ 3.6ghz, 680i mobo. 2gigs ram. Games really fly. Play every game at 1920 by 1080, 4xAA 16x AF, max ingame settings. Most games will run above 60fps average, except Crysis. And a handful of games will always be cpu limited: Grand theft Auto, World in Conflict...but they are by no means unplayable. Hope this helps...

Thanks for the replies and suggestions. @SirCumsized your post was especially useful since you have almost the same setup.

The reason I was asking prior to the card arriving is I plan on doing this only once (install Win7 64bit with new card). So I either wanted to order new parts and have them arrive early next week so I can build and get going quickly again. I didn't want to go down the route of getting my current system wiped and rebuilt with Win7 only to find my current hardware isn't up to snuff. So, basically if I built a new system I would just give my current one to my wife who needs a new one anyway (she is running a P4 overclocked right now).

From the sounds of it though, I may be fine for awhile longer if I can overclock what I have now to a reasonable level. Thanks again for the help. I will post back and let you know what I did in case it helps anyone else.

Cheers.

 

[filibusterman]

I got basically the same setup: Asus 5850 on a 6850 @ 3.6ghz, 680i mobo. 2gigs ram. Games really fly. Play every game at 1920 by 1080, 4xAA 16x AF, max ingame settings. Most games will run above 60fps average, except Crysis. And a handful of games will always be cpu limited: Grand theft Auto, World in Conflict...but they are by no means unplayable. Hope this helps...

If I remember correctly some games aren't CPU limited like call of Duty W@W my e4300@3.2 with a 260 core 216 didn't use 100% cpu. Are FPS over 60 even noticable anyway?

 

[MittWaffen]

Yeah, it is noticeable.

Frame rates dip all the time and if your running 30 or 60 those dips are very noticeable, more so with 30 allot less with 60 if at all on some games. Put it this way avoid 30 at all times!

 

[Phoe]

I'm running a slightly worse setup, I'm only on a e6400@3.2ghz. I just upgraded literally 2 days ago to a Sapphire 5850 from a 8800gts 320. I did it mainly for dragonage (being able to play it on my TV with bells and whistles). I'm sure I'm somewhat cpu limited but the difference is night and day, mainly with higher resolutions with AA/AF enabled. My baseline 3dmarks for 06 went up from about ~10,100 to 15k, but the real difference is running with everything enabled, my 8800gts would chug with AA/AF on and this thing just sails.

I'm happy I made the purchase, at some soon I'm doing a new build, but figured the 5850 would migrate nicely over since it's semi future proof.

 

[scaryogre]

I'm running a slightly worse setup, I'm only on a e6400@3.2ghz. I just upgraded literally 2 days ago to a Sapphire 5850 from a 8800gts 320. I did it mainly for dragonage (being able to play it on my TV with bells and whistles). I'm sure I'm somewhat cpu limited but the difference is night and day, mainly with higher resolutions with AA/AF enabled. My baseline 3dmarks for 06 went up from about ~10,100 to 15k, but the real difference is running with everything enabled, my 8800gts would chug with AA/AF on and this thing just sails.

I'm happy I made the purchase, at some soon I'm doing a new build, but figured the 5850 would migrate nicely over since it's semi future proof.

Cool, thanks for your input. I am replacing an 8800 GTX which does OK, but I figured my son can use it in his system (he's running a C2D, BadAxe2, and an 8800 GTS). I kinda like your idea of waiting a little bit before building a new one. Now I have to educate myself on how to properly OC this e6850. It's been a long time since I have OC'd anything. I think it's been since the original Celeron days. =)

 

[edifyingkarma]

I have always run my CPU at stock. Memory is running at rated speed. So, I am wondering if the system above will be a bottleneck once I throw in the 5850? I don't mind OC'ing if that will help. However, if current hardware will not be enough I would rather just build a new PC. This system is used as primary gaming machine.

Possible New Build:
ASUS Maximus III Formula LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model
COOLER MASTER Intel Core i7 compatible V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000)
CORSAIR CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80
​

Thanks for any advice/help.

If you intend to spend the money for the 860 why not just get an x58 and 920 for less money. Sure you would have to overclock but that processor is such gravy to overclock you'd be an idiot not to. That way you can upgrade to a hexacore next year or maybe even an octocore to follow that

 

[Flexion]

If you intend to spend the money for the 860 why not just get an x58 and 920 for less money. Sure you would have to overclock but that processor is such gravy to overclock you'd be an idiot not to. That way you can upgrade to a hexacore next year or maybe even an octocore to follow that

This.

I'm not a platform fanboi, because I own one, but really the LGA1366 platform is easier to OC on. Yeah it uses a few more watts here and there, but the OC'ing is just better. Also, you don't have to worry about burnt sockets or anything like that.

 

[scaryogre]

Yeah, I was just reading about the socket issue with Foxconn. I priced the x58 and 920 last night and they came out a bit more expensive, but not by a lot.

 

[GotNoRice]

OP says he already has a Tuniq Tower 120. I used mine for quite a while on a Q6600 @ 3.6Ghz, 1.5v and use it now with my Q9650 @4.4Ghz, 1.4v. It can handle quite a bit of heat.

I'd say OP could be surprised by how much he might be able to OC his current chip.

If not, he could drop in a Q9550 and overclock that. My friend hit 4Ghz with a Q9550 on a P35, and it's certainly a lot cheaper than buying essentially a whole new computer.

 

[scaryogre]

Thanks for the info. Well good news...the 5850 arrived this afternoon so I am going to try and get the OC working first then install the new card and Win7, etc. If I can get there I am going to run some benchmarks. If anyone has the time...I feel like I am starting all over with overclocking. I haven't bothered in over 10 years probably. So am reading and trying different things, but I know I am missing some key CPU voltage settings, but am not sure what to set them at.

Here is what I have done thus far:
I've had to set my vcore in BIOS to 1.38. This gets it to show 1.36v in BIOS voltage monitoring after a reboot. However, CPUz shows it as 1.36 and it goes to 1.35v under load. I am guessing this is vdroop? From what I read I can go up to vcore of 1.5v, but it's not recommended? Is the safe range from 1.35v to 1.45v or so? Obviously lower (cooler) is better.

e6850@333x9=3.0
vcore=1.38
memory set to 1000, 5,5,5,15,45,2T @ 2.1v

This seems stable, Orthos runs without error (although I didnt let it run for more than 20-30 minutes yet). Any suggestions or pointers on how to start OC'ing the CPU? Can I keep the memory settings as above or will I have to run them at 800 when OC'ing the CPU? Ideally do I want the memory divider at 1:1 ratio? I suspect I need to adjust more than just the vcore settings to start OCing the CPU (maybe NB and SB) in the BIOS? Just not sure which ones and what value to set them to. All are currently at default except as noted.

Thanks for your patience and any help,

-scaryogre

 

[jagd]

Take fsb to 400 this will give 3600Mhz , probably no need to give voltage ,memory to 1:1 for start - test stability .your mobo is a good oc'er .
memory divider 2:3 is hard to maintain at high fsb ,if you try 400mhz fsb with 2:3 ratio your mem need to run at 600mhz . I prefer 1:1 for my 6550 but if you have 4:5 at bios and want to use mem at 500Mhz give it a try

 

[evolucion8]

OP says he already has a Tuniq Tower 120. I used mine for quite a while on a Q6600 @ 3.6Ghz, 1.5v and use it now with my Q9650 @4.4Ghz, 1.4v. It can handle quite a bit of heat.

I'd say OP could be surprised by how much he might be able to OC his current chip.

If not, he could drop in a Q9550 and overclock that. My friend hit 4Ghz with a Q9550 on a P35, and it's certainly a lot cheaper than buying essentially a whole new computer.

Nice overclock you got there, I own the same CPU and motherboard, can you explain me the Vcore values or other tweaks that you did to reach such high overclock with your CPU?

@OP, your CPU currently is enough for your shiny new card, but if you want more performance besides gaming, you can overclock it, it will do nicely specially with that cooler.