Cpu, Video, Or Ram

Well, here's an interesting thing...
The 4830 came in, yesterday. I installed it (uninstalled some drivers and such) and set titan quest to 800x600 with everything on low. I figured I'd be close to 100 fps. What did I get? I got 25, running around town, and 15, during battles. That's pretty much what I was getting with the radeon 2400. I also installed 2x1gb ddr2-800.
I'm going to reformat, just in case there is some weird thing holding it back. During the game, the cpu is at 100% and it's only using, like, 500mb of ram.
The odd thing is that I switched it to 1360x768, with everything on high (including anti-aliasing), and I'm getting the same framerates.
I'm using fraps 2.9.8 and just running around helos (for those that know the game).
Also, I installed catalyst 9.2.
Full Specs...
Intel Celeron D 331 Prescott 2.66GHz LGA 775 84W Single-Core (running 133mhx20
MSI G965M-FIR LGA 775 Intel G965 Express Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
FSP Group SAGA+ 400R 400W ATX12V Power Supply
2x1GB Dell SNPXG700C DDR2-800 (running 266mh, 4-4-4-12 2t, symmetric dual-channel)
POWERCOLOR AX4830 512MD3-H Radeon HD 4830 512MB 256-bit GDDR3
I haven't tried any 720p movies, yet, but the gaming experience doesn't seem right.
BTW...
The card is freaking huge. The hsf on it is nearly as big as my cpu's.
Hehehe...
JJ
 
Your CPU is total horse crap... Do a bios update get a E5200 in there. Its like $73 on newegg.com
 
mongerer said:
It also could be a problem with TQ, where it slows down for a moment and after speeds up like crazy, known as "rubberbanding" plus basically any support for that game is long gone as far as I remember. Shame too, it was a really fun game.
Click to expand...


That little "problem" went totally away on my new Ci7 920.
 
The original point of the thread was to define which would be more important to upgrade (between cpu and video). Had I wanted to spend the money for new cpu, ram, vga, psu, then I would have just purchased it all and not started the thread.
I would assume that upgrading the cpu would, to some extent, lessen the need for the upgraded video card, since there would be more cpu to do the work of the video processing. Also, I would assume that upgrading the video card would, to some extent, lessen the need for the upgraded cpu, since there would be more card power to do the work of the video processing.
It just doesn't seem accurate, to me, that the whole computer would need an overhaul to play a game that is 2-3 years old. In my mind, the $100 video card was a pointless purchase. Would the money have been better spent on the cpu and not the video card? If that is the case, then why, when the cpu was clearly marked in the first post, did everyone recommend the video card and no one recommend the cpu?
JJ
 
doubleJ said:
... If that is the case, then why, when the cpu was clearly marked in the first post, did everyone recommend the video card and no one recommend the cpu?
JJ
Click to expand...

Heh, I'm wondering the same thing. Anyhow....

Typically, any res lower than 1280x1024 is more CPU bound than GPU bound. Since you have a castrated CPU, try 1280x1024 or higher and report results. If you do need a CPU upgrade, you can probably find an E2180 for around $50 on the FS/T forums. ;)
 
You never said, it was at 100% CPU usage... and I never suggested a $100 card, it was $75 card.
 
enginurd said:
Typically, any res lower than 1280x1024 is more CPU bound than GPU bound. Since you have a castrated CPU, try 1280x1024 or higher and report results. If you do need a CPU upgrade, you can probably find an E2180 for around $50 on the FS/T forums. ;)
Click to expand...
The first thing I tried after installing the new card was titan quest at 800x600 with everything on low. That was still 15-25fps.
You never said, it was at 100% CPU usage...
Click to expand...
I will grant that. I didn't even look at the cpu, before, because I knew it would be pulling the weight of the video processing. I initially purchased the radeon 2400 as an htpc card. I was surprised, though, that it was still 100% after installing the 4830.
It completely blew me over that a 4800 series card offered absolutely no faster gameplay than the 2400 series card that was already in there.
I was initially going to purchase the 5200 cpu, instead of the video card. I assumed that the better cpu would help, all the way around. But when a friend's laptop (core2duo, x3100 video) played titan quest at 10-15fps, I assumed the video card would still be the problem (regardless of the cpu). It was at that time, the I figured a good video card would lessen the cpu's use.
JJ
 
the general rule of thumb for upgrading is

- CPU & Memory if it is at higher than 80% usage.
- Video Card if drops below 40 fps at your native res on med-high settings.
 
doubleJ said:
The first thing I tried after installing the new card was titan quest at 800x600 with everything on low. That was still 15-25fps.
Click to expand...

Did you not understand what I said? Read it again. You're missing my point. Since you used a res lower than 1280x1024, your CPU was limiting you. If you go above 1280x1024, the GPU should take over more of the load. Run it at a higher res and report results.

doubleJ said:
... But when a friend's laptop (core2duo, x3100 video) played titan quest at 10-15fps, I assumed the video card would still be the problem (regardless of the cpu). It was at that time, the I figured a good video card would lessen the cpu's use.
JJ
Click to expand...

At what res? and the X3100 is a weak Intel GPU and cannot play games.
 
enginurd said:
Did you not understand what I said? Read it again. You're missing my point. Since you used a res lower than 1280x1024, your CPU was limiting you. If you go above 1280x1024, the GPU should take over more of the load. Run it at a higher res and report results.
Click to expand...
Ah, I did misunderstand you.
JJ
 
Well, screw it. I just ordered an e5200. I was thinking about exchanging the 4830 for an e5200 and an 8600gt ($50), but I would still be spending more than $100. If I'm going to do that, then I might as well add an extra $50 and get something that will last a while.
If I get this and titan quest still runs under 30fps, though, I'm going to be ticked.
Hehehe...
JJ
 
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