Limiting Hardware

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krayz

Weaksauce
Joined
Nov 17, 2004
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I was just playing Oblivion the other day at 1280, and I was getting alot of stuttering and various other issues so I thought it was time to upgrade. I really don't want to lower my settings.

My setup is:

Q6600 @ 2.99
8800 GTS 320mb
2gb Corsair 800


I can only spend 100 dollars, so where should I put that money? New vid card? More ram?
 
It's your video card.

If you can swing selling your 8800GTS for ~$80-100 you could get a 260 GTX core 216.
 
[LYL]Homer;1033754586 said:
It's your video card.

If you can swing selling your 8800GTS for ~$80-100 you could get a 260 GTX core 216.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply Homer. Do you really think I could sell my card for that much? It seems like I could get better options off Newegg for about 100.
 
Your CPU is plenty. But sounds like you realize that.

Going to 4GB could definitely be beneficial. It would be better to also move to a 64bit OS, but not necessary. Even staying 32bit, you'd jump to 3.2-3.5GB usable memory which is still a good jump over what you have and would alleviate memory symptoms *if* that is your bottleneck.

My 8800GTS 640 runs Oblivion really great at 1920x1200. Also ran Fallout 3 really well. So even though your GPU power is good, the 320MB video memory may not be enough. But you're only at 1280res....so I'm thinking you need system memory.

Hard to say 100%. But I do know that when some people populate all 4 DIMM slots, such as if you bought another 2x1GB kit it dampens their overclock potential. So *if* you go that route I'd recommend ditching your current 2x1GB memory config and getting a 2x2GB kit.
 
Menelmarar said:
Your CPU is plenty. But sounds like you realize that.

Going to 4GB could definitely be beneficial. It would be better to also move to a 64bit OS, but not necessary. Even staying 32bit, you'd jump to 3.2-3.5GB usable memory which is still a good jump over what you have and would alleviate memory symptoms *if* that is your bottleneck.

My 8800GTS 640 runs Oblivion really great at 1920x1200. Also ran Fallout 3 really well. So even though your GPU power is good, the 320MB video memory may not be enough. But you're only at 1280res....so I'm thinking you need system memory.

Hard to say 100%. But I do know that when some people populate all 4 DIMM slots, such as if you bought another 2x1GB kit it dampens their overclock potential. So *if* you go that route I'd recommend ditching your current 2x1GB memory config and getting a 2x2GB kit.
Click to expand...


Yes, I figured that my CPU is fine. I bought that sucker when it first came out. Only dropped 70 dollars since then. Probably the best PC related purchase I ever made.

I do run 64bit. I'm sorry for not listing all my specs. I have the 500W corsair, and a standard Gigabyte motherboard with one pci-e.

It's just so damn hard to figure out what's slowing down my performance. I have LOD, and disnant buldings and lands, but it shouldn't be that much of a strain on my system. I just don't get it :( I have the settings turned down fairly significantly also.
 
Best bet would be a GPU upgrade. The significantly faster HD4830 can be found for around $100.

Though, try see how much RAM Oblvion uses when playing. A RAM upgrade might be in order too.
 
krayz said:
Thanks for your reply Homer. Do you really think I could sell my card for that much? It seems like I could get better options off Newegg for about 100.
Click to expand...

I just sold my 8800GT to a coworker for $100 (installed, easy as pie) last month so I could buy a 260 GTX. So, yeah, it can be done.

So you said you could spend $100. That, plus money from the sale puts you in the running for a card in the current $180-200 sweet spot for great cards.
 
I agree, sell the 320MB GTS and pickup an HD4850 or similar.

krayz said:
Yes, I figured that my CPU is fine. I bought that sucker when it first came out. Only dropped 70 dollars since then. Probably the best PC related purchase I ever made. ...
Click to expand...

IIRC... When the Q6600 was released, it was priced at $530 in Q1'07. Its price was cut, 7 months later, to $266 on Jul-22 later that same year. Again, 7 months later, It dropped to $193 in Feb'08.

Since its still one of the better clocking entry-level quadcores, yes, it was a good deal at $266.
 
I think it's a driver problem or something. You shouldn't have stuttering with an 8800GTS at that res.
 
enginurd said:
I agree, sell the 320MB GTS and pickup an HD4850 or similar.



IIRC... When the Q6600 was released, it was priced at $530 in Q1'07. Its price was cut, 7 months later, to $266 on Jul-22 later that same year. Again, 7 months later, It dropped to $193 in Feb'08.

Since its still one of the better clocking entry-level quadcores, yes, it was a good deal at $266.
Click to expand...

I was referring to the g0 stepping along with the first price cuts. My bad. Which is the 266 to 173 = ~70.

To the other person...you really think so? Even at max settings?
 
I'm on 169.25 Forceware version. Any known issues with that version?
 
Drivers updated. Didn't fix anything. It was worth a try though and it was something that needed doing.

I played some more today and while fiddling with the settings I realized I could put everything on max and it would run fairly smoothly...except Distant Buildings. Wierd. Any ideas?
 
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