Upgrading my last year PC

N

Nolimit

Weaksauce
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
77
Last year I came here with questions regarding new PC, got lots of recommendations, spent lots of money and finally got my PC.
Wasn't exactly what I hoped for but I kept telling myself it's great.
Biggest problem is, I paid tons of money and had best graphic card at that time and games(WoW for example) still wouldn't give me over 60 FPS, hell it goes to 30 even and below.
And in AOC last night I had like 2 in city, 12 outside.
So I told myself, eff ATI, never again and decided it's time for upgrade.

I built my PC last summer, just before new cpu stuff came out, it's still OK I would say but I want to upgrade it. New cpu, dd3 and with that new mobo...
I don't have money to buy new PC however, or even to upgrade mine straight away so I'll have to sell my parts and somehow get some extra money to buy new ones.

So first, this is my configuration and comments:


COMPUTER (TOWER): COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000, it's huge and I like it. No need to replace.
Power Supply (PSU): it was suggested on newegg, COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro1000
Case Fan(s): got like 3-4 inside
Motherboard: Intel P5Q Pro, think it's time for new one that supports nehalem(i7?) and dd3.
Processor (CPU):Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz - time to upgrade this. It was suggested as great CPU to OC, but I'm not much of overclocker.
CPU Cooler/Heatsink with Fan (HSF): XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
Big heatsink and cooler, dunno if it needs to be upgraded but PC is kinda hot, dunno whats the problem, maybe cables of psu are interrupting airflow because they are huge
Memory (RAM): G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000)- time for dd3
Hard Drive (HDD): 2x WD 640gb 7200 sata, no need to replace i think.
Optical (Disc) Drive (CD/DVD/HD-DVD/BR): just 1 dvd burner
Video/Graphics Card (GPU): Here's the full name
ASUS EAH4870X2/HTDI/2G Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
And I really want to replace it. It's running very got and giving me shit performance in games. Never again ati...

OPERATING SYSTEM (OS): gonna put win7 x64.
And I have 24" screen.

Well as I said earlier, please suggest me what I should do, what to upgrade with what etc.
I really need this PC to work fine because it's driving me crazy :(

Edit: Just did test in COD4, in buildings I'd get around 200 when its quite. Goes down to 100 when fighting, and outside goes to red around 50 even below 30.
 
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you should not be getting less than 30 FPS in any game with maybe three exceptions, especially with a 24" monitor, this a troubleshooting problem, not a "ATI is shit" problem (in other words, I'll be blunt: stop being a noob and fix what you've spent $500+ on before throwing it away like a child)

my cited proof?
I have a 4870X2 that will put 60 FPS+ out with any game into a larger monitor with settings maxed

SO
here's why I'm gonna ask you:
what kind of quality settings are you running in your games? Did you download the newest CCC drivers from AMD's website, or are you using the CD drivers? (the CD drivers from August were awful btw)

if you've got anything above 8x AA enabled, you're hanging yourself performance wise, before you whine even more, no, it isn't possible, it isn't because AMD is some evil axis of doom, it simply isn't possible with the quality settings you're wanting in most games

yet another question:
why are you getting rid of the Q9450? its more than fast enough (especially for WoW and COD4, seriously, are you kidding me?)

so what OS do you have right now? and what IQ settings are you trying in which games

OH ANOTHER FUN QUESTION FOR YOU SINCE YOUR EXAMPLE GAMES ARE MOSTLY ALL ONLINE:
tell us about your ISP...
 
Nolimit said:
(WoW for example) still wouldn't give me over 60 FPS, hell it goes to 30 even and below.
Click to expand...
Sounds like vsync is enabled.

Nolimit said:
And in AOC last night I had like 2 in city, 12 outside.
Click to expand...
AOC didn't have great performance IIRC, but even onmy old 8800GTS, the beta ran well enough on my 24"...

Nothing wrong with AMD videocards. I've used them in the past.
Nolimit said:
So I told myself, eff ATI, never again and decided it's time for upgrade.
Click to expand...
CPU: Q9450 is PLENTY of processor for any game today and into the foreseeable future.

MEMORY: 4GB DDR2, is plenty, there is no real noticeable difference DDR2->DDR3.

IMHO you are wasting your money if you replace either of these. But feel free to send them my way if you do =)

AMD4870X2 should be plenty of graphics for the games you've mentioned. But you can certainly upgrade it, throw cash at it. Check HardOCP front page reviews, GeForce GTX260/275/285 etc, one of those ought to suite you.

It sounds to me like a software issue. Driver or configuration problem. If it was me... I'd personally do a little debug, something like in this order:
1. Update drivers.
2. Run a mal-ware sweep
3. shutdown background tasks, shutdown real-time AV/malware scanners.
4. Run through video options, reset some defaults, make sure v-sync is OFF.
5. If nothing else prevails, reformat, fresh OS install with all the
 
obobski said:
you should not be getting less than 30 FPS in any game with maybe three exceptions, especially with a 24" monitor, this a troubleshooting problem, not a "ATI is shit" problem (in other words, I'll be blunt: stop being a noob and fix what you've spent $500+ on before throwing it away like a child)

my cited proof?
I have a 4870X2 that will put 60 FPS+ out with any game into a larger monitor with settings maxed
I know ATI isn't shit but every time I had it it gave me problem. I paid over 500$ on this card and it's not doing what it's supposed to.
SO
here's why I'm gonna ask you:
what kind of quality settings are you running in your games? Did you download the newest CCC drivers from AMD's website, or are you using the CD drivers? (the CD drivers from August were awful btw)

if you've got anything above 8x AA enabled, you're hanging yourself performance wise, before you whine even more, no, it isn't possible, it isn't because AMD is some evil axis of doom, it simply isn't possible with the quality settings you're wanting in most games
I do have newest drivers and CCC. I always clean everything and install them when new ones are out. Atm at idling it's 75-80celsius, should that be happening with this card?
I just put settings on max. I didn't even have AA on 8x, it was on 2x.
yet another question:
why are you getting rid of the Q9450? its more than fast enough (especially for WoW and COD4, seriously, are you kidding me?)
Figured I should go for newer one if I'm upgrading everything.
so what OS do you have right now? and what IQ settings are you trying in which games

OH ANOTHER FUN QUESTION FOR YOU SINCE YOUR EXAMPLE GAMES ARE MOSTLY ALL ONLINE:
tell us about your ISP...
Click to expand...
ATM I have Win XP pro sp3, since Vista gave me a lot of troubles. Gonna get win7 at some point.
I don't know what IQ settings are, and I have shitty connection, 2mbit wimax, but I know difference between game lagging due to net and FPS :)
Also I do realize I might have said some things in stupid way, but I was(am) really angry for spending a lot of money and PC failing to live up to expectations.
I expected to run wow with everything on max with like 160+ FPS and sometimes it goes to like 10 and I can't move...
Menelmarar said:
Sounds like vsync is enabled. it isnt

AOC didn't have great performance IIRC, but even onmy old 8800GTS, the beta ran well enough at 1920res on my 24"...
they improved a lot, ill play some more later on various settings and tell how it goes
Nothing wrong with AMD videocards. I've used them in the past.so did i and nvidia always worked better for me and ati gave me troubles :s
CPU: Q9450 is PLENTY of processor for any game today and into the foreseeable future.

MEMORY: 4GB DDR2, is plenty, there is no real noticeable difference DDR2->DDR3.

IMHO you are wasting your money if you replace either of these. But feel free to send them my way if you do =)

AMD4870X2 should be plenty of graphics for the games you've mentioned. But you can certainly upgrade it, throw cash at it. Check HardOCP front page reviews, GeForce GTX260/275/285 etc, one of those ought to suite you.

It sounds to me like a software issue. Driver or configuration problem. In something like this order I'd:
1. Update drivers.
2. Run a mal-ware sweep
3. shutdown background tasks, shutdown real-time AV/malware scanners.
4. Run through video options, reset some defaults, make sure v-sync is OFF.
5. If nothing else prevails, reformat, fresh OS install with all the
Click to expand...
1. All up to date.
2. Running it regulary and my PC can't be any cleaner.
3. I have very little backgroud tasks since I like keeping my pc clean :)
4.I do, I play around and see what gives me what, at least in wow but maybe its just wow problem. Gonna play some more in aoc.
5.I had like 4 versions of windows and did a lot of formats, don't think that's the problem.

Thanks for replys tho, now I'm not so willing to sell my stuff but I do want to fix this.
 
the thing is, you should be getting 160 FPS, so if there is an issue, again, it is not the hardware you chose, either something is damaged and needed to be RMA'd ages ago, or you've set something wrong (I gurantee you're wrong if you think a HD 4870X2 in working order will only get 10 FPS in WoW, basically)

your internet connection is probably responsible for a lot of your problems here

IQ = Image Quality
what kind of AA, AF, resolution, texturing, shading, etc settings do you have enabled?

do you have updated drivers, games, windows, and so on down the line

as far as temps (please never post your replies inside of a quote again), 75-80* C is a bit high, but your case cooling is probably less than flawless/you're using stock TIM, isn't a massive issue (I doubt it raises very much when you push the card, especially since the fan is running quite slow at idle, AS5 it and you should drop a few degrees, and if your room is colder, you'll drop a few degrees as well)

so, re-install drivers and update games, look at what your IQ settings are like, etc

one really stupid thing: do you have mainboard drivers installed?

if you still decide that there is no bother in fixing this, and trashing a few thousand of hardware like its no big deal is a good way to go through life, I'm sure many members would be happy to help you dispose of your "unworthy" hardware (me included)
 
I thought WoW didn't work with crossfire? So 4870x2 is the same thing as a 4870. Which will indeed slow down at times with the newest settings.
 
My friend with 8800gt gets more fps then me with same settings.
I heard of people with same card getting over 100 and having no problems?

Also in age of conan, any settings I put it seems my FPS won't budge over 10. Wth is this, it ran fine for a while, with even 60fps and now it doesn't suddenly work
 
Something is messed up for sure. Run 3dmark06 and tell us what score you get.
 
AoC problem might be with new drivers, but don't think I installed it after playing hmm, gonna roll back and see if theres problem. Read on aoc forums some people got same problem like me.

I dont have 3dmark now, but I ran it before and score was around 15000 I think with everything on highest.

I'm thinking about doing full format of both HDDs and installing windows7, even though I'll have to reinstall it again when full version comes out.
Also, I'm gonna get 3dmark now and see how it goes.
 
Software issues as others have said -- you have zero reason to upgrade at present if all you do with the machine is game. If you did a lot of video encoding? Different story... but I doubt you do.
 
I'll put upgrade on hold then.
I fixed AOC issue and it was that new drivers weren't working well with it.
Later tonight I'll have access to wow account and see how things are there.

In aoc with all on highest and aa x8 i'm getting 30-50+ fps which is good I guess.

I still feel my vga is under-performing thought. Should I use ati overdrive, oc my cpu? What should I do to get more fps, speed and run games smoothly?
 
this sounds like your 4870X2 is having the same problems with AOC that it did with Fallout3 at release, really low performance at any settings, thats drivers (either wait for new drivers, or rollback/re-install/patch game/etc)

I'd be curious to see what it does after Windows7 is installed with clean drivers/applications, it shouldn't be lagging this much by any means (10 FPS is ridiculous, even if you had 768k DSL, you could top 10 FPS, but thats not the 4870 being a slug, thats (like joseph said) "something messed up")

::edit
you posted right as I did, heh

sounds like your rig is doing just fine with AOC, if WoW is still giving you 10 FPS its something else you haven't fixed, but honestly there is nothing wrong with your setup, you will not get 200 FPS full max in all games, even if you added another X2 or switched to GTX 295's, just isn't happening (here's some benchies: http://www.amdzone.com/index.php/reviews/gaming/9883-age-of-conan-benchmarks, you're probably at higher settings levels than they are, and getting the same, if not better, performance, whats the issue?)
 
^ second too late, fixed and said why in previous post.
Also, as I said car when idleing is usually 77-80. Is that normal?
Fan is at 27% and rarely goes up, I hear it working when I play the game though.
 
Will do, any suggestion how much I should OC?
Haven't OCed for long time, gotta search a bit what's best for this cpu
 
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