CPU for BF3 advice

[Dale]

Hi chaps, like most, eagerly waiting for the release of BF3. Currently, still enjoying BC2.

My setup is currently:

Q9550 @ 3.7 (on air)
4gb memory
HD 5970

I have 3x 24" Dell's and play BC2 in Eyefinity which is nice, but really with the above setup all graphics settings are on low (including HBAO turned off) to allow for maximum playability. Sometimes it is a bit of a toss-up as to whether to turn Eyefinity off and go for higher settings.

With this in mind I'm concerned BF3 might be a bit more intensive on the CPU, and my machine will drags it's heals with the CPU even more.

Obviously upgrading the CPU isn't a cheap job, so looking on what peeps opinions are in prep for BF3 (especially compared to BC2).

 

[Dale]

Thanks Stulid, I guess in all honestly I was a bit consumed by wanting to get the best out of it from day one - It "may" perform practically the same as BC2, in which case I can cope with that as I don't want to spend money on a new CPU / mobo / memory, well... not yet anyway

Sound point well made - thanks.

 

[Dale]

Thanks again chaps. Matt, didn't realise it would be quite that cheap (well not "cheap", but less that I was expecting).

I'll hang on for the Beta as people suggest, see where we stand then

 

[Dale]

Thanks again chaps for all the info.

Dale my man,how did you get your Q9550 @ 3.7 i got mine to 3.4 just with the FSB change but rather new on the oc side any info please

Spook, hard to say what your issue is tbh, mine was a fairly simple trouble free OC. I first went to 3ghz, then 3.4, then 3.8 and backed down to 3.7 for reliability.
Here is my CPU-Z screenie:

I've got an air cooler on the CPU, with a fan attached, temps don't get that high. I made sure I fitted the CPU with some Arctic Silver compound, but never really had much of an issue with it crashing.

Mobo is an Asus P5K Premium, memory is G.Skill 4GB DDR2 PK PC2-8500C5 bought from OCUK about 3 and a half years ago.

Originally ran a Q6600 at about 3.4 I think...

 

[Dale]

I'll eat my hat if your current setup cant run it maxed out and get 60 fps, anyway for me personally my upgrade path is sell current Q6600 p45 board and ram and go second hand corei5 750/760 @ 4ghz + this is where the bang for bucks at ? how does a core i5 750 at 4gz measure up to a 2500k ?

I'm sure it will be fine on one monitor, it is Eyefinity I'm concerned about (get an odd feeling of claustrophobia when going from 3 to 1 lol!)

 

[Dale]

I gave it a touch more voltage. BIOS settings are here:

 

[Dale]

Should be a nice little upgrade from a q6600, managed to pick up an i7 930, 6gb of ram and a motherboard for £200.00, used other old parts i had to build another rig.

If I was from Essex I'd be saying something like "I'm like well jel" - however, I'm not so I'll say "nice one, £200 for that sounds like a bargain!".