have £200 - want to make bf2 run better

b4z · 27 Apr 2006 at 16:14

current rig:

CPU : AMD 3200 Venice @ 2.5ghz (250x10) (can o/c higher)
MOBO : DFI Ultra-D
RAM: 2gb Corsair XMS @ 2.5-3-3-6 1T
GFX: X800XL 256MB
17inch LCD [1280x1024 max]

i have £200 there or there abouts

i play battlefield2 a lot and im really not totally happy with the peformance im getting
it "feels" both cpu and gpu limited
i play competetively and need the best performance i can get with the £200 i have available.

so my question is, what is the best bit of hardware i can get to improve the game peformance?

A; go for a new/dual cpu? X2 3800 ?
B; go for a new gfx card? if so, which? 7900GT, X1800XT, (X1900XL?)
C; other?

also my main concern is if i get a new cpu, then it will still be hindered by my current gfx card
and equally, if i get a new gfx card, it will be hindered by my current cpu.

suggestions?

fenderbass86 · 27 Apr 2006 at 16:16

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_X1800_Series_705.html#agx_2d121_2dsp

Naffa · 27 Apr 2006 at 16:22

Yep, new graphics card.

b4z · 27 Apr 2006 at 16:22

if i go for a X1800 series, i still think my cpu will be holding it back though?
and thereby not actually solving my performance problem? or am i wrong

fenderbass86 · 27 Apr 2006 at 16:24

A new gfx card will make a bigger difference than the CPU (I think).

Mikey1280 · 27 Apr 2006 at 16:26

Not sure if the cpu will still hold you back but the graphics card is more important at the moment, you can clock it a little higher as well.

G.O.A.T · 27 Apr 2006 at 16:35

fenderbass86 said:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_X1800_Series_705.html#agx_2d121_2dsp

Yup, buy that 1800XT for £170. Benchmarks of the card in BF2:

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2556&p=2

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_7900_gt_gtx_performance/page10.asp

Naffa · 27 Apr 2006 at 16:36

A Venice @ 2.5Ghz should run an X1800XT easy. There would be a slight cap on performance but you would see a sizeable increase in performance.

b4z · 27 Apr 2006 at 16:43

what about a 7900GT? (just wanna know the full situation)

G.O.A.T · 27 Apr 2006 at 16:49

b4z said:
what about a 7900GT? (just wanna know the full situation)

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_7900_gt_gtx_performance/page10.asp

Naffa · 27 Apr 2006 at 17:05

That benchmark is at stock, the 7900GT can be very easily volt modded and can reach 700Mhz on the core and 1500Mhz+ on the memory. You'd need a VF900 or equivilent for a mod like this. This would defiantly whoop the X1800XT but if you feel uncomftable performing a mod like this (which is understandable) then I'd reccomend the X1800XT.

no_1_dave · 27 Apr 2006 at 17:34

Most 7900 GTs can be clocked to 550/1700 easily with no mods & the stock cooler, definatly 520/1700! This would beat a X1800 XT with ease. Check sig for my volt modded one though. For comparrison, X1800 XTs with 256Mb of memory tend to score about 8500 - 9000 3dMark05

Naffa · 27 Apr 2006 at 17:41

b4z · 27 Apr 2006 at 19:23

i think i will just go for the £170 X1800XT

yes i maybe able to overclock the 7900GT etc.
but then im looking at £220-£250
and i dont want to mod the card particularly

i would have gone for the 7900GT if they were the same price, but the deal thats going at the moment sways it. £50 cheaper.
also ive had cards from both manufacturers and i prefer the ATI drivers.

plus i won the money im using to buy it at a LAN tournament so its all good.

thankyou for your help guys

wilders · 27 Apr 2006 at 21:40

And you should get a few quid back from the sale of your old card too.....result