How fast a cpu is required for a 8800 GTX

saguy · 3 Apr 2007 at 11:45

I take it on my current 3200+ @ 2400 that an 8800 GTX would be a waste of money as my CPU would be a bottleneck. I do not wish to do a major upgrade for at least a year other than my CPU and at a later date the graphics card. So would any of the socket 939 CPU's be able to handle say a single 8800 GTX or a R600? I was thinking of the following CPU's which I would be overclocking on air:

64 3800+ Socket939, VeniceCore, 2.4GHz, 512KB Cache - £35.24
64 3700+ Socket939, San Diego, 2.20GHz, 1MB L2 cache - £35.24
64 4000+ Socket939, San Diego, 2.40GHz, 1MB L2 Cache - £58.74

64 X2 4200+ Socket 939, ManchesterCore, 2x 2.2GHz, 1MB Cache - £82.24

I am not that impressed with dual core so far when it comes to gaming. So a cheap single core may be the way to go for now until games are released that really take advantage of 2 cores. By the way I only use this PC for gaming. I would like to replace my graphics card when Crysis comes out so would one of these CPU's be adequate for one of the newer graphics cards. (I realise that there would still be a bottleneck which would be sorted out with next big new build)

Oh, and one more thing. Would my Tagan 480W power supply be adequate?

easyrider · 3 Apr 2007 at 11:54

second hand opteron 146 that would do 3ghz would be better.

Or a opty 165 or 170 that has 1mb cache per core over the 4200 and this will help in games.

Hamoodii · 3 Apr 2007 at 11:55

why not get the X2 3800+ 2nd hand, graet overcocking potential (should be able to reach 2.6-2.8) and am pretty sure that a 2.6ghz-2.8ghz dual core should be fine for gaming with the 8800GTX

jaykay · 3 Apr 2007 at 11:59

yer a 2.6-2.8 dual core wont bottleneck it
what res do u play at

Hamoodii · 3 Apr 2007 at 13:50

at 2.6/2.8 you're looking at the equivalence of a FX60/FX-62 which are AMD's high-end dual core range so should be fine

saguy · 3 Apr 2007 at 13:52

jaykay said:
yer a 2.6-2.8 dual core wont bottleneck it
what res do u play at

I still have a CRT so mostly 1600x1200 but with some of the newer games 1280x1024. I do like AA and AF.

I will also be replacing my CRT at some point with a 1680 x 1050 LCD. I am tempted by a single core as they are so cheap and replacing it with a dual core when Crysis comes out. The only thing that worries me is that there may be no stock of socket 939 dual cores by the end of the year.

saguy · 3 Apr 2007 at 13:56

How well do the X2 4200+ Manchester cores overclock as I found one at a good price. I am looking at buying new as I am wary of buying a used CPU.

jaykay · 3 Apr 2007 at 14:17

with a good stepping 2.8 should be achived

easyrider · 3 Apr 2007 at 14:18

I would get an X2 with 2 MB cache.Or better still a Opteron.These optys usually need less vcore and run cooler.

The extra cache over the 3800 and 4200 is seen o be around 200MHZ

saguy · 3 Apr 2007 at 14:37

Are Opterons dual or single core as I found one new with these specs for £64.90

Product Description: AMD Opteron 146 2 GHz processor
Product Type: Processor
Processor Type: AMD Opteron 146
64-bit Computing: Yes
Processor Socket: Socket 939
Processor Qty: 1
Clock Speed: 2 GHz
Cache Memory: L2 1 MB
Features: HyperTransport technology, AMD64 technology, integrated memory controller
Compatible Slots: 1 x processor - Socket 939

If its only single core I will probably go for the 64 X2 4200 as there has to be some dual core games coming out soon.

easyrider · 3 Apr 2007 at 14:39

saguy said:
Are Opterons dual or single core as I found one new with these specs for £64.90

If its only single core I will probably go for the 64 X2 4200 as there has to be some dual core games coming out soon.

The 146's are single core.

Get a opty 170 instead dual core with double the cache of the 4200 that will be useful in games.

Hamoodii · 3 Apr 2007 at 16:03

saguy said:
I still have a CRT so mostly 1600x1200 but with some of the newer games 1280x1024. I do like AA and AF.

I will also be replacing my CRT at some point with a 1680 x 1050 LCD. I am tempted by a single core as they are so cheap and replacing it with a dual core when Crysis comes out. The only thing that worries me is that there may be no stock of socket 939 dual cores by the end of the year.

done bother a lot of games are no dual core suppourted. Including F.E.A.R and supreme commander, also valve will release a multi core patch for the HL2/CSS/DODS etc so I would go with dual core

pegasus1 · 3 Apr 2007 at 16:49

My [email protected] bottlenecked my 7800gtx at 1600x1200 in at least COH, LOMAC, IL2, RTW/MTW2. I was honestly shocked when i put my 7800gtx into my C2D setup when it came to gaming. Many might not agree but for me its fact.

Raffi · 3 Apr 2007 at 17:30

sell your amd stuff and get E6300 or higher + DS3 mobo
it should make BIG difference.

jaykay · 3 Apr 2007 at 17:39

yer but hes new ram as well
any way he said he doesnt want to do a major upgrade

saguy · 4 Apr 2007 at 11:26

Raffi said:
sell your amd stuff and get E6300 or higher + DS3 mobo
it should make BIG difference.

I now have a budget - the old me would have upgraded. And I will get nothing for my old stuff.

saguy · 4 Apr 2007 at 12:13

I think I will go for the Socket 939, ManchesterCore, 2x 2.2GHz, 1MB Cache - £82.24. Does anyone know what core the OcUk X2 4200+ has as I see it only has 512Kb L2 cache where as the one I have found has 1MB cache? I thought they all had 1MB L2 cache.

By the time I really need a new DX10 card there will be more choice. I will buy whatever graphics card is best suited for my system. I am coming to the conclusion I may be better of with the 8800 GTS.

pegasus1 · 4 Apr 2007 at 13:15

saguy said:
By the time I really need a new DX10 card there will be more choice. I will buy whatever graphics card is best suited for my system. I am coming to the conclusion I may be better of with the 8800 GTS.

Depends at what resolutions you want to game,and at what quality you want to run new games. People are seam to be having issues with 320mb GTS's in games like STALKER when gaming over 1280x1024.

saguy · 5 Apr 2007 at 09:26

pegasus1 said:
Depends at what resolutions you want to game,and at what quality you want to run new games. People are seam to be having issues with 320mb GTS's in games like STALKER when gaming over 1280x1024.[/QUOTEI would not get the 320mb card. Even my card handles stalker no problem at that resolution with just everything maxed. Mind you, I am one of those that do not worry too much with lower frame rates. Actually by the time Crysis comes out the GTX or Ati equivalent will have dropped in price.

pegasus1 · 5 Apr 2007 at 10:46

saguy said:
pegasus1 said:

Depends at what resolutions you want to game,and at what quality you want to run new games. People are seam to be having issues with 320mb GTS's in games like STALKER when gaming over 1280x1024.[/QUOTEI would not get the 320mb card. Even my card handles stalker no problem at that resolution with just everything maxed. Mind you, I am one of those that do not worry too much with lower frame rates. Actually by the time Crysis comes out the GTX or Ati equivalent will have dropped in price.

Click to expand...

It appears to be the 320mb of memory thats the issue in this game, as for 1280x1024, most games are Cpu limited at that res.