How fast a cpu is required for a 8800 GTX

[saguy]

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?

 

[saguy]

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]

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.

 

[saguy]

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.

 

[saguy]

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]

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.

 

[saguy]

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.