My CPU too slow?

[iBSOD]

Hi.

I recently upgraded mt gfx to a GTX 465. When installed, I was getting all excited thinking I could play Crysis on very high with avg fps of 40. But of course I can't the fps jump around a bit, but it's usually at 25fps. EDIT: The fps increase a little bit when on high, but it's pretty much only playable on med And the res is 1280x1024

My processor is a AMD Athlon X2 5600+ @ 2.9 GHz

It is the best CPU that's compatible with my mobo, and I can't OC it.

Some my questions:

Is it my CPU holding me back on Crysis, and would it be worth a mobo upgrade + Phenom processor(tight ass budget)?

Thanks in advance

System specs:

System Manufacturer/Model Number: COMPAQ Presario SR5019UK
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU: AMD Athlon X2 5600+ 2.9GHz
Motherboard: ASUStek Narra (M2N68-LA)
Memory: 4x 1GB DDR2 (cheapo RAM)
Graphics Card: Gainward GTX 465 1GB GDDR5

 

[iBSOD]

The Athlon X2 is getting on a bit. What motherboard do you have?

Mobo: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00906129&lc=en&cc=de&dlc=&product=3397528#N995

Try not to laugh. Will post full sys specs in main post.

 

[iBSOD]

Thanks for the suggestion Wayne! WIll start saving once I've payed my dad back for the 465

And the stock HP/Compaq PSU would not power a 465. I have a G7 Power Extreme 780w

And that CPU is quite cheap

 

[iBSOD]

And just looked at the Phenom, doesn't cost too much more; I think it's a keeper!

Anyway thanks for all the help!

 

[iBSOD]

propably not the best of idea. The hp site says the max tdp is 89W. Arent athlon quads 95?

Isn't that the problem that the BIOS mod is meant to solve?

And them posts about the BIOS mod, they all have a slighlty different mobo to me. And I just tried to install it now, but my computer doesnt meet the minimum system requirements. Probably cos of W7

 

[iBSOD]

Almost nothing can be done from the BIOS, so no.

And I no almost nothing about flashing BIOS, so links would be nice.

And by flashing, I could use a CPU that is not supported by default?

 

[iBSOD]

The 45W 2.6GHZ Athlon II X3 420e is around 80 quid and there is also the 65W 2.5GHZ Phenom II X4 905e and the 65W 2.6GHZ Phenom II X4 910e.

Alternatively a 65W 3.3GHZ Athlon II X2 265 or an 80W 3.3GHZ Phenom II X2 would also be a decent upgrade from an X2 5600 IMHO.

Here is a comparison of the X2 5600+ and the X2 255:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/30?vs=121

The 80w Phenom looks nice. But would it work in my mobo without any flashing, and does my that CPU is socket AM3, mine is AM2. But it would still work?

Sorry, I'm just getting really confused now :/

 

[iBSOD]

Another thing you may have to consider if you replace the motherboard is the position of the graphics card slot in relation to the space inside your Compaq case.

The slot on your current board is where the 1x slot is on most retail m-atx boards is. Will your 470 still fit in your case if you move it down one slot? I recently helped a friend upgrade his HP system with a version of that board and this was the problem he had.

The card is just over the I/O port, so I will not be able to move it 'down', but I would be able to move upwards if possible. But I will probably be buying a new case anyway (XCLIO A380)

 

[iBSOD]

Something seems iffy here - I could play Crysis on High with a 2.2ghz X2, 2GB ram and my 8800GTX at 1440x900 which is v.similiar to 1280x1024. The only area I had to drop to med was Frost. Similiar with Warhead.

And when I benched the game I saw no significant improvement in OCing upto 2.7ghz. 1 fps.

If you can't overclock, can you underclock? And see if FPS gets a lot worse - if not, it can't be the CPU! Because Crysis never needed a quad.

Just played a bit of Crysis now. Very high, AA- 16Q, framerate was like 25. When I turned off AA, it increased only a little bit. Fraps said 25 - 30 but I looked much smoother.

I will try Warhead in a few days.

And if I can't overclock my CPU, I'm unlikely to be able to underclock it. (I can't)

I thought my CPU was 'good enough' for Crysis :/