Updating graphics, worth it?

Burningmace

Burningmace

Burningmace

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16 Jul 2008
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86
Hi,

I've just got paid and I want to blow £540 on a pair of 9800GX2 cards, but would like your suggestions first. At current I have a pair of 8800GTX cards, but one is defective so I have to run with SLI disabled :(

Anyhoo, here's my system specs:

Asus P5N32-E SLI
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (OC'ed to 2.76GHz)
4GB (4x1GB) Corsair XMS2 Dominator DDR2 PC2-8500
2x BFG GeForce 8800GTX OC2 768MB (remember one isn't really working)

Right now I can play Crysis on max settings at 1920x1200 with no noticeable FPS issues, until the later missions when the particle count goes through the roof, at which point I tend to drop the resolution to something like 1360x850.

I know one of the biggest bottlenecks in my system is the CPU. Unfortunately changing my CPU isn't really feasible right now, as it is a pain in the arse due to the giant Asus Silent Square Pro cooler attached to it. Plus I don't really want to buy a new processor until the price of a QX9650 chip gets down to around £500, at which point I'll grab one of those.

At some point I'm also looking to upgrade to 8GB of RAM, but I'm a little confused about how my motherboard handles 1066MHz DIMMs. On the specifications it reports 800MHz as the highest supported frequency, but my system runs fine with the 1066MHz sticks. Am I actually getting any benefit from these sticks being 1066MHz instead of 800MHz. If not, I'll be looking into buying the GeIL 4x2GB PC2-6400 set pretty soon. Right now I'm running Vista Ultimate 32-bit OEM, and I'll need 64-bit OEM to use all of that. So the question is: can I do some form of upgrade from Vista Ultimate 32-bit to Vista Ultimate 64-bit, or do I have to re-install completely?

I know I've asked a lot all in one post, so here's a summary:
With my current system specs, will I notice any real improvement in game performance if I buy these cards?
Does using a set of 1066MHz PC2-8500 DIMMs on a motherboard that specifies 800MHz as the max frequency increase performance, decrease performance or make no difference?
Can I upgrade Vista Ultimate 32-bit OEM to Vista Ultimate 64-bit OEM, or do I have to re-install the OS from scratch?

Cheers,
Burningmace
 
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Do not throw any money at Quad SLI. The scaling is truely truely terrible. If you can play Crysis max settings at 1920 x 1200 and don't notice FPS issues, do you even need to upgrade at all?

It you were intent on blowing over half a K on an SLI setup a pair of gtx280s would be a FAR better investment. However, you would be better off going for either a pair of 260s and upgrading your CPU (I know you said its not feasible, but its worthless chucking so much money at graphics cards otherwise), or a 4870X2 and a CPU upgrade.

Which leads onto point 2: If you are thinking of buying a QX9650 when the price drops down to £500, you will NEED a new motherboard. Putting that chip into that MB will be criminal. The board simply won't go where the QX9650 can, not even close.

Your best bet would be to grab an e8400 (£110 ish) and if you're partial to Nvidia and SLI two GTX260s (£182 ish each). Brings you to £474 and would be much better than throwing two 9800gx2s in, or even two gtx280s.
 
RizL4 said:
get a 4870x2
Click to expand...

Thought that would be mentioned. Three reasons why I'm not going to do that:

1) I've had a whole pile of problems with Radeon cards.
2) Two 9800GX2 cards are better than one HD 4870X2, and the Radeon is more expensive.
3) If I want to up the performance later, I can't just add another Radeon as my board doesn't (AFAIK) support crossfire.
 
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Adrianr said:
Do not throw any money at Quad SLI. The scaling is truely truely terrible. If you can play Crysis max settings at 1920 x 1200 and don't notice FPS issues, do you even need to upgrade at all?
Click to expand...

Yes. I want to be able to run at 1920x1200 all the way through the game with AA forced if possible.

Adrianr said:
Which leads onto point 2: If you are thinking of buying a QX9650 when the price drops down to £500, you will NEED a new motherboard. Putting that chip into that MB will be criminal. The board simply won't go where the QX9650 can, not even close.
Click to expand...

Would a Q6700 be a better choice in this case then?
 
RE: Your point on the Radeon expense, a 4870X2 is only £370, so a lot cheaper than £540 for a pair of 9800gx2s!

What do you use your PC for other than gaming?

RE: Q6700, no. A Q6600 would be better if you need a quad (Unless you can find a Q6700 as cheap), but the unfortunate reality is your board isn't the best at clocking quads. That's why i suggest the E8400. It will be faster at stock than your current overclocked E6600, but you will have more luck overclocking it as it's a dual core.

If you are dead set against ATI cards, E8400 o/c'd + 2 x gtx280s would see you the biggest increase in performance.
 
I use my PC for gaming and software development. I often use virtual machines too, hence the RAM increase.

I'll probably take your advice and get an E8400, it looks like a nice chip. Regarding 2x GTX260 vs 2x GTX280, would there be any performance difference on my setup?
 
At 1920 x 1200 with a clocked E8400 you would get better performance from the GTX280 SLI set-up, no doubt, especially when AA is applied. Whether you think with the new CPU cost it's worth the extra over GTX260 SLI, is up to you :) It is pretty much an extra £100 per card.

What PSU do you have btw?
 
I've got a 1kW CoolerMaster PSU. No worries there ;)

I'll probably get a RAM and CPU upgrade first, then buy a single GTX280 using the cash I get from selling my old DDR2 sticks and E6600 chip to boost my funds ^_^
When I get paid again after that I'll buy another GTX280.

Any comments on the other questions in my post?
 
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RE: Memory, as good as makes no difference in real world app, though the faster rated memory will help if you're overclocking the FSB.
RE: Vista, full reinstall unfortunately!
 
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