Upgrading GPU...

[Cut Chem!st]

My current specs

Q6600 @ 2.4 (stock)
8800 GTS 512 (g92)
3gig ram

Generally just play source games, but also picking up the new singeplayer games to play. I figure it is time to upgrade it now that it is about 2-3 years old. I was just wondering if I would get any FPS increase on Tf2 considering how limited it is on the CPU. Some people said upgrading the GPU wont help at all and i'd have to buy a new CPU to see any FPS gain. Don't really want to pay for a card that dosen't do anything for my most played game. Currently getting ~40 fps in heavy combat, sometimes dipping lower. Running no AA or AF, low shader/shadow everything else on max. 1400x1050

Probably going to get a GTX 275, 285 or 4870 and a new PSU. This card has served me well, I just want to get the new cards while they're cheap and so I can bump up my more fps and futureproof a litte more.

 

[Burning Shadow]

Let me know as well what I should do to increase FPS on TF2. My b-day just passed so I have a couple bucks that I can use to upgrade. Not to shift the focus of this thread from Chemist, but I didn't want to create a second thread with the exact same purpose.

Sorry to say, but it is impossible to "futureproof" your machine. You can only delay the next inevitable upgrade that you will have to make.

 

[chief]

i would say buy a 2 gtx 260s and sli them if your have 2 PCI e slots if not get a gtx 280

 

[Artinz]

Get a 4870, these things are amazing. I upgraded to a 4870x2 after I saw how amazing my 4870 was. You could overclock it to full with no downsides. If you do get it though, make sure to unlock overdrive in Catalyst Control Center, and turn your fan to around 40-50%, so your card keeps a cool 40 degrees celcius. I have a bias against nVidia cards after all of mine failed on me, so I won't tell you to get one of those, but in my honest opinion, the 4870 is great.

 

[Cut Chem!st]

Alright. Thinking ill just go with the 280 (no sli), but the big question is will I see a fps increase in tf2 by getting this new gpu? Or is tf2 that CPU limited.

 

[Kaine]

TF2 is not all that GPU intensive unless you crank up the AA to max (and even then it's not bad). If you have had AA enabled on your 8800 you will see vast improvements going to a higher end card such as a 280.

That said the game is highly CPU bound, but anything over say a 2Ghz duo core should have no trouble maxing the game with triple digit FPS assuming other decent components.

I'm biased against SLI/X-fire setups personally as I don't need them (don't run a very high res) and especially since you can get almost as much millage out of a single powerful card. Plenty of games have duel card issues (some don't utilize them, others actually run worse with more than 1 GPU enabled) so I would suggest a single card, again tho this is based on personal needs and preference. I for one am not made of cash (nor would I buy duel GPU setups even if I was) but I find it hard to justify spending the extra $250-500 unless you really need it (high resolution) when even under the best possible conditions you'll be very lucky to see even 50% more performance on GPU bound games.

All in all I would suggest a 216 core 260. 280 if you want to spend a bit more since you seem to prefer nvidia.

 

[Artinz]

You know whats wierd? I turned my AA up, and the edges got more ragedy... I was like, WTF?

 

[Cut Chem!st]

TF2 is not all that GPU intensive unless you crank up the AA to max (and even then it's not bad). If you have had AA enabled on your 8800 you will see vast improvements going to a higher end card such as a 280.

That said the game is highly CPU bound, but anything over say a 2Ghz duo core should have no trouble maxing the game with triple digit FPS assuming other decent components.

I'm biased against SLI/X-fire setups personally as I don't need them (don't run a very high res) and especially since you can get almost as much millage out of a single powerful card. Plenty of games have duel card issues (some don't utilize them, others actually run worse with more than 1 GPU enabled) so I would suggest a single card, again tho this is based on personal needs and preference. I for one am not made of cash (nor would I buy duel GPU setups even if I was) but I find it hard to justify spending the extra $250-500 unless you really need it (high resolution) when even under the best possible conditions you'll be very lucky to see even 50% more performance on GPU bound games.

All in all I would suggest a 216 core 260. 280 if you want to spend a bit more since you seem to prefer nvidia.

Triple digit? Maybe in spawn, everywhere else in combat its about 45 fps and dipping as low as 35.. dont know what you are talking about. This is with a quad... Unless you mean "decent" as over a 8800 GTS 512.

 

[Kaine]

Triple digit? Maybe in spawn, everywhere else in combat its about 45 fps and dipping as low as 35.. dont know what you are talking about. This is with a quad... Unless you mean "decent" as over a 8800 GTS 512.

Well 35-40 even during combat does seem a bit low even for an 8800, running the newest drivers? Updated DirectX and the likes?

Either way tho yes, I have a rig I sometimes play on and on a stock speed q6600 and a 4850 again stock speed with all the settings maxed it still breaks triple digit FPS during most combat, may drop slightly below 100 but nowhere near even 80.

I assume your running with maxed AA currently? That would explain some of your low FPS. Older cards seem to have problems when you enable AA, current cards lose very little power even with that eye candy enabled, so you should have a huge increase in performance. Again with my main rig (sig) I average in the 130-180 range, lows of 110 give or take highs into the 200's.

Good luck Chem, you really should benefit considerably from a new card.

Also a very nice site for tweaking quite a few games, lots and lots of good tips and guides here: http://www.tweakguides.com/ Just so happens they have an HL2 / Orange Box guide.

Another thing you can do as well for a quick benchmark is if you have it, CSS (counterstrike source) has a built in benchmark. Now it does not use the exact same engine as the orange box, but it does provide a standard. My main gaming rig is in the area of 210-220 FPS with max settings and max AA/AF. If you have the game it could be an easy quick way to compare systems from before and after you upgrade

 

[Cut Chem!st]

I actually don't have AA on or AF for that matter, and I have everything updated.. Tf2 is just weird with some cards and I seem to be the odd man out. (just checking that it isnt my cpu ). On cod4 I dont drop below 90 fps...

Also, the 4850 is more powerful than my card and what would you consider "normal" for my system? 50-45 fps in combat?

 

[Kaine]

I actually don't have AA on or AF for that matter, and I have everything updated.. Tf2 is just weird with some cards and I seem to be the odd man out. (just checking that it isnt my cpu ). On cod4 I dont drop below 90 fps...

Also, the 4850 is more powerful than my card and what would you consider "normal" for my system? 50-45 fps in combat?

Hard to say for sure, somewhere in that area I imagine. Been a year since I've run an 8800.

 

[malalla]

if u r going to go for ATI coose the Radeon 4870 X2

 

[Vader]

The HD 4870 would be the cheapest of all listed, a good 500W could run a single HD 4870 perfectly.

 

[Cut Chem!st]

Yeah, im just going to get the GTX 280. I also take another look at the 4870, whats the difference between the 512 and 1g?\


Thanks for all the help.

 

[JunK]

it is noticeable if you're running at high resolutions, and or running high amounts of AA/AF. thats when the 1 GB really pumps up your card

 

[Kaine]

Yeah, im just going to get the GTX 280. I also take another look at the 4870, whats the difference between the 512 and 1g?


Thanks for all the help.

Very minimal difference if any at all on everything except a very large resolution. Once you get up there tho (24" or later monitor give or take assuming your using native resolution) the 1GB version pulls ahead although not by huge amounts.

The only reason to really have a 512 version if like me you purchased it long before the 1GB version was released. Buying now considering prices it would be very worth it to go with the 1GB version.

Not sure what junk is basing it on, but the difference between the 512 and 1GB has no bearing on the FPS hit with AA/AF.

Good luck with the 280, very nice card.

 

[ZANtehMAN!]

3 gigs of ddr 3 i asume right?