3800+X2 bottlenecking, need an upgrade, 5200+?

[vadim]

Hi , my first post here ^^

recently bought a 4850 HD and found that my cpu is bottlenecking it (4k too few point on 3dmark06).

what AMD processor should I buy to remove the CPU bottleneck ? will it even make a difference ? (the 5600+ is as high as I can go price wise)

 

[one-shot]

I had the same cpu you had. I found it was too slow and upgraded to an e6750 oc'd to 3.6ghz. I would recommend you get the new cpu. The prices are low and it'll definitely be worth the upgrade. I recently checked on Newegg and AMD is offering a newer Black Edition CPU with an unlocked multiplier which should help you overclock easier(if that's what you have in mind).

 

[vadim]

can't overclock since I can't change voltages in my bios, stuiped motherboard,
will 2.7-2.9 GHz increase performance alot over my 2.1GHz 3800+ ?

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

Is that a socket 939? If so, youll find it hard to get a better cpu for your mobo. Try ocing the cpu. Hows the gaming? 3DMark is extremelt cpu dependent, and really doesnt show in comparisons in the games you play

 

[vadim]

gaming is bottlenecked ...

 

[kawininjazx]

If its a 939, dont put any money in it.

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

Get the fastest cpu you can

 

[firetatoo]

YES. the 5600+ should be an improvement.

 

[elbert]

I suggest saving your money for xmas. Intel and AMD are releasing new CPU's so you should atleast get some lower prices. I wouldnt suggest upgrading any dual core with another. Any current dual core upgrade is about the same as buying an P3 to replace and older P3. Point is one wouldnt outlast the other by much.

I suggest waiting around xmas and buying a new motherboard, CPU, and RAM for that GPU.

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

Unfortunately, its harder to find benchmarks using AMD processors. But you will see improvements as the faster the cpu, the faster the fps, especially with that gpu

 

[ozwald56]

When I had my 4000+ (OC'ed to 2.6 GHz) with my 4850, I could not play Stalker (w/Oblivion lost mod) with everything maxed out (vision distance, shadow quality, etc.). Recently, I got a new 6400+, and with that same 4850 I can play Stalker with everything maxed out and the lowest I ever see is about 55 fps. I would definitely say that your CPU is a bottleneck for the 4850.

 

[SanDiego]

most of the high end cards need your cpu at 3.0ghz and higher to run at their optimum potential, i have a 939 AMD 3800+ and i have a current overclock of 2.8ghz, if i were you i would see if i could push the cpu faster before i went for an upgrade, just watch your temps

 

[ozwald56]

most of the high end cards need your cpu at 3.0ghz and higher to run at their optimum potential, i have a 939 AMD 3800+ and i have a current overclock of 2.8ghz, if i were you i would see if i could push the cpu faster before i went for an upgrade, just watch your temps

Even if you could get your 3800+ to 3.0 GHz, (which would be a heck of an overclock), it would not be near as fast as a 6000+ at 3.0 GHz (its stock speed).

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

We still dont know if its a single, which is the 3800+, so maybe it is, which means that its skt 939, which means any dual core would help this setup alot, let alone ocees. Good luck finding a skt 939 for a good price.

 

[ahslan]

the faster processor will definitely help out...

 

[vadim]

its an X2 - dual core (didn't know what skt 939 means). my motherboard doesn't support 125watts chips so phenom and 6000/6400 is impossible, and as stated above overclock is impossible with my mobo.

I can get a 5200+ x2 at 100$ (don't live in europe or USA) clocked at 2.7 and i can probbly get it to 2.8,
would that get me a bit of headroom for the upcoming games this fall ?

 

[ozwald56]

The socket is the interface between your processor and your motherboard. If your mobo is socket 939, then you won't have very many good upgrade options and you should probably not put any more money into your computer until you get a new mobo. If it's socket AM2, then you have more upgrade options and you would see a performance increase by buying a faster processor.

 

[vadim]

oh its AM2

 

[ozwald56]

Then upgrade. You should see quite a performance increase going from a 3800+ to a 5200+ or higher.

 

[vadim]

thanks,

maybe someone has seen some benchmark lying around the world wide web?
the ones on this site aren't gaming oriented.

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

As I said, most sites world wide use Intel cpus when they review. For a comparison, shave about .6 off an Intel clock speed and youll be close to what youll get

 

[epsilon84]

A stock X2 3800+ is a massive bottleneck for a HD4850 (as you unfortunately found out) but a X2 5200+ wouldn't be *that* much better either (we're talking a relatively modest jump from 2GHz to 2.7GHz here) You could probably overclock your current CPU to X2 5200+ speeds or higher, then again you can push an X2 5200+ to 3GHz or more pretty easily, but still, thats only a minor improvement, all things considered. If I were you I'd just overclock your current CPU as far as you can and see how much that reduces the bottleneck, it should definitely make games more playable but it'd still trail a Phenom or Core 2 system quite badly in CPU bound games. Unfortunately the X2 is starting to show its age in games and as Elbert pointed out its really not worth upgrading from an X2 to a slightly faster X2, you'll be much better off saving a bit more and getting a faster, more modern CPU.

 

[vadim]

unfortunatly and stated several times overclock is impossible, and motherboard doesn't support phenom or 6000/6400's , I think I might save a little to get a new motherboard and CPU,

thanks everyone .

P.S : how are the phenom X4 opposed to the Intel quads, they are clocked much lower... are they still powerful?

 

[amdfangirl]

^ They are slower mostly... Your better off with a Q6600 or E8400...

What video card do you have?

 

[vadim]

might want to read my first post

"recently bought a 4850 HD and found that my cpu is bottlenecking it (4k too few point on 3dmark06). "