A CPU for an extremely CPU intensive game

[neigenoire]

A while ago I bought a new video card - a Sapphire 7850 1gb. For the game in question I could probably benefit from 2GB of vRAM, but overall I am very satisfied with this card. The game itself - Mount and Blade Warband, isn't that taxing as far as GPUs go (I can run a 1000 troop battle with all graphics settings on max or low - there is no fps difference whatsoever), but on the CPU side it's a freaking monster.

What CPU would you use for this game to have no less than 30 fps on a 1000 troop battle? AFAIK, it's not very well optimised for multicore processors above 2 cores. There are people who force single-threading and achieve better FPS. I am open to overclocking as long as the voltage is kept untouched. Buying an aftermarket cooler and tampering with voltage is not my type of thing, but I guess I MIGHT have a go at it at some point in the future.

A while back I was going to buy a Phenom II x4 965 as it's quite cheap and runs pretty much any modern game well enough, but obviously this won't be the best option if I want the best possible performance out of this particular game.

 

[902]

What processor do you have? if it's not very well optimized for multi core processors i guess you could stick with an i3 but i would go for an unlocked intel processor as you could get better out of the 2 cores an i5 3570k would be the highest you should consider, even though it's a 4 core it still is unlocked but you said you do not like tampering with voltages so again an i3 should do the job an i3 3220 is the best i3 out? someone else should be able to shed more light on that.

I checked the best i could find is an i3 3240.

 

[random stalker]

depends on your budget... Phenom II if it's tight, intel i5 if it's good, i7 if it's limitless...
Just stay away from newer AMD APU processors - their single thread is on par with old Phenoms II (though their multithead is in another league) 😱)

 

[neigenoire]

@ 902, Thank you for your reply. I have an old AMD Athlon II x2 260. The Sapphire video card is the first upgrade I've had since buying this computer some 2 years ago.
@ random stalker, My budget is definitely not limitless, but I guess I could manage i5 once I save up a bit more.

 

[902]

if you think you'll only play that one game for another year or two i would go for the i3 because the game does not take advantage of more than 2 cores, according to you. If you want to multi task an i5 would be better, bear in mind you will need a new motherboard and ram(maybe) if it's ddr3 you're fine. just being thorough.

 

[random stalker]

@ 902, Thank you for your reply. I have an old AMD Athlon II x2 260. The Sapphire video card is the first upgrade I've had since buying this computer some 2 years ago.
@ random stalker, My budget is definitely not limitless, but I guess I could manage i5 once I save up a bit more.

well, the way I see it, it is
either
- you get a phenom II - since it is an am3 processor it should fit in your motherboard /you have to check first, because I am not 100% sure.../
or
- get a new mobo + i3/i5... /and possibly some RAM too.../ which will cost you an arm and leg....

 

[neigenoire]

Yup, and that's another problem for the wallet. My current motherboard supports AMD Phenom processors (but not FX family), so if I simply bought the 965BE, it would cost me just $100 and the performance would be decent. Buying an i3 or i5 + motherboard will be 3 times that sum of money for a performance boost that... now that I think of it, probably won't represent an adequate increase in price/performance ratio. Ah, decisions, decisions.

 

[random stalker]

well, if it was me, I'd go for the phenom II.
and then I'd put every month 20-50 usd /+ whatever is left from my cpu budget/ in my cookie jar so I can grant my computer a massive overhaul when the time comes /which will come in 2 years tops/ 😱)

 

[902]

i'd get the phenom and an after market cooler first before i decide to save away. getting the BE and not over clocking is a waste.

 

[joeh_87]

@ 902, Thank you for your reply. I have an old AMD Athlon II x2 260. The Sapphire video card is the first upgrade I've had since buying this computer some 2 years ago.
@ random stalker, My budget is definitely not limitless, but I guess I could manage i5 once I save up a bit more.

if your motherboard supports a Phenom II X4 965BE

Go for it.. Best thing i bought to go along side my 7850 without rebuilding, more than capable CPU imho and you'll notice a huge upgrade going from a Athlon II x2

while a I5 build is the BEST option for CPU intensive games it's also an expensive rebuild

I got my Phenom II x4 965 on offer for £60.

 

[neigenoire]

Well, I guess it's decided then - I will go with 965 to save money for now. Not sure about over clocking, though. How much would a decent heatsink for this CPU cost?

 

[902]

i think the hyper 212 evo would be good, i'll look around for benchies it costs about £25 here

you could reach 4ghz quite safely, you will get roughly 3.8ghz on stock voltage i think it's better stay below 1.55v and 60c

 

[iam2thecrowe]

get an i3 2xxx or 3xxx, its as fast as the 965 in games that use more than 2 cores and faster in games that use 3 cores or less, it has much better per-core performance.

 

[902]

get an i3 2xxx or 3xxx, its as fast as the 965 in games that use more than 2 cores and faster in games that use 3 cores or less, it has much better per-core performance.

as said before above the OP would have to get a new mobo and maybe new ram which will cost more than just the processor, it's not a worthwhile upgrade

 

[simon12]

+1 get the 965 its a good match for the 7850 and newer games are using better making it as good as the i3s and you don't need an i5 unless you get a better GPU (assuming your gaming at 1080 or more).