Compatibility Issue - GTX 550ti , Intel E8400 CPU

[tswift]

Question:

Can anyone please tell they would foresee any compatibility issues with this CPU & GPU Configuration.....

Intel E8400 Core 2 Duo
Nvidia Geforce GTX 550ti
750w Power Supply
Nforce 680i SLI Mother Board
SB X-Fi Xtreme Gamer


This is an Alienware System I bought Spring 2008 and the Nivida 8800gt recently crashed and I replaced it with GTX 550ti.

BFBC2 Plays extremely well, but when I play Battlefield 2 it crashes to desktop sometimes 4 to 5 times an hour.

I play at 1920x1200 on a HNC 254i 25" Monitor FYI. (Default display settings after graphic drivers were installed)


I know I should upgrade the entire system to a Quad Core but I'm trying to avoid spending the money. (i.e. Wife) lol

Any and all responses would be appreciated!

 

[geekapproved]

I don't see any compatability issues.

Did you download the latest drivers from Nvidia?

Have you updated BF2?

 

[tswift]

Yes, I downloaded the newest Vid Drivers from Nvidias website that had a release date of 8/11.

BF2 is running the latest patch 1.5

I was worried about bottlenecking being the issue, but BF:BC2 ran just fine. It's weird......

 

[Mousemonkey]

Yes, I downloaded the newest Vid Drivers from Nvidias website that had a release date of 8/11.

BF2 is running the latest patch 1.5

I was worried about bottlenecking being the issue, but BF:BC2 ran just fine. It's weird......

There is no 'bottleneck' ,I've had a pair of GTX560Ti's running in SLi on an E8400 and the framerates were high and buttery smooth.

 

[tswift]

That makes me feel a lot better about it then. I was about to return the GTX550ti and get a GTS450 thinking that may solve the crashing problem.

Think I should consider OC the CPU? Right now it's stock 3.0ghz

 

[Mousemonkey]

Changing the FSB to 1600mhz should give you about 3.6ghz on default voltage and slightly higher framerates.

 

[tswift]

Would that be the only setting I should change? Would the Motherboard come into play at that point? Pardon my ignorance 🙁

 

[Mousemonkey]

It's the only thing I have to change on my 680i to get 3.6ghz out of my E8400.

 

[tswift]

Nice, I'll see what I can do. I have an air cooled system which would be my only other concern I guess at this point then. Thanks for the input.

 

[Mousemonkey]

My E8400 rig is also air cooled but running the CPU at 3.6ghz has never been a problem.

 

[tswift]

SWEET! Wouldn't that be awesome to OC to 3.6ghz.

I'll continue to search for answers to my BF2 crashing issue, but again my biggest concern was whether or not I got to much Video Card for the rest of my system.

I'll keep you posted on the OC once I get brave enough to make that tweak.

 

[tswift]

FYI, I fixed the BF2 crashing problem by selecting properties from the desktop shortcut and under "Compatibility" selecting the XP Service Pack 2 Mode. Played 2 hours last night with 0 crashes.

Still haven't built the courage to OC my CPU just yet. hehe