Potential bottlenecking help?

[beauganster]

Hello, I was upgrading my current build so i could max out diablo 3 at 1920x1080. I would like to start my build from scratch but didnt want to spend the money right now.

So I upgraded the PSU/GPU thinking that would work until i could rebuild. After doing the upgrade/clean install of drivers, the fps is nice and high in the cities/small fights. but as soon as i hit a big fight/lots of effects ill slow to a crawling 15-20 fps until its done. clearly thats what i was trying to fix.

The GPU i purchased is a XFX 6950 2gb ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150549 )
The psu is a OCZ Fatal1ty 750w modular ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341041 )

I figured i would go much higher than what i needed for D3, just in case. and then later reuse the PSU/GPU in the new build.

Now that im still having the issues, im wondering if i need to rebuild, or if just a simple processor upgrade(if thats my issue) could hold me over until i can afford a complete rebuild with an i5-2550k.

Possibly a Phenom II x4 965? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727


Current build.

AMD Phenom 9650 x4 2.3ghz

Gigabyte GA-MA785GM-US2H mobo

2x2gb ddr2 ram 800mhz

and a 1.5TB 5400rpm hdd(i think)

any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[bartholomew]

Yes, your CPU is bottlenecking your 6950.
With an upgrade to 965 BE, you should be fine.

 

[rolli59]

Agreed on the 965BE! Just make sure you update the board BIOS to the correct one before upgrading http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3447# and select the correct version of the board so you have the correct BIOS.

 

[beauganster]

now with those specs, including a 965 BE i should be able to run D3 smoothly correct?

I really didnt want to sink anymore money into this build, but a 120 dollar processor upgrade is better than spending 800 dollars that im not looking to spend right now

 

[beauganster]

another question. never had to do a bios update, but according to this chart, http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=3447

it says the 9650 and 965 BE are supported since bios verison F8, therefore i should not necessarily have to update bios correct?

 

[rolli59]

Correct if you have the right revision of the board, that is rev3.3.

 

[bartholomew]

Yes, your Bios rev. will support the 965BE. No need to update your bios.
D3 should run fine.

 

[beauganster]

I ordered a 965BE, it should be here tomorrow, ill install and then give feedback. im hoping for the best.

 

[beauganster]

just installed. still having lag issues, maybe even worse than before. pc gaming drives me crazy. im not sure what it could be now..

AMD Phenom II x4 965 BE

Gigabyte MA785GM-US2H

2x2gb 800mhz ddr 2 ram

XFX 6950 2gb

OCZ Fatal1ty 750 W

 

[rolli59]

What about your internet connection? The hardware should not be creating a lag.

 

[beauganster]

road runner lightning 40mbps dont think its that haha

 

[rolli59]

You should be playing it fine http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/diablo-iii-performance-benchmark,3195-5.html

 

[beauganster]

only issue with that benchmark is its in a low population area in act 1, that area isnt real heavy, but i agree, i shouldnt be having any trouble. my internet is great, my system is more than sufficient, but even on low graphics settings im getting crazy fps drops. has to be a driver/blizzard problem i guess.

 

[beauganster]

i was talking to someone in the general chat in diablo iii and they suggested moving the entire d3 folder to a separate drive or flashdrive, apparently diablo has a coding problem now where its constantly reading from the hdd instead of storing in ram(i think thats what it is, not entirely sure) apparently they are patching it now.

I went and bought a 16gb flashdrive moved the folder and sure enough its running 10x better.

still not perfect for what my specs are, but maintaining 60fps on ultra settings with the occasional hiccup now instead of every time action happens. definitely playable now.

if anyone else is having similar problems also try putting it in windowed mode or fullscreen/window seems to run better than fullscreen. thanks for all the help.

 

[beauganster]

Best answer selected by beauganster.

 

[rolli59]

i was talking to someone in the general chat in diablo iii and they suggested moving the entire d3 folder to a separate drive or flashdrive, apparently diablo has a coding problem now where its constantly reading from the hdd instead of storing in ram(i think thats what it is, not entirely sure) apparently they are patching it now.

I went and bought a 16gb flashdrive moved the folder and sure enough its running 10x better.

still not perfect for what my specs are, but maintaining 60fps on ultra settings with the occasional hiccup now instead of every time action happens. definitely playable now.

if anyone else is having similar problems also try putting it in windowed mode or fullscreen/window seems to run better than fullscreen. thanks for all the help.

That was an interesting solution, so a SSD would help.

 

[beauganster]

yeah SSD would definitely help, holding out until a new build, this will do until blizzard patches i guess.. its happening to people with top of the line rigs as well. who knows maybe i didnt need to upgrade at all.

 

[rolli59]

yeah SSD would definitely help, holding out until a new build, this will do until blizzard patches i guess.. its happening to people with top of the line rigs as well. who knows maybe i didnt need to upgrade at all.

My son is playing it fine on a Athlon x2 and HD6850!

 

[beauganster]

not effecting all people, not sure what me and the other people with these problems have in common, its not just ati or just nvidia. people running 580's are still having this problem.