Where is my bottleneck?

[DeltaHv]

I'm trying to figure out if my CPU or my video card is the bottleneck in my system (for playing games). It's a couple years old now and I'm trying to decide what my next upgrade will be. Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated.


I'm running a Pentium 4 2.4GHz, AGP Geforce6600 (256MB Video RAM), 1GB 1066 Rambus System RAM, Audigy2 Sound card. i850 Mobo Chipset

 

[Flakes]

GFX mostly so upgrading that will give you the most performance increase, but that CPU isnt top notch either less of an improvment on upgrading that but i would still improve stuff in the more CPU intensive games(UT2004, CS, Half Life 2 etc...)

just a thought what resolution do you play at? anything above 1024x768 i would upgrade the GFX, anything below(unlucky) i would upgrade the CPU...just a thought.

 

[margag_]

GFX is your 'talon d'achille' i consider a 6600 a minimum requirement to play games.(i own a 6600 budget card)

If you get a high end card it will boost your system a lot.

 

[Charlie6713]

I have nearly the same system,P4 2.4,850 chipset,768 RDram,and a 6800GT with 256MB. My question is: What is the largest CPU I can get for my Intel mobo? Thanks.

 

[DeathwingX]

the highest speed u could get would be 3.2 ghz but i would also consider upgrading ur grapics card to increase overall quailty

 

[gomerpile]

Get an AMD cant beat it but if pefer the P than shut down HT for a gameing machine.

 

[DeathwingX]

y would u shut down the ht? doesnt that speed everything up?

 

[gomerpile]

No it slow down the video frames speed but if you are playing a game and switching to different apps while the game is running than yes the cpu does perform better HT does speed the switching between maps baud connection but video graphics is an area it slows in my tests anyways and also a artical THG wrote but I have to get ready for work and will dig the info for ya.