Author Topic: Frame Rate Vs. CPU (Read 509 times)

Sundiver · « **on:** September 26, 2003, 09:21:00 PM »

Does the type/speed of the CPU really make that big of an impact on the framerate? I recall seeing something to that effect recently. I'd always assumed the graphics card played the biggest role.
I'm running a 1.8 Celeron, can I really expect to see a substantial FR increase if I go with a "real" CPU?

bockko · « **Reply #1 on:** September 26, 2003, 09:38:37 PM »

duuuuuude, get a dell. seriously, there are several "thresholds" or bottlenecks you need to be aware of. 1st, cpu power: the celeron runs on 100 mhz (newer ones 133mhz) memory bus speed. What does this mean? it means that while your cpu may be fast enough to crunch the data to keep up, your memory bus can't get the needed data to the cpu, so your motherboard/cpu combo becomes a bottleneck. You may get a degree of relief if you have a good agp card. The celeron also has small but fast cache memory, but still not in the class of a P4. In fact, consider the celeron a P4 that has been hamstrung. I had a 1.8 gig p4 with 133 mhz memory that i rebuilt with a new p4 2.4 gig and the dual 400 mhz ddr. the old setup was ok if i kept resolution lower and 16 bit, but the new setup runs fast in high res 32 bit. never stutters. My gforce 4 ti200 vid card is ok but can't push antialiasing like the new ati 9800 vid cards. The newer athlons and p4's are waaaaay faster than a celeron ever can be. oh, and dont worry about max frame rate, worry about MINIMUM frame rate -- like around a smoky field and 40 planes. If you can fly smoothly there you are in good shape. I know guys who have to stay out of hot spots to avoid frame rate deaths. bottle neck #2: video card - a slow card on a good system will hurt frame rate. make sure you have a gforce 4 or better or ati 9600/9800. And avoid the mx versions of the gforce cards. A gforce 3 may be alright but will be challenged.

if you get a modern cpu, like a p4 2.4 dual ddr setup, you will LOVE it. of course, you could get an athlon but they are more tempermental. if you have $$$ the a 3 gig.. smmooookin! you can get the 2.4 gig for about 170; motherboard around 110 (or more if you are $$) and memory for about 150 (you would need 2 sticks of memory to enable the dual ddr, which is veeerry nice), so 2 256 meg sticks works ok, 2 512 sticks better. Of course these days you could buy a system for $1200 bucks that would run the game great, just make sure you get the right cpu/memory combo and a good agp vid card, not integrated motherboard garbage.

good luck!

WhiteHawk · « **Reply #2 on:** September 26, 2003, 10:21:35 PM »

How do u build a system?

bockko · « **Reply #3 on:** September 27, 2003, 12:28:49 AM »

its not too hard; in short, here goes:
1st the choices:
1 - operating system - win xp is best ms offering at this time.
2 - architecture - say, p4 dual ddr; cpu choice dictates your mother board selection and vice versa; p4 2.4's (400 mhz dual ddr) can be had around 170, mobo around 120. Intel's 865 and 875 chipsets are great.
3- memory - match memory to cpu and motherboard chipset - for the cpu above, you want pc3200 memory, 2 sticks.
4 - what can you salvage from old system? hard drive? maybe, vid card? maybe if its good; sound card? maybe, if its good. Monitor? speakers? keyboard? cd rom? floppy drive? you may have to get usb joystick if you have a sound card type, or still use sound card.
-so the first 3 are the biggies - cpu, ram, motherboard, o/s.
you can a motherboard with decent sound and lan onboard, so scratch sound card, lan card; here is your shopping list
-motherboard
-cpu
-ram
-OS (of course, win 98 works but hey, xp is smmooooth)
-hard drive
-cd rom/dvd/cdrw although plain cheap cdrom is fine
-floppy drive, makes life easy
-video card
-keyboard mouse
-case with p4 compatible power supply
-speakers

that is a basic list. these days, if you are careful, you can assemble a pc in a few hours and be running. many people buy top of the line (note $$$) components then overclock. I for one just run stock, rather than spend several hundred dollars extra for cooling, cas 2 ram etc, i'd just as soon just buy a better proc right out of the box. but some guys build hot rod cars, others build hot rod pc's and i say more power to them! but for ah, you can run great stock.

check http://www.googlegear.com or http://www.newegg.com for great deals. I like googlegear myself.

Sundiver · « **Reply #4 on:** September 27, 2003, 06:04:57 AM »

Ya know Bockk, that's all great and I already knew all that having built this system which has a rocking video card in it. Which is why I asked a /very/ specific question which you still really didn't answer.

I get an acceptable FR in heavy combat situations. I just wanted to know if I could expect to see a significant FR increase with a non-castrated CPU as opposed to a Celeron.

I currently run a very nice 3ghz machine. Just not as a platform for AH. If I'll see a significant FR increase over say 20FPS minimum then I'll upgrade my current 1.8ghz AH rig to the higher specs as well.

MaddogJoe · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2003, 08:09:57 AM »

I think he did answer your question. He said that the celaron has a low bus speed to the motherboard and causes a bottleneck. So if ya get an upgrade to a P4 or athlon it has a better bus speed and there for will give you an increase in FR.

However, if it ain't borke, don't fix it !!! You said it good now, save your bucks till it isn't so good.... like maybe after AH2 starts

WhiteHawk · « **Reply #6 on:** September 27, 2003, 10:14:25 AM »

ok..i ned to buy a book on the subject but, I gotta p4 1.7gHz processor and a 845 intel MOBO. The MOBO does not support DDR. I want to buy a 865 GLC intel MOBO and swap it out with my 845. But I know there must be a compatibility issue somewhere in there. Any advice?

PS I am prepared to buy a better processor if the MOBO thing is doable.

Nilsen · « **Reply #7 on:** September 27, 2003, 10:48:13 AM »

Not sure if Dell is the way to go Bockko but I agree with you on the rest. Im building my own system based on AMD xp2500+ and I hope it will be finished sometime before xmas.

From what I've heard the AMD's give more BANG for the buck and you can't get a dell based on AMD. Not sure about this but I've also heard that dell uses its own connectors and stuff to make sure you will have to upgrade using the dell store if you wish to do so later. But as I said, im not sure about this at all.

bockko · « **Reply #8 on:** September 27, 2003, 11:05:43 AM »

mr sundiver, maddog joe is correct, you will see a vast improvement if you get better platform. if you upgraded to 3.0 gig your system would most likely never hiccup or stutter. your bottom end frame rate would be somewhere near your monitor's max - mine is 75, i buzz through smokey low base fights and never see the system pause. I hope this helps, I just thought i'd answer because I have been where you are and did upgrade. if you could try the game on your 3 gig setup you could test it, even if just offline. you'd see if it is worth it.