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How does CPU Speed Impact Graphics Performance?

Posted by malebolgia on 04 August 2004 - 16:23 · 15 comments & 1979 views

For the most part, we ultimately make our purchasing decisions based on price. If we have $200 to spend on a processor, it doesn't matter how fast an Extreme Edition runs our apps and games unless it sells for $200. It's the price point that determines what our options are, and then we look at the best performer at that price point to make our final decision. But when upgrading, it's sometimes difficult to know when to upgrade various components - especially a CPU.

If you have a 2.4GHz Pentium 4, is it worth it to upgrade to a 3.4GHz P4 in order to get greater performance in Doom 3? Or is your 2.4GHz P4 paired up just fine with a NVIDIA 6800GT? These next set of graphs are designed to help you see the type of CPU scaling you can expect out of a high end card like the GeForce 6800 Ultra, or a slower card like the Radeon 9800 Pro.

News source: AnandTech

Cont...

Besides exposing plans for a Sudeki sequel, the ad also appeared to reveal two other new games: The Final Option and Dragon Wars. No further information was revealed for those titles, although the listing also mentions Codename Avalon, Climax's previously announced mystery project for next-generation consoles.

Given Sudeki's lackluster critical reception, many industry watchers wondered if Climax will stick with its plans to a sequel. Reps for Climax did not respond to inquiries as of press time.

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#1 Posted by falconnian on 04 Aug 2004 - 16:34: interesting.

#2 Posted by nookadum on 04 Aug 2004 - 16:54: Well, running Doom 3 on my Pentium 2.4c@3.0c with a Radeon 9550 (1024x76 is okay on my part.

I don't really need anything above a 2nd generation Northwood with a well-balanced video card. But that's just me.

#3 Posted by Mystical112 on 04 Aug 2004 - 17:46: coo....

#4 Posted by thenay on 04 Aug 2004 - 18:05: My 256mb 5600 FX and 2.6C OC @ 3ghz with HT works gr8 @ 1024x768 on high.
I'm so glad I bought that card with 256mb of ram

(2 replies) #5 Posted by Gary_Player on 04 Aug 2004 - 18:23: Someone did a benchmark sometime last year comparing the performance with a radeon 9700 and a 486, a PII and a P4...the differences were next to nothing in most of 3dmark 2003 and alot of other apps

#6 Posted by nic on 04 Aug 2004 - 19:08: Wow! This exactly answers what I keep asking in the Doom 3 threads!

#7 Posted by CheeseCow on 04 Aug 2004 - 19:14: For some reason I get a lot lower framerate in UT2k4 onslaught and assult than in standard deathmatch. I currently have an AthlonXP 3000 and a GFX5900. I think that a faster CPU would help in those cases. And perhaps in transfering textures from RAM --> GFX card?

#8 Posted by nic on 04 Aug 2004 - 19:19: Ummm...well.. while this article is interesting it doesn't really answer my question: What helps performance in areas w/ lots of activity going on?

I've found that my average frame rate is about 15fps when there is high activiy whether I'm in 1280x1024 or 800x600. Even though the average framerate at 1280x1024 is around 50 and my average framerate at 800x600 is around 60. The "timedemo" thing doesn't really take any moving creatures into account, so how is this a good way of comparing performance?

I want to know what will make the high activity points in the game perform better, GPU or CPU!

[edit]I can't really figure it out. I would think CPU (in these areas) would have a higher borded due to AI of the monsters, and you firing your gun. While GPU has a higher borden due to the increase in moving objects and polygons.[/edit]

#9 Posted by angrybrit on 04 Aug 2004 - 19:35: Video Card upgrade route is better.

#10 Posted by [ timko ] on 04 Aug 2004 - 19:52: Nice to see the AMD 64 pee all over Intel for once

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showd...aspx?i=2149&p=7

#11 Posted by altermind on 04 Aug 2004 - 20:19: I've a 2.1 ghz cpu (wont say which one)
and a FX 5900 ultra...

I can run doom3 completly maxed out... 1280 by 1024 on ultra with 8x aa

never drops below 50 fps.. ever

#12 Posted by SimplyPotatoes on 04 Aug 2004 - 20:55: celeron d 4 life brotha!

#13 Posted by ork on 04 Aug 2004 - 22:08: i have 1 Ghz P3 with FX 5600XT . I am depressed

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