Where to draw the line?

**thingie2** · #21 14th May 2008, 11:29

I was meaning also for gaming, would it greatly increase frame rates?

**alex** · #22 14th May 2008, 12:39

An extra 160mhz increase will help in gaming if it's on the gpu but the cpu? Nope, not unless it's a very low clocked one to begin with.

It'll depend on the resolution you're gaming at as well as that extra might just tip your rig over the 25fps minimum (my minimum frame rate anyway) to make a game playable. But that's also dependent on the rest of your rig's spec's and the detail settings you're running a particular game at.

Cache sizes near as make no odd's to frame rates.

**thingie2** · #23 14th May 2008, 13:26

hmm, well I have an 8800GTX as my GPU, and 2X 1280*1024 displays, however I am wishing to upgrade to a larger resolution when I can afford it, what would you say was the max resolution playable with this setup?

**Desertfish** · #24 16th May 2008, 03:48

I think the answer to your question is simle thingie2... Look at Alex's reply... If I were you, I'd go for the cheaper option, give in the extra 160Mhz on the CPU and put the money I save towards my second 8800GTX.

Cheers:
Chris

**thingie2** · #25 16th May 2008, 06:31

hmm, I might go for the cheaper option, still not that sure though.

**Desertfish** · #26 16th May 2008, 07:19

As Alex has pointed out (and Carbon is doing all the time...) for gaming the GPU is a lot more important than the CPU. The 2 8800GT's will be a lot more important than a 160 Mhz increase in the CPU speed.

You asked advice on where to draw the line and quite a few people are telling you where to draw it. However, it seems to me that you questions should have been to draw a line at all since you'd prefer to go the whole hog anyway...

Cheers:
Chris

**thingie2** · #27 16th May 2008, 08:19

Yea, but it's not only for gaming this CPU, it will also be used for 3D modling programs etc.

**Desertfish** · #28 16th May 2008, 09:52

Again the key word here is 3D. If you're using applications like 3D Studio Max or Maya they will rely on the GPU as much as on the CPU itself. If you're concerned about processing power while using 3D modelling or DTP allpications, then I would still advise you to stick to the cheapest solution as far as the CPU is concerned. An increase of 160 Mhz in CPU speed for £60 is nothing compared to the increase in RAM the same money will buy you. And RAM is what you will need for 3D modelling.

I'm currently running only an E2160 (1.8Ggz with a mere 800Mhz FSB) but I got 4GB of RAM in my system. Trust me, Photoshop, Illustrator, Painter, 3D Studio Max and Maya are running pretty fast on that.

Cheers:
Chris

**tomthedrummer1992** · #29 19th May 2008, 07:42

Thingie, as well as dabs be sure to look at www.ebuyer.com and www.novatech.co.uk

I got my CPU from Novatech as it was cheaper than from dabs.