Which processor should i go for?

[pyronox]

i just got my 4870 recently and i ran crysis benchmark and at the maxed out setting i found out that my processor was bottle-necking the performance. could anyone please suggest a decent processor to buy.

 

[Axon]

What is your budget?

I run Crysis at 1440x900 all maxed out on a Intel C2D E8400 + 8800GT + 4GB RAM.

 

[kruger]

I saw on CompUSA/Tiger Direct pricing for a nice Quad core such as the Q6600 prices are down to $189.99. It is a really great processor and not too expensive. Of course if you have more resources, you can go with something even faster.

 

[pyronox]

well i can go for something in between 200$-300$. It will take some time to get that much moneys cause i got the graphic card very recently. so yeah.i just want it to be worth it. oh btw whats your average fps on crysis when maxed out Axon?oh and one more additional question, will the most powerful quad core out in the market right now will it be able to work on my current mobo? im using a 400W power supply for the time being. will i have to change that as well with the purchase of the new processor?

 

[xguntherc]

you should get the e8500.. or even better the new E8600. I've seen some great things with those chips.. they are very easily hitting 4 Ghz on air. and more.

other than that I'd recommend the Q6700, it's got an extra multiplier over the Q6600.. and it's a little newer. but they are old chips. but they are solid.

 

[Fumz]

E8400 is the best bang for the buck.

45nm Quads are a bit more expensive, but if you play games that can take advantage of 4 cores, then go for it... but if you don't, the E8400 is more than enough cpu.

 

[pyronox]

cheers people. if u guys keep getting more info on this just keep adding. I could use more knowledge.

 

[Fumz]

There's really nothing more to say. The Intel 45nm Wolfdale is the best cpu to date for us mere mortals. The only question is what flavor: dual or quad core? Right now very few games take advantage of quad cores, and, more importantly, games aren't cpu limited; rather, they're gpu limited. Clearly, you've got that pesky gpu issue out of the way.

If you're the type that keeps a cpu for a long while (relative term i know), then the quad may be for you. If however you swap cores about once a year, then the cheaper E8400 is for you because Nehalem is coming soon... which will make current quads seems like Commodore 64's.

 

[pyronox]

woha! boy was i surprised with the result of "Nehalem" when i wikie'd it. Damn its a killer technology. Well then i guess ill survive on the E8400 for now. tell me ... when the Nahalem processors do arrive it will requre a completly new mobo with a totally new look on the FSB yeah?

and yeah i will fall in the mere mortal category! easily!

 

[Fumz]

You'll need a new board, but they'll use DDR3, so if you get that now, it'll carry over.

**edit**

You can get DDR3 right now, but why though? DDR2 is just insanely cheap and it performs just about as good as DDR3, sometimes better given the right timings. With Nehalem so close, your best bet would be to just get a solid, stable Intel chipset, like a P35 for ~ $100.00, 4GB of DDR2 for ~ $80.00-$100.00, the E8400 and call it a day. With that phat graphics card you've got, there isn't a game short of Crysis you can't max out.

In a year from now, after DDR3 has dropped in price and increased in both speed and timings, and boards have matured, then jump on Nehalem and multi-cores. By then we should be seeing games that can actually use 4 or more cores... and you won't have to sacrifice an arm and a leg... for all systems are soon to be outdated.

 

[JulesAndAl]

You'll need a new board, but they'll use DDR3, so if you get that now, it'll carry over.

**edit**

You can get DDR3 right now, but why though? DDR2 is just insanely cheap and it performs just about as good as DDR3, sometimes better given the right timings. With Nehalem so close, your best bet would be to just get a solid, stable Intel chipset, like a P35 for ~ $100.00, 4GB of DDR2 for ~ $80.00-$100.00, the E8400 and call it a day. With that phat graphics card you've got, there isn't a game short of Crysis you can't max out.

In a year from now, after DDR3 has dropped in price and increased in both speed and timings, and boards have matured, then jump on Nehalem and multi-cores. By then we should be seeing games that can actually use 4 or more cores... and you won't have to sacrifice an arm and a leg... for all systems are soon to be outdated.

Great advice Fumz, it's always better to wait a while on a new products release to let prices stabilize, and to find out it's true effectiveness from reviews of people who are actually using the products, rather than simply relying on benchmarks from <insert favorite site here>.

I recall the long lineup of people in shotgun formation waiting to get their hands on the "new true quad core Phenom" :D

 

[Axon]

well i can go for something in between 200$-300$. It will take some time to get that much moneys cause i got the graphic card very recently. so yeah.i just want it to be worth it. oh btw whats your average fps on crysis when maxed out Axon?oh and one more additional question, will the most powerful quad core out in the market right now will it be able to work on my current mobo? im using a 400W power supply for the time being. will i have to change that as well with the purchase of the new processor?

55-60 before Alien invasion,
25-30 after Alien invasion.

 

[pyronox]

cheers dude appreciate the help