Update My CPU help!

Hey all.

I have abit of a problem and not being the most computer savvy doesnt help to much! Basically Im looking to upgrade my CPU on my Nforce 680i SLI motherboard. Im currently using a Intel Quadcore 2.66ghz.

Sadly its time has come and Its bottlenecking my game performance as its pretty much the last thing i need to upgrade.

Basically I have no idea how to work out what kind of CPU my Motherboard can support? Also is it even worth Upgrading my CPU on this board or would it be worth upgrading my mother board also? If it is worth it what Processor would you recomend?

I have around £250 ($500) to spend on this upgrade and that would include paying someone to fit it for me because im not a pro when it comes to anything past fitting GPU's.

Thanks in advance!
Matt.

 

here is a link that might help you out
http://www.nvidia.com/content/nforce700i/nForce_Intel_CPU_List.pdf

why do you think the cpu is bottlenecking your system?

 

Hello

Firstly Thanks for the reply Larr, That list you provided would be very helpful Im sure but I have no Idea what all those number mean! When It comes to computer upgrading my skill level Is close to 0.

What makes me think that my CPU Is bottlenecking my game performance:
Recently I got a new game called Rift (Its a online MMO) My fps was ok running at about 40-50fps on medium settings but as soon as I came into a area with lots of other players on screen my fps would drop to around 15-20.
Firstly I thought that It was my Graphics card holding me back so I upgraded my SLI Nvidia 9800GT's to a Single Nvidia 1GB 570 GTX (costing me about £300) This Improved my graphics Greatly as I was able to run on max GFX (Instead of medium settings) Getting around 50fps. Trouble was as soon as I went Into a zone with lots of other players on screen my fps again took a nose dive to around 20 again.

So I decided to suck It up and drop my Graphics to the lowest settings to see If It made a difference In crowded areas. I gained about 4-5 fps at most. Not understanding why this made almost no change for such a Huge drop In Graphics I started posting on the forums, Doing google research etc and It seems that alot of people are having the same problem as I am.

Rift Is a CPU heavy game It seems, Also Its the only thing I can think of that would be killing my fps In crowded zones when it runs fine in uncrowded zones.

 

looks like you have more than enough cpu, the graphics card is good too.

What are the system requirements for RIFT?
Minimum System Specifications
Operating system: Windows XP, Vista, or 7
Processor: Dual Core 2.0 GHz or better
Memory: 2 GB
Hard disk space: 15.0 GB available
Video: Nvidia GeForce FX 5900, ATI/AMD Radeon X300, Intel GMA X4500, or better
Sound: DirectX 8.1 compliant card
DirectX®: 9.0c, June 2010 update
Broadband internet connection (DSL, cable modem, or other high speed connection)

Recommended System Specifications
Operating system: Windows XP, Vista, or 7
Processor: Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz or better
Memory: 4 GB
Hard disk space: 15.0 GB available
Desktop Video: Nvidia GTS 250 or better
Notebook Video: Nvidia GTX 200M series or better
Sound: DirectX 8.1 compliant card
DirectX®: 9.0c, June 2010 update
Broadband internet connection (DSL, cable modem, or other high speed connection)

how much ram do you have installed? could you post your computer specs?
how is your internet speed?

 

Hey Again.

My Computer Specs are:
OS: Windows 7 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 @2.66Ghz
MOBO: Nforce 680i SLI
RAM: 4GB DDR 2
GFX: 1.2GB Nvidia Gforce 570GTX (Asus Model)
PSU: 1000Watts

Also About 2 weeks ago i did a full reformat and install of windows
Updated all my drivers, Used CC cleaner and AVG Tune up to remove junk and Errors Etc.

After Posting on the Actual Rift forums, Every responce sujested I upgrade my CPU.

Matt

 

To note After doing research on my motherboard and how much i can actually up the CPU Im thinking of getting a new MOBO aswell.
What would you sujest? With my current Specs would It be worth It or should I start thinking about a New Build? (Minus the GFX card)

Matt.

 

i don't believe you need a upgrade, i think you are experiencing lag from the game server. do you have any other games installed on your PC? if you do how are the frame rates on them? i read alot of discussion's on the rift forums and it seems that alot of people are having the same problems. i would check your Internet speed. it can also be a problem on their end. are there any game patches available?

 

You may also want to try Advanced Windows Care Free - it'll clean up issues (registry, hard drive defragging, junk files) that may be slowing things down - plus it has a "Game Booster" option to speed this up. Since I'm not a gamer, I haven't used the "Game Boost" yet; however I hear it's good.

http://majorgeeks.com/Advanced_WindowsCare_v2_Personal_d4991.html

Hope this helps.

 

Hey again!

Well i downloaded and ran Advanced windows care and It found quite afew errors and repaired them, Sadly It didnt make any Improvement on the gaming side.

As for my internet connection, I dont think it could be a problem that side as I am on a 20Mb package from BT, (Never had any problems with It on Other games etc)
As for other games I have had afew problems Running the newest, most demanding titles but generally I can get these games working on medium to high settings. (Cant say I have tried many games with my new GFX card though)

Cheers
Matt

 

Also Rift has a Auto patch feature and Is always up to date because it will not allow you to play without the most recent patches. I suppose it could be a problem there end. Im currently downloading a Crysis 2 Demo Which i can imagine will be very testing on my system. Ill report back with results soon.

 

After testing Crysis 2 at Ok levels 34Fps on High settings, But performance left something to be desired when the was alot happening on the screen at once dropping Fps by about 10.

 

Here are a few other tips that (at the worst) shouldn't hurt and may help:

* Using Advanced Windows Care Utilities (or msconfig), disable unneeded startup programs. It's possible stuff like iTunes (updates), Adobe Updater, etc. are starting in the background while you're gaming, thereby fighting for bandwidth and CPU usage in the process. Ditto for P2P file sharing sites such as eMule or BitTorrent.

* If possible, set the updates for your antivirus to run when you are not gaming. In a worst possible case you may be able to set it for manual updates - if you do this, post a note on the monitor reminding yourself to manually update them at least once a day.

Set your antivirus, disk defragging program, etc. to scan at a time you are not gaming.

* Do the same for Windows Update - setting for notification of the updates with manual download and installation.

Taking these steps should insure nothing in the PC is jockeying for bandwidth, memory or CPU resources while gaming.

 

Thanks Gman863,

Great sujestions but sadly they were already in place.
I have actually seen a slight improvement in game play after Rift recieved an update, (It wasnt a huge increase) but every little counts and im starting to think as its a fairly new game the problem could be partly on there side.

Matt

 

As I too play Rift I feel your pain, but having just upgraded my system I can tell you a new cpu isnt going to help your fps during rift major invasions or large raids, its tied directly into 1. your graphics card (which you allready upgraded) and 2. connection to server, they have fairly stable servers but when that much load is put in one area at one time even the best systems get fps losses, I have had it so bad that even being there when the rift opened I never got to participate as I lagged so bad they got it closed before my first ability went off.

they are working on fixes, and as the population becomes more stable they will get it ironed out, I have yet to see a major mmo launch that didnt see lag for the first month or more