CPU/MB holding me rig back?

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brittbox

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#1 brittbox
Member since 2006 • 61 Posts

Hi

I'm going to by the ATI HD5870 and go from 2gb to 4gb of RAM and I had plan to get a new CPU to, but my Intel motherboard (Asus P5N32-SLI Premium) can't even take Quad-cores. I currently have a Core2Duo E6600 @ 2.4GHz.
Will the CPU and motherboard hold back the howl system if all I want to do is game, or wont it rely matter in game the preferment if I got a new motherboard and CPU???

thx

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04dcarraher

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#2 04dcarraher
Member since 2004 • 23858 Posts
Your cpu will be fine running a 5870, Its the games that dermines if your cpu is a bottleneck.
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brittbox

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#3 brittbox
Member since 2006 • 61 Posts

So the howl thing would just bottleneck if a jacked up the detail with my current CPU :( it was not in my budget to get a new mb... ;):?

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BeavermanA

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#4 BeavermanA
Member since 2003 • 2652 Posts

Mobo should be able to take quadcores with a bios update. You should overclock the E6600 though, or get a E8400 for pretty cheap, though they probably require a bios update as well. I'm still on an E6600 overclocked to 3.6ghz, HD 5870 is in the mail.

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Avenger1324

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#5 Avenger1324
Member since 2007 • 16344 Posts
to be honest not many applications can take advantage of 4 cores as opposed to 2 cores, so you could keep your current motherboard and just go for a higher spec dual core CPU - they should be fairly cheap as Intel are pushing the i5 and i7 range of CPUs now. Or if you know a bit about overclocking you could buy a better cooler and maybe see how much you can get out of your 2.4
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sihunt

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#6 sihunt
Member since 2007 • 1116 Posts

Hi I have an E6600 with an HD 4870 and I can run most games on high settings.

I have overclocked the CPU in the past but it will only buy you a few extra frames.

As 04dcarraher said the real difference is what video card you are using determines

the performance in the games. If you get a 5870 it will scream through games with

the E6600. That CPU still has some life to it yet.

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brittbox

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#7 brittbox
Member since 2006 • 61 Posts

Holy hell you people answer quickly hear!:) I haven't overclocked before but I would be willing to try, recommend any good guides? The main reason I wanted a Quod-core is coz Dragon Age has it in it recommended specs:

Recommended Specifications

  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4Ghz Processor or equivalent
  • RAM: 4 GB (Vista) or 2 GB (XP)
  • Video: ATI 3850 512 MB or greater
  • NVIDIA 8800GTS 512 MB or greater
  • DVD ROM (Physical copy)
  • 20 GB HD space

I actually have the 8800GTS 640mb but I want a DX11 card with an HDMI port, so I don't have to get a new card any time soon. Shame its sold-out everywhere.

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04dcarraher

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#8 04dcarraher
Member since 2004 • 23858 Posts
[QUOTE="brittbox"]

Holy hell you people answer quickly hear!:) I haven't overclocked before but I would be willing to try, recommend any good guides? The main reason I wanted a Quod-core is coz Dragon Age has it in it recommended specs:

Recommended Specifications

  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4Ghz Processor or equivalent
  • RAM: 4 GB (Vista) or 2 GB (XP)
  • Video: ATI 3850 512 MB or greater
  • NVIDIA 8800GTS 512 MB or greater
  • DVD ROM (Physical copy)
  • 20 GB HD space

I actually have the 8800GTS 640mb but I want a DX11 card with an HDMI port, so I don't have to get a new card any time soon. Shame its sold-out everywhere.

Dont worry about the quad core requirement, I max the game just fine and plays great.
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Captain__Tripps

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#9 Captain__Tripps
Member since 2006 • 4523 Posts
Dragon Age does not have a quad core requirement, it does not even recommend a quad core, nor does it need one. It will take advantage of a quad if you do have from what i've heard. A stock e6600 will bottleneck that 5870, at least some games will. I would look and see if your motherboard is capable of some overclocking if you don't want to upgrade cpus.
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ronvalencia

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#10 ronvalencia
Member since 2008 • 29612 Posts

Mobo should be able to take quadcores with a bios update. You should overclock the E6600 though, or get a E8400 for pretty cheap, though they probably require a bios update as well. I'm still on an E6600 overclocked to 3.6ghz, HD 5870 is in the mail.

BeavermanA
I checked http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx Highest CPU support is "Core 2 Extreme X6800(2.93GHz,1066FSB,L2:4MB,revB2)"
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BeavermanA

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#11 BeavermanA
Member since 2003 • 2652 Posts
[QUOTE="BeavermanA"]

Mobo should be able to take quadcores with a bios update. You should overclock the E6600 though, or get a E8400 for pretty cheap, though they probably require a bios update as well. I'm still on an E6600 overclocked to 3.6ghz, HD 5870 is in the mail.

ronvalencia
I checked http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx Highest CPU support is "Core 2 Extreme X6800(2.93GHz,1066FSB,L2:4MB,revB2)"

Yea think you are right. Would need the p5n32-e sli.
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brittbox

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#12 brittbox
Member since 2006 • 61 Posts

Dragon Age does not have a quad core requirement, it does not even recommend a quad core, nor does it need one. It will take advantage of a quad if you do have from what i've heard. A stock e6600 will bottleneck that 5870, at least some games will. I would look and see if your motherboard is capable of some overclocking if you don't want to upgrade cpus.Captain__Tripps

Its not that I don't want to get a new CPU, I had planed to get the Q9550@2.83 but I found that my mb didn't support it. And as said, the best CPU I can putt on the mb is the Core 2 Extreme X6800 and that is way way to expensive for me to get.

MB support list

But would it still bottleneck so bad even if I overclocked my E6600 or do I rely need go get a new CUP/MB to use the HD5870 to its fullest?

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Chris_53

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#13 Chris_53
Member since 2004 • 5513 Posts
Do you guys reackon my Athlon X2 5600+ is bottlenecking my 9800GTX+. I sometimes get low framerates when there is a lot going on, such as in heavy firefights. I do plan on upgrading to a Phemom II system in the new year, but do you think ill need to upgrade my GPU aswell?
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kraken2109

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#14 kraken2109
Member since 2009 • 13271 Posts

Do you guys reackon my Athlon X2 5600+ is bottlenecking my 9800GTX+. I sometimes get low framerates when there is a lot going on, such as in heavy firefights. I do plan on upgrading to a Phemom II system in the new year, but do you think ill need to upgrade my GPU aswell?Chris_53
It may slow it down a bit, but i wouldn't think it would have a large effect. Still a new CPU would make your PC faster in all areas so may be a good idea. :)