Need some help picking a new processor

[Frank0001]

Fellow kaleuns,

I'm sorry if this is the wrong forum to post this topic, but here it is anyway (Surely there will be some moderators grinding their teeth now!).
I'm experiencing some slow frame rates, especially during bad weather (in-game) and large explosions and such.

Now, I bought a new 1gig memory card, that helped abit, but I need it even faster!
Given the fact that I absolutely nothing about video-cards, processors and such, I was wondering if anyone could help me pick a new processor, to fit my computer.
Here are a few of my current specs, I hope it's enough for you to help me!

Compaq Presario SR1719NL
AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-56
1.8 GHz
RAM 2047 MB
HD 1 x 80 GB
Windows XP

Could anyone suggest a suitable new processor, so I won't have to let go the ships in bad weather!

[trongey]

If you're using the integrated graphics processor that came with the machine then that's probably where you need to spend your money. The integrated stuff is always way underpowered.

A decent PCI-E video card will make a huge difference in your gaming performance. Tom's Hardware has a really nice chart to show the relative performance of current cards (http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desktop-vga-charts/overall-all-games-fps,572.html?p=1598%2C1577%2C1612%2C1613%2C1616%2C 1583%2C1573%2C1580%2C1642%2C1570%2C1636%2C1640%2C1 635%2C1575%2C1562%2C1638%2C1604%2C1567%2C1585%2C16 09%2C1559%2C1565%2C1605). Look at that chart then compare sites like Newegg and Fry's with what's in your wallet to decide what works for you. I would consider the cards comparable to the Nvidia 7800 to be a good starting point. Go up from there according to your budget.

Tony

[BRH]

I had a amd close to the one you do with similar problems and switched to a intel dual core and it fixed it! But that 7800 would probably solve it.

[Frank0001]

Thank you guys, I appreciate the help!

However, is any processor compatible with my computer, or are there certain things I should look for?

[dogshu]

just buy a new PCI express graphics card. For SH3, I think ATI is supposed to be better than Nvidia, so you can go with something like the Radeon 3850.

[U-5000]

I have real good luck with the 7950 GT invidia 512 mb pci express card. it rocks:up: course I have 2 gig of ram and a dual core processor 2.4 which is playing GWX at 100 fps which I think is swell

[Frank0001]

just buy a new PCI express graphics card. For SH3, I think ATI is supposed to be better than Nvidia, so you can go with something like the Radeon 3850.

I've taken a look at some Radeons at my local computer-shop, and they have a nice one for 150 euro's (that's a litle over 200 dollars I believe).
It's a ATI Radeon HD3850 with 512 MB

Will that do the job? And will it be compatible with my computer? Is it plug and play?

[Meridian]

I think you should be looking at upgrading the CPU and GFX card.

Your board supports upto an AMD 64 4800, which are around 50-60 Euros now. You may find one even cheaper if you look on eBay.

[Frank0001]

Thank you again everyone, for your patience and suggestions.

Meridian, you are saying that my board (mother board I assume?) can't cope with anything higher than the AMD 64 4800? (is that fast at all?)
And if not, how can I see what my board will support?

Sorry for all the questions guys, unfortunately I know nothing about these things!

[Meridian]

Well I checked the spec of your system at Compaqs site and that's where I got the CPU details from and according to them that is the highest CPU speed your system will support, anything higher than that and you're looking at a new main board.

As for speed, well, it's not a bad processor. I only recently upgraded from one myself. It's certainly going to be faster than the one you have now.

[trongey]

I've taken a look at some Radeons at my local computer-shop, and they have a nice one for 150 euro's (that's a litle over 200 dollars I believe).
It's a ATI Radeon HD3850 with 512 MB

Will that do the job? And will it be compatible with my computer? Is it plug and play?
The 3850 should be pretty good. It's in the same class as the NVIDIA 7800. I would think you could get more card for that much money though if you shop around.

I have a NVIDIA 6200, which is clear off the bottom of the chart, and AMD Sempron 2800 that's not as fast as your CPU. My rig does just fine with GWX 2.0 as long as I use the Light Harbor Traffic mod.

Tony

[BRH]

i just ordered a new Dell notebook with a 128mb nvidia GeForce 8400m GS in it. Does anyone know about this card? Good enough for SH3?

[Frank0001]

Well I checked the spec of your system at Compaqs site and that's where I got the CPU details from and according to them that is the highest CPU speed your system will support, anything higher than that and you're looking at a new main board.

As for speed, well, it's not a bad processor. I only recently upgraded from one myself. It's certainly going to be faster than the one you have now.

Well, if that is the highest it will allow, I will purchase that one. Thank you for the advice!
Btw, how would one know whether the motherboard supports the graphics-card or not?

[Meridian]

Well, for the CPU it has to be a socket 939.

And according to Compaq you have 1 available PCI-E x16 slot.

So make sure your GFX card is a PCI-E type and not AGP and you should be fine.

[SUBMAN1]

If you're using the integrated graphics processor that came with the machine then that's probably where you need to spend your money. The integrated stuff is always way underpowered....Not always. Check the 780G chipset from AMD. Probably the first integrated GPU that doesn't suck.

-S

[The Bandit]

i just ordered a new Dell notebook with a 128mb nvidia GeForce 8400m GS in it. Does anyone know about this card? Good enough for SH3?

it shouldn't have much of a problem with SH3, and it is a discrete chip (it has its own memory so it dosn't hog up the system's RAM) and some forms of it support HDMI. It does pale in comparison to an 8600 or 8800 but compared to like an Nvidia 6150 or an Intel X3100 its not bad, if you throw crazy new stuff at it, its hard to say. If your card does need more than 128mb for any reason it will start dipping into the ram but thats how all the newer discrete chips are anyways.

[The Bandit]

If you're using the integrated graphics processor that came with the machine then that's probably where you need to spend your money. The integrated stuff is always way underpowered....Not always. Check the 780G chipset from AMD. Probably the first integrated GPU that doesn't suck.

-S

I dunno, I have a bit of respect for some of the newer integrated chipsets. My HP with a GeForce 6150 played FSX reasonably well (unlike what you think you'd get out of an IGP it didn't chug or chop the image, and no crazy refocusing either) but it wasn't long before I droped somthing else in there.

[Flappy]

i just ordered a new Dell notebook with a 128mb nvidia GeForce 8400m GS in it. Does anyone know about this card? Good enough for SH3?


My HP 6768se has that card and after moving off of a Radeon Xpress200M it's quite an improvement. If you use GWX be sure to activate the "lite harbor traffic" in JSGME and you should be fine. It runs fairly well considering its an integrated solution.

edit: Woops just noticed you've got the 128mb flavor, I've got the 256....ymmv but I've heard it performs adequately in F.E.A.R which I would think to be a bit more demanding graphics-wise than SH3. Also, there are some tweaked drivers out there that "Might" help -linkage-http://laptopvideo2go.com/

[BRH]

thanks! i have heard that there are better drivers than the ones dell uses, that will be the first thing i do! Also it comes with 2 gig of ram, i think i might upgrade to 4 gig and hope that helps to.

[Flappy]

The other thing you might try is to use the clean install for Vista method posted over at notebookreview -linkage- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=120228

Hope this helps, it worked a treat for my HP.

Also, NEVER let windows install an updated video driver as they almost always break stuff.

Sorry to hijack,back into lurk mode for me then.......