Athlon XP still legit?

[ghost recon88]

OK video card aside, would an Athlon XP at say 2.5GHz with 2GB of RAM still be able to handle most games today at medium/low settings? I know more and more games these days are taking advantage of multiple cores, but can a solid single core still hold it's ground?

 

[jinduy]

i have an x2 4200 at 2.2ghz with a 9800gt, assuming yours is single core, i think my cpu is better than yours.

with that said, my system cannot handle battlefield 2 bad company beta at the lowest settings. it can but it's unbearably low in fps and my machine will just crash after about 10 minutes.

but my setup can handle left 4 dead with ease since it's based on source engine.

 

[Hyperlite]

OK video card aside, would an Athlon XP at say 2.5GHz with 2GB of RAM still be able to handle most games today at medium/low settings? I know more and more games these days are taking advantage of multiple cores, but can a solid single core still hold it's ground?

In short, no. Nothing made in 2009 or later is going to appreciate having 1 core, regardless of GPU power.

 

[tcsenter]

It can definitely handle almost any games that were published four or five years ago.

 

[ghost recon88]

OK, so say then I switched teams and made the argument with a LGA775 P4 (HT) or a Pentium D, both of which provide 2 threads. Video card aside how would those fare?

 

[Hyperlite]

OK, so say then I switched teams and made the argument with a LGA775 P4 (HT) or a Pentium D, both of which provide 2 threads. Video card aside how would those fare?

What about a Q8300?

 

[formulav8]

Like so others have said it would be a hard job for that cpu. But you could always setup a mini bench for yourself to see how right or wrong we are just to be certain. If I had a AGP video card better than a unlocked 6800 I would do some basic benching.

While newer games post a single core in the minimum specs almost always a dualcore is in their recommended specs. And the single core spec variants are usually Athlon64 or high end based xp's like the 3200+.

So while you can do some gaming, especially on older titles. The new stuff like crysis will just sit and laugh at you.


Jason

 

[formulav8]

A PentiumD, depending on the model would do a decent job.

The q8300 will definitely handle the games out there.



Jason

 

[ghost recon88]

What about a Q8300?

I'm talking old school hardware here, like pre 2006.

 

[Hyperlite]

I'm talking old school hardware here, like pre 2006.

So is this stuff you already own? What mobo is it? I guess you're assuming a Q8300 won't run in it?

 

[tweakboy]

That is not going to cut the rug. Best you can do is throw the fastest AGP card, which Im assuming your mobo is. Like 1950 ATI. That is not only a single CPU but its old technology , A amd now at 2.5Ghz is 500 times faster then what you have. Well you get the picture,, I say its time we upgrade you.. How are your funds and what not.. let us know Well get you a good system for a good price. gl

 

[ghost recon88]

I'm not looking to upgrade, I'm actually trying to build several cheap (sub $100) machines that can run Warcraft III, UT03 and 04, KOTOR, Dawn of War, FarCry, and maybe Gears of War.

 

[RaistlinZ]

$100 for case, mobo, psu, cpu, video card, and hdd?

LOL.

 

[Shilohen]

I'm not looking to upgrade, I'm actually trying to build several cheap (sub $100) machines that can run Warcraft III, UT03 and 04, KOTOR, Dawn of War, FarCry, and maybe Gears of War.

Gee, even OLPC no longer even aim that price range... Granted it includes a monitor, but still. You best bet is finding an IT company or college selling their old stock at that price and hope for it to run those game, Warcraft III, most likely, not sure for the others.

 

[Hyperlite]

I'm not looking to upgrade, I'm actually trying to build several cheap (sub $100) machines that can run Warcraft III, UT03 and 04, KOTOR, Dawn of War, FarCry, and maybe Gears of War.

i hate to break it to you man, but that just isn't going to happen.

You best bet is probably to get some AMD mobo's with onboard 4200 IGP's, some Athlon II X2's, 80Gb hdd's, if you can find them.

 

[Bucks]

My system in sig plays Warcraft III on highest settings and is probably worth less than $100

 

[formulav8]

Actually, out of those games you mentioned a decent AGP card and a AthlonXP will run most of those games fine. I know KOTOR 1&2, Farcry, And UT2004 will run good on a XP. Appears DOW specs list AXP as ok too. GOW may run just ok.

I can even run some of those titles like KOTOR decently on a 64mb 9600 NP laptop video at 1024x768 res.


The best way to know for sure it to build a test system with the parts you already have


Jason

 

[VirtualLarry]

...and people said that my AMD X2 4800+ w/2GB of RAM wasn't suitable for a modern gaming rig anymore.

Nevermind an ancient Athlon XP.

 

[Tsavo]

Here's hoping that Nvidia's FERMI will also come with an AGP interface.

 

[vj8usa]

I'm not looking to upgrade, I'm actually trying to build several cheap (sub $100) machines that can run Warcraft III, UT03 and 04, KOTOR, Dawn of War, FarCry, and maybe Gears of War.

Of those games, everything other than Gears will be just fine on an Athlon XP. Dawn of War will start to choke a tad bit when there's a lot going on (even on my 3+ GHz dual core, I get slowdowns when I'm looking at a gigantic army). Gears (if memory serves me right) gave me some slowdowns on my 2.5GHz Athlon64 (San Diego core). It'll also need a much better video card than the other games.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Why do people get the idea that ~7 year old tech is going to play current games? Its like asking whether a 1992 486 can play Half-Life 1. Yes, Athlon XP was incredible but this isn't 2003 anymore.

 

[Hyperlite]

Why do people get the idea that ~7 year old tech is going to play current games? Its like asking whether a 1992 486 can play Half-Life 1. Yes, Athlon XP was incredible but this isn't 2003 anymore.

well honestly, out of the games he listed, an Athlon XP should be fine. I played Far Cry maxxed out with an Athlon XP/ 1GB RAM/6800nu back in the day...i think i played wow on that setup too. Warcraft III will definitely play. It just may be hard to procure the parts, you'll have to buy them all used.

 

[CurseTheSky]

If you can find those parts SUPER cheap (say, for $5-10 used) I'd say go for it. If you're dumping more than $30-45ish into the old processor, motherboard, and memory (all combined), and more than an additional $15-20 for an old AGP card, I wouldn't bother. Keep in mind that old parts have old components, and capacitors do go bad.

 

[Oxaqata]

Edit

 

[Maximilian]

I'm not looking to upgrade, I'm actually trying to build several cheap (sub $100) machines that can run Warcraft III, UT03 and 04, KOTOR, Dawn of War, FarCry, and maybe Gears of War.

Its fine for those games except maybe gears of war since its newer and a console port. Maybe a few modern games although not many, starcraft 2 was designed with a radeon 9800 as the minimum required to play it (last i read) AXP 2500+ was the AMD cpu of choice when the 9800 was top dog.