BF2-only upgrade

[suklee]

*UPDATE* 7/14: got a stick of 1GB Corsair VS, things are A LOT smoother now. 1GB is definitely not enough for BF2 unless you want to run at low settings.

Current specs are :
2x512MB GEIL PC3500 CL2 kit
Athlon XP2500+
Shuttle SN45G
Radeon 9800 Pro.

HELP - I caught the BF2-upgrade-bug. I read BF2 loves >1GB of RAM, so I'm thinking about ditching the GEILs and getting a pair of 1GB sticks, either $200 on 2GB Corsair Value or $300 on TWINX2048-3200C2 2G Ram (1GX2). Which choice is better, considering that I will keep it towards an Athlon 64 upgrade?

Also, my vid card probably needs an upgrade. I'm thinking either (AGP) 6600GT or 6800. are those wise choices? only thing I'm not comfortable with is that my next upgrade would move me to PCI-e.

My LCD does 1600x1200 native but I doubt any of these cards will get me there, considering the slow CPU that I have..

 

[Bucks]

Get the value ram and either a 6800gt or x800xl. Post a budget please

 

[suklee]

budget is as low as possible, but aren't they always?

Here is what I'm looking at locally, prices in USD:

RAM
$200 2GB Corsair value (CL3)
$300 2GB Corsair TWINX (CL2.5 for AMD)

VIDEO
$185 ASUS N6600GT/TD GF 6600GT AGP8X 128MB
$235 WinFast A400 GF 6800 AGP 128MB DDR
$300 WinFast A400 GF 6800 AGP 256MB DDR
$330 Gigabyte GV-N68T256DH GF FX6800GT 256MB
$355 Grandmars Radeon X800XL AGP8X 256MB VIVO

 

[CraigRT]

I'd go for the Value select and the Gigabyte 6800GT.

I have an eVGA 6800GT and it runs the game wonderfully.

I am also getting 2GB of Kingston ValueRAM tomorrow evening (upgrading from 1GB)

 

[suklee]

Which processor/mobo do you have Craig?

 

[PerfeK]

Your 9800 pro is basically the same as the 6600GT (8 pipes, 256bit, 128mb, same clock). Performance won't be much better on the 66. The lowest you want to upgrade to is the X800XL/6800GT.

 

[mettleh3d]

yeah, the 6600GT is such a small upgrade. Btw, did you know you could flash youre 9800p to a 9800xt if youre card is right?

 

[suklee]

Originally posted by: PerfeK
Your 9800 pro is basically the same as the 6600GT (8 pipes, 256bit, 128mb, same clock). Performance won't be much better on the 66. The lowest you want to upgrade to is the X800XL/6800GT.

Thanks for that, then I'll scratch the 6600GT off the list...
Both the X800XL/6800GT are within my budget, but I should probably wait until I move to PCI-E and then upgrade the whole shabang. Or I'll be stuck with an AGP card when I eventually move to Athlon 64.

**after some searching it seems that there are A64/AGP boards out there**

Originally posted by: mettleh3d
yeah, the 6600GT is such a small upgrade. Btw, did you know you could flash youre 9800p to a 9800xt if youre card is right?

No, didn't know that.. it prob wouldn't make a huge difference in bf2 gameplay?

 

[mettleh3d]

youre wrong. my 3dmark2003 went form 4490 to 6665.
F*cking 50% performance increase from stock 9800p to stock 9800xt speeds.

 

[suklee]

How about in BF2?

any link about the flashing? thanks!

 

[mettleh3d]

most definitely. i dont have bf2, but my friend has my identical system and plays it.
amd 64 3200+
1 gig ram
9800pro (no OC)
he plays on 1024x768, visuals medium. we're humble like that

the website is:
http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?location=3&var1=92&var2=0

any questions, feel free.

 

[suklee]

Thanks. I'm fairly sure that when I removed the heatsink before, there was a "R350" written on it. Thus looks like it's not moddable
http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?location=3&var1=92&var2=0

I'm going to look into the different AGP cards in the video form - leaning towards the X800XL for now.

 

[mettleh3d]

are you positive? if you check with Everest or Control Panel it says R350, but thats only the BIOS telling the computer it is. It may be an R360 and you may still be lucky.

 

[suklee]

I actually took off the fan/heatsink and looked on the chip itself -- that's the most authoritative source I reckon. if it says R350 it should be R350...

 

[mettleh3d]

aww, ok. thats a shame. in that case, after OCing, your card will have peaked.

 

[Twsmit]

Getting more ram is a waste in your position. You have a gig of pretty high quality ram to start. you need a new CPU/mobo to start and a new video card second.

 

[mettleh3d]

makes sense. if you have the resources, go purely socket 939 amd 64, with PCI-E. Preferrably with an nforece4 chipset as they are badass.

 

[Kaiser__Sose]

that system should run BF2 nicely as is

 

[AmdInside]

Just curious how much better 2GB is compared to 1GB on BF2?

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Originally posted by: AmdInside
Just curious how much better 2GB is compared to 1GB on BF2?

Apparently it reduces the stuttering, freezing, & other problems many people are getting. From what I read in one place someone bumped up to 2gb and all their problems went away.

 

[suklee]

Twsmit, you do have a point, thanks for setting me straight... I should "hold out" with my current setup until I upgrade the CPU/mobo.

btw: Here is a good thread that details memory usage between 1GB and 2GB:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=1618155

 

[suklee]

Just found this at http://forums.tweaktown.com/showthread.php?t=20289: the orig poster has a spec exactly the same as mine (2500 Barton, 9800 Pro, 2x512mb PC3200) and one of the responses are:

If you're going to upgrade to a new motherboard, don't bother unless you're going with a new PCI-E video card. A Barton 2500 is as much as you need for any game, even BF2. An Athlon 64 will perform better, but a high-end Barton need at least a 6800GT to bottleneck it. The old Bartons are still useful with existing and upcoming games. If your friend's 2600 is a Barton, then it probably isn't hurting him too much. I can tell you right now my 9800 Pro holds me back a lot more than my Barton. Overclocking it from 1.8Ghz to 2.4 GHz doesn't make as much difference in any games as overclocking the 9800 Pro to past 9800XT speeds. Most games are very GPU-bound, especially the newer first-person shooters. I honestly can't say that any of this applied to FS2004, but I can laundry-list 20 or so games made in the last two years that it does apply to, if you'd like.
My suggestion is this:

Your first option is to sell the 9800 Pro and get a 6800GT. They're not that expensive anymore, and anything that card can run will run on the Barton. It may give lower FPS, but for the most part you'll find the same settings playable as with a 6800GT and an Athlon 64.

..off to do more research..

 

[suklee]

OK I was just able to play in a game with the following settings: 1024 x 768, medium except light & shadow options set to Low, 2xAA

Very playable as some of you have already mentioned. I didn't get any FPS measurements yet but will do so next time I play.

Conclusion? I'm gonna stick it out with my current setup until the 7800GTX drops in price :thumbsup:

 

[Hacp]

Nice choice.

 

[Topweasel]

Thats What I am doing. I am completely Building Fresh and have been in Process of doing it now for over a year.

Antec P160 Case
A8N-SLI Deluxe (wish I waited ofr the Premium)
2 gigs of the XMS memory you put up earlier
74 GB Raptor
36.7 GB Raptor
Hitachi 7k400
Plextor 716SA
560 Watt Thermaltake PSU (first purchase kind of regreting it)
And i Just ordered a BFG 7800GTX OC for 520 shipped.

Just need to save a bit more for the 4400+ and i will be done.

But right now i am using a AXP 2500+ 1GB of ram and 9800XT.