Will I see an improvement with my video card when I upgrade to a faster processor and when I install more ram?

[tecumseh]

My specs:

600 coppermine proc
128 mb. rdram
G3 Ti200
Audigy X-gamer
30 gig hd

I just installed the Vision tek G3 Ti200 and the audigy X-gamer. The audigy card sounds great, but with the Vision tek G3 ti200 I was a little dissapointed!! I played a little Unreal tournament, and I set the fps meter to see if I would get any improvements. We'll I noticed a little improvement but it seemed that it wasn't the improvement I was hoping for. So my questions are:

1) I'm going to be upgrading to 1 mhz. and I will be adding another 128 mb. rdram by next week. So will I see a better improvement once this is completed?
- Will the 1 mhz. proc and the 256 rdram help my video card out? Will I see a marked improvement?

2) Is there any chance that I might maybe I screwed up when I downloaded the drivers from the Vision tek disc?
- Maybe I should do a fresh install of everything??

3) Will a 600 mhz cause a bottleneck? Will it cause the video card to run poorly?

4) I've heard that UT is processor intensive instead of video card intensive? Is this true? Maybe I should run Quake 3 tests instead when I test videocards? Am I right?

Thx. for help!!

 

[Siva]

The ram certainly could make a big difference, 128mb is a bit low, especially with falling ram prices, and 256 is a good amount to have. Upgrading your processor will probably make a bigger difference, 600mhz is kinda slow, it probably can't keep up with your GF3.

 

[BFG10K]

While you definitely need more RAM it's not going to increase your FPS. What you need the most is a CPU upgrade which will help all 3D games, especially UT.

 

[erikiksaz]

I always thought UT was more of a cpu-dependant game. Check up on Anand's video card reviews, maybe you'll find out there.

 

[Cygni]

UT is pretty much maxed out on any system above about 700mhz... infact, ive seen a 1.4 Tbird with a GF3 Ti 500 do LOWER fps then my 800 Duron with a Geforce2 Pro... its a wacky world out there Essentially, UT is probably maxed out, try some other games and see if you can tell a difference.

I suggest having atleast 256mb of rambus, as it will deffinitly help things out alot, but remember! Be carefull! Rambus builds in PAIRS!

The 1Ghz P3 should help out alot too, thats a 400mhz jump, which should speed things up alot on all fronts.

Good luck!

 

[Rickr]

Just to give you some idea, I had a Celeron 950 with the GF3-Ti200 and got 61 fps on UT.

I have since upgraded to a Athlon XP 1700+ (with the same graphics card and PC133 Ram) and get 85.5 fps.

So yes, your CPU and memory are holding you back on Unreal Tournament, and you will see an improvement with those upgrades.

Run a variety of programs to benchmark your system. Such as Q3, UT, 3dMark, etc. This will give you a bigger picture of your performance. Remember, as long as you stay above 50 fps on the games you like, your system is fine IMO.

 

[Coolone]

"1) I'm going to be upgrading to 1 mhz. and I will be adding another 128 mb. rdram by next week. So will I see a better improvement once this is completed?
- Will the 1 mhz. proc and the 256 rdram help my video card out? Will I see a marked improvement?"

Good Ghandi, a 1mhz processor, the upgrade of upgrades lemme tell ya....

 

[Chadder007]

Umm dude....your not mistaking RDRAM for SDRAM on your motherboard are you????

 

[CrimsonWolf]

<< Umm dude....your not mistaking RDRAM for SDRAM on your motherboard are you???? >>


He probably uses a motherboard with an Intel i820 chipset. It was Intel's first RDRAM chipset. I just hope he didn't buy it when 128MB of RDRAM costed $1000.:Q

To answer your questions 1 and 3, the CPU is your most significant bottleneck. Going to a 1 Ghz will probably give you a noticeable boost. (I assume its 1Ghz and not 1Mhz) The RAM may not improve FPS very much, but it will be noticeable in general use.

For question 2, I doubt a re-format is needed.

For question 4, I think UT is more CPU intensive and Q3 is more video card intensive.

Hope this helps.

 

[tecumseh]

"He probably uses a motherboard with an Intel i820 chipset. It was Intel's first RDRAM chipset. I just hope he didn't buy it when 128MB of RDRAM costed $1000."

Yea, you hit the nail on the head!! I bought the rdram system, cause I fell for the hype. Dell was stating at the time that there rdram models were 110% more powerful than the regular computer systems. Oh well, you live an learn I guess! I spent 2,500 dollars on my system at the time, and no I did't pay 1,000 for 125mb rdram. I paid 500 dollars for 125 mb. rdram

 

[CrimsonWolf]

<< "He probably uses a motherboard with an Intel i820 chipset. It was Intel's first RDRAM chipset. I just hope he didn't buy it when 128MB of RDRAM costed $1000."

Yea, you hit the nail on the head!! I bought the rdram system, cause I fell for the hype. Dell was stating at the time that there rdram models were 110% more powerful than the regular computer systems. Oh well, you live an learn I guess! I spent 2,500 dollars on my system at the time, and no I did't pay 1,000 for 125mb rdram. I paid 500 dollars for 125 mb. rdram

>>


Ouch. Oh well, live and learn! Enjoy your upgrades.

 

[Cygni]

Well, on the bright side, a 1Ghz P3 should use that PC800 Rambus a WHOLE lot more than a 600Coppermine