Guess My Gaming Bottleneck!

I have an Acer 5920g, and I am extremely thrilled by it so far.

However, I have be contemplating upgrading to a C2D T-5750 or even a T-7300 processor (currently running the vanilla T-5250 @ 1.5 gHz).

I am confident in my ability to upgrade, but wonder if I will see a significant performance increase...

Any thoughts?

By the way, specs are:

8600GT
4GB RAM
5400 RPM HD, 160GB
Core 2 Duo T-5250 @ 1.5 Ghz

Specifically hoping to run Dawn of War II when it is released...

 

I would say it is almost equal, that CPU will not bottleneck that GPU too much, even if at all.

 

I don't think the bottleneck will be significant.
you can always jack up the settings to put load on the gpu.
I would still recommend upgrading that cpu though.

 

yep your cpu is alot weaker than your gpu


but your cpu is still good at regular tasks

 

do they have the system requirements posted for that game yet?

 

i dont think so, not out for another 6 months, shouldnt be too steep though, expect a higher CPU requirement than GPU, that being said, try your best to upgrade that CPU, that game will require a more powerful one for sure.

 

I think you would see a fairly big difference if you upgraded to a T7300 or T8300 in most games. There would definatly be a huge difference in RTS games and other processor intensive games like Team Fortress 2.

 

if this is your only reason to upgrade, i recommend waiting until a few weeks before the game is released, that way you can get a stronger processor for the same price as you would get one for now.

 

I agree with Fittersman,

Wait until the game comes out, then upgrade. CPU prices are falling fast. For now, your CPU is not your bottleneck so just wait.

 

I would see what % your cpu is running at while gaming.

Every game is different. Some are more cpu bound then other's.

Run a few games and get a feel for what % your cpu is running at. If it's constantly pinned at 100% or in the 85-100% range then I would upgarde your cpu. If it's sitting at under 80% I wouldn't bother as it will provide zero improvements.

Most games I play with my x9000 and 8800m sli have my cpu in the 40-50% range, so oc'ing my cpu provides virtually no performance gains while gaming.

 

If you're looking for a specific game, see if you can grab a demo of the game and see how it performs.

 

Thanks for all the replies, I was trying to gauge general opinion, I personally think a processor upgrade would be worth it, as 1.5 x 2 seems a lot weaker than my overclocked 8600gt.

I play plenty of games, but DOW 2 is the next game I would consider upgrading for..

Also keep in mind that most RTS's right now (SUPCOM being an exception) lack dual core support.

 

Even if the CPU turns out to not be as much of a bottleneck as you might think, it may be a good idea just to upgrade the CPU if you have the money anyway.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819111002

Something like that might be a good 70% increase in all around CPU speed, it's a good upgrade from what you have.

 

That might work, but in some cases the demo isn't as refined as the final release - such is the case with call of duty 4.

 

I'm not sure about the T8300 in my notebook, would heat be an issue? is it even a 478 socket?

 

As far as I know, all mobile core duo, and core 2 duo CPU's use the same socket 478 slot. No there won't be a heat issue, the mobile core 2 duo cpu's all run about the same temperature, upgrading shouldn't increase heat output.

Just know what you're doing. most big brand notebooks have thier CPU sockets heavily gaurded, and can take alot of work even down to taking the LCD panel off of the notebook's base, ripping the shell apart, then dismantling every screw in the entire thing just to get to that socket. If you don't know EXACTLY where the cpu socket is, then you may just want to forget about it

 

Like I said, not worried about this.

It appears that the T8300 has an 800mHz bus speed, my MOBO will clock it down to 667, so I am leary regarding the cost effectiveness of a T8300, I honestly think a T7300 would be good enough.

 

Your motherboard should run the T8300 fine(both are 800mhz). Infact both the T7300 and T8300 are about the same when it comes to heat, infact, the T8300 may run a little cooler due to the Penryn's 45nm die shrink size and lower power consumption. I would suggest getting either the T8100 or T8300, they are relatively inexpensive processors and a better upgrade compared the the older T7300.

 

Hmm.. an Acer which is notorious for overheating problems coupled with a defective gpu that can't handle excessive heat.. and you want to play games.. I'd say that is the thing you should be most concerned about. I wouldn't be putting any more money into that computer if I were you, especially doing something like upgrading the cpu which will void your warranty.. chances are you're going to need it.

 

I don't think that's an Acer problem, it's more likely linked with the Nvidia fiasco.

 

Acers are notorious overheaters all on their own. That particular notebook has had a lot of commentary on heat as well.

 

lol?

Its really hard to make generalizations like that based on brand. Maybe you are a little behind the times, but Acer hasn't had overheating problems since Pentium 4's were top of the line notebook processors...

By the way, my processor/GPU temps at ful load after 60 mins of Company of Heroes are 69/82 WITH my GPU overclock....I don't know what messed up drivers other overheating 5920g users have...or maybe they're gaming in 100 degree top-floor bedrooms.

ANYWAY, kindly stay on topic please, if you are going to bash my notebook choice, keep out of the thread.

Oh, and like I said, I'm fairly sure my chipset cannot support 800mHz FSB, and will clock it down to 667,(could be wrong though) clarification on this poijnt would be appreciated.

 

Lets get this straight, which chipset is your system? Napa or Santa Rosa?
Download CPU-Z and check the motherboard tab, if the chipset model number is 945, then it's Napa, if it's 965, it's Santa Rosa. The T7300 is a Santa Rosa chipset CPU, which runs at 800mhz, which lead me to think that you could also run a T8100 all the way up to T9300. But, from what I gather, you don't quite know what you are talking about.

If it's a Napa system, then you are correct, the fastest processors you would support is 667 FSB. The socket would be different, as it would be socket 479, and the fastest processor it can support is the T7600.

 

My chipset is 965, I don't need to download CPU-Z to confirm this, I'm sure. Like I said, I could be wrong about the FSB limit.

 

Then I'm also sure that it will will support a T8100. I'm also running a 965 chipset on my notebook.

I just checked the T5250, and it is socket P so that confirms that it is running the Santa Rosa chipset. So in that case, I wold suggest getting a T8300 or something along those lines as the benefits are greater all round compared to a T7300.