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This topic has moved here: Subject: Performance Boost -- Upgrade CPU or go to SLI?
  • Subject: Performance Boost -- Upgrade CPU or go to SLI?
Subject: Performance Boost -- Upgrade CPU or go to SLI?
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  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Halo 2 (and Halo CE to a lesser extent) run poorly (jerky frame rate) with this system:

ASUS P5NE-SLI motherboard
Intel E4500 CoreDuo 2 CPU @ 2.2 GHz
4 GB RAM
Windows Vista Home Premium
EVGA Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT 512 MB RAM
RealTek Audio

My question is will I get better performance by adding a 2nd GeForce 8600 GT or by upgrading to a faster CPU?

Thanks

  • 02.17.2009 5:03 PM PDT

Posted by: Raulman1
Halo 2 (and Halo CE to a lesser extent) run poorly (jerky frame rate) with this system:

ASUS P5NE-SLI motherboard
Intel E4500 CoreDuo 2 CPU @ 2.2 GHz
4 GB RAM
Windows Vista Home Premium
EVGA Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT 512 MB RAM
RealTek Audio

My question is will I get better performance by adding a 2nd GeForce 8600 GT or by upgrading to a faster CPU?

Thanks
That's a tough one. You should not have that framerate problem running H2 on that system, even though you could use a faster CPU. I think something is not right with your GPU or it is not interacting with Vista very well. Could be HDD too.

Before you spend money, reinstall the drivers for the 8600 and go look for updates for it. Also, these machines use virtual memory and not all of that comes from your RAM. Sometimes VM can be degraded in the HDD. What is your HDD and it's seek time?

In fact, the VM used by the HDD can at times exceed that of your RAM use. The RAM generates the VM but all functions are carried out in pages/addresses on the HDD (VM is like RAM that teleports itself to the hard drive). So you need to have a fast-seek HDD and at least 120 gigs and keep it defragged (organized) to have a solid system.



[Edited on 02.17.2009 10:24 PM PST]

  • 02.17.2009 8:57 PM PDT
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I have reinstalled the video drivers for the video card several times with no change in H2 (or HCE) performance.

My hard drive is a Seagate ST3320 620AS SATA 320 GB HD. Also, using the EVGA Precision Tool I have boosted the Core & Shader Clocks to maximum. The hard drive has 175 GB available.

  • 02.18.2009 12:59 PM PDT

Like I said, this could be tough to diagnose. Is there any way you could temporarily install another GPU so you can see if this is your problem? Of course, if you have the money and you wanted to get another GPU anyway, you would find out whether or not the money is well spent as soon as you install it.

[Edited on 02.18.2009 1:49 PM PST]

  • 02.18.2009 1:47 PM PDT

I've noticed that the higher the resolution, (H2V)the slower the framerate. 1024x768 works fine for me. I mean it really, really increased my framerate. (from like 10/15 to standard)

  • 02.18.2009 2:25 PM PDT

Posted by: Shaun555
I've noticed that the higher the resolution, (H2V)the slower the framerate. 1024x768 works fine for me. I mean it really, really increased my framerate. (from like 10/15 to standard)
You know that's a good point, maybe he could drop the res and see if the framerate goes back to 30. By his description, his comp should be able to run H2. Heck, it's a better comp than mine in every department and I have no framerate issues. I also use 1024x768. If his res is in that catagory then this point is moot.

What's causing that framerate loss (if it is just framerate) is still in question. He should talk to the GPU manufacturer to see if his card can handle the res and if not, why? Maybe they could tell you what is needed to ensure smooth play on the graphics.

[Edited on 02.18.2009 3:06 PM PST]

  • 02.18.2009 3:01 PM PDT

Bungie is the best.

Simple as that.

Sounds like a video card issue, his computer should be ok to run Halo 2 smoothly. Borrow a working Graphics card off your buddy or somet and test that, also try a different monitor. All the best man.

  • 02.18.2009 4:04 PM PDT