CPU or GPU upgrade?

[DMajorHoward]

Hi guys

 

As I mentioned earlier I am having a little problem with GTA 4. Here are my CPU and GPU Specs;

 

CPU - AMD Phenom 9750 Quad-Core Processor, 2.4GHz

GPU - Nvidia Geforce 9500 GT 1GB

 

Now my problem is that I can run GTA4 on max settings for everthing and Medium for Texture detail. And Video mode is 1920 by 1080. With it like this GTA 4 is playable but not at the speed i'd like, it is VERY SLIGHTY DELAYED and the mission video and sound arent in sync. BUT, when I reduce video mode it performes faster but the picyure becomes blurred. Which should I upgrade to make my PC better at playing GTA with great spped and great graphics? CPU or GPU? NOTE: My max Resource usage is 999MB.

 

Thanx guys

[Kenster1025]

I would go for a overclock on the processor first and then go for a better video card, or else there will be a bottleneck by the CPU

[OverTheBelow]

You should probably do some analysis of your specs when playing GTA 4 to figure out which is the bottleneck.

 

Open up the Task Manager performance tab while playing GTA4 - if you get low FPS and your CPU is at 100% then overclock or upgrade it. Otherwise it's your graphics card and you'll have to upgrade or turn the settings down.

[yoječ]

Definitely the GPU is the problem here and should be upgraded.

[viometrix]

that video card is outdated, underpowered crap by any standard PERIOD. others saying analyse this or that just dont know. get a better video card (much better) then overclock the cpu apropriately

[yogeshking]

overclock your pc atleast 3.0ghz and buy a new gpu i recommend one of them for you (nvidia gts 450,gts 460 or ati 5770)

[Stinky12]

Time to change your graphic card. No need to OC the CPU to 3.0GHz.

And how much ram do you have? If you only got 2GB, then consider upgrading to 4GB or more.

 

The GTX 460SE is a good pick, higher memory bandwidth than a GTX 460 768MB

[yoječ]

But the higher memory bandwith isn't gonna recomensate loss of 48 CUDA cores. In most cases GTX460SE performs worse than standard GTX460 768MB.

http://techpowerup.com/reviews/Gainward/Ge..._460_SE/27.html

[Stinky12]

 

But the higher memory bandwith isn't gonna recomensate loss of 48 CUDA cores. In most cases GTX460SE performs worse than standard GTX460 768MB.

http://techpowerup.com/reviews/Gainward/Ge..._460_SE/27.html

The higher memory bandwidth on the GTX 460SE out performs the GTX 460 768MB when you run at high resolutions with lots of AA.

 

 

Performance numbers for this new SE card were interesting to say the least. At lower resolutions without AA enabled, it really doesn’t compare all that favorably to the similarly priced GTX 460 768MB. Once higher resolutions and image quality settings are used, the GTX 460 SE’s larger memory bandwidth can come into play and it begins to pull out ahead of the 768MB version – at times by significant amounts. It never does come close to matching the GTX 460 1GB but then again, it was never meant to.

 

source

 

Another review

Google Translate for HKEPC

 

 

Pricing on the cards (From the same manufacture and set to lowest price)

 

EVGA GTX460 768MB @ $169.99

EVGA GTX460 1GB @ 199.99

EVGA GTX460 SE 1GB @ 159.99

 

Difference between GTX 460SE and GTX 460 768MB is $10 bucks, where as the SE is cheaper

Difference between GTX 460SE and GTX 460 1GB is $40 dollars.

 

If OP has the extra $40 to spend then it will be better to get a regular 1GB version, if not the SE will be better off

as GTA IV likes VRAM and the extra found on the "SE" will benefit.

 

 

$199.99 is for price in cart

[manoroid]

This game is very processor dependent. I have a q9450 quad and a gtx 275 w/ 1792mb dedicated v mem. It used to run perfect on that with full settings with an average of 35 fps. Now with latest update. Graphics have been stepped up. I just ordered the new i7 970 six core w/ hyperthreading so it should definitely bump up those frames. ANyone have an i7 970?

[Stinky12]

 

This game is very processor dependent.  I have a q9450 quad and a gtx 275 w/ 1792mb dedicated v mem.  It used to run perfect on that with full settings with an average of 35 fps.  Now with latest update.  Graphics have been stepped up.  I just ordered the new i7 970 six core w/ hyperthreading so it should definitely bump up those frames.  ANyone have an i7 970?

GTX 275 only as 896MB of dedicated VRAM. Looks like the OS has allocated some from the system ram to accommodate the usage for Aero Glass.

 

And since every person has different game settings, it's difficult to set a strict standard for reference.

As for your CPU, you do have a new system right?

[manoroid]

This game is very processor dependent.  I have a q9450 quad and a gtx 275 w/ 1792mb dedicated v mem.  It used to run perfect on that with full settings with an average of 35 fps.  Now with latest update.  Graphics have been stepped up.  I just ordered the new i7 970 six core w/ hyperthreading so it should definitely bump up those frames.  ANyone have an i7 970?

GTX 275 only as 896MB of dedicated VRAM. Looks like the OS has allocated some from the system ram to accommodate the usage for Aero Glass.

 

And since every person has different game settings, it's difficult to set a strict standard for reference.

As for your CPU, you do have a new system right?

No man i do have an evga gtx 275 card with almost 2 ggs of dedicated memory. Thats how im able to crank up all the sliders in the game to maximum.

 

As for my pc, my new parts are arriving next week , i7 970 , mobo and ram.