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Hello.

I´m thinking of upgrading my system.... but I have some questions.

what do you think my system needs most to get x3 running better?

more memory , a newer graphics card or one more of the same type for sli mode, or better cpu..... if cpu I may wait until I can buy a new computer insted as I think it´s harder to change.

Thanx for any answers!


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System Information
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Time of this report: 1/5/2009, 11:42:16
Machine name: KJELL-P
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.080814-1236)
Language: Swedish (Regional Setting: Swedish)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4600+, MMX, 3DNow (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 637MB used, 3301MB available
Windows Dir: E:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode


---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 7950 GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0295&SUBSYS_040110B0&REV_A1
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play-bildskärm
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200

many folk here say that a 64Bit OS produced a noticeable difference...

The cpu.
You can go 2 ways with it.
either overclock it or get a new one.
but considering that your still running a cpu that is based on the same platform as mine getting a new one means new ram/mobo/cpu.
So i would overclock

Also without knowing your gfx settings i cant say if the card is good enough or you should get a new one

Goldo wrote:many folk here say that a 64Bit OS produced a noticeable difference...

Mainly because of the use of more than 3 gigs of ram, my Vista 64 rig uses a total of 4,5 gigs (RAM and VRAM).

My resolution is set to 1280 x 1024 x 32 in the game.
The quality is set to high on both Texture and shader quality and all boxes like "more dynamic lightsources" are checked.

In the Effects area "Antialising" is set to 4x and "Antistropic Texture Filtering" is set to 8x

Thanx for all the answers so far.

From what I've read on these forums a new GFX card would be your best value upgrade, preferably one with 1 gig of RAM.

is the 7950 AGP or PCIE?

If PCI-E you might be worth updating to a decent modern card, then upgrade the rest of the system later. Some good value ones going atm.

If its AGP, then you need tbh a total system change. New CPU will help a fair bit, RAM you will need new probably (do you have DDR or DDR2), with a new motherboard.

If you have the knowhow, then a new comp is pretty easy to knock together.

Cheapest: Overclock the CPU and buy some more RAM.

Most Expensive: New CPU (new motherboard, RAM, possible PSU, possibly graphics card)

I *think* your graphics card may be OK for the resolution you're running it at, although you could upgrade that as well.

Did a system test and it looks like it is this motherboard that I have in my computer.

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3& ... odelmenu=1

My graphicscard is a PCIe version (the moterboard doesn´t support AGP)

From what I read about the motherboard it supports DDR2 ... but I think it has DDR memory in it now.... or thats what the test said atleast.

Is it possible to mix or do I need to take away the old DDR memorys if I buy DDR2?

I did not build this computer my self, but I built the one I had before this one. So I know a little how to do things.
But it has been some years since I built my own computer so I´m not so mouch up to date about how things work today.

Thank you all for your help!

I´ll see what overclocking does for now.
And will most likley buy some more ram to start with...

AM2 CPUs like yours can only use DDR2.

You must have DDR2 in it now for it to function at all, in fact DDR wouldn't physically fit as it is keyed differently and has less pins.

It's quite likely whoever built the machine was a money grabbing bastard who used the crappiest DDR2 around, PC2-3200, which is considerably slower in use than the older PC-3200 DDR standard.

ok, according to Asus, that is an AM2+ board, runs PCI-E and DDR2. you CANT have DDR in that system, so either that's the wrong board, or the other reader is wrong. Google CPU-Z and dl it, it'll tell you the CPU, Memory and Motherboard and is a handy little utility.

If that IS your motherboard, you should be able to get a new GFX, stick a X4 Phenom in and blast X3 into dust. Overclocking optional. Got to love AMD futureproofing, not sure a intel mobo out from 2 years would RUN a wolfdale chip.

Depends how much you want to spend upgrading. We got a budget here?

I guess that it was the software that did not recognize right cuse according to cpuz I have two 1GB DDR2

Thanx for the help.

Posting part of the text dump from the cpuz txt file I generated:

(deleted some of the Hex diagrams also to make it more easy to read.)

-------------------------
CPU-Z version 1.49
-------------------------

Processors Map
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of processors 1
Number of threads 2

Processor 0
-- Core 0
-- Thread 0
-- Core 1
-- Thread 0


Processors Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Processor 1 (ID = 0)
Number of cores 2 (max 2)
Number of threads 2 (max 2)
Name AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+
Codename Windsor
Specification AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4600+
Package Socket AM2 (940)
CPUID F.B.2
Extended CPUID F.4B
Brand ID 4
Core Stepping BH-F2
Technology 90 nm
Core Speed 2411.2 MHz (12.0 x 200.9 MHz)
HT Link speed 1004.7 MHz
Stock frequency 2400 MHz
Instructions sets MMX (+), 3DNow! (+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, x86-64
L1 Data cache 2 x 64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L1 Instruction cache 2 x 64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L2 cache 2 x 512 KBytes, 16-way set associative, 64-byte line size
FID/VID Control yes
max FID 12.0x
max VID 1.350 V
Features XD, VT
K8 Thermal sensor yes
K8 Revision ID 5.2
Attached device PCI device at bus 0, device 24, function 0
Attached device PCI device at bus 0, device 24, function 1
Attached device PCI device at bus 0, device 24, function 2
Attached device PCI device at bus 0, device 24, function 3


Thread dumps
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CPU Thread 0
APIC ID 0
Topology Processor ID 0, Core ID 0, Thread ID 0
Type 02002008h
Max CPUID level 00000001h
Max CPUID ext. level 80000018h


Cache descriptor Level 1 I 64 KB 1 thread(s)
Cache descriptor Level 1 D 64 KB 1 thread(s)
Cache descriptor Level 2 U 512 KB 1 thread(s)

MSR 0x0000001B edx = 0x00000000 eax = 0xFEE00900
MSR 0xC001001E edx = 0x00000000 eax = 0x00000052
MSR 0xC0010015 edx = 0x00000000 eax = 0x02000040
MSR 0xC0010042 edx = 0x3108120A eax = 0x08100210
MSR 0xC0010041 edx = 0x00002710 eax = 0x00000A10

CPU Thread 1
APIC ID 1
Topology Processor ID 0, Core ID 1, Thread ID 0
Type 02002008h
Max CPUID level 00000001h
Max CPUID ext. level 80000018h



Cache descriptor Level 1 I 64 KB 1 thread(s)
Cache descriptor Level 1 D 64 KB 1 thread(s)
Cache descriptor Level 2 U 512 KB 1 thread(s)

MSR 0x0000001B edx = 0x00000000 eax = 0xFEE00800
MSR 0xC001001E edx = 0x00000000 eax = 0x00000052
MSR 0xC0010015 edx = 0x00000000 eax = 0x02000040
MSR 0xC0010042 edx = 0x3108120A eax = 0x08100210
MSR 0xC0010041 edx = 0x00002710 eax = 0x00000A10


Chipset
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI rev. A1
Southbridge NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI rev. A2
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x16
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Size 2048 MBytes
Channels Dual
Memory Frequency 301.4 MHz (CPU/8)
CAS# 5.0
RAS# to CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
Cycle Time (tRAS) 15
Bank Cycle Time (tRC) 19
Command Rate 2T


Memory SPD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM #1

General
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) Corsair (7F7F9E0000000000)
Size 1024 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-5300 (333 MHz)
Part number VS1GB667D2

Attributes
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP no
XMP no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 200 266 333
CAS# 3.0 4.0 5.0
RAS# to CAS# delay 3 4 5
RAS# Precharge 3 4 5
TRAS 9 12 15
TRC 11 15 19

DIMM #2

General
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) Corsair (7F7F9E0000000000)
Size 1024 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-5300 (333 MHz)
Part number VS1GB667D2

Attributes
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP no
XMP no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 200 266 333
CAS# 3.0 4.0 5.0
RAS# to CAS# delay 3 4 5
RAS# Precharge 3 4 5
TRAS 9 12 15
TRC 11 15 19



Monitoring
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mainboard Model M2N-E (0x13F - 0x2B2D0)

LPCIO
-----------------------------------------------------
Vendor ITE
Model IT8716
Vendor ID 0x90
Chip ID 0x8716
Revision ID 0x0
Config Mode I/O address 0x2E

About budget... I´m trying not to spend too mouch money. But I guess it mostley depends on when I´m satisfyed with the performence.

I would suggest two simple changes, particularly if you are on a budget.

1) Increase the amount of ram. I had a significant performance gain when I went from 2Gb to 3 Gb in X3 reunion (under Windows XP).

2) Your current cpu has 512k of level 2 cache, change it to one with 1Mb of level 2 cache per core, for example a A64 x2 5200+. Get the fastest cpu within your budget.

1GB to 2GB in X3 is a MASSIVE increase in performance with my system. Got stuck with some busted ram and the stutters were massive. I've got a punchier GFX and CPU though.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... P800R22GK)
is a good deal.

GFX, i'd have to have a look, for £150+ though you could get a pretty decent one.

Thanx for all the help. I think I´ll try one thing at the time and will start by upgrading the RAM.

Thanx for the link simonnance but I could not find any clear answer to if they sell to Sweden as thats where I live. Do you know if they sell internationally or only to the UK?

the ship internationaly, but on that type of low value item you are better finding somewhere local.

Just dont get ripped off. There are high-street stores in the UK that'd happily charge you 2-3x that for the same stuff.

simonnance wrote:the ship internationaly, but on that type of low value item you are better finding somewhere local.

Just dont get ripped off. There are high-street stores in the UK that'd happily charge you 2-3x that for the same stuff.

ok, Thanx. I´ll have a look around.