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View Full Version : Folding hardware, upgrade question

[XC] Synthetickiller
06-21-2008, 02:32 PM
I have an AM2 3800+ (single core 2.4ghz) w/ 1.5gigs of ram on xp. Would it be better to stick with the CPU and upgrade to an 8400 or 8500 nvidia or upgrade the cpu? I want something cheap as I would basically only be folding on it.
kevinbo03
06-21-2008, 02:42 PM
An 8600GT if it's within your price range, would get around 2000 PPD. I dont know about the 84/85
[XC] Synthetickiller
06-21-2008, 02:52 PM
Since the cpu has to hold the GPU's "hand", would my cpu bottleneck the gpu performance?
bowman
06-21-2008, 03:15 PM
Probably not. With the newest drivers there's little CPU utilization, I don't think it depends much on the CPU at all.

We're seeing the same PPD on cards, Intel or AMD platform.

If you want something cheap wait for the price decreases on 9600gt and 8800gt coming up to counteract the 4850.
jcool
06-21-2008, 03:31 PM
8800 GT prices are already very low, I'd suggest going with that (will get you 5000 PPD at least)
MikeB12
06-21-2008, 03:41 PM
$130 after mir
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121224
ASUS EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0

imo, that's your best bang $$ wise for your sys... make sure your psu can handle it.


look at kevin's OP here:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=191674
-Ath X2 4200+ (s939) @ 2.6Ghz
-8800GT
-Vista x64
-177.35
-650/1625/950 (for now)
-4704 PPD

AFTER OC:

-Ath X2 4200+ (s939) @ 2.6Ghz
-8800GT
-Vista x64
-177.35
-740/1850/1050
-5902 PPD; 17s/frame
Kingcarcas
06-21-2008, 10:34 PM
GPU is the way to go now, it is because of this i'm not so excited about Nehalem :shrug:
[cTx]Raptor22
06-21-2008, 10:40 PM
Since the cpu has to hold the GPU's "hand", would my cpu bottleneck the gpu performance?

Yes it does but for n 8600GT it wouldnt be much. My 8800GT is held back by my PD820 at 3100ppd instead of the expected 4500.... :down:
kevinbo03
06-21-2008, 11:59 PM
Your CPU shouldn't be holding you back, Im running a A64 X2 4200+ @ 2.7Ghz, 270fsb and I'm getting 5900 ppd on my 8800GT.
[cTx]Raptor22
06-22-2008, 12:36 AM
Your CPU shouldn't be holding you back, Im running a A64 X2 4200+ @ 2.7Ghz, 270fsb and I'm getting 5900 ppd on my 8800GT.

Then its drivers because I cant get the 177.35 or .39s to work with my card. WHQL? My ass.... stupid crashing broken modded infs.... :down: