Should i go for 4670 ?

[Mr Experience]

My PC Config

Intel P4 3.06Ghz
Intel D101GGC
2GB DDR 400Mhz
15" CRT monitor

I am new to all this computing(i bought my pc in mid of 2006) but now i am greatly influenced by the new games like - gta4, cod5, crysis etc and i am thinking of getting a gfx card on which i can play games at max settings on my present rig and for the present time i don't have any plans of upgrading my pc but i badly wants to play all latest games at HQ.

I know there is some bottleneck thingy which i really don't know what exactly is and i also wants to know from u all great ppl will i also face that issue on my pc?

I have seen many reviews on ATI HD4670 and i am considering it for my pc.

Reagards

 

[Rockinacoustic]

It will allow you to play the latest games, but not at high quality. And you'd probably be better off either upgrading your system as a whole, or saving up until you can do so instead of wasting money to squeeze extra gaming life out of it.

Edit: What resolution does your monitor support?

 

[Mr Experience]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic
Edit: What resolution does your monitor support?

1024x768

Anything about the bottleneck issues ?

 

[Rockinacoustic]

At that low a resolution, upgrading the GPU will do you little good. The lower your screen's resolution, the more graphics intensive apps will tax your CPU. So, yes, your CPU is a bottleneck to those games.

Do you currently have a discrete graphics card or are you using integrated?

 

[DSF]

A "bottleneck" is when one PC component is slower than the rest and keeps the system from realizing the potential of the faster parts. The fact is there's always a bottleneck somewhere. Something in your PC has to be the slowest piece in any given application. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

With your processor I wouldn't expect the highest settings in new games. GTA4 especially is very processor-dependent if I'm not mistaken. In Crysis at 1024x768 with an 8800GT and an overclocked E4500 I couldn't even turn the settings quite all the way up, although they were pretty high.

The real question is how much money you have to spend. You aren't going to get the performance you're looking for without improving more than just the graphics card.

 

[Mr Experience]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic
At that low a resolution, upgrading the GPU will do you little good. The lower your screen's resolution, the more graphics intensive apps will tax your CPU. So, yes, your CPU is a bottleneck to those games.

Do you currently have a discrete graphics card or are you using integrated?

No i dont have any gfx card atm.

Actually i own a xbox360 so i was not much into computer gaming but now interest has generated but i wants to play games on this config only

Due to bottlenecking, how much degraded performance will i get ? Will it be large or just mere 3-5%.

HD4670 is a great deal for gaming on 1024x768 IMO but only thing that scares me is bottlenecking

 

[Mr Experience]

Originally posted by: DSF
A "bottleneck" is when one PC component is slower than the rest and keeps the system from realizing the potential of the faster parts. The fact is there's always a bottleneck somewhere. Something in your PC has to be the slowest piece in any given application. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

With your processor I wouldn't expect the highest settings in new games. GTA4 especially is very processor-dependent if I'm not mistaken. In Crysis at 1024x768 with an 8800GT and an overclocked E4500 I couldn't even turn the settings quite all the way up, although they were pretty high.

The real question is how much money you have to spend. You aren't going to get the performance you're looking for without improving more than just the graphics card.

Thanks for that bottleneck info, appreciate that.

Okay! i can take crysis, gta4 etc as exceptions (on mid/low settings)

I don't have any restriction for money for gfx card but i want to upgrade gfx card only

 

[DSF]

So you're willing to spend $500 on the graphics card, but that's the only part you want to upgrade? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

[Denithor]

Dropping a fast video card into an ancient P4 computer is about like putting 200mph-rated racing tires on a Pinto and expecting to hang with Mustangs at the track.

:laugh:

Funny to see but not so fun to run (either the car or the computer).

The games you have listed are all available on XBOX 360, just get them there instead of messing with upgrading your video card. With a P4 processor you could drop in a GTX 280 or 4870X2 and still not be able to play GTA4 or Crysis properly, the P4 will just hold you back too much.

Unfortunately your motherboard does not support any of the C2D processors so you're limited to the Pentium D chips at the top end (which suck for gaming). So you are basically looking at a complete rebuild if you seriously want to get into computer gaming.

 

[nerp]

Yup. If you want to do it right, get a good E5200, E7200 mobo combo with some cheap DDR2 and a 4830 or something. That could be about $300. You could also get a solid AMD platform for cheapie. Your P4 is done and your video card would be a waste of money now.

 

[Mr Experience]

Guys! i think you all are not getting me...

I am just asking for a card that can give maxxx performance with my present config without any bottleneck issue, where did i said that i am looking for 48xx series or GTX series card.
I am looking for a card which can suit my present config whether it is 8600gt or hd4670, which can balance it for normal gaming.

From the starting only i mentioned HD4670 which is of mid-segment card like those of 9600/9500/8600GTs


I wants to play games on 1024x768 resolution only

 

[Mr Experience]

Originally posted by: nerp
Yup. If you want to do it right, get a good E5200, E7200 mobo combo with some cheap DDR2 and a 4830 or something. That could be about $300. You could also get a solid AMD platform for cheapie. Your P4 is done and your video card would be a waste of money now.

If i wanted to upgrade then i would have already done it on my own

I am familiar with what to buy and what not to for a new config but i dont use comp much so i wants a card that can balance my present rig to max gaming performance.

I know 8600GT is a very good option for my present config but i was looking for HD4670 as it gives gr8 performance for it's price.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Originally posted by: Mr Experience

Originally posted by: nerp
Yup. If you want to do it right, get a good E5200, E7200 mobo combo with some cheap DDR2 and a 4830 or something. That could be about $300. You could also get a solid AMD platform for cheapie. Your P4 is done and your video card would be a waste of money now.

If i wanted to upgrade then i would have already done it on my own

I am familiar with what to buy and what not to for a new config but i dont use comp much so i wants a card that can balance my present rig to max gaming performance.

I know 8600GT is a very good option for my present config but i was looking for HD4670 as it gives gr8 performance for it's price.

I'd still go with Denithor and buy Xbox 360 games instead of upgrading your video card (or buying one in the first place as it seems you're running on integrated). Quite frankly, with your ram speeds and cpu, you won't be playing any games from the past 2 years very comfortably.

But if you MUST upgrade your vid card for no apparent reason other then the fps increase you think you'll see, the 4670 is a good choice since it draws all its power from the pci-bus and runs rather cool compared to something like an 8800 gt.

But please bear in mind the knowledge the other users have already posted, a P4 system will not run ANY of the latest games, even at a res like yours, comfortably. No matter how high end the rest of the system is, it simply doesn't have the computing power to run the games coming out these days.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: Mr Experience
I am familiar with what to buy and what not to for a new config but i dont use comp much so i wants a card that can balance my present rig to max gaming performance.

I know 8600GT is a very good option for my present config but i was looking for HD4670 as it gives gr8 performance for it's price.

Therein lies the problem: all modern cards are going to be limited by your slow CPU. Especially at low resolution, where the CPU does a lot of the work (at higher resolutions the GPU handles more).

Given the prices, get the 4670 and throw it in there. You may be able to play some games but most anything new is going to be unplayable due to your CPU.

 

[DSF]

I asked how much you had to spend. You said there was no restriction on the price. Clearly that's not the case.

If you aren't willing to rebuild your computer you need to strongly consider using your Xbox for gaming and your computer for internet and work.

 

[Mr Experience]

Thanks for all the replies and really appreciate all your opinions

Whatever happens, finally i will go for MSI HD4670 and i 'll definitely give u info about the performance.

Still u have anything to suggest, u are most welcome.

 

[Denithor]

Let us know how you like the new race tires on your old Pinto.

Seriously, it's always good to know if things work out, it helps with our advice to others.