Performance Help

bungle · April 2012

<div class="IPBDescription">This isnt a moan and groan.</div>Can some kind people of this community help please?

I have terrible pc specs:
Core2 E7300 @ 3.2 GHz
2gig ram
HD4600 gfx card

My fps at the start of a game is around 30fps, mid game about 20fps, late game 5-10fps (if Iâ€™m lucky.)

Right now I canâ€™t play anything late game, I canâ€™t even aim, I just have to stand in base and only shoot at things that are easy, like an onos.

Next week I have been planning to buy a new PC - well parts to put my own together, However I have been told by quite a few people that it doesnâ€™t matter what PC you have we all have the same performance :S :S :S :S

So, can a few people help me to decide on buying a new pc by post their PC specs and there FPS they run at please?

I am considering buying a pc of the following spec:

i5 2550k over clocked to 4.5-4.7GHz
16gig of ram
Nvidia 550ti card
SSD Drive also

If someone has similar system and wouldnâ€™t mind post their performance so I know if Iâ€™m going to waste my time or not.

Also, can anyone confirm if running a SSD drive will increase performance if I installed NS on that drive?

Many Thanks!

profjekyll · April 2012

My experience is that with a quad core 3ghz CPU, upgrading the graphics card has allowed me to run in high resolutions, but the graphic details MUST be kept minimum. I expect that the biggest hog in the game is CPU usage and not graphics.

Have you tried overclocking your cpu? If it's an Intel Core 2 series and is running at stock speeds, you VERY likely can simply clock it up be 20-40 % by changing the front side bus speed.

Might be worth a shot anyways (although i am sure your cash is burning a hole in your pocket).

bungle · April 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (profjekyll @ Apr 21 2012, 10:16 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1928274"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>My experience is that with a quad core 3ghz CPU, upgrading the graphics card has allowed me to run in high resolutions, but the graphic details MUST be kept minimum. I expect that the biggest hog in the game is CPU usage and not graphics.

Have you tried overclocking your cpu? If it's an Intel Core 2 series and is running at stock speeds, you VERY likely can simply clock it up be 20-40 % by changing the front side bus speed.

Might be worth a shot anyways (although i am sure your cash is burning a hole in your pocket).</div>

stock was 2.66 GHz, so yeah it is already clocked

Kouji_San · April 2012

I play at 1280x720 on Ridiculously Awful graphics setting and on tram/summit I am able to run on Medium Graphics settings (still use Ridiculously Awful as I hate going back and forth for Mineshaft)

------- Frame rates in NS2
E6420@ 2.13/2.14Ghz, HD4850 512Mb, 2Gb OCZ PC2-6400: (12) 15 - 25 (33)

Overclocked speeds for my CPU
3.2Ghz: (18) 25 - 30 (60)
3.4Ghz ;(21) 28 - 34 (65)

FPS ranging from (very heavy combat) Normal Combat - Low Combat (no Combat)
-------
With only 2Gb of DDR2 and a HD4600, I suggest trying Ridiculously Awful setting. The HD4600 might be a part of your issues as well though, however NS2 renderer (graphics card usage) is very efficient. It's mostly the CPU that is a bottleneck issue...

Also for when you're going to get a new PC. I'd go for the i5-2500K, that extra 100Mhz is not worth the extra cash at all if you're going to overclock as both overclock exactly the same

bungle · April 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kouji_San @ Apr 21 2012, 10:24 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1928280"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>I play at 1280x720 on Ridiculously Awful graphics setting and on tram/summit I am able to run on Medium Graphics settings (still use Ridiculously Awful as I hate going back and forth for Mineshaft)

------- Frame rates in NS2
E6420@ 2.13/2.14Ghz, HD4850 512Mb, 2Gb OCZ PC2-6400: (12) 15 - 25 (33)

Overclocked speeds for my CPU
3.2Ghz: (18) 25 - 30 (60)
3.4Ghz ;(21) 28 - 34 (65)

FPS ranging from (very heavy combat) Normal Combat - Low Combat (no Combat)
-------
With only 2Gb of DDR2 and a HD4600, I suggest trying Ridiculously Awful setting. The HD4600 might be a part of your issues as well though, however NS2 renderer (graphics card usage) is very efficient. It's mostly the CPU that is a bottleneck issue...

Also for when you're going to get a new PC. I'd go for the i5-2500K, that extra 100Mhz is not worth the extra cash at all if you're going to overclock as both overclock exactly the same</div>

Not worth the cash? its like Â£15 extra!

Kouji_San · April 2012

Well let's put it this way, if you like paying for something that doesn't do anything, go right ahead :P

I'm just saying that +100Mhz is not noticeable and both cores are the exact same architecture. The 2550K is simply set to a higher speed for marketing purposes. The overclock potential is the same...

player · April 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kouji_San @ Apr 21 2012, 09:38 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1928286"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm just saying that +100Mhz is not noticeable and both cores are the exact same architecture. The 2550K is simply set to a higher speed for marketing purposes. The overclock potential is the same...</div>
There may be the very slightest chance the 2550k comes from a better batch. It won't be very likely, but for 15 quid it's a pretty cheap chance to take, for an overclocker anyway.

bungle · April 2012

can no one comment on whether using a SSD drive will add any valued difference to the games performance? i would assume it would?

ScardyBob · April 2012

A better computer can help your framerate, but note that you're likely to get the best performance boost via OCing your CPU as high as you can go.

For example, here's my setup:
2500k OCd 4.5GHz
16 GB RAM
HD 6950
120GB SSD

I've done some-what regular benchmarking in-game with FRAPs and my last one (4-10-2012, so a few patches ago), I got the following for 20min of gameplay
Min = 0 fps
Max = 100 fps
Avg = 60.5 fps

I'd say that anecdotally, my framerate generally stays above 30fps even during late-game. Though, I still get lag from rubberbanding, making my ok framerate of limited value.

player · April 2012

There was a point where your FPS dropped to naught?

ScardyBob · April 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (player @ Apr 21 2012, 05:52 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1928338"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>There was a point where your FPS dropped to naught?</div>
At least according to FRAPs it did. I suspect that it more likely an error in FRAPs occurring at framerate extremes. I should add that this is not typical, as my min framerates are usually between 20-30 fps.

bungle · April 2012

thought id pop a reply, on saturday i got my new pc parts and i have overclocked etc accordingly.

At the moment im running my i2550k @ 4.5GHz and 32GB of ram at 16000 + i have my SSD Card.

Averagely i get 90fps, late game i get 60fps.

-If anyone could help out with overclocking please, i have a MSI z77 border and would like to get my cpu ro 5GHz but i cant seem to keep in stable.

Any Advise?

Dghelneshi · April 2012

@bungle:
4.5GHz is fine for a 2550K. You usually won't be able to get much more unless you are very lucky with your CPU and also have some serious cooling.
You can get the best overclocking help on a forum dedicated to that topic, e.g. <a href="http://www.overclock.net/t/225371/intel-cpu-essentials-collected-guides" target="_blank">Overclock.net</a>.

bungle · April 2012

thanks :)

i have watercooling so would like to push it a little higher tbh :)

Performance Help

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