Processor and Graphics Card

[Wonderboy]

I don't know if i need a new processor. I wanted to get Crysis 2 when it comes out, but the Crysis specs were awfully high. My processor is an AMD Athlon II X2 215 Processor running at 2.7 GHz. I read that this was a lower end processor. Do I need a new processor or is mine fine? Also, my graphics card is an ATI Radeon HD 3450. Is this a decent card or should I consider upgrading?

[RogueKnight]

I don't know if i need a new processor. I wanted to get Crysis 2 when it comes out, but the Crysis specs were awfully high. My processor is an AMD Athlon II X2 215 Processor running at 2.7 GHz. I read that this was a lower end processor. Do I need a new processor or is mine fine? Also, my graphics card is an ATI Radeon HD 3450. Is this a decent card or should I consider upgrading?

Do you have a budget?

[Wonderboy]

Well, I found a couple processors that run at a little over 3 GHz for around $200. 2 were AMD and one was an Intel. The graphics card probably the same, but maybe a hundred dollars give or take.

[501st_commander]

if you get a new processor get an Intel. They are better made and have better performance.

[Wonderboy]

Here, I found an Intel processor. Its an Intel Core i3 i3-540 3.06 GHz. Its about $175. I heard there are i5s, so I will look into that. All I am trying to do is play Crysis on an adequate detail level (medium to high).

[Dohnutt]

You don't have to get one that's over 3GHz. I mean, yeah, that's good and stuff, but a quad-core processor around 2.4GHz and up would be good too. I'd go with Intel Core i7. Or wait for the Core i9 to come out It's got 6 cores.

[Wonderboy]

My current one is a dual-core running at 2.7GHz. I guess then it will be alright. But what about a graphics card? Mine, as I said above, is an ATI Radeon HD 3450. Is this good enough for Crysis or any other uber detailed games?

[jedikiller32]

Mine, as I said above, is an ATI Radeon HD 3450. Is this good enough for Crysis or any other uber detailed games?

No.

You will need at least a 4800 to play Crysis on good detail. A 5770 would be perfect. Your processor is also not good. You need a modern dual-core processor. Clock speed is largely irrelevant- don't focus on it as much. Other factors are more important.

This processor is one of the best budget buys on the market. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115215

Or there is this hex-core from AMD that will work with your existing system: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103851

You are, of course, aware that you will need a new motherboard for all of this? If you have a Dell, this will mean an entirely new computer. Are you prepared to drop $800+ on a system?

[Wonderboy]

Well we have a Dell (to my despise) and we bought a new computer last fall, so I guess I won't be able to get anything. My parents didn't listen to me at all when we bought the computer, only to my uncle who I guess has some knowledge in computer. I wanted a better graphics card and an Intel processor but ah well. Life isn't always fair. I guess I'll wait four years until college. Thanks for the help anyways.

[501st_commander]

You don't have to get one that's over 3GHz. I mean, yeah, that's good and stuff, but a quad-core processor around 2.4GHz and up would be good too. I'd go with Intel Core i7. Or wait for the Core i9 to come out It's got 6 cores.

i3 has 2
i5 has 4
i7 has 6 (recommended)
i9 will have 8

[Wonderboy]

Hey, I was just wondering. Is it better to build the PC yourself, or is it better to buy one from a company with the specs you want?

[lucasfart]

You don't have to get one that's over 3GHz. I mean, yeah, that's good and stuff, but a quad-core processor around 2.4GHz and up would be good too. I'd go with Intel Core i7. Or wait for the Core i9 to come out It's got 6 cores.

i3 has 2
i5 has 4
i7 has 6 (recommended)
i9 will have 8

Wow! I thought the i7 had 4 cores, but was slightly faster in some ways. 8 cores! Man, i bet it'll cost a fortune when it comes out...

[VF501]

You don't have to get one that's over 3GHz. I mean, yeah, that's good and stuff, but a quad-core processor around 2.4GHz and up would be good too. I'd go with Intel Core i7. Or wait for the Core i9 to come out It's got 6 cores.

i3 has 2
i5 has 4
i7 has 6 (recommended)
i9 will have 8

Wrong.

i3 is Dual
i5 is Quad (i5 Mobility for notebooks is Dual with HT)
i7 both LGA1166 and LGA1366 are Quad core with Hyper Threading, some lower end 1166 i7s have no HT
i9 is Hexacore

Hyper Threading (HT) is old Intel tech where One Core handles two threads of data. Giving you One Physical Core and One Logical Core. The last of the LGA 775 Pentium 4s had Hyper Threading first.


If you have the skills, build one yourself. You get to select your parts and get good manufactures instead of whatever they have instock at the time. It is usually cheaper too.

Dells only suck because BIOS wise they are not supported for later upgrades and by the time the next line of a CPU Generation comes out, your board architecture is unable to handle the new version.

[Wonderboy]

If you have the skills, build one yourself. You get to select your parts and get good manufactures instead of whatever they have instock at the time. It is usually cheaper too.

Well, I guess I will eventually do that. And as it happens, next year I'm taking a computer hardware and software, apparently you learn how to build a computer. It was that or learning Windows applications from 2003.

[501st_commander]

You don't have to get one that's over 3GHz. I mean, yeah, that's good and stuff, but a quad-core processor around 2.4GHz and up would be good too. I'd go with Intel Core i7. Or wait for the Core i9 to come out It's got 6 cores.

i3 has 2
i5 has 4
i7 has 6 (recommended)
i9 will have 8

Wrong.

i3 is Dual
i5 is Quad (i5 Mobility for notebooks is Dual with HT)
i7 both LGA1166 and LGA1366 are Quad core with Hyper Threading, some lower end 1166 i7s have no HT
i9 is Hexacore

Hyper Threading (HT) is old Intel tech where One Core handles two threads of data. Giving you One Physical Core and One Logical Core. The last of the LGA 775 Pentium 4s had Hyper Threading first.

Dual = 2 cores
Quad = 4 cores

so that part i was right.

and i7 does have 6 cores

[computergeek]

Dual = 2 cores
Quad = 4 cores

so that part i was right.

and i7 does have 6 cores

The problem is that Intel was pretty stupid in naming these chips. The i3's are mainly dual cores ( a few are hyper threaded I think) , the i5's are hyper-threaded dual cores (2 physical cores and 2 logical cores) some quad cores, and the i7's hyper threaded quad cores (4 logical cores + 4 physical cores) and atleast one 6 core. Their purpose in the three categories are not to distinguish cores, but the i3's are low-end, the i5's middle end, and the i7's high end