Core 2 Duo to Core 2 Quad?

[RedTuna]

Is CFS3 CPU or cache limited? When I went from a single core to a dual core, game play improved dramatically. The price on the quads has come down quite a bit and I'm wondering if or how much play will improve. Does it use all four cores? Anyone using a Q8400 or Q9550? Or should I maybe go for a GTX 260 instead now that those have dropped in price, too?

I'm currently using a C2D E6750 and an 8800GT at 1080p, both moderately overclocked. The ETO expansion looks pretty dang awesome as it is, but I want more.

Thanks

[Daiwilletti]

Hi RedTuna,

AFAIK the key limitation is clock speed (and RAM) . I don't think multi cores make any difference - good mobo architecture, fast HDD, good video card, etc are important of course.

I have a 2.6GHX E6600 Dual core set up, and what I really want is more clock speed. Every time I overclock, the AI p[erformance improves

HTH
D

[OldCrow]

Single core is just as good as multi-core with CFS3. It doesn't utilize muti-core because it was made long before they were invented. Some older games due utilize the 2nd core when the 1st core is fully used. From what I've monitored, my 2nd core doesn't get used with CFS3.

[RedTuna]

Thanks, guys. I'm probably just trying to rationalize a new CPU and GPU to make up for my lack of any skill whatsoever. But I'm having fun when I do get to play so I'll probably overclock them some more and see what happens. I hope there's no smoke hiding in them.

I've got the E6750 bumped up to 3.2 from 2.66 with temps in the mid-40s. Using the hardware monitoring graphs in RivaTuner, I'm seeing each core usage hitting about 30-60 percent and fairly steady. Core usage doesn't seem to be related to frame rates, though. They're generally about 40-70 fps, sometimes over 100, at 1920x1080x32 with the sliders on 5 and a few tweaks. It's those dips into the low teens and twenties in close to the ground or in heavy traffic that irritate me.

Yeah, I need a new video card. I really want to try the eto-perf_visuals tweaks I found here last night.

[htpcorsica]

Hi Redtuna, I'm running a Q9550 and the game works well at 5 all round. Try and match FSBs (ram, mb and cpu to get the most out of it)

[RedTuna]

Cool. Thanks.

[FOO FIGHTER]

I just ordered this quad and would like some opinions on how it might fare with all CFS3 sliders at 5 or even FSX full on. I can go as high as 16GB with the DDR2. The Phenom 9500 is 2.2Ghz but I'm seeing some people OC it to 2.6 and even 2.8 with some heavy cooling.

* AMD Phenom 9500+ (Quad Core) AM2+ 4MB Cache
* Spire Kestrel-King II AMD 64 fan
* BIOSTAR A770 A2+,PCI-EX, 1GB LAN
* 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400 DDR2 800 Dual Channel
* GeForce 9400GT 1GB PCI EXpress 16X dual head, tv out
* 250.0GB Hitachi/ IBM 7200rpm SATA2 UDMA 300 8m Cache
* Hard Drive Cooling Fan Aluminum Internal
* Samsung 16x52x24x52 DVD/CDRW Combo Drive (black or white)
* AC 97 3D Full Duplex sound card (onboard)
* Ethernet network adapter (onboard)
* Nikao Black Neon ATX Case w/side window & front USB
* Case Fan 80 mm DC fan
* Nspire X-extreme 750W ATX Power Supply, SLI ready
* Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic 64 bit DVD