So what is this comp's bottleneck?!?!?!?!?!

Wishmaster · 31 Jan 2010

Why would you even want to run at 100fps or more? You are only asking your hardware to work harder than it needs to for no improvement that can be seen.

Common mis-conception is that higher framerates = better gameplay. this isn't exacly the case.
Fact of the matter is, if you monitor has a refresh rate of 60, its physically impossible for it to display more than 60FPS.

Your GPU can draw 500FPS, but it doesn't matter because the monitor will only display 60, or whatever its refresh rate is. This is why image tearing occurs.

Instead of stressing the GPU to draw frames than never get displayed, you are much better off running Vsync (to keep the FPS at what can be displayed) and using other features to improve visual quality (that you will see) such as Antistropy and AA.

Your CPU very well may slightly bottleneck the GPUs capabilities slightly. But if you can run at the refresh rate, with some AA and AF turned, I would not worry to much about it at this point.

Frostmourne · 31 Jan 2010

Wishmaster said:

Why would you even want to run at 100fps or more? You are only asking your hardware to work harder than it needs to for no improvement that can be seen.

Common mis-conception is that higher framerates = better gameplay. this isn't exacly the case.
Fact of the matter is, if you monitor has a refresh rate of 60, its physically impossible for it to display more than 60FPS.

Your GPU can draw 500FPS, but it doesn't matter because the monitor will only display 60, or whatever its refresh rate is. This is why image tearing occurs.

Instead of stressing the GPU to draw frames than never get displayed, you are much better off running Vsync (to keep the FPS at what can be displayed) and using other features to improve visual quality (that you will see) such as Antistropy and AA.

Your CPU very well may slightly bottleneck the GPUs capabilities slightly. But if you can run at the refresh rate, with some AA and AF turned, I would not worry to much about it at this point.

VSync is a bad idea - it can limit your FPS to 30 - up the quality instead or enable triple buffering + Vsync which may work.

Wishmaster · 31 Jan 2010

Oh yes,
I did mean Vsync + tripple buffering .. just didnt specify.

thank for pointing that out

Billy · 01 Feb 2010

I know all this but seeing the high numbers make me happy. On a side note there is no triple buffering in Counter-strike: Source, and with games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare having higher frame rates lets you jump slightly higher(125fps and higher, I have no idea why I just know it does)

Fumz · 01 Feb 2010

ccatlett1984 said:

... I wonder if your computer support faster ram? You are running ddr-800, if the board supports ddr-1066 you would have a large increase in transfer speed of in-ram data to the video card...

Moving from 800MHz to 1066MHz isn't going to increase gaming performance; the fps difference is, literally, negligible: AnandTech: DDR3 vs. DDR2

Even when looking at the jump from 1066MHz to 1866MHz, the fps difference is only a few points: AnandTech: Memory Scaling on Core i7 - Is DDR3-1066 Really the Best Choice?

These days, it's really all about your graphics card and whether or not you've got sufficient cpu strength to push it?

Artonox · 01 Feb 2010

damoh said:

hi
Ok, so to summarize, you are noticing a difference, albeit not much. The previous post regarding hdd's was spot on, and as you have 4 gig of ram CSS should be fine once loaded into ram. Thing is that a lot of servers, ( the ones i sell included) unless you specify that you want a 500fps or a 1000 fps server, they will always be setup to 100.
However with you mentioning that your real time stress tests report 90 out of game im assuming, then i would defo say were looking at a software problem. There is no reason that i can see of that your setup shouldn't be getting at least 150 fps, with that g/card. Out of curiosity, what internet connection do you have?
Ill keep looking around and report back anything i find. Short of a full reinstall ( which i think would help) this might be a bit sticky as your hardware, as far as i can see is more then sufficient to run CSS maxed out.

My internet connection is 8mbs (megabits)

ccatlett1984 said:

I beg to differ on pure hertz being the defining spec. I happen to run close to that setup, and have no lag issues at all. I only play on lan servers, but my fps never drops below 60.

I really just want it to run at MINimum 60fps
It is noticeable between 30 - 60 due to volatile rates in fps. When I say the pc runs at average of 50fps, this usually means that with 3-4 guys shooting on the screen, this easily drops to 30 or even 20something. So as for asking for 100fps+, I usually mean that the minumum threshold to be raised (but since average fps is the norm, this is how i state it)

Freakazoid said:

I'm going to agree that it's the CPU that is the bottleneck. What is your Front Side Bus set to?

We have very comparable computers. Here is a picture of my CS:S all settings maxed at 1680x1050 resolution

If you change 211.42fps to 70-100fps (pick a number) then that is my average speed D:

Also, my FSB by CPU-Z tells me it is 201mhz
the multiplier is 11 effectively meaning i get core speed of 2211mhz (=phenom speed)

hope that helps,

Artonox

PS i have never oc this rig before since i never tried - there are too many different guides giving WAY too many different instructions over different "tech" generations and that just turns me away.

Artonox · 01 Feb 2010

bump

Billy · 02 Feb 2010

z3r010 said:

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RST101 · 02 Feb 2010

From an 8800GT to a 4870 is NOT that much of an upgrade. They are both about the same on performance.

The human eye can only do 24 frames a second max and that's what your favourate movies run at, so why the need for stressing your comp at 100fps when really there is no need to.

As long as the game play is smooth and responsive(depends how the game is coded) then so long as your getting 25fps you will notice no difference.

damoh · 02 Feb 2010

Ok,
The most important thing when it comes to CSS is bullet registration, and tbh i may be inviting flaming, but reg and tick are the most important thing. Yes i am fully aware that people will say that there is 'no' difference between 66 tick and 100. But trust me there is. The post regarding the human eye cannot see above 25fps, yes good point. But its everything combined that gives a good CSS game. Reg, FPS, Latency and tickrate.
I think in ref to the posts about crysis etc... these games cannot be compared. I still say software is an issue here. The reason why? Simple, in 2004 when css came out, i would have sold everything i own for a phenom cpu. They hadnt even been made yet. The hardware, i still say is good enough to run CSS with over 100 fps.
But lets not overlook one thing. Higher FPS is basically a placebo effect. I can see servers running at 1000fps all day long. But i dont know many people who can get a 1000fps in css. Seen a couple hit 600 but that was it.

I still say software, something along the lines. Cos come on people, that rig should be getting over 100, never mind 40.