Am i having a CPU problem?

[woodywoody 1]

Hi, i only bought the game two days ago after watching some videos, i done a 'canyourunit' and passed both minimum and recommended, so with a smile i purchased this great game.

And when i started playing it was great, great graphics, really smooth, but then i started fighting in a city, or village, and i have such bad fps, now i can't enjoy playing. It's strange though, if i lower the graphics to the lowest possible, i still have the same fps (around 9 - 12 fps) as if i had the graphics on the highest, so i am convinced my CPU isn't good enough as that's the only thing i haven't upgraded on this computer.

I have:

AMD Athlon x2 2.3ghz (which i now know, is pretty low for a CPU)

nvidia 9800gt (overclocked)

5gb ram

so the question i am trying to ask is, 'Should i upgrade my CPU?' and 'Will it help if i do, and if i get a 3ghz amd athlon x4 CPU?'

Thanks.

EDIT*

I have also tried everything to increase FPS but it hasn't worked, e.g, gamebooster, messing around with different settings, changing files in the ARMA 2 directory.

[gambla 10]

Yes, your CPU seems limiting, like for the most of us all. A 3+ ghz quad core is a good choice, if your motherboard supports it. If your budget allows, ArmA3 is in the pipeline, i would consider building a new system with latest power CPU and GPU.

[woodywoody 1]

Thanks, i can't really afford a new one at the moment, but i'm happy with playing arma 2 for a long while, even when arma 3 comes out.

Take care.

Yes, your CPU seems limiting, like for the most of us all. A 3+ ghz quad core is a good choice, if your motherboard supports it. If your budget allows, ArmA3 is in the pipeline, i would consider building a new system with latest power CPU and GPU.

[Gunter Severloh 2546]

Woody your cpu is fine for now but your graphics card is giving you the problem not the cpu you need to upgrade that.

AMD Athlon x2 2.3ghz (which i now know, is pretty low for a CPU)

You think your cpu is the lowest you have a dual core, well I have a AMD single core 2.8 and right now I cant play the game for but 10min without it overheating which started 2 weeks ago.

When I was able to play i have an Nvidia geforce gtx 285, 2g ramm, and a 750w psu thats what gets me through the game, and i get better fps then you.

[gambla 10]

And when i started playing it was great, great graphics, really smooth, but then i started fighting in a city, or village, and i have such bad fps, now i can't enjoy playing. It's strange though, if i lower the graphics to the lowest possible, i still have the same fps (around 9 - 12 fps) as if i had the graphics on the highest, so i am convinced my CPU isn't good enough as that's the only thing i haven't upgraded on this computer.

y.

When you started with good FPS, i assumed it was with few or no AI. So FPS dropped when fighting with many AIs. This is proven by no change in FPS when lowering video settings. Then it's clearly CPU related. Citys are for sure GPU demanding by the way. So you may do another two benchmarks in a town with first no AI and then many AI around. If FPSs drop in the latter, then it's your CPU and not your GPU.

[ck-claw 1]

Have you tried dropping the view distance right down?

[woodywoody 1]

Hi okay, thanks for all the replies. Your dead right, when im with a lot of AI, fps drops. Where as if in the same situation with loads of AI i look only at the ground with high end graphics and it doesn't lag then the second i look up at all the smoke and the gun fire and the AI running around, it just slows right down.

Ill do that test you recommended and let you know how it goes. thanks.

When you started with good FPS, i assumed it was with few or no AI. So FPS dropped when fighting with many AIs. This is proven by no change in FPS when lowering video settings. Then it's clearly CPU related. Citys are for sure GPU demanding by the way. So you may do another two benchmarks in a town with first no AI and then many AI around. If FPSs drop in the latter, then it's your CPU and not your GPU.

---------- Post added at 16:21 ---------- Previous post was at 16:11 ----------

Hi okay so i turned view distance to the very bottom, and it does increase my FPS a tad, it tends to stick at around 15- 20, but as soon as AI show up and guns start firing, it drops to around 14, if it's my CPU, ill go out and buy a new one soon! Thanks, i just dont want to waste any money on buying one, and it doesn't do anything.

Have you tried dropping the view distance right down?

---------- Post added at 16:25 ---------- Previous post was at 16:21 ----------

Also, i'm not sure if this helps, but with very high graphics, i can sit in the back of jeep and look at everyones beautiful faces with no problem, loads of detail on the guns and the Armour and all the lovely stuff, then we enter a fire fight with people shooting guns and running around, everything just slows down when FPS drops, so i'm convinced it's CPU, but as i said, i'd like some second or third opinions.

---------- Post added at 17:59 ---------- Previous post was at 16:25 ----------

Okay new update, i can't run through a big city without any AI, without low FPS either, do buildings require good CPU aswel?

My test was to load up a big city without any AI just building, and i still have low FPS.

Whats the verdict guys? i always thought my 9800 gt was a great graphics card to have?

[gambla 10]

Cities are afaik the most demanding for GPUs, as i said. In this case your GPU is too weak. But, iF you only play SP missions with a few Ai, you may get along with most of the missions, otherwise you need to upgrade. If all components are aged, i only recommend to build a new system, CPU, GPU and Motherboard. RAM isn't that important. If you upgrade only one piece, you are limited by the others (bottleneck).