What should I do?
What should I do?
I have an I7 920, 4 cores, 8 threads at 2.67 ghz. You probably starts to see the real problem here. I think that the 2.67 isn't enough for modern games. Sure I can go in the wilderness in Wither 3 and get 60+ fps on ultra with my MSI 970, but when I am in a busy town, my graphics card doesn't save me. In the worstest of the worst cases, I get sub 35 fps. So, I can either get an water cooling system and overclock my I7, or get a new motherboard (since my DX58SO dosen't support new CPUs) and a i5 4690 (I have a limited budget). There are small problem on the cost side with the overclocking plan, since it is a first generation I7, so the electricity bill is high enough, with that overclocking it would increase. So yeah, opinions?
Sorry for speeling mistakes
Sorry I don't use Skype.
Regarding your motherboard, the DX58SO supports up to 16MB of RAM DDR3. You have 10GB, but your RAM setup isn't ideal.
What I'm referring to is whether your four slots are configured properly—each pair should function together.
Your 2x2GB of RAM actually works in dual-channel mode, but because your 1x4GB and 1x2GB sticks aren't the same size, they operate as single-channel RAM.
This means that when accessing the first two 2GB in dual-channel, the performance doubles compared to accessing the other two single channels. This can cause delays or stutters during intense gaming, especially if one stick is a different size than the others.
In the initial stage, I aim to discuss your interest in a new CPU. Upgrading typically involves replacing the motherboard and possibly adding RAM. Choosing a used 4th generation model is an alternative, but due to market conditions, the combined cost of a 4th gen CPU, motherboard, and RAM becomes comparable to purchasing a 6th generation CPU, motherboard, and RAM. This reflects current economic considerations.
However, there is still hope.
Looking at potential challenges, the recommended specs for *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt* include:
CPU: Intel Core i7 3770 @ 3.4 GHz or AMD FX-8350 @ 4 GHz
RAM: 8 GB
OS: 64-bit Windows 7 or 8.1
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 or AMD Radeon R9 290
Could you share the amount of RAM your system currently has? Your MSI 970 should suffice unless it overheats (that’s something to discuss later). If you can download the HWINFO program from the web and run it in the background, then launch the game for about 30 minutes, observe any significant drops in FPS. Afterward, check the usage and temperatures. I’m interested in knowing if your CPU consistently ran at full capacity and how the graphics card performed. Also, please inform me of the motherboard you’re using—this will help determine if further upgrades are feasible economically. If possible, an upgrade to an I7-950 or even higher could be beneficial, depending on the board compatibility. Overclocking your I7-920 to 4 GHz might also be worth considering.
Looking forward to your update.
The Paladin :
Erat999, I’d like to start by addressing your inquiry about a new CPU. Upgrading typically involves getting a new motherboard and possibly additional RAM. Switching to a used 4th generation model is also an option; you’ll soon notice the market price, as the cost of a 4th gen CPU, motherboard, and RAM is comparable to purchasing a brand new 6th generation one—all driven by economics at this stage.
However, there’s still hope ahead.
Looking at potential challenges, here are some recommended specs:
CPU: Intel Core i7 3770 at 3.4 GHz or AMD FX-8350 at 4 GHz
RAM: 8 GB
Operating System: 64-bit Windows 7 or 8.1
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 or AMD Radeon R9 290
Could you check your system’s RAM? Your MSI 970 should handle the task unless it overheats—don’t worry, it should manage the game well.
Would you like me to fetch the HWINFO program from the web and run it in the background? Then test the game for about 30 minutes. I’ll monitor FPS fluctuations, CPU usage, and GPU activity. I’m also checking the temperatures of both CPU and GPU to ensure they’re not overheating.
Also, do you know the motherboard you’re using? If possible, we could explore upgrading your CPU further if it makes economic sense—perhaps an I7-950 or even higher could be beneficial, depending on the board. I’m considering overclocking the I7-920 to 4 GHz as well.
Let me know how you’d like to proceed.
I have 10 GB of RAM (1x4 GB and 3x2 GB DDR3) and the motherboard is DX58SO. Would you like me to connect you via Skype or Steam for a chat?
Sorry I don't use Skype.
Regarding your motherboard, the DX58SO supports up to 16MB of RAM DDR3. You have 10GB, but your RAM setup isn't ideal.
What I mean is that with 4 slots for RAM, each pair functions as a unit. Your 2x2GB of RAM actually works in dual-channel speed, but because your 1x4GB and 1x2GB sticks aren't the same size, they only operate as single-channel RAM. This means when the system accesses the first 2x2GB in dual-channel mode, the data transfers twice as fast compared to accessing the other two single-channel sticks, which can cause delays or stutters during intense gaming, especially if one stick is a different size than the others in your configuration.
My main suggestion would be to either replace your sticks with 1x2GB or 1x4GB that match up so they can all work together in dual-channel mode.
Ideally, you'd want the same size across all four slots. In that case, a 1x4GB stick matching your current one would be more efficient.
Additionally, the DX58SO is compatible with Intel processors listed at http://processormatch.intel.com/Processo...ame=dx58so. Options like I7-940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 980x, and 990x are available. A big upgrade might be needed if you're considering a higher-end model.
For comparison, the I7-920 is significantly less powerful than the I7-980—similar to how a 120-175$ system can offer much better performance than an I7-940 or 950.
You could also check if you've installed HWinfo or Speccy to monitor temperatures during gaming.
The Paladin:
I don’t use Skype much.
Regarding your motherboard, the DX58SO supports up to 16MB of RAM DDR3. You have 10GB, but your setup isn’t ideal. What I’m talking about is whether your four slots are configured properly—each pair should function together as a unit. Your current configuration splits your 2x4GB into single-channel memory, which limits performance. Even though you have 4GB in two pairs, they operate separately rather than in dual-channel mode. This means the system can access the first 2x4GB in dual-channel speed, but since the two 1x4GB sticks are different sizes, they only work as single channels. This can cause delays or stutters during intense gaming, especially when one stick is larger than the other in your slots.
My advice would be to replace one of your sticks with a matching size—either 1x2GB or 1x4GB—to align them and enable dual-channel operation. Ideally, all four slots should hold the same RAM size for optimal efficiency.
Additionally, the DX58SO is compatible with Intel processors listed on Intel’s site (like I7-940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 990). A big upgrade would be needed if you’re considering a newer model.
For comparison, an I7-980 is significantly more powerful than an I7-920, which is a good point. You could find a newer I7 model on eBay for around $120–175. This would make your system much faster without requiring a full overhaul, as long as the CPU and RAM fit your motherboard.
Have you installed any monitoring tools like HWinfo or Speccy to check temperatures during games? Yes, my CPU stays between 70–75°C while gaming (40–50°C with Chrome open), and the GPU around 40–50°C, rarely reaching 60°C with a fan speed of 70 in M-Series afterburner. The fan direction seems off—should it be facing the CPU? I might sound a bit confused but I’m not sure.
The paladin said it doesn't matter whether the fan is pulling or pushing air through those vents since the CPU uses copper tubes to transfer heat and the fan handles cooling. My choice would be an I7-980, paired with an Nvidia GTX 750ti.
Thanks for your suggestions, mate! I just found an I7-980x and will consider swapping the 4GB stick for a 2GB one or replacing all 2GB sticks with 4GB ones. You were really helpful, thanks ^^.