CPU upgrade for DA:O

PiP · Post by **PiP** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 10:17 am

I've recently installed Dragon Age: Origins and the game runs rather smoothly on my rig.
However the CPU is overheating (no apparent performance drop) after a few minutes of playing. I tweaked down the game's video settings but the same thing is still happening: CPU temperature floating around 72*C (it's a C2D E8200 @2.66GHz)

I could perhaps get a better cooler (I've got the stock crap) but a decent one is about 25Â£ and I think it's better to upgrade the whole CPU. BTW I have the recommended graphics card for this game (8800 GTS 512) so I won't be upgrading this one; my RAM is more than enough.

There's no way I'm upgrading the motherboard for this game so I'm sticking to the 775 socket. As the game benefits from multiple cores, my CPU of choice will be from the Core 2 Quad range.

Now the selection:
- Core 2 Quad Q8400 2.66GHz 4MB-cache - Â£125.
- Core 2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz 6MB-cache - Â£160
- Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz 12MB cache - Â£253
- Core 2 Quad Q9650 3GHz 12MB cache - Â£280

I know at least some of you have first-hand experience of this game so perhaps you'll be able to give me some advice. I'd really rather not spend more than about Â£150 on a CPU, which would narrow down my choice to the first two options. Is this going to be enough improvement over my old Duo E8200? If yes, then should I bother with the extra 2MB of cache (and get the 9400 instead of 8400)? In other games that gives about 5% FPS boost; I'm not sure how DA:O handles that cache.

This article gives some insight but is not conclusive.

Thanks

Superhaze · Post by **Superhaze** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 11:26 pm

I just bought a laptop. Game runs smooth.

PiP · Post by **PiP** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 1:17 am

done some testing and realised it's not the CPU that's struggling but its cooler. Getting a new cooler then probably (opening the case didn't fix the problem).

I just wonder what happens when I get out in big open spaces (in the game) from the small interiors I'm in at the moment. I might be forced to upgrade after all

However at the moment the game does run smooth, even at max settings. It's just the bloody heat - but hey, even at windows desktop it almost reaches 60*C (!) so no wonder it can go up to 70 under stress. Wonder why it didn't heat up with Bioshock

Tofu Man · Post by **Tofu Man** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 2:27 am

PiP wrote:However at the moment the game does run smooth, even at max settings. It's just the bloody heat - but hey, even at windows desktop it almost reaches 60*C (!) so no wonder it can go up to 70 under stress. Wonder why it didn't heat up with Bioshock

Maybe you weren't using both cores when you ran Bioshock, and (again maybe) DA:O is the first program to make full use of both, hence you only now noting the difference in temp.

My GPU usually reaches 78-80ÂºC so I don't think 72Âº is cause for concern. Having said that, it'd help if people here who have dual cores (mine's a single) could take a temp reading during load times so you'd have some sort of comparison.

PiP · Post by **PiP** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:41 am

72.4 C degrees is max allowed for this CPU by Intel for surface temp, not sure how this relates to my core readings. Anyhow, my BIOS-controlled alarm goes off a few minutes into the game.
I'll try to hoover the radiator to improve cooling - had a glance and it looks dusty.

Cimmerian Nights · Post by **Cimmerian Nights** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 1:47 pm

PiP wrote: Wonder why it didn't heat up with Bioshock

Is that a known issue with BS? I installed it a few weeks ago and same thing, I can play maybe 10 minutes or so, rig gets hot as hell and reboots itself. Granted it's summertime, and I don't have A/C in the computer room.
Ah well, BS really isn't doing it for me anyway, cool art direction, but I really am ambivalent about shooters.

Tofu Man · Post by **Tofu Man** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:11 pm

Wow, that is weird. Non overclocked cpus shouldn't be reaching max temp, regardless of the cooler, especially those almost infinitely oc'able C2Ds. Maybe getting a new cooler would be the best bet at this point.

Still, you might wanna try an app like this Speed Fan one, (http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php) so you can check beforehand that your fans are doing what they're supposed to.

Frater Perdurabo · Post by **Frater Perdurabo** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:40 am

That CPU is ancient?

Definitely check the fan, used to be a massive problem for my old processor and I had to clean it at least once a week. For that I recommend buying balloons of compressed air, it is far more efficient than a hoover. You can get them for around 6 pounds a piece and they are also useful for cleaning the rest of your computer.

Disassembling the case is a bad idea, unless your one is really really bad (like 5% of cases or so) since cases actually create the necessary air flow inside the computer which improves cooling.

To be honest, I recommend upgrading. I know that you said that your budget was limited. That's what I thought as well but I spent 500 pounds last October on a new rig and it will easily last me another 3-4 years. I can max out graphics in every game thus far, including DA:O and the Call of Duties. Fucking around with shitty computers is frustrating and a waste of time, I am so glad I spent those 500 pounds.

Since you live in the UK, I suggest that you find a computer fair (plenty of them in London) where you can haggle the best prices.

PiP · Post by **PiP** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:15 am

Frater Perdurabo wrote:That CPU is ancient?

yeah, so? Still runs the game smoothly at top settings, even though it's a few years old.

Definitely check the fan

yup, done that. After hoovering, temp dropped by about 4 C degrees - just enough to prevent the bloody alarm.

Disassembling the case is a bad idea, unless your one is really really bad (like 5% of cases or so) since cases actually create the necessary air flow inside the computer which improves cooling.

no I have a pretty good one. however fans are kept to minimum: GPU fan extracting outside the case, 120mm PSU fan, and down-blowing CPU fan. I gotta do some test with and without open case (I'm not fucking 'disassembling' it, it just opens on the side)

To be honest, I recommend upgrading.

not unless I need it.

I know that you said that your budget was limited.

No, I said I don't want to spend more than about Â£150 on a CPU. Can =/= want.

I would have upgraded for Bioshock if I could be bothered to finish it, as it was getting choppy. DA:O runs perfectly, and next on my list are some classics, so no upgrades needed any time soon. Thanks for tips anyway

Cimmerian Nights · Post by **Cimmerian Nights** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 5:47 pm

Tofu Man wrote:Wow, that is weird. Non overclocked cpus shouldn't be reaching max temp, regardless of the cooler, especially those almost infinitely oc'able C2Ds. Maybe getting a new cooler would be the best bet at this point.

Still, you might wanna try an app like this Speed Fan one, (http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php) so you can check beforehand that your fans are doing what they're supposed to.

My BIOS has tools that report/tweak that shit, but it was hot as fuck outside (high 90s) last couple weeks, and my 2nd floor has no A/C it's like a sauna. And besides which, I acquired it through alternative methods, so I'm not really apt to bitch about it's stability all that much. As an atmospheric shooter it has some moments, but it's not enough for me to bother pursuing further IMO.

Tofu Man · Post by **Tofu Man** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:03 pm

Cimmerian Nights wrote:My BIOS has tools that report/tweak that shit, but it was hot as fuck outside (high 90s) last couple weeks, and my 2nd floor has no A/C it's like a sauna. And besides which, I acquired it through alternative methods, so I'm not really apt to bitch about it's stability all that much. As an atmospheric shooter it has some moments, but it's not enough for me to bother pursuing further IMO.

Actually, I meant that in PiP's case, though if you have the same C2D cpu and it's heating up then definetly blame the room. Mine usually goes up to 51/53ÂºC but with this bloody heat it's breached 60Âº.

And I totally agree with you on Bio there. Want to kill your interest in it (and have 50 mins to spare)? Check this out. Been checking that guy's reviews ever since I saw that.

POOPERSCOOPER · Post by **POOPERSCOOPER** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:17 am

There could be a number of reasons why your CPU is overheating but it is probably dust, don't just clean the fan clean the top of the heatsink where the fan sits on top of as often it will build up a cake of dust also clean the whole computer of dust. On my old computer I would get some qtips and kind of rub the dust off since the vacuum didn't have enough suction to get the dust under the fan. You might want to consider getting some compressed air since that generally has more force than some vacuums and is able to get the dust out of the hard to reach places and then you can vacuum of the debris with the vacuum. If the front of the computer has vents/fans and they are clogged then you will starving the system of air flow which will make everything hotter.

Sounds like you kind of have a poor case for cooling so you might want to add some more fans in there, usually one in the front really helps.

On my old computer generally would have to clean out the whole system every few months and especially during summer when it gets hot. I think the most temp drop I got was 10 c on the CPU.

No real need to upgrade a CPU when you find out a few months later that it is heating up again because you have poor airflow in your case.

PiP · Post by **PiP** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:59 am

Thanks for the tips guys, it's fine now like I said.
I hoovered the cooler; I even sticky-taped a straw to the hoover's tube to do a better job on the heatsink

Temp has dropped significantly,
The inside of the case was amazingly clean considering the fact that I last cleaned it.. about a year ago or more. I'm not putting extra fans in the case as I don't want extra noise. Overheating has only been a problem once, and that's because of a combination of three factors: dust build-up, summer, cpu-taxing game.
Thanks again