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Does Nwn2 Need A Better Cpu Or A Gpu?
Topic Started: Oct 24 2013, 04:54 PM (186 Views)
Licca
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From everyone's experience here, does having a better processor or a better graphics card make NWN2 run better?

(I'll explain why I'm asking this in a bit.)
- Licca Lyricia - The sorceress of love and jewelry!
- Lucia Lyricia - "One good shot is better than peppering five bad shots."
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Darkrob
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Yes. I used to run it on an old machine (minimal graphics). As soon as I got a new system, it almost became a whole new game (running it on max graphics).
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Selebius
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What Rob said. Graphic performance can change greatly.
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Ravel's Heart
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Licca,Oct 24 2013
11:54 AM
(I'll explain why I'm asking this in a bit.)

If you are thinking about another bank heist to pay for a new computer I'd like to remind you that you promised me that was all in your past once we had the baby!
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Mr_Otyugh
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The change is much less obvious than just about every other game however. NWN2 is poorly optimized and you need more beast machine than more "demanding" games. NWN2 in its poor optimization tends to be a great stress CPU test program :P
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LiquidDreamer
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Graphics card will go longer than CPU, even though as MrO said a faster CPU will help as well.

What current CPU and GPU are you using?
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Mr_Otyugh
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Actually, due to my poor conveying, I actually think that neither will help you all that much. But if I had to pick, graphics card is probably safer pick in long term since it'll help with other games plenty more as well. But this is said knowing absolutely nothing of your existing specs, could be you already have adequate performance in one thing or another which would make one lean to the other instead.

The CPU point was mostly said because NWN2 does regularly consume more CPU than your average CPU stress program for unexplained reasons. I've played newer games that have much better graphics and that run better than NWN2, so generally speaking while NWN2 works on old machines, the difference will be much less impressive than it would in other games.
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Licca
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LiquidDreamer,Oct 24 2013
07:37 PM
Graphics card will go longer than CPU, even though as MrO said a faster CPU will help as well.

What current CPU and GPU are you using?

CPU - AMD FX-8120, 3.1 GHz, overclocked to 4.0 GHz.
GPU - AMD Radeon 5870, underclocked to 600/900.

The reason why I'm asking this is because my GPU is slowly failing, and I've been staving it off by underclocking it. (It won't run on the stock frequencies without artifacting.) Basically, I need to figure out how much I should spend on the GPU at this point. Basically, should I...

a. Spend the money on a new R9 290X, just released today? (~$500)
b. Spend the money on a R9 280/270 (or something even less expensive?) (~$200-400)
c. Save the money and upgrade the CPU later? ($?)

(Before anyone suggests it, I will not get an nVidia card under any circumstances.)

As for games I do play, it's pretty much NWN2, Sacred 2, King's Bounty, and various indie games, in 1080p. That is if I have enough time to play games with all the costumes and jewelry that I've been making....
- Licca Lyricia - The sorceress of love and jewelry!
- Lucia Lyricia - "One good shot is better than peppering five bad shots."
*giggles* If you hearing giggling in the bazaar... *giggles*
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Agony_Aunt
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I'd say GPU then.

If you are going CPU, then that generally means new mobo, new memory, then hell, maybe even new PSU.

But really, and half-decent modern CPU/GPU combo should be more than up to the job.
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Ninefingers
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Unless you anticipate playing more demanding games, you can get away a lot cheaper than that. I'm running a pair of AMD 6670's and a quick look at Amazon pegs them at about $70 apiece new. For reference, I can run Skyrim at near-max settings without any real slowdown.
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LiquidDreamer
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Mr_Otyugh,Oct 24 2013
03:49 PM
Actually, due to my poor conveying, I actually think that neither will help you all that much. But if I had to pick, graphics card is probably safer pick in long term since it'll help with other games plenty more as well. But this is said knowing absolutely nothing of your existing specs, could be you already have adequate performance in one thing or another which would make one lean to the other instead.

The CPU point was mostly said because NWN2 does regularly consume more CPU than your average CPU stress program for unexplained reasons. I've played newer games that have much better graphics and that run better than NWN2, so generally speaking while NWN2 works on old machines, the difference will be much less impressive than it would in other games.

Yup. Once i get an overclock going, i always run NWN2 to test stability.
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Whatever this is "Dog, dey be like, baller as *** y'alls. Dey is got PHAT ACs n dey abz is like pizschow, 'aight?"


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Tomekk
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NWN2 stresses my GPU just as much as Far Cry 3 does on Ultra. End of story.
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LiquidDreamer
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Licca,Oct 24 2013
04:18 PM
LiquidDreamer,Oct 24 2013
07:37 PM
Graphics card will go longer than CPU, even though as MrO said a faster CPU will help as well.

What current CPU and GPU are you using?

CPU - AMD FX-8120, 3.1 GHz, overclocked to 4.0 GHz.
GPU - AMD Radeon 5870, underclocked to 600/900.

The reason why I'm asking this is because my GPU is slowly failing, and I've been staving it off by underclocking it. (It won't run on the stock frequencies without artifacting.) Basically, I need to figure out how much I should spend on the GPU at this point. Basically, should I...

a. Spend the money on a new R9 290X, just released today? (~$500)
b. Spend the money on a R9 280/270 (or something even less expensive?) (~$200-400)
c. Save the money and upgrade the CPU later? ($?)

(Before anyone suggests it, I will not get an nVidia card under any circumstances.)

As for games I do play, it's pretty much NWN2, Sacred 2, King's Bounty, and various indie games, in 1080p. That is if I have enough time to play games with all the costumes and jewelry that I've been making....

You got an 8120! Shit man, keep that CPU it'll last you a bit longer and your 5870 is faster than my 5850.

Don't let AMD pull wool over your eyes, those R20xx are merely their last gen that they rebranded and have a higher bin. If possible, get a 7870 or one of the more affordable 79xx series, you can't go wrong with them.
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Whatever this is "Dog, dey be like, baller as *** y'alls. Dey is got PHAT ACs n dey abz is like pizschow, 'aight?"


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cryptc
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I still think my 10 year old computer delivered better performance than my current one, but newer nvidia drivers are atleast better than the ones that were 5 years ago when it was really hard getting nwn2 to run well

My two tidbits on nwn2 performance:

- Nvidia is better for nwn2 than ATI
- nwn2 will use every gpu cycle it gets it's grubby hands on, so it will stress your gpu like crazy no matter what (I use it for gpu stress testing, since my gpu gets hotter with nwn2 than gpu burn in software)
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