Does a slow CPU slow your graphics?

Question

Hey, I just bought a 8600 GTS and reading the reviews and benchmarks for it, it actually seemed like a good graphics card. But I just tried playing some games with it and it's terrible! I can't even play Halo 2 on low resolution and low settings.
I was wondering if it was because of my other computer parts. I have:

amd athlon 3800+ 2.52 ghz (single core)
asus a8v-vm
ram that I don't even remember the brand or make of but it's 1gb

It's pretty crappy but I'm waiting for Barcelona to launch so I can upgrade. I just did a 3dmark06 score and it only got 2500 and it says that out of the people who have the same graphics card as me, mine scores in the lowest category.

btw when I did receive the graphics card (the firs ttime i got it it was damaged so sent it in for repair) it had a transistor broken off so instead of waiting another 2 months for repair I soldered it back on. Would this be causing the crappy frame rates or is that because of my cpu, ram..etc?

Thanks

btw im using the latest beta drivers from nvidia, I didn't just use halo 2. I played bioshock and that was really bad on medium aswell. The card gets 5.9 and 5.7 on the vista score index which is why I thought it must be my cpu..that only gets 4.2 and so does ram

Answer 1

Soldering the transistor back on probably invalidates your warranty. It also makes your performance unpredictable.

Other than that, more memory might improve performance, but I think it's your mangled card.

Answer 2

Yes, graphic processing itself has certain overhead instruction that is processed by the CPU, so until this overhead instruction is being executed, your graphic card will be waiting for it.

Furthermore, the game itself needs CPU, the game logic, physics, AI all rely on CPU. Lets say your graphic card renders an explosion. The explosion physics itself is calculated by your CPU, so until your CPU can calculate the position of say, boxes that is being blown away by the explosion, the graphic card cannot render your graphic as it has to wait for the CPU.

that's the logic behind it.

I don't know about Halo 2 as Microsoft got it wrong with the first Halo port to PC, but they can always get it wrong again. 3DMark is one application where the score is being affected by CPU (that's why people who overclock their CPU use 3DMark as their bragging point as CPU performance have a significant impact on the scores)

But generally CPU does affect your graphic card performance and many benchmark online uses very high end system that runs on Intel Core2Duo which is the fastest CPU in the market..

Ps:
I never solder a graphic card component before so I don't know what effect it will have, but I think if it does affect your card, it probably wouldn't run at all. Those components on the board like capacitors all have huge effect on the card, if either of it is not functioning, I think your entire card wouldn't function at all

Answer 3

If you have the correct latest drivers installed and your power supply isn't a 250-300watt baby you definately should try to return it for a new one. Video games are based on 1-video card 2-Ram 3-cpu ,in that order, and with your cpu and ram you should at least be able to play medium settings for Halo 2. There is a possibility that the resistor got too hot and got damaged when you resoldered it.

Answer 4

It could be the transistor, but as long as it is soldered on correctly, it should cause no problems.

Your CPU and memory are good enough for games, the GPU which is the Graphics Processing Unit.

You should have at least 512MB of video memory, this could be the problem.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Check on the box for the system requirements,

Answer 5

the cause has to be the repair cause the computer specs seem fine. If not that could it be a software- driver issue?

Answer 6

it is 100 percent bz u r using a repaired video card
never use repaired component for ur PC, it will also damage other PC components