Got a new Graphic's Card - But no difference

[Halo_king116]

I recently purchased an HD Radeon 4890 (Upgrade from a Nvidia GeForce 8500) - And after purchasing a 700W Power Supply (Upgrade from a 430W), I haven't noticed an actual difference in game (Playing World of Warcraft).

My assumption is that theres something holding it back, but I don't know what.

My (What I believe is relivant) system info:

OS: Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (32 bit)
Processor: 2.40 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core
Ram: 2.00 GB
Board: Board: MSI MS-7369 1.0
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series (Specifically 4890 with 1g GDDR5 Memory)
Power Supply: Rocketfish 700W

When WoW is running, it's Memory Usage is always over 1,000,000k when doing anything important. My assumption is that it is the 2g of RAM that's holding it back, but I don't know these kind of things.

If it is the RAM, would getting another gig of RAM be worth it? Would getting 2g of RAM do anything, or is the .7g or so above 3.25g being wasted because of the 32 bit system?

Of course if you don't believe it's the RAM, say so. I really am frusterated with the whole situation because I continually need to upgrade my entire computer just to get a better FPS when playing WoW, which can get considerably low when there are 25-300 people on the screen (Which also makes me thing about the problem not only being the card).

If it means anything, I only have 9gb of empty space of a total 160gb on my hard drive.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.




UPDATE: (Same as below post) I'm going to get the RAM since it should be relatively cheap. However, I also believe I should get the CPU, since it'll probably still hold back my Graphics Card.

Problem is, my motherboard only has an AM2 socket, so anything above a Dual-Core is out of the question. Unless I get a new Motherboard, in which case I'll both have to sell my liver and my soul (Seriously, I've spent a lot already). First I'll link the two Dual-Core processors I've found, but I don't know anything more about the stats other than the socket type and the GHz... so I probably missed somethign important.

(2.8GHz Dual-core)
(3.2GHz Dual-core)

How good would the difference be between a 2.4 and a 3.2? Would it be worth all the extra money to get it over the 2.8? I also don't want to have to replace it half a year from now, but to get anything better I'd have to replace the motherboard and that by itself is insanity.

 

[sqrage]

I'd get a bigger hard drive and more ram and maybe overclock your CPU to 3,0ghz.

What did you upgrade from?

I just got a 4890 too and it runs really amazing...No doubt it would be running WoW smooth no matter what.

Edit, Yea 9GB.....that is definitely wayyyy too low. You should try to clear some stuff up and get at least 20 gb free.

 

[Halo_king116]

I've never overclocked anything on my computer - So that's something I'll need help with (Or atleast a play of reference on how to properly do it).

Also, I'll probably get more RAM but I can't afford to spend much more. I spent more than I wanted to already by having to get the Power Supply, and honestly I'm all out. So trying to overclock the CPU & cleaning up my hard drive are great suggestions.

Also, my last Graphics Card was a Nvidia GeForce 8500, my power supply was a 430W.


If theres any more information you need from me please let me know.


Edit: Also, how much RAm would you suggest with a 32-bit Windows OS?

 

[sqrage]

I'd get 4GB cuz 32-bit can't use more than that anyway.

Cleaning the harddrive should definitely help, it's never good to have such little space. See if that helps first and then we'll see about a need for overclocking afterwards.

 

[Prometheus]

/facepalm
Epic bottleneck.
Get faster processor and 4 gigs of RAM.

 

[Samuraid]

I recently purchased an HD Radeon 4890 - And after purchasing a 700W Power Supply (Upgrade from a 430W), I haven't noticed an actual difference in game (Playing World of Warcraft).

My assumption is that theres something holding it back, but I don't know what.

My (What I believe is relivant) system info:

OS: Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (32 bit)
Processor: 2.40 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core
Ram: 2.00 GB
Board: Board: MSI MS-7369 1.0
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series (Specifically 4890 with 1g GDDR5 Memory)
Power Supply: Rocketfish 700W

When WoW is running, it's Memory Usage is always over 1,000,000k when doing anything important. My assumption is that it is the 2g of RAM that's holding it back, but I don't know these kind of things.

If it is the RAM, would getting another gig of RAM be worth it? Would getting 2g of RAM do anything, or is the .7g or so above 3.25g being wasted because of the 32 bit system?

Of course if you don't believe it's the RAM, say so. I really am frusterated with the whole situation because I continually need to upgrade my entire computer just to get a better FPS when playing WoW, which can get considerably low when there are 25-300 people on the screen (Which also makes me thing about the problem not only being the card).

If it means anything, I only have 9gb of empty space of a total 160gb on my hard drive.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

As you suspect, it's most likely a shortage of available RAM that is holding you back. That CPU is more than fast enough to play WoW and the video card eats WoW for breakfast.

 

[Slapshot136]

WOW isnt exactly a very graphics-taxing game, even with all the options turned to max, it's more cpu-bound...

 

[Halo_king116]

WOW isnt exactly a very graphics-taxing game, even with all the options turned to max, it's more cpu-bound...

That's what I've been hearing. Although I am getting more RAM (Should be cheap) - I am also probably getting a CPU, but that's where I need some help from you guys.

KC102 linked me to one, but it wasn't available on a Canadian website. So, I've been looking for a good Processor that will work on my AM2 socket (Yes, not even AM2+).

I've found 2 (I really don't know anything more abotu CPUs than socket type and GHz, is there something important these are missing?):

(2.8GHz Dual-core)
(3.2GHz Dual-core)


How good would the difference be between a 2.4 and a 3.2? Would it be worth all the extra money to get it over the 2.8?


There is one more alternative. I sell my liver (Or my soul, depending) to get a new motherboard and a quad-core. But I seriously don't have the money, but would it be stupid to get a duel-core when theres newer, better technology that is already replacing it?

So many questions, and it isn't an easy decision. That's why I'm trying to get as many opinions I can get about everything.

Well after a point I'll start repeating myself. Thanks for all the help so far and I'm hoping you all can help me with this last few bits.


-Halo_king116

 

[Prometheus]

If you can stand to wait, wait until the end of the year and get some newer RAM, a new mobo and an AM2+ or an AM3.

 

[Slapshot136]

go to your task manager and set WOW's priority to high, that should help without you needing to spend any money (i dont see either of the upgrades as a good choice, like kc said, go with a newer motherboard later on)

 

[Pineapple]

>>KC102 linked me to one, but it wasn't available on a Canadian website.

Try Tiger Direct, Its based in B.C. So its a Canadian Company.

I bought arts from them and got them all in like 3-4 days.

They didn't even have one of the items I ordered in stock too!

 

[phyrex1an]

Don't waste your money on 2GB of extra RAM. You wont be able to address the last 1GB of memory anyway.
If you want to have more than 3GB of RAM and 1GB of graphics memory you need to change to 64bit.

 

[kingkingyyk3]

Your graphic card owned.