help with warcraft FPS

[dpapag]

I'm trying to use a Samsung SyncMaster 216BW with an old rig to play WOW on. I was wondering if there is a way to increase my FPS from what it is at now.

216BW Specs:
-Response time of 5ms,
-DC 3000:1 contrast ratio,
-0.276mm pixel pitch,
-1680 x 1050 maximum resolution,
-Scanning frequency of 30-81 kHz horizontal and 56-75 Hz vertical, and horizontal/vertical viewing

Oldskool Rig:
Athlon Mobile Barton 2500+, currently running at 1.8Ghz (9x200FSB) until I get a better cooling solution, as my current temps are 59C under full load with a case temp of 36C and a room temp of 24.8C. This is at a Vcore of only 1.57. Using a Volcano 6Cu+ heatsink with Artic Silver.

Mobo: Abit NF7S v1.2
Vid Card: HD3850 AGP (Benchmark score of 17671 using 3D mark)
Memory: OCZ 2x1GB running in dual with stepping at 2.5-3-2-5

Prime95 stable, no worries.

Windows Display Resolution currently set at 768x1024 @ 75 hertz. Montior can only do 1680 x 1050 60Hz

HD3850 Driver settings using it's bundled Catalyst Control software:
Anti-Aliasing:Use Application Settings
Anisotropic filtering: Use Application Settings
Catalysis AI: disabled
V-Sync: Disabled/OFF
MipMap detail level: Highest
Adaptive Anti-Aliasing: OFF

WOW settings:
Display: 1680X1050
60hz refresh rate
multisampling: 1x
V sync: OFF

Effects:
Everything turned on and maxed out with the exception of shadow quality, which I have set at one notch below max setting.

Walking around in fields, I get in-between 65-80 FPS.

With the WOW settings at:

Display: 768x1024
75hz refresh rate
multisampling: 1x
V sync: OFF

I still get in-between 65-80 FPS.

With the WOW settings at 768x1024@75hz or 1680X1050@60hz with all effects turned all the way down, I get 100-120FPS.

It appears as if the resolution plays no role in FPS.

Can I expect to get better FPS the CPU is at 2.2-2.GHz as opposed to 1.8GHz or is that not going to help much? I'm pretty happy with the FPS, but I'm just wondering if anyone has any more suggestions to improve it further.

 

[Automata]

Can I expect to get better FPS the CPU is at 2.2-2.GHz as opposed to 1.8GHz or is that not going to help much? I'm pretty happy with the FPS, but I'm just wondering if anyone has any more suggestions to improve it further.

Yes, you are heavily CPU limited. Your results prove that.

 

[GrimX9]

So under max settings your only getting 65-80FPS? You can only process about 60 frames per second. Your fine

On my old thoroughbread A 7300GT I could get an average of about 50fps on 1280x1024 so your doing good.

 

[dpapag]

Well, that's in open field. I'm wondering what it will drop to when in a city. My 3D mark score seems kind of low. I updated to the latest drivers and it didn't change much. I've seen posted results in the 30,000 on that card. Increase in CPU speed should help.

 

[joedymueller]

city FPS is completly CPU. very little overall about the settings of the game. given any are on.

 

[dpapag]

Yes, you are heavily CPU limited. Your results prove that.

Well, I got the 2500 mobile overclocked now to 2.4Ghz (12x200) at a vcore of 1.8 with a cool temp of 40C using a very quiet 80mm fan. My 3Dmark 06 scores only shot up by 1000 points, lol so even at 2.4Ghz that single core cpu isn't doing as well as I hoped in this rig.

Would something like an Asus A8V Deluxe Rev 2 with a AMD X2 4800 be overkill for that vid card? No point in going socket AMD2 with a 6400+, for this oldskool gaming rig because the new rig I'm building is going to be a ASUS P6T Deluxe LGA1366/Intel Core i7 920 combo.