Upgrade graphics card or processor

[theshivies]

Alright so I bought Civ 5 and I can actually play it. It's really nice and I enjoy it; however, I have to set the graphics all the way to low or none-- I'm pretty much below minimum requirements. This doesn't look pretty but that is alright for now. In a couple of weeks I am planning to upgrade something (I just need to get the funds together).

Now my question: Which should I upgrade, the processor or the graphics card? Even with the graphics turned all the way down, the game is still jittery. The game takes 50% of the processing power so I assume my CPU is fine. Is this correct? Should I just upgrade my graphics card instead?

My Specs:
Intel Pentium D processor 2.8 GHz (2 cores)
3 GB of Ram
Windows 7, 64 bit
Nvidia Geforce 6800

Thanks for all your help!

 

[tokala]

Now my question: Which should I upgrade, the processor or the graphics card? Even with the graphics turned all the way down, the game is still jittery. The game takes 50% of the processing power so I assume my CPU is fine. Is this correct? Should I just upgrade my graphics card instead?

At low settings the CPU has to work less to provide the GPU with data. So if you upgrade the video card, the CPU will come under heavier load, too. It won't make much sense to buy a powerful video card, unless this will be the first part of a "step by step" upgrade. In the later stages of the game you will have looooong waiting times with your CPU, unless playing only the smallest maps.

Do you have DDR2 RAM and PCIe for the video card?

 

[theshivies]

Yes to both questions.

I guess my real concern would be, if I upgraded my video card would that take care of some of the jittering even if I don't necessarily crank up the graphics necessarily.

Would it even be worth upgrading to a Core 2 Duo since Pentium D and 2 Duos are both dual cores?

 

[Welnic]

I think that you are in pretty good shape. Your motherboard will run both Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quads. There is a 2.6 GHz Quad for $170:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N=100007671 600005851&IsNodeId=1&name=LGA 775

Any new low end graphics card will drop right in and be a huge improvement. There might be issues with your power supply not having the right cables to power the video card, but there are adapter cables that can deal with that and the latest low end cards don't use a lot of power.

 

[tokala]

Yes to both questions.

I guess my real concern would be, if I upgraded my video card would that take care of some of the jittering even if I don't necessarily crank up the graphics necessarily.

Would it even be worth upgrading to a Core 2 Duo since Pentium D and 2 Duos are both dual cores?

Upgrading the video should solve that, unless you crank up the setting to high for your CPU. And yes, a Core2Duo is a huge improvement. A Core2Duo will be roughly twice as fast as a Pentium D at the same frequency. And you will need all the power you can afford
Turns are getting slow already in mid game with my 3.3GHz C2D

But before you go shopping for a new CPU, check the compatibility list for your board first

 

[theshivies]

I went with a new graphics card and it made the difference (gts 450). The CPU is totally fine. I can run the game in directx11 with almost all of the settings turned to high.

Thanks for all the help here!!!