Guild Wars 2

So hello everyone, after playing the storyline alot i thought it was time for WvW.
When i got there it was clear that my computer (Graphics card ) i think, isnt able to keep up with everything that happens… Which is very dissapointing. Now my question is what is wrong and do i need a new desktop or just a graphics card? I was wondering if anyone could help me, since i love playing the game and i just want to have it run smoothly. I tried the lowest settings but that didnt work..

Here are my specs:

Windows 7 Home Premium x64bits
Processor: AMD A8-3870 APU with Radeon™ HD Graphics (4 CPUs), ~3.0GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Graphics card: AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
Monitor Resolution: 1360 × 768 (32bit) (60Hz)

I hope anyone could give me an advice or two for what i should do now…

GW2 could care less about your GFX card, a semi recent one like yours is completely adequate.
But it hates AMD.
You´ll need a new Intel motheboard and processor. Get an i5 3xxx.

I wouldn’t say GW2 “hates AMD.” People have had good results (comparable to an overclocked i5) with an overclocked 8350. The overall assessment is correct though, it’s the CPU that’s holding back your WvW performance, not your graphics card (especially at that resolution). Unfortunately most of the settings (except WvW specific culling options) don’t help with this problem in the least.

I would say your best options are (1) wait a month and get a new Haswell i5 (4xxxK) and compatible motherboard, or (2) get a FX 8350 and compatible motherboard. You could get an Ivy Bridge i5 now, but with Haswell (and the accompanying socket change) so close it’s probably worth waiting since your current rig is still functional. In both cases you’ll get the best results if you also grab an aftermarket cooler and overclock.

Indeed, it is ur CPU not ur GPU.

Wait till June and get a Intel i5 4670K or i7 4770K + Motherboard.

Thanks for the replies!

So it is my CPU, hmm so ill have to go for either a new motherboard or just basicaly a new desktop kinda… My cooling is pretty good i think…. Is it worth installing the afterburner? Ive had bad experience with it in the past thats why i didnt install it. So lets say either a new cpu or just a new cpu + graphics card, so actually my graphics cardcan handle WvW without any problems? And its the cpu that cant handle it?

Thanks for the replies guys i appreciate the help.

Kind Regards!

Oh i almost forgot! I have nothing overclocked (yet)

Your GPU isn’t a problem. See http://i.imgur.com/I1f1SC1.jpg, that’s with a GTX 670. It’s hardly loaded, less than 30%. WvW needs raw CPU power, more than 4GHz at best, and then you’ll still not get more than 30FPS in zergs.

Hmm so my option is just getting a new processor?
What do you recommend buying?
I just want to have it run smoothly without any bad performance and stuff.
Because now i just can’t play in WvW which is very dissapointing.

Thanks for your reply!

As i said, wait till June and then get ether a Intel i5 4670K + a corresponding motherboard, or a i7 4770k.

I can confirm that GW2 is a extremely CPU intensive game especially during all out wars.

Yesterday I was in EB in easily a 40 vs 30 zerg fight, and I noticed that my 3570k @ 4.5Ghz was at 99%. Even when I left the fight and was a good 40 seconds away, my usage was still at 90%

I have never witnessed a program or game ever stressing my CPU that much save for benching software. NEVER.

Regarding OP’s post, I think for the best performance, a complete system overhaul is in need. And even then you won’t get absolutely Ideal performance (There is still no such thing as 60FPS+ constant in GW2)

I would get a new Intel CPU, motherboard (for the Intel socket) and a GPU. I’m assuming you have a 6870 in your build, and that is not sufficient anymore for this game.

Maybe an i5 4670k, Asrock Extreme4, and a 7870. At that resolution, I’m sure a 7870 will be more than sufficient (for what its worth)

SaadBaig.8560:

I’m assuming you have a 6870 in your build, and that is not sufficient anymore for this game.

Even a 6850 is enough, especially at that resolution. GW2 really doesn’t need that much graphics power. My GTX 460 keeps up quite well at 1920×1080 just turning down reflections, shadows, and supersampling. If he were asking about buying a 68xx it would be a bad choice, but there’s not really any reason to replace it for GW2.

It’s not just GW2 that hates AMD, but pretty much all software in the world, starting with Windows itself. The problem isn’t so much in the software, but rather the buggy implementation of the x86 standard by AMD. Several hardware functions don’t work or are emulated which slows down performance considerably.

So either all the software is optimized for the lowest common denominator, which is a minority on the market, or for the proper implementation that is the majority at the same time. Easy choice imho.

Same goes for nvidia vs ati unfortunately. If you want proper results, spend the money. Don’t cut corners by using B-rated brands.

Thanks everyone!

ill have to be saving my money then in this case, ill save up for any i7 which is compatible with my GPU. Then i should be fine if i just want to play WvW.
So it should be ATLEAST 4.0Ghz right? Then i should save for a 4.0Ghz or even higher.
Thanks for all the replies guys, i think its all clear now.

Kind Regards

Game itself doesn’t really use much of GPU, just stresses CPU and for lower resolutions the stress you put on the CPU increases even further so APU doesn’t really have that much of a computing power so yeah you need higher resolution monitor and new platform with a real cpu.
ps: i7 and i5 has no difference in most games a good board with k series haswell i5 should suffice (presumably 4570k)

There wont be a 4ghz CPU available to buy as stock, most will run at 3.6ghz ot 3.8ghz. however a 4ghz OC is easily obtainable without much fuss.

In resposne ot above.
‘most’ games wont gain much from a i7 over an i5, but GW2 will, and so will some other high end games like Crysis 3. All in all if u can afford one, or are willing to save for one, get a an i7 over an i5.

Hmm, an i7 sounds nice ill have to find one which matches with my board…
Sounds easier then it seems… I have absolutely no idea of what i should be getting, but atleast 4.0ghz that is clear to me…
This will be harder then i thought and expensive too :P

SolarNova.1052:

There wont be a 4ghz CPU available to buy as stock, most will run at 3.6ghz ot 3.8ghz. however a 4ghz OC is easily obtainable without much fuss.

In resposne ot above.
‘most’ games wont gain much from a i7 over an i5, but GW2 will, and so will some other high end games like Crysis 3. All in all if u can afford one, or are willing to save for one, get a an i7 over an i5.

i7 vs i5 in GW will see no change, the i7 is an i5 with HT, and GW cares more about faster clocked cores or higher IPC than more cores/threads.

SpartaX.2714:

Hmm, an i7 sounds nice ill have to find one which matches with my board…
Sounds easier then it seems… I have absolutely no idea of what i should be getting, but atleast 4.0ghz that is clear to me…
This will be harder then i thought and expensive too :P

None of them will, you have an AMD setup and Intel will not work in it. 4GHz means nothing in CPU’s, one CPU at 4GHz can be less powerful than another at 3GHz, don’t get caught up in thread count or clock speed, look at benches etc to see how things perform and don’t buy blind because of marketing. The new Intel chips coming out should do a good bit better assuming all the leaked data is correct. The stock chips should be closer to the performance of a i5 2500k at 4GHz+. Clock for clock IB was about 5-6% faster than SB (the 2500k) clock for clock, however the new line Intel is coming out with (Haswell) is going to be about 10% faster than IB at the same clock rates.