What would be the highest end GPU I could install on this system?

DaRebel

Honorable
May 4, 2013
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So I'm running the following specs:
Mobo: Intel Johannesburg DQ35JOE
GPU: Geforce GT 9500 (512MB)
CPU: Intel Dual Core E8400 (Wolfdale) @ 3.0 GHz
PSU: 500W generic, has lasted for 2 years so far
RAM: 2 GB 667MHz Ram (1x2) (Gonna get 2 sticks of 2 GB 800 MHz soon)

Currently I'm thinking about getting a GTX 550Ti, but I'm not sure if it will bottleneck or if I should get something cheaper.
 


I've a q6600 @ 3ghz and a 560ti 1gb. It's a nice match. No bottleneck on the GFX. Your e8400 would be comparible (although a dual ), and so a 550ti would b fine.
 

KnowItAll

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May 13, 2013
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There would likely be a bottleneck, you can find out by running 3dmark. Then overclock your cpu a couple hundred mhz and run 3dmark again. If your graphics score goes up, you know you have a bottleneck.
 


hmmm, naturally if you OC your GFX your score will increase.

My understanding of a CPU/GPU bottleneck is......that if your GPU is at 100% load and your cpu is less and able to feed enough data, then it's not a bottleneck. Whereas if your GPU was at say 60% and your CPU 100% load, then that's the bottleneck. Your CPU holding back the GPU in that case.
Am I wrong?