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GTX670/680? Bottleneck CPU?

Tags:
  • Battlefield
  • q9550
  • Nvidia
  • 670
  • CPUs
  • 660
  • Asus
  • Graphics
  • Gtx
  • Bottleneck
  • 680
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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June 26, 2013 3:49:01 AM

Hi all
I'm a student in Switzerland. After a couple years with my old rig, I'd like to upgrade my GPU, then keen saving money for new Motherboard / CPU / RAM combo. I use the computer for gaming mostly, but I also do every day stuff such as surf the web. Apart from that, I sometimes use Photoshop or Reason.
My current specs:

Asus P5Q
Intel Core2Quad Q9550 E0 @ 2.83Mhz
2x2 GB Mushkin XP2-6400 CL4-4-4-12 plus 2x2GB cheaper Mushkin RAM
System: 240GB Samsung 840 SSD, Data: 2TB WD Green
Radeon HD 5870 1024MB
beQuiet StraightPower 700W 80+
Windows 7 x64 Ultimate

Having been convinced to get a nVidia card by my gf and friends, I am considering getting an Asus GTX-670 DirectCU II Top 2GB or even 680 DirectCU II OC 2GB, though the latter seems to be huge. I mainly want to experience a boost in gaming speed, namely for BF3, ArmA2 and the such and play it very smoothly on high to extreme details online. It should also be as silent as possible and ready to play upcoming games such as BF4 etc.

Do you think my CPU or other components might be a bottleneck here? I read they still do more than pull their weight in 2013. I want to upgrade the GPU first, because upgrading the rest means at least getting a new Motherboard AND CPU, and if I spend money on that, I want it to be top stuff that easily handles new games for a couple of years.

Or would you even just get a 660?

Thank you very much for your advice.

More about : gtx670 680 bottleneck cpu

a b à CPUs
June 26, 2013 3:57:37 AM

That cpu may be a bottleneck in really cpu intensive games; BF3, Crysis 3, etc. For example, my 3570k at stock is holding back my 7870 CF in Crysis 3. I can see the cpu usage max out with my gpu usage at about 90% each.

That said, I think a 660 would be a good match for you. If you overclock that cpu a little I'm sure it will work well. What resolution will this be for?
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June 26, 2013 3:58:47 AM

Yes I think your CPU will bottleneck a 670 or a 680. For that CPU, I wouldn't get anything over a 7850 or a 660 gtx (non ti).
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June 26, 2013 4:04:59 AM

So what you are saying is that if I buy one of them now, I can't get around updating the rest soon? I planned to update my PC by the end of the year or beginning of next year anyway; I'd like to (already) have a strong GPU then. Will I at least notice a considerable leap of FPS if I get one of them now? If it has to be one of them, which one would you get? They're roughly the same price here.
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June 26, 2013 4:07:12 AM

Sorry for the double post:
Another question: Is there any very cheap but still powerful and future-safe combo of motherboard and CPU that I could get now? Something around 150 to 200$?

Also:

wanderer11 said:
What resolution will this be for?

We're talking 1920x1080 here.
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June 26, 2013 5:19:35 AM

If you're going to do a new build in a few months you should just hold off and buy everything then. Prices will be cheaper and possibly new gpus will be out. I don't think you will see enough of an improvement with a 660 to justify the upgrade from a 5870, but that's just me. You'll see roughly a 50% increase in fps, assuming your cpu isn't holding you back. Is that worth $200 to you?
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June 26, 2013 6:41:06 AM

Will be a bottleneck indeed. I had a 9800GT with my Q9450 (2.66 Ghz), and when I bought a 560TI I had to OC CPU to 3.2 Ghz to get soem more juice... after some months I got a i5 3570K and there was a REAL differrence indeed... Therefore a 670/680 would require more than a Q9550 overcloked at 3.6 or more really.
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June 26, 2013 7:30:25 AM

Thanks for your answers.
It looks like I can get a really cheap used Asus GTX-580 from my friend. With this (and by spending some more saved money) I think I can upgrade my complete PC save the HDDs, Optical Drive and case. However, I am not yet sure about the CPU.

Here would be the projected new components:
Intel i5-4670k unlocked OR i7-4770k
Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP
Kingston HyperX, 4x4GB, DDR3-1600, CL9-9-9-27@1.65
Asus GTX-580 1.5GB

I believe this is a big update from what I had, should get my PC running very smoothly and keep up with new games for a while.

As far as I found out, the 4670 and 4770 don't really differ in gaming performance. Yet, the i7 sports HT, and I think that would be really good when having a lot of software running or using Photoshop and the like. Yet, I don't know if it validates spending a good 80$ more "just" for everyday stuff and Photoshop etc. or if it will be noticably faster in that area. Also, how far away are HT games to become standard?

Your advice? Thanks!
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