Will an i3 2100 bottleneck/decrease performance with a GTX 650?

TheNutKicker

Honorable
Aug 3, 2012
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Hi community,
The title basically says it all.
The build is composed of:
-Intel core i3 2100 @ 3.19 ("overclocked")
-2 X 4GB Corsair Vengeance @ 1600 (X.M.P. Profile)
-Asus p8Z77 LK motherboard
-EVGA GTX 650
-Corsair CX430W
The reason I'm asking is because my old build that runs an i5 750 + XFX HD 5770 rune everything I throw at it perfectly like New Vegas, Dolphin Emulator, Borderlands 1/2, ect but the i3 build can't. I have to play most of the games at a low setting and sometimes the game just crashes. The GTX 650 is refurbished because the first one kept giving me BSODs.
Both are running Win 8 pro 64bit.
I was planning to replace the i3 with a i5 3570k or replace the gtx 650 with a gtx 660 but I don't know which one to replace.
Thanks.
 
Solution


I'd still say go with the GPU upgrade, as most games are still single-dual threaded.

Here's a video regarding the topic: (note that CPU in demonstration is almost the same as yours in terms of performance)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIT9uLDjZcg

PCDave

Honorable
May 22, 2013
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Your CPU should be fine, and probably will not bottle neck the GTX 660.

I'd say upgrade your GPU, honestly. There isn't much of a bottleneck from my experiences, and that extra GPU power from a 650 to 660 will be worth it in the long run. Wait until next gen or 5th gen to upgrade.
 

TheNutKicker

Honorable
Aug 3, 2012
59
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10,630


I was thinking of that. I would get a GTX 660 and dedicate the GTX 650 for PhysX. However, the 2100 only scores 5.3 on the Index, so I was thinking of getting a better CPU before a new GPU.
 

PCDave

Honorable
May 22, 2013
250
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10,960


I'd still say go with the GPU upgrade, as most games are still single-dual threaded.

Here's a video regarding the topic: (note that CPU in demonstration is almost the same as yours in terms of performance)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIT9uLDjZcg
 
Solution