What is the best possible GPU I can run on this system without bottlenecking?

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Solution
geofelt
The answer is unclear.
To help clarify your options, run these two tests:

a) Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 50%.
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.


Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
set to 50% and see how you do.


If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the...
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maddogfargo

maddogfargo

Splendid
Nov 28, 2006
3,344
8
22,965
It's going to depend on the game and whether it's multithread optimized for 6 cores.

For example, Crysis 3, BF3 and BF4 would do very well. From personal experience I can tell you Crysis 3 maxes out ONE of my 7950s WAY before it maxes out my Phenom II 1090t 6 core. When I go enable crossfire, both 7950s will max out at 90-99% GPU while the CPU will be at 80-90% on all 6 cores.

Other single thread heavy games like Guild Wars 2, Neverwinter and 1-2 core games like Fallout 3 and Skyrim will probably bottleneck a little on the CPU. But this is because they are poorly optimized to make the most of multicore CPUs.
 
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geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,291
4,145
174,240
The answer is unclear.
To help clarify your options, run these two tests:

a) Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 50%.
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.


Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
set to 50% and see how you do.


If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system, and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.

If you need a graphics upgrade, make it a big jump or you may be disappointed. Your GTX550ti is a reasonably competent card.
I would look at a GTX650ti boost/7850 class card at a minimum. Your 600w psu can handle a card as good as a 7970 or GTX780.

If you are looking at a cpu upgrade, it will be because the FX cores are individually too slow. A ivy or haswell overclockable "K" quad would be in order You are then looking at a motherboard change too.
 
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Solution
B

baner711

Honorable
Aug 29, 2013
117
0
10,710
actually the answer is pretty clear.I owned a 965 be which is about the same as the fx 6200 and i was getting a slight bottleneck with a gtx 480 with a 965 be stock.Anything more then a gtx 580 and its wasted power unless he were to overclock the crap out of that cpu
 
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