Which Graphics card for an aging Core 2 Duo system, HD 7770 or below.

McCrisis

Honorable
Jan 26, 2014
5
0
10,510
Hello everybody.

I would like your advice about which graphics card to buy for my PC.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Soon in the future.

BUDGET RANGE: I don't believe that I'll buy anything greater than HD 7770, so USD 110.

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming( Skyrim, Far Cry, Fallout, Bioshock etc. Don't play FPS or multiplayer games, though I'd like the option of being able to play them if I want to.) , Internet.

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: NVIDIA 8400GS 256MB, HP 80+ 475W PSU

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: Core 2 Duo E7300 2.66Ghz , HP 0aa0h Motherboard, 3 GB DDR2 RAM.

OVERCLOCKING: NO

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I have an HP xw4600 workstaion PC. I am not willing to overclock my PC. I was originally thinking about buying HD7770 but I don't know when, or even if, I will upgrade my CPU. Thus I fear that the HD 7770 will bottleneck and it's value would be wasted. Which is why I need your advice to tell me of a better card for this system if there is one.

Thank you.
 
Solution


Keep the processor for now ..Might try GPU Z to track any bottleneck ,if any . If the gpu load is not 100% then you have bottleneck ,For instance , if the gpu load is 90 % , you have 10% bottleneck . If you get extreme bottleneck , might upgrade the whole system but in the future.
at that resolution, the 7770 is a very good fit. if you think you might upgrade your system in the future, you could step up to a more powerful card, and possibly move it to that new system in the future.

but at your resolution, the 7770 will be fine.
 

McCrisis

Honorable
Jan 26, 2014
5
0
10,510
Thank you for your answers. How much do you think the C2D will bottleneck the GPU, is it significant enough that I would need to upgrade my system as soon as possible? If so, what would you recommend as a good processor to be used alongside the 7770 at 1280*1024?

One last thing. With the 7770, how much futureproof do you reckon my PC will be in the GPU department. Considering my resolution, low settings and 40-ish FPS as the baseline.
 

whitecat

Honorable


Keep the processor for now ..Might try GPU Z to track any bottleneck ,if any . If the gpu load is not 100% then you have bottleneck ,For instance , if the gpu load is 90 % , you have 10% bottleneck . If you get extreme bottleneck , might upgrade the whole system but in the future.
 
Solution