Upgrading from GTX 650 to GTX 970 - Will my current PC hold?

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Filipe_5

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Jul 13, 2016
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Hello! I'm looking to upgrade my GPU and I was wondering if my current PC will support the new GPU or will I have to replace something else to go along the new GPU.
Current rig:
i5 3470 @3.2GHz
GTX 650 ZOTAC 1GB DDR5
Corsair CX-430
8GB DDR3
ASUS P8H61-M LX2 R2.0

Thank you!!
 
Solution
Wayfall
Thats an okay CPU, a bit behind Haswell mid tier i5's.

I use to have a Asus GTX 650 2Gb back in 2014, I keep it for testing computer at the mo.

Your PSU is to weak, the GTX 970 requires a 1x6pin and 1x6+2pin PCIE power connector plugged into the GPU from a 500w or more PSU (view toms recommend PSU:http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html I would recommend tier 1 or 2)

You could get a Intel Quad Core i7-3770K in the future then you'd be able to play the big games out there, but isn't needed really depending on what games and programs you use.

MOBO looks fine, you have the recommended PCIE 3.0x16 for the GPU

Your CPU will not bottleneck the card put your CPU will not be able to handle games such as Witcher...
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Wayfall

Wayfall

Splendid
Dec 27, 2013
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Thats an okay CPU, a bit behind Haswell mid tier i5's.

I use to have a Asus GTX 650 2Gb back in 2014, I keep it for testing computer at the mo.

Your PSU is to weak, the GTX 970 requires a 1x6pin and 1x6+2pin PCIE power connector plugged into the GPU from a 500w or more PSU (view toms recommend PSU:http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html I would recommend tier 1 or 2)

You could get a Intel Quad Core i7-3770K in the future then you'd be able to play the big games out there, but isn't needed really depending on what games and programs you use.

MOBO looks fine, you have the recommended PCIE 3.0x16 for the GPU

Your CPU will not bottleneck the card put your CPU will not be able to handle games such as Witcher 3, Fallout 4 or AC Unity or Syndicate (they require an i7 with 8 threads)
 
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Filipe_5

Commendable
Jul 13, 2016
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I see. So, definitely get a new PSU and I'll look into upgrading the CPU next. Thank you!
 
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Roland Of Gilead

Roland Of Gilead

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Aug 8, 2008
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I don't really agree with Wayfall (no disrespect intended)

Your CPU is absolutely fine. Its powerful enough to drive any high end GPU, including the aforementioned GTX970.
Your CPU will do just fine for any AAA games (depending mostly on screen res, and in game settings) but should be able to get high/ultra settings for most games.

There has been ample articles on both Toms and other hardware sites, showing that an I7 over an I5 is of practically zero advantage for gaming. If your only gaming as opposed to video editing, Photoshop and those types of things, it is pointless to get an I7.

All you really need to consider is a new PSU, but you may get by with the one you have. The GTX970 only draws an additional 40w of power, and given you don't have an I5 k version (meaning overclock-able) you could be just fine. To be on the safe side though, a good 500-550 w PSU would suffice, and give you a really good gaming experience along with your current CPU, and potential new GPU
 
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Filipe_5

Commendable
Jul 13, 2016
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1,510


Thanks for the input. I'll probably end up upgrading my whole PC in the future. But for now, I'll get the GPU and PSU!
 
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Wayfall

Wayfall

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Dec 27, 2013
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None taken

I would just like to say that an i5 can run lots of games and I did say you could upgrade if you wanted to in the future to play the big games out there which there aren't many, really just the four I stated above.

I tried all of those with an i5 4460
-Fallout 4 played mostly fine but bottlenecked 100% in cities
-Witcher 3 played kind of fine but bottlenecked in small cities even on the lowest settings
-With Assasins creed unity it was mostly its fault for being so badly optimised but the CPU again got near or on 100%
-Assassins creed syndicate actually played rather well and only dipped a toe in 100% now and then causing framedrop now and then

All of these games need a quad core CPU with s high clock speed and at least 8 threads. I stuck an i7 4790K in and I have no issues with these games anymore. An overclocked i5 4690K would do really well with these games also.

His i5 is fine but what I'm trying to get across is that those are the games his CPU can not run playable, all the other games out there his current CPU will thrash.
 
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Wayfall

Wayfall

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No I was running cooler 40C with a TX3 EVO and it was going 80-100%, just search "i5 4460 100% usage" in Google and you will see how wide spread it is. There are many videos online showing it and there are quiet a few post on toms about it.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2617139/4460-bottleneck.html

The CPU wasn't powerful enough, simple as. The games needed 8 threads and higher clock speed, I have an i7 4790K and no issues now so i'm happy.

His CPU is fine for lots of normal games just not the big huge demanding ones such as witcher 3
 
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Wayfall

Wayfall

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Just get 500w+ PSU and you will be fine for the GTX 970.
 
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Roland Of Gilead

Roland Of Gilead

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i'm not really following you, and for the sake of clarity I'd like to understand what your saying.

You've quoted a lot of 100% CPU usage scenarios there, but practically zero information on the GPU usage.

This is how to observe bottle-necking in a CPU/GPU sense. Your CPU being maxed is okay! Providing your GPU is too. If your GPU is less than 100% then it is indeed the CPU bottle-necking the GPU.

Also, you are completely incorrect about the OP's I5, of course he will be able to play those games, and the experience would be very 'playable'. It depends on a lot of things e.g Screen res, in games settings etc. To say the games you've mentioned like AC, Witcher 3 will be unplayable is just not true.

Maybe if the OP was running a 1440p monitor, with in games settings maxed out, he may not get 60fps whilst playing those games you mentioned. Dialing back settings to med/high can make a game completely playable. Depends on the needs.
 
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Wayfall

Wayfall

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Dec 27, 2013
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I'm not trying to mess with you here.

Truthfully this has only ever happened on Witcher 3, Fallout 4 and the new Assassins creed games.

I would unvysnced and I would still get 100% usage and the GPU would got 100% but still get 45fps on Witcher 3 no matter what settings or res but only drops in Fallout in cities.

I even took it to pc store and they told me it was the CPU (it was fully working but just was not cut out for these games period), so I went on amazon and got an i7. No problems now.

 
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Roland Of Gilead

Roland Of Gilead

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Aug 8, 2008
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I'm not trying to mess with you here.

Truthfully this has only ever happened on Witcher 3, Fallout 4 and the new Assassins creed games.

I would unvysnced and I would still get 100% usage and the GPU would got 100% but still get 45fps on Witcher 3 no matter what settings or res but only drops in Fallout in cities.

I even took it to pc store and they told me it was the CPU (it was fully working but just was not cut out for these games period), so I went on amazon and got an i7. No problems now.

[/quotemsg]

:) hmm, well I'm glad you got it sorted for your own experience.

I dont see it as you do, but that's the beauty of a forum :)

I think the OP has gotten the desired answer from everyone. He should be good to go.
 
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