Best GPU that doesn't bottleneck.

Chr0nic_Walrus · Sep 4, 2017

What is the best GPU I can get that will not bottleneck on a AMD Athlon 6400+ and 8Gb of DDR2 533mhz Ram?
I will be using a 1600x900 Monitor,so I guess 720p would be the target.
I am currently using 2 GT 9800's(PNY 1024mb ver.) in SLI.
Please don't suggest upgrading anything other than the GPU,I am doing a Challenge where I can not change the motherboard.

HamBown81 · Sep 4, 2017

A Phenom X4 processor should run in that board...

For GPU with the existing... maybe R7 250x, GTX 660, something like that. I doubt it would support more.

atomicWAR · Sep 4, 2017

Best GPU that won't bottleneck...that is a tough one. If I had to guess somewhere in the gt 1030 up to maybe the GTX 1050(TI) if your really going for the max frame rate possible...but that would certainly be bottlenecked some.

@hamBrown81 response....The OPs CPU should support even the latest GPUs though I have little doubt they would be bottlenecked by the weak CPU the OP is running.

HamBown81 · Sep 4, 2017

atomicWAR :

Ya, that is what I meant. That it wouldn't benefit from a more powerful GPU

atomicWAR · Sep 5, 2017

^ that pretty much true. Though in CPU light games things like the GTX 1050(Ti) might spread its wings in certain scenarios. If it were me and I had the money to spare on a "PC bet/Challenge"...I'd likely go with the GTX 1050Ti. It is almost certainly overkill for your CPU but going to less GPU...well isn't a great option either if your trying to get the best performance possible out of your dated CPU. Another thing to think about when doing your challenge is knowing your CPU is the bottleneck, turn up every in game setting you have (especially filtering and AA, in fact setting them to manual 16x by 8x or better would be ideal) to make that GPU work hard and take the load off your CPU. Common mistake folks make is thinking there CPU is weak, they turn settings down. Your CPU does the render calls and what not. It doesn't care how detailed a scene is that is the GPUs job. Your CPU cares how many times it gets told to draw it. SO basic low or super complicated ultra settings...your CPU does not care, save CPU based physics. Point being tax your GPU as hard as you can. Raise the resolution, raise the settings, filtering, AA...you name it. You'll end up with the best quality image making your rig look like it is performing better then it really is, to a lay-man/beginner at least.

atomicWAR · Sep 5, 2017

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HamBown81 · Sep 5, 2017

What is the end goal here? Best benchmark scores or some such thing? You could likely tailor things for a specific benchmark.

bystander · Sep 5, 2017

Your monitor resolution will matter a lot in that equation. If you are running at 720p, you will bottleneck really quickly with some pretty low end GPU's, but at 4K, you probably wouldn't have any issues with a GTX 1080.

atomicWAR · Sep 5, 2017

bystander :

Maybe but generally the right idea i was getting at. The OP can find his CPUs max render rate by turning the setting down first...resolution, in game everything as low as it goes. What ever that frame rate is, in theory, Your CPU should always be capable of doing it regardless of how high the graphics/resolution settings are assuming your GPU is powerful enough. So once you have that number. Crank EVERYTHING up until you can't maintain that frame rate any longer and the GPU becomes the bottleneck. Use that to wow whom ever is involved in the challenge!

bystander · Sep 5, 2017

atomicWAR :

Yes, that will find your max FPS, but the resolution will determine how much GPU is needed to reach those FPS. If he's using a 720p monitor, it won't take much, but if he's using a 4K monitor, it'll take a lot of GPU to reach even 40 FPS.

atomicWAR · Sep 5, 2017

^ my point exactly. Nail down what your CPU is capable of...then raise the settings/resolution until the GPU becomes the issue then ease back just enough to maintain that 40/60/whatever FPS his CPU is capable of.

Chr0nic_Walrus · Sep 5, 2017

A Phenom X4 processor should run in that board...

That's AM2+ right?I don't think my board supports that sadly.

My end goal is to be able to play modern games at a good framerates at 720p/1080p.By Modern I mean 2013-2015 such as Battlefield 4 at at least 40fps.

Click to expand...

atomicWAR · Sep 5, 2017

So yeah GTX 1050(Ti) or RX 460/560 is where I would aim if your budget is cool with it. Other wise GT 1040/1030 RX 550/540 would be the next steps down.

bystander · Sep 5, 2017

atomicWAR :

He's asking about what GPU is the best he should be looking at. Not how to find the best settings for his existing GPU. We can use that information, but we do need his resolution to help him decide on the best GPU he can use without causing a bottleneck.

Chr0nic_Walrus · Sep 5, 2017

How do I 'pin' down my CPU power?

atomicWAR · Sep 5, 2017

"My end goal is to be able to play modern games at a good framerates at 720p/1080p.By Modern I mean 2013-2015 such as Battlefield 4 at at least 40fps."

So yeah my advice stands on a GTX 1050Ti....Though going to 1440P or even 4K would fly in some games, though likely not in BF4. You could use DSR 1440P/2160P if you don't have a monitor that does it natively. Jack up the spec's of what your CPU is doing when the GPU can keep up. Even if the user knows their is no CPu penalty, it will show you do too. And if they don't know you get to have a little PSA moment and look all wise

HamBown81 · Sep 5, 2017

Not positive, but the 65W AM2+ CPUs might work?

EDIT: Would be up to Phenom X4 9450e

Chr0nic_Walrus · Sep 5, 2017

So yeah GTX 1050(Ti) or RX 460/560 is where I would aim if your budget is cool with it. Other wise GT 1040/1030 RX 550/540 would be the next steps down.

Sorry about this dumb question,but I have never really used AMD.Would a Radeon work better with an AMD Processor or does Nvidia and Radeon work the same with Intel or AMD.

atomicWAR · Sep 5, 2017

Chr0nic_Walrus :

When you get your new GPU...first test everything on low settings and the lowest resolution using a frame counter like FRAPS. Once you have that number, we'll call it "40FPS" (we don't know that's actually what you'll get but we will just call it 40FPS from this point forward to keep things simple) in a given game you know in that game your CPU should always be able to crank it out (this excludes turning up CPU based physics...that is one setting you'll want off, say like havok or Physx on CPU). Everything else you should be able to turn up to one degree or another until your GPU can't keep up with that frame rate you tested in the beginning on low. Turn the settings down just enough to maintain that "40FPS". Use that cherry picked image quality setting for your challenge.

HamBown81 · Sep 5, 2017

Chr0nic_Walrus :

Doesn't matter

atomicWAR · Sep 5, 2017

Chr0nic_Walrus :

Actually Nvida is better they tend to have less CPU usage then AMD GPUs while gaming and you want every spare CPU cycle you have. The RX series is actually much better then times past but if it were me I'd go with nvidia on this one seeing how you are trying to squeeze every last frame out of your CPU, unless someone knows something I don't about recent drivers or what ever.

atomicWAR · Sep 5, 2017

HamBown81 :

RX you may be right, been looking to confirm but still looking...in times past that wasn't true for certain. AMD GPUs did better on Intel vs AMD CPUs because they used more CPU cycles then a Nvidia counter part on an AMD vs Intel CPU. As backwards as it sounds Nvidia has been better on AMD the AMD on AMD.

HamBown81 · Sep 5, 2017

Chr0nic_Walrus :

LOL, I know the recent Radeon drivers are a gong show for my RX 580. I had to roll them way back.

HamBown81 · Sep 5, 2017

Chr0nic_Walrus :

That isn't the first time I've heard this. Perhaps would be the case with older hardware?

atomicWAR · Sep 5, 2017

I love AMD but on the GPU side, usually drivers (and release dates/thermals...I am looking at your VEGA) they seem to drop the ball. After the Frame latency Debacle I lost a lot of faith. I got told for over a year I was insane that AMDs solution got a better frame rate, which I never denied. My complaint was the Nvidia solution looked smoother at similar or even lower frame rates. It wasn't until FCAT was released I was vindicated. Point being they have not regained my faith on the GPU side. I miss ATI

I truly hope AMD gets there crap together on the GPU side soon.

Best GPU that doesn't bottleneck.

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