Running an E6600 with an HD 4870

[Eucharistadorer]

I want to upgrade my x1900xt to an HD 4870, but don't want to if my E6600 will bottleneck its performance (which is running at stock, I'm not an overclocker).

Will it be that much of a bottleneck, or should I go ahead and buy the 4870? Someone suggested I buy a 4850, but I'd like the best I can get without spending 400+ dollars on a GTX 280. So what should I do? Would it be worth it to get a 4870, or would it be a waste of money because of the cpu?

Thanks

 

[Jim_L9]

What resolution are you running?

 

[einstein4pres]

And are you overclocking your E6600?

 

[grieve]

And are you overclocking your E6600?

he said hes not an overclocker...

I don't have any evidence but I for one think a 2.4 GHZ processor will bottleneck a 4870. I am basing that on the fact that me Q6600 at stock bottlenecks my 8800GTX... when i OC to 3GHZ I get a large increase in FPS.

 

[Eucharistadorer]

I'm running 1680x1050. If I were to overclock it to the level of an e8400, you think I could get the 4870? How hard is overclocking, and what are the risks? I'll do it if it means I can get a 4870 without having to buy an e8400.

 

[coozie7]

OP: At your resolution your CPU will bottleneck a HD4870 a little. Which is great because this means you can really increase the AA/AF settings (something the HD4870 does SOOO well) and have not only smooth gameplay, but great image quality as well.
As for overclocking, look to the CPU forums, they have a kings ransom of information on the subject.

 

[Eucharistadorer]

So what are you saying exactly? That I should get it, that I won't see much of a bottleneck and that it will be worth the money?

Anyone else have an opinion on this? I'd like all the help I can get, no offense to coozie though.

 

[coozie7]

OP: I am running a HD4870 on a stock E6600 @1920x1200 (see my member info).
The combination decimates all but crysis at this rez WITH AA and high AF.
I have no hesitation in recommending you upgrade to either the HD4870 or an Nvidia GTX260, as is your choice.
Do n`t worry about `bottlenecking` if a game runs faster than the fefresh rate of you monitor just turn the AA/AF up.
As for offence none taken

 

[mihirkula]

Don't worry about bottlenecking... even if there is a bottleneck it won't be more than 1 or 2 FPS, which is quite nothing really.

Get the 4870...its a swell card.

 

[Eucharistadorer]

Thanks guys. I kind of get bottlenecking, but don't really understand what it is in depth. Can you explain it a little better for me?

Thanks

 

[Merlanni]

Not trying to steal or bump the topic, but I wonder the same. I also have a 6600 on a ds3r p35 and now whit the xfx 4870xxx 512 20 inch 1680/1050. Replaced a 3870 toxic.

There is some thing as videocard scaling I was told and it makes sense in the total picture. I get the basics of bottlenecking and am also curious in the amount of lost performance.

Still I am more than happy with my 4870 whit everything as high as possible, which my 3870 could not. Fallout 3 runs better and that was the point. Even than, socket 775 will be end of life as soon as i5 hits the shelves. Soon enough for a 8600 or 9650 in the final sale. That way it will bottleneck only 4 months or so.