4960k Bottleneck? (295x2 trifire)

[Zaydox]

Hey everyone. I was considering the purchase of a R9 295x2 to put into three-way crossfire with my 290x, but a stranger told me that my i5-4690k would bottleneck the two cards. Is this true?

Here's my build: https://pcpartpicker.com/b/7bZ8TW

Thanks!

 

[zarugal]

I would find that hard to believe. The i5 4690K is one of the strongest CPUs there is for gaming.

They may have been referring to the number of PCI-e lanes, of which the i5 is limited to 16, but GPUs running on 8 PCI-e lanes don't perform any differently to those running on 16.

 

[Zaydox]

And yes, I understand that my PSU can barely handle one 295x2. On my build page, click the link that I posted that leads to my "future upgrades" to see the PSU that I plan on buying with the card.

 

[Zaydox]

I would find that hard to believe. The i5 4690K is one of the strongest CPUs there is for gaming.

They may have been referring to the number of PCI-e lanes, of which the i5 is limited to 16, but GPUs running on 8 PCI-e lanes don't perform any differently to those running on 16.

Your build looks solid by the way!

See, I thought that as well. 3.0 x16 is more bandwidth than any current card can utilize, if memory serves.

And thanks!

 

[zarugal]

And yes, I understand that my PSU can barely handle one 295x2. On my build page, click the link that I posted that leads to my "future upgrades" to see the PSU that I plan on buying with the card.

I would find that hard to believe. The i5 4690K is one of the strongest CPUs there is for gaming.

They may have been referring to the number of PCI-e lanes, of which the i5 is limited to 16, but GPUs running on 8 PCI-e lanes don't perform any differently to those running on 16.

Your build looks solid by the way!

See, I thought that as well. 3.0 x16 is more bandwidth than any current card can utilize, if memory serves.

And thanks!

You're dead right. Just make sure to upgrade to that new PSU (EVGA G2 series - good choice!) before you try and put another card in 😉

 

[geofelt]

Don't believe all strangers.
If a i5-4690K is not good enough, nothing else is either.

And... your 650w psu will not do the job, you will need about a 1300w psu.

addendum:
I see your 1300w psu in the future.

As a suggestion, the third gpu is incrementally not very effective.
I suggest, with your budget to use a GTX980 day one and add a second whenever you need more. The psu requirements then will be about 750w

 

[zarugal]

Don't believe all strangers.
If a i5-4690K is not good enough, nothing else is either.

And... your 650w psu will not do the job, you will need about a 1300w psu.

addendum:
I see your 1300w psu in the future.

As a suggestion, the third gpu is incrementally not very effective.
I suggest, with your budget to use a GTX980 day one and add a second whenever you need more. The psu requirements then will be about 750w

I think the build he lists is his current build, not a proposed build. Therefore it would be cheaper for him to add a second R9 295. However I do agree, the effects of the third card will be negligible, and not adding it would reduce OP's power requirements.