Bottleneck:CPU or GPU ??

[Vishal_7]

I wanted to know how will I be able to check whether a cpu or a gpu is the cause for bottleneck for the other ? One way i to cheeck their usage details but that sounds kinda wierd(basically I will have to buy all cpu's n gpu's 😀 ) . Any suggestion how to know before buying ?

 

[imrazor]

This may help
Bottlenecking Guide & Chart 2015
http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2729891/bottlenecking-guide-chart-2015.html

 

[geofelt]

If this is a prospective gaming build, My rule of thumb is to budget about 2x the cpu cost for the graphics card.

If you already have a pc, here is my stock approach to find your most effective cpu or gpu upgrade:
------------------------------------------------------------
To help clarify your CPU/GPU options, run these two tests:

a) Run YOUR games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a 30% improvement in core speed might do.

You should also experiment with removing one core. You can do this in the windows msconfig boot advanced options option. set the number of processors to less than you have.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many cores.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system, and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.
-------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Vishal_7]

geofelt. sorry i don't have the rig......

 

[Vishal_7]

This may help
Bottlenecking Guide & Chart 2015
http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2729891/bottlenecking-guide-chart-2015.html

imrazor. guess tier 2 and 3 can be merged together.Not a big diff. in cpu part(as of my knowledge,might be wrong 😀)....

 

[imrazor]

This may help
Bottlenecking Guide & Chart 2015
http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2729891/bottlenecking-guide-chart-2015.html

imrazor. guess tier 2 and 3 can be merged together.Not a big diff. in cpu part(as of my knowledge,might be wrong 😀)....

Unfortunately, my knowledge of bottlenecking is restricted to older CPUs, which is why I referred you to the list. However, I do know better than to pair a GTX 970 with a Q6600...

 

[Karadjgne]

Data flows outwards. Bottlenecking is a component decreasing the outward flow of data. So a weak cpu before a strong gpu (q6600 + gtx970 is good example) the q6600 will restrict data flow so the gpu goes largely unused in potential. This doesn't work in reverse. Most higher tier cpus have much more potential than gpus so a 4790k isn't a bottleneck with a gtx960, the 960 is only a bottleneck if you are trying for certain fps at certain resolutions and settings, otherwise both are capable of full unrestricted data flow, just the cpu won't see 100% usage as fast as the 960 will.

OP, without knowing your intentions as to parts and components, expectations and results, its hard to say exactly if anything will be a bottleneck or not. 900p gaming is vastly different to 4k, for example.

 

[Vishal_7]

This may help
Bottlenecking Guide & Chart 2015
http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2729891/bottlenecking-guide-chart-2015.html

imrazor. guess tier 2 and 3 can be merged together.Not a big diff. in cpu part(as of my knowledge,might be wrong 😀)....

Unfortunately, my knowledge of bottlenecking is restricted to older CPUs, which is why I referred you to the list. However, I do know better than to pair a GTX 970 with a Q6600...

no dude that list is cool
infact i was looking for something like that....i was just talking about the list that it's time now that after so many benchmarks tier 2 n 3 cpu's(atleast) can be merged...

 

[Vishal_7]

Data flows outwards. Bottlenecking is a component decreasing the outward flow of data. So a weak cpu before a strong gpu (q6600 + gtx970 is good example) the q6600 will restrict data flow so the gpu goes largely unused in potential. This doesn't work in reverse. Most higher tier cpus have much more potential than gpus so a 4790k isn't a bottleneck with a gtx960, the 960 is only a bottleneck if you are trying for certain fps at certain resolutions and settings, otherwise both are capable of full unrestricted data flow, just the cpu won't see 100% usage as fast as the 960 will.

OP, without knowing your intentions as to parts and components, expectations and results, its hard to say exactly if anything will be a bottleneck or not. 900p gaming is vastly different to 4k, for example.

A very sophisticated explaination !!
😉