Can a GPU be too powerful in a gaming computer?

[xanderlane]

So I have an old(ish) computer with an i5 3570k and a 7950 and 8 GB. I've been throwing around the idea of purchasing a 4k TV for gaming and movie watching. Would I be able to switch out the 7950 with a jacked up 970 without it overpowering the CPU and creating a bottleneck? Would I need to also get a new CPU or does 4k not require any extra processing power?

 

[Xtal_]

Yes this is called bottlenecking and mainly happens when your CPU is to weak for it

 

[Skylarz]

I think the i5 won't bottleneck the 970

 

[xanderlane]

I think the i5 won't bottleneck the 970

Can someone confirm this?

 

[Xtal_]

This processor will not bottleneck it is exellent

 

[Skylarz]

I think the i5 won't bottleneck the 970

Can someone confirm this?

According to i7Baby on this CPU hierarchy chart http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html

i5 3470 is currently a tier 1 CPU

 

[leeb2013]

But a single 970 still won't drive 4k at 60fps

 

[Xtal_]

But a single 970 still won't drive 4k at 60fps

No course not, 4K is insane to have smooth, you have to have mad mullah

 

[xanderlane]

But a single 970 still won't drive 4k at 60fps

Yeah, that's not what I'm looking for. With something as beautiful as 4k, I'd be happy with one frame every 10 seconds. And yes it can, just with lower settings.

 

[Xtal_]

But a single 970 still won't drive 4k at 60fps

Yeah, that's not what I'm looking for. With something as beautiful as 4k, I'd be happy with one frame every 10 seconds. And yes it can, just with lower settings.

1 frame every 10?! You can't play with that!

 

[Skylarz]

But a single 970 still won't drive 4k at 60fps

Yeah, that's not what I'm looking for. With something as beautiful as 4k, I'd be happy with one frame every 10 seconds. And yes it can, just with lower settings.

http://www.techspot.com/articles-info/898/bench/Crysis_01.png I think you can because this is 16FPS on very high+SMAA on Crysis 3 so if you do lowest it'll probably be at least 30-40FPS on a demanding game

 

[leeb2013]

But a single 970 still won't drive 4k at 60fps

Yeah, that's not what I'm looking for. With something as beautiful as 4k, I'd be happy with one frame every 10 seconds. And yes it can, just with lower settings.

I don't see the point in having 4x the resolution when you have to reduce graphics quality and significantly lower frame rates, but each to his own.

 

[Xtal_]

But a single 970 still won't drive 4k at 60fps

Yeah, that's not what I'm looking for. With something as beautiful as 4k, I'd be happy with one frame every 10 seconds. And yes it can, just with lower settings.

I don't see the point in having 4x the resolution when you have to reduce graphics quality and significantly lower frame rates, but each to his own.

Exactly, no point at all, its hard to have smooth fps on 4K even with a lot of money