CPU only meets "Minimum" requirements, how will this affect my gaming?

[andythegeek]

I have just upgraded my graphics to a GTX 970. On games I want to play I now meet the "Recommended" requirements in all aspects except on some games my CPU only meets only meets "Minimum" requirements. How will this affect how high I can set my graphics for these games. Will this hold me back from getting the full potential of the GTX 970?

 

[reedo_43]

How would we know. We don't what cpu or games or resolution. Why don't you give it try and report back and maybe we can advise you!

 

[LightningStriker]

As reedo_43 said we need more info about your CPU before we can be 100% confident with our answers, but normally if your system including your CPU reachs the recommended requirements on a game you should be able to run it on highest settings no problem.

 

[andythegeek]

Okay, Far Cry 4 for example

Recommended spec is:
8GB Ram - which I have
GTX 680 - 970, easy win
CPU AMD 4GHZ - I have AMD 3.6 GHZ, which meets the minimum, but not the recommended.

So I only fall short on CPU, how big a difference performance wise is there be between 3.6 and 4.

 

[coolcole01]

if you are rocking an a8 or similar cpu it will bottleneck your card considerably

 

[coolcole01]

Now lets say you have the 1090t yes it will bottleneck but it will do a decent enough job to make it worth it before buying a new cpu in a year or so

 

[andythegeek]

Well just checked to get the specifics and it's a FX-4 4100

 

[RobCrezz]

Well just checked to get the specifics and it's a FX-4 4100

Yeah thats not a very good cpu, you should upgrade if possible. FX-6300/8320/8350/8370

 

[coolcole01]

Well just checked to get the specifics and it's a FX-4 4100

Yeah thats not a very good cpu, you should upgrade if possible. FX-6300/8320/8350/8370

what he said

 

[andythegeek]

Thanks for the help guys, I was thinking 8350 but I've just found a site selling the 9590 for £170, down from £660. So I think I'll be ordering that unless anyone can give me a good reason not to!?

 

[RobCrezz]

Thanks for the help guys, I was thinking 8350 but I've just found a site selling the 9590 for £170, down from £660. So I think I'll be ordering that unless anyone can give me a good reason not to!?

What motherboard do you have?

Only some of the higher end boards can support the more power hungry chips like the 8350/9590.

Its not really worth getting the 9590 anyway as its just an overclocked 8350.

 

[andythegeek]

I have this http://www.ebuyer.com/546762-gigabyte-ga-970a-ds3p-socket-am3-7-1-channel-audio-atx-motherboard-ga-970a-ds3p

 

[RobCrezz]

I have this http://www.ebuyer.com/546762-gigabyte-ga-970a-ds3p-socket-am3-7-1-channel-audio-atx-motherboard-ga-970a-ds3p

Definitely the DS3P yeah? Then you should be fine with a FX 6350 or 8350 (or the new 8370/8370E)

Doesnt support the 9590.

 

[andythegeek]

Turns out it's not the DS3P, it's just the DS3 (misleading ebuyer invoice) Just checked the compatibility on Gigabytes website, looks like 6350 is the best I'll manage, doesn't seem to support 8350. But I would assume that the 6350 will still be a big improvement on my 4100.

 

[RobCrezz]

Turns out it's not the DS3P, it's just the DS3 (misleading ebuyer invoice) Just checked the compatibility on Gigabytes website, looks like 6350 is the best I'll manage, doesn't seem to support 8350. But I would assume that the 6350 will still be a big improvement on my 4100.

Yeah the 6350 would be much better, I would recommend getting an aftermarket cpu cooler, (CM Hyper T4 is cheap and works well), as the stock cooler is useless and loud.

Alternatively, if you have the budget, switching to an intel H81 motherboard and a i5 4440 would be a lot better (around £180 for both).

http://www.ebuyer.com/639109-asus-h81m-k-socket-1150-vga-dvi-8-channel-audio-matx-motherboard-h81m-k

http://www.ebuyer.com/538192-intel-core-i5-4440-3-10ghz-socket-1150-6mb-cache-retail-boxed-processor-bx80646i54440

 

[NightAntilli]

Yeah it is a significant improvement.

 

[andythegeek]

Thanks again for all the help, and sorry to keep this going but I think this will deffo be my last question now and we can put this to rest. I've just been reading up on it and the consensus seems to be that the 6350 isn't really worth the extra money over the 6300. Would we all agree that is the case? Cos if so, I'll save myself £20 and go for the 6300. Plus apparently I can over clock it to just over 4ghz, although I've never overclocked anything myself before.

 

[RobCrezz]

Thanks again for all the help, and sorry to keep this going but I think this will deffo be my last question now and we can put this to rest. I've just been reading up on it and the consensus seems to be that the 6350 isn't really worth the extra money over the 6300. Would we all agree that is the case? Cos if so, I'll save myself £20 and go for the 6300. Plus apparently I can over clock it to just over 4ghz, although I've never overclocked anything myself before.

If you are happy to overclock (get the better cpu cooler), then the 6300 is basically the same.

 

[andythegeek]

Many thanks everyone, 6300 just ordered. Going to see how I get on at the standard output and if I decide to overclock I'll no doubt be back with new thread asking for new heat sink recommendations!

 

[RobCrezz]

Many thanks everyone, 6300 just ordered. Going to see how I get on at the standard output and if I decide to overclock I'll no doubt be back with new thread asking for new heat sink recommendations!

I would recommend just getting one from the outset, the stock cooler is horrible in my opinion, its loud and doesnt even do a good job.