Do I need to upgrade my CPU for my GTX 260 GPU upgrade?

LausDeo86

Distinguished
Aug 25, 2009
28
0
18,530
I am going to buy a GTX 260 to upgrade my PC. I am concerned my CPU is going to bottleneck it. Do you think it will? If so, what CPU do you recommend I buy to let the GTX 260 give me all it can offer (preferrably without overkill since I want to save as much as I reasonably can but am not afraid to spend what I must to let the GTX 260 give its max)? Here are my PC specs:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 @ 2.66 GHz
Current GPU: Nvidia Geforce 8800 GT (512 MB)
Memory: 4 GB of RAM, DDR2 1066 Mhz (PC2 8500), Dual Chanel
Motherboard: Gigabyte P35-DS3L, Rev. A2
Hard Drives: Two 465 GB, 7200 rpm, 32 MB cache hard drives in Raid 1 configuration, One 640 GB, 7200 rpm, 32 MB cache hard drive
Note: This is minor, but I’m transferring my pagefile to my 640 GB Hard drive so my pagefile is no longer on my Raid 1 configuration slowing my PC down by being written twice all the time
Display: V2400W 24” 1920x1200 (Note I mainly play Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in 1920x1200 with maxed out setting and a few hundred mods such as texture replacers, etc.)
Current Power Supply: 500W, 17A on +12V1 and 17A on +12V2
(For my new GPU I will probably buy this new power supply: OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W)

Any help is appreciated
 
^ No you wont need to change your CPU...maybe a slight overclock would better compliment that graphics card...
And what is the make of your current PSU ??? If it is of good quality, then it can power the GTX 260 fine...
 

LausDeo86

Distinguished
Aug 25, 2009
28
0
18,530


My current PSU is Antec. It is the power supply that came with my Antec Sonata III computer case, whose description is here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024

I read that it is recommended to have a total of 38A on the 12V rails for the GTX 260 and my current supply only has 34A unfortunately though.
 
You are just fine with that PSU...
It is an Antec EA 500W PSU that can easily handle GTX 260...It is a very high quality one and is 80+ certified too...
http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MjA=
This is the power supply that come with the case...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007

And about the recommended 38A, the graphic companies generally overstate the power requirements because if you want to use a low quality PSU, you would require a higher wattage PSU to power that card...But as your is a high quality one, you dont have to worry about that...

And as for overclocking, these might help...
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/240001-29-howto-overclock-quads-duals-guide
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/221745-29-sticky-core-core-temperature-guide
And if you google around, am sure you can get many more...
 

LausDeo86

Distinguished
Aug 25, 2009
28
0
18,530



I greatly appreciate your advice - you saved me tons of time (and money). Thank you.
 

LausDeo86

Distinguished
Aug 25, 2009
28
0
18,530
For several reasons.

They just dont seem to fit on Gigabyte mobo's. If you read the reviews at newegg you'll see.

My experience was this. I had to bend 2 capacitors to get the first clip on. Then I had to dremmel 2 fins off my northbridge heatsink to get the second clip on. Now theres no way I can get it back off without removing the motherboard.

The first one I ordered only spun at 700rpm, so I rma'd the fan controller and the fan and kept the heatsink. I got the new fan controller and fan and this one only spun at 1000rpm.

The specs clearly state 1000-2000 rpm. So out of two different ones I got only 700-1000rpm.

Not only that, Sunbeamtech had the worst tech support I've ever dealt with (or not dealt with) 2 emails I sent them in one week concerning this problem. Never received a response whatsoever. Its been nearly 4 weeks now.


Wow, that's nuts. Thanks for the info. I was strongly debating between this Sunbeam cooler and the Xigmatec Dark Knight (or its cousin the Xigmatek HDT-S1283). Now I know to not get the Sunbeam for sure. Based on your experience, what cooler would you recommend for my setup?

I have been reading cooler reviews for hours, trying to find something effective for overclocking while minding the noise level (that's why I bought my antec sonata III case).

I found that the following two LGA775 socket cooler rankings are very helpful:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=266&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=13
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

However, any advice you or anyone else can have on this would save me a lot of time (and potential frustration) as I ever have never installed a cooler before and am a noob to this topic.
 
The heatsink on my gaming machine is TRUE with the Scythe S-Flex SFF21F fan. This was bought before the Xig HDT S1283 came to market. I have a Xig Dark Knight on my second computer.

I think the TRUE is a little better. OTOH, A TRUE and good fan is nearly twice as expensive. Can't beat the Xig for the money.
 

LausDeo86

Distinguished
Aug 25, 2009
28
0
18,530



After more price comparison & research, I ended up deciding to get the MSI R4890-T2D1G OC Radeon HD 4890 instead of the GTX 260. For $200 after rebate, I couldn't pass it up for the significant jump in performance over the GTX 260.

I just want to double-check whether you think that my PSU can handle this new card (since some reviews indicates it carries more power load than the GTX 260)?

"X Bit Lab's Review has the 4890 with even lower idle power consumption than the GTX 260, which has been shown to be very miserly with power. However, Anandtech's Review has the 4890 using almost 25W more than the GTX 260 at idle. Other reviews are all over the place." (http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=2294605)

I know that Tom's Hardware review says the HD 4890 takes 28W more than the GTX 260 at idle and 50W more than the GTX 260 at full load, which is quite significant.

Also, if this would have any bearing, I'm also installing the Mugen 2 for my CPU cooler, as well as 2 Scythe S-Flex SFF21F fans (one replacing the stock Antec fan in the back).

Any advice is appreciated.
 

LausDeo86

Distinguished
Aug 25, 2009
28
0
18,530
Well according to the power supply calculator your system will use 320w overclocked to 3200mhz with the 4890, 3 hdd's, 2 sticks of ram, 3 120mm fans, dvdrw and a soundblaster soundcard.

Thanks - it's amazing what a 500W power supply can do.