Does CPU overclock help reduce GPU bottleneck? Likewise vice-versa?

[Migzzbleh]

I'm just curious. Does Overclocking a CPU help reduce bottleneck? For example. Will A PDC E2180 at 2.00ghz bottleneck a GTX650? Will Overclocking the PDC help reduce the bottleneck? Likewise will OC'ing a GPU help reduce its bottleneck caused on the CPU?

 

[nukemaster]

When you have a cpu bottle neck, the cpu can not provide work fast enough for the video card. Overclocking the cpu can reduce this because it can feed the video card more work.

Overclocking the video card will actually give no performance boost on a system that is cpu bottle necked.

If you have too much gpu power using additional settings like AA will make the video card work harder and may not even reduce performance too much because the cpu was holding it back and the video card has spare time to run these extra settings.

As for how much of a bottleneck? it depends on the game. Even my i5 750 bottlenecks(I know it is old, but its not an overall bad cpu) a 650ti on some games.

 

[DiaSin]

Overclocking the CPU can help with a bottleneck to a certain degree. No amount of overclocking will make a Pentium 4 work with a GTX 780 for example. As for the other way around... You really cannot overclock most GPUs enough to make any real difference in the case of a GPU bottleneck.

 

[geofelt]

It depends.....
There are interdependencies, but in general if you oc either, you will do better.

To help clarify your 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 50%.
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.


Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
set to 50% and see how you do.


You could also experiment with removing one core in the bios. 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.

 

[Migzzbleh]

When you have a cpu bottle neck, the cpu can not provide work fast enough for the video card. Overclocking the cpu can reduce this because it can feed the video card more work.

Overclocking the video card will actually give no performance boost on a system that is cpu bottle necked.

If you have too much gpu power using additional settings like AA will make the video card work harder and may not even reduce performance too much because the cpu was holding it back and the video card has spare time to run these extra settings.

As for how much of a bottleneck? it depends on the game. Even my i5 750 bottlenecks(I know it is old, but its not an overall bad cpu) a 650ti on some games.

hahaha!! Thanks that helps. At least its an I5. As it turns out I'm stuck with the PDC E2180. :/ Planning to upgrade to a gtx650. Not the Ti. versions. Just the GTX650. Would you think its a good upgrade from an 8500gt? Will OC'ing this to 2.68ghz remove the bottleneck completely? Thanks for the fast reply btw.

 

[Migzzbleh]

Overclocking the CPU can help with a bottleneck to a certain degree. No amount of overclocking will make a Pentium 4 work with a GTX 780 for example. As for the other way around... You really cannot overclock most GPUs enough to make any real difference in the case of a GPU bottleneck.

In the case that CPU bottlenecks GPU, Does underclocking a GPU help reduce bottleneck?

 

[geofelt]

Overclocking the CPU can help with a bottleneck to a certain degree. No amount of overclocking will make a Pentium 4 work with a GTX 780 for example. As for the other way around... You really cannot overclock most GPUs enough to make any real difference in the case of a GPU bottleneck.

In the case that CPU bottlenecks GPU, Does underclocking a GPU help reduce bottleneck?

No. Among other things, underclocking a gpu just reduces your ability to display more eye candy.