Is my CPU bottlenecking

[phync]

I recently upgraded my PC to a Nvidia 560TI GTX 1GB and have a Intel core 2 quad Q8200 @ 2.33GHz no overclock. My PC runs pretty nice at high FPS and graphics settings but is my CPU bottlenecking my PC by any significant amount?

I would guess it is a bit, but is it worth upgrading to an i5 or just waiting at getting something better later?

Replacing the CPU / Motherboard and getting DDR3 instead of DDR2 would cost quite a fair amount which I don't want to spend unless I will see a noticeable difference.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

Moving to an Intel® Core™ i5-2500K, a good Z68 board and 8GB of memory should give you some fairly big upgrades on performance. Here are some nice benchmarks on how they Intel Core i5-2500K stands up against the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200. http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/52?vs=288

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[phync]

Nice, it looks like an upgrade is definitely worth it then.


I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to building PC's. I've changed parts but never built an entire one before.

If I bought

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002LE8D2A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=AZSR40NZ6UYCN

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0054X4I4M/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004FA8NNW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

and ran it with my 560TI GTX 1GB on

http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/powersupplies/ocz500mxsp-uk.html

Would I be missing anything to have a full PC? Will I need a new CPU fan or anything like that.

I don't plan on over clocking anything

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

The memory that you have selected is 1.65v and the 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processor need to use memory that is 1.5v ±5% So change the memory to get something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMX4GX3M2B1600C9-1600MHz-DDR3-Memory/dp/B004K2SD4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326217998&sr=8-1

it is the same memory but at 1.5v.

The reason that I advise people to pick up the Intel Core i5-2500K over the Intel Core i5-2500 is that while you may not overclock right now it is much easier to overclock and in a year or two can overclock the processor and get some extrea value out of the processor then you would if all you got was the Intel Core i5-2500.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[phync]

Right now I have a store bought PC so I don't exactly what each part is.

I'd only really be keeping the stock DVD RW +/- which doesn't matter because I use it almost never, the stock SATA harddrive 600GB and of course my graphics card 560ti GTX 1GB with my PSU http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/powersupplies/ocz500mxsp-uk.html

**Buying** Budget of £370 but I will probably buy a cheap PSU/HDD and dvd drive and sell the motherboard/cpu/case as a 2nd PC to get some cash back.

This case http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/cases/novatechvortextowercase.html

This CPU http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/processors/intelcorei3,i5andi71155socket/bx80623i52500k.html

This Motherboard http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0054X4I4M/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

and This ram http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004K2SD4E/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1AUCPBF2P18HS


I did swap to the i5 2500k to get the overclock potential at a later date

 

[phync]

STOP..!
that motherboard is NOT a SLi motherboard...
HD Radeon CrossFireX only..

Isn't SLI running 2 graphics cards? I only have 1?

 

[phync]

yes but in case you want to in the future = futureproofing..
look ahead or plan ahead for future upgrades.

but if certain you will only run a single card then it's fine..

ah thanks for pointing it out. I'll have to take that into consideration

 

[phync]

I had to learn that the hard-way..

=) lol yea I can imagine it being really annoying have to buy a new MB and GC

 

[phync]

Extra £19 for SLI but I will be able to get a second 560TI at later date or 2 entirely new cards http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/motherboards/intel1155z68chipsetmotherboards/ga-z68x-ud3p-b3.html

 

[phync]

nice motherboard..

Is it over doing it? I don't really know to look for cheaper hardware...

 

[thegameon]

I recently upgraded my PC to a Nvidia 560TI GTX 1GB and have a Intel core 2 quad Q8200 @ 2.33GHz no overclock. My PC runs pretty nice at high FPS and graphics settings but is my CPU bottlenecking my PC by any significant amount?

I would guess it is a bit, but is it worth upgrading to an i5 or just waiting at getting something better later?

Replacing the CPU / Motherboard and getting DDR3 instead of DDR2 would cost quite a fair amount which I don't want to spend unless I will see a noticeable difference.

what i see is that u are not looking for somethin crazy so best advice i can five u is that oc that to at least 3.0 or 3.5 with a nice air cooler which u can get for 30 - 40 bucks now and sli the card if u can then you'll see the huge performance cuz most of the games are not cpu u intensive

 

[phync]

Thanks to all for all the help and advice. I'm going to buying the new setup tomorrow. =)

 

[thegameon]

specs ? lol

 

[mdsiu]

Wait for Ivy Bridge IMO

 

[13thmonkey]

Right now I have a store bought PC so I don't exactly what each part is.

I'd only really be keeping the stock DVD RW +/- which doesn't matter because I use it almost never, the stock SATA harddrive 600GB and of course my graphics card 560ti GTX 1GB with my PSU http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/powersupplies/ocz500mxsp-uk.html

**Buying** Budget of £370 but I will probably buy a cheap PSU/HDD and dvd drive and sell the motherboard/cpu/case as a 2nd PC to get some cash back.

This case http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/cases/novatechvortextowercase.html

This CPU http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/processors/intelcorei3,i5andi71155socket/bx80623i52500k.html

This Motherboard http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0054X4I4M/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

and This ram http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004K2SD4E/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1AUCPBF2P18HS


I did swap to the i5 2500k to get the overclock potential at a later date

Look on the daily offers on scan, you'll find 2500k bundles everynow and then that match your budget