Recommended CPU for GTX 1070 (1440p, 144hz monitor)

[Slazyel]

Hello Guys,

I`m currently using a i5 6500 with my GTX 1070 at a normal 60hz monitor. But, i ordered a Dell S2716DG that will come soon. That monitor is 1440p and 144hz.

The question is: Do i need to change my CPU because of a possible bottleneck? Maybe a i7 6700 would be better? What do you guys think?

 

[HEXiT]

no. you would only get a cpu bottleneck if you tried using the lowest settings on a very undemanding game.
the i5 6500 is perfectly fine.

 

[Ecky]

Resolution does not change CPU load. If your CPU can deliver 60fps in a game, it will be able to deliver that same 60fps at any graphical setting with any video card. The question to be asking is, what framerates will your 1070 deliver with this higher resolution?

 

[Supernova1138]

In this case, your GPU is going to be the bottleneck under most circumstances, the GTX 1070 is good for 60FPS at 1440p, but isn't going to get too far past that on some of the newer and more demanding AAA titles. Getting an i7 might help if you're playing more CPU demanding titles that actually benefit from hyperthreading eg. Overwatch or Battlefield, but most of the time your GPU is going to be the limiting factor for your framerates and getting an i7 won't be too helpful unless you get the 6700k which has a significantly higher stock clockspeed than the i5 6500, even then the gains wouldn't be huge.

Just try out your system with the new monitor and see if the performance is acceptable to you. Be aware that there are some games out there where you aren't going to get a locked 144FPS no matter what hardware you have. Some games have built in framerate limits below 144FPS, other games are so GPU heavy you won't get those framerates without something a lot better than one 1070, and some are CPU heavy but have poor multithreading support so you wind up with a CPU bottleneck that simply can't be completely eliminated, even if you got the i7 6700k and pushed a really high overclock on it.

 

[Slazyel]

In this case, your GPU is going to be the bottleneck under most circumstances, the GTX 1070 is good for 60FPS at 1440p, but isn't going to get too far past that on some of the newer and more demanding AAA titles. Getting an i7 might help if you're playing more CPU demanding titles that actually benefit from hyperthreading eg. Overwatch or Battlefield, but most of the time your GPU is going to be the limiting factor for your framerates and getting an i7 won't be too helpful unless you get the 6700k which has a significantly higher stock clockspeed than the i5 6500, even then the gains wouldn't be huge.

Just try out your system with the new monitor and see if the performance is acceptable to you. Be aware that there are some games out there where you aren't going to get a locked 144FPS no matter what hardware you have. Some games have built in framerate limits below 144FPS, other games are so GPU heavy you won't get those framerates without something a lot better than one 1070, and some are CPU heavy but have poor multithreading support so you wind up with a CPU bottleneck that simply can't be completely eliminated, even if you got the i7 6700k and pushed a really high overclock on it.

K cpus are complicated to me because i dont want to change the mobo and the stock cooler. It would be a huge price difference where i live. I think the option would be the i5 6500 or the i7 6700.

And, for what you say, would you recommend maybe a Benq 24`` 144hz, 1080p, without GSYNC instead of the 27`` dell?
Actually, i know i won`t get 144fps on games, but the gsync seems to have a great impact. If i maintain 60-100fps i would be happy. The 144hz i can get on lighter games or by lowering the settings.

 

[Supernova1138]

You would have an easier time hitting 144FPS at 1080p with the GTX 1070, but you don't get Gsync and on some games you could get CPU bottlenecked at that resolution, as 1080p is really easy on the 1070.

I'd go for the 1440p monitor if you can afford it. Gsync would be helpful in that you would see a benefit for games where you could get more than 60FPS at 1440p, and there are a good number of those if you're looking at somewhat older titles and some newer less demanding games like say Star Wars Battlefront.

 

[Slazyel]

You would have an easier time hitting 144FPS at 1080p with the GTX 1070, but you don't get Gsync and on some games you could get CPU bottlenecked at that resolution, as 1080p is really easy on the 1070.

I'd go for the 1440p monitor if you can afford it. Gsync would be helpful in that you would see a benefit for games where you could get more than 60FPS at 1440p, and there are a good number of those if you're looking at somewhat older titles and some newer less demanding games like say Star Wars Battlefront.

I play most MMORPGS, Paragon and Overwatch. I will stick with the Dell monitor. But, for that games, would you recommend the i7 6700 upgrade or the i5 6500 will do it just fine? Some people say that DX12 games will benefit from the HT.

 

[Ecky]

Generally speaking, the i5 6500 is adequate for 60fps in the vast majority of games, but if you're shooting for 120 or 144fps, you'll definitely want the i7, and an overclocked 6700K would be a different beast from a stock 6700.

 

[Slazyel]

Generally speaking, the i5 6500 is adequate for 60fps in the vast majority of games, but if you're shooting for 120 or 144fps, you'll definitely want the i7, and an overclocked 6700K would be a different beast from a stock 6700.

I know. But the combo (new z170 mobo, i7 6700k and a new cooler) would require a $350 investment here. Only the I7 6700 non k would require $100.

 

[Supernova1138]

The 6700 doesn't get much of a clockspeed increase over the 6500 so all you get is hyperthreading, which is hit and miss on games that benefit from more than 4 cores and 4 threads. Overwatch does benefit from it, most MMOs don't due to having older game engines. I can't find any CPU benchmarks for Paragon so I don't know how well it scales beyond 4 cores and 4 threads. Getting an unlocked CPU is a better option as you have the option to overclock and get more single threaded performance if that is holding you back, but you said you would need a new motherboard as well which can make that option less attractive. I'd say try it out and see how your system performs and go from there.

 

[Ecky]

I'd go for the 6700. Most older games will not run any better on the 6700 vs 6500, but it's pretty typical for new games with decent budgets to show gains on hyperthreaded CPUs.

 

[Slazyel]

The 6700 doesn't get much of a clockspeed increase over the 6500 so all you get is hyperthreading, which is hit and miss on games that benefit from more than 4 cores and 4 threads. Overwatch does benefit from it, most MMOs don't due to having older game engines. I can't find any CPU benchmarks for Paragon so I don't know how well it scales beyond 4 cores and 4 threads. Getting an unlocked CPU is a better option as you have the option to overclock and get more single threaded performance if that is holding you back, but you said you would need a new motherboard as well which can make that option less attractive. I'd say try it out and see how your system performs and go from there.

Yeah, i would need a Z170 because i`m using a H110 and cant overclock.

 

[Slazyel]

I'd go for the 6700. Most older games will not run any better on the 6700 vs 6500, but it's pretty typical for new games with decent budgets to show gains on hyperthreaded CPUs.

I`ll note that.