Lets see how much hate this brings.. considering so many ppl invested in Core i7 yet games dont utilize Quad core & mult-threading.. so Dual Core is all you really need...
Check this out: So I recently Purchased a GTX 295 Co-op.. a big leap from my GTX 260 216 Core. Was I nervous? Heck Ya!! I wasnt sure I was wasting my money or not..
But performance speaks for itself
in Short GTX295 +AMD FX60 = WIN !!!
The card Demolishes my previous GTX 260 and runs all games (Fallout 3, Crysis, World in Conflict, The Witcher etc) with with AA/AF on the Highest/Ultra settings on my native res of 1920x1200 (24").
Crysis is still heavily CPU dependent.. no doubt.. so on that I get about 35-43 fps on average with everything maxed.. if you have an i7.. and I believe.. correct me if im wrong.. crysis is made with multi-threading in mind.. so those of you with i7 will reap the benefits of that and likely hit 60+ fps...
It was a Clean install: Used latest drivers as of October 6, 2009. I of course uninstalled the old drivers and used the latest from EVGA's site. I think Nvidia just came out with another 191.xxx or something.. which still even boosts more improvements in games.. but i'll do that in a week or so.
So Here are my Specs! Laugh it up!! Cause I do lol
Antec P182 Case
Corsair 1000HX (1kW PSU) modular
Asus A8N32 SLI Mobo
AMD FX-60 Oc'd 3.0GHZ (watercooled)
EVGA GTX 295 Co-Op
2GB DDR400 ram lol
2TB WD
Yes.. that is my system!! Believe it or not. I am behind the times.. reaping of the benefits of a GPU upgrade over a CPU ... dont get me wrong.. I love quad cores.. man.. I could easily multitask like the worlds ending tomorrow if I had the i7. but since there are limited games that use Multi-Threading.. .Core i7 is overkill for a CPU.
Now I know. your going to go on and on and on.. about your 22000+ 3DMARK scores.. but 3DMARK Score = highly CPU Dependent benching. Yes.. that score equals a killer system.. but that score also represents how much more power you have than you truly need.
My 3D Mark score was a measly 13K.. why? Again.. the CPU tests are damaging to my score. Damaging!!
But in the real word.. as of games now.. it means nothing.
Future proof? Quite honestly an i7 + GTX 295 will last you a while...
and no..I would not be able to SLI the GTX295 despite my SLI Board.... that would definitely bottleneck my FX-60 hands down. So dont scream my CPU wont handle Quad Sli.. I know it wont lol.
However.. as of now.. there is no bottleneck at anything I throw at it. Not Fallout 3, Crysis, World in Conflict. I even had teh Witcher in the 50's fps with everything maxed...
again, maxed = full res, AA/AF maxed. .and highest possible graphic setting.. on everything. Except Crysis on Ulrta or whatever.. cause thats an Vista thing.. I know there is a workaround.. but I never did it.
Lets go back a little...I started off with this same set up using a 7950 card. Moved to the 8800GTX, then to the GTX260 216 Core . Now granted the GTX260 is a stellar card for the price.. but I couldnt max all my games with 1900x1200 with FULL AA/AF. AA/AF in some of the newer games can bring a 260's fps low.
As for the GTX 295. Im Running Fallout 3 (Ultra Settings) with Full AA/AF at my native 1900x1200 at 60-90fps. Crysis is set on HIGH with full res & max AA/AF.
If I lower settings (such as screen res) the frame rate doesnt change much.. why? because lowering settings makes the GPU work less.. thus it does create a bottleneck on the CPU.
Now there will be those who wine and moan i'm full of hot air... i'll happily show you a game bench, in game FPS or even post a video somewhere.. just tell me where..
Now.. Will I ever go i7 (of course). You bet!!! Without a doubt. but not until Windows 7 SP1
I'll still keep this PC... its screaming as of now.. And when it is time to upgrade... i'll go Quad core no doubt... Since the GTX295 + my Corsair 1000HX are great components.. i'll pull those out of the rig. I still have my GTX 260 216 FTW Edition which i'll put back in & I have a great Pc Power and Cooling 700 to match that I can throw back in.
I looked at frame rates ppl are getting with i7 + GTX295's ... yes.. you got me beat.. by about 5-8fps lol.
So case in point? GTX295 Upgrade > CPU Upgrade.
Case Closed!!