8800GTX question

[Fistandantilis]

is my Athlon 3500+ going to bottleneck a 8800GTX?
Thanks

 

[xollox]

I don't have any specific experience with this, but this THG article should shed some light:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/11/29/geforce_8800_needs_the_fastest_cpu/

 

[adairusmc]

No, it will not.

 

[Cheex]

In games that are CPU intensive, it might but with the power of the 8800GTX...shouldn't be too serious.

 

[LittleNemoNES]

I don't have any specific experience with this, but this THG article should shed some light:

No, it will not.

agreed -- tomshardware is CRAP

oh wait, you mean the bottleneck?! It won't either.

 

[Fistandantilis]

OK so I take it that I will not see a bottleneck there, what about my PSU, I have the Antec trupower 2.0, it has the 2 12v rails w/19amps each, is that going to be sufficient?

thanks

 

[lavaheadache]

My X2 4200 bottlenecks the crap out of my GTX. Not that it matters really cause it's not like you aren't going to get playable FPS. For example, the very opening scene of 3dmark 06 test 1(return to proxycon when the ship is getting ready to let the soldiers out) My GTX gets exactly the same FPS( 62) as my X1900XT got, but if I oc the heck out of my processor it will get up to about 70 in the same spot. As well as having my score go from 8000 to about 8600. And this is with keeping the video card at stock. It's funny though that I never even realized that the CPU was bottlenecking the X1900XT aswell.

 

[aka1nas]

Please keep in mind that 3dmark isn't at all comparable to real game performance. CPU-bottlenecking is only a concern if it you can't get playable framerates. If you are supposedly bottlenecked and still getting adequate fps, then just crank up the detail settings until the framerate goes down and you are technically GPU-bound again if it makes you feel better.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: lavaheadache
My X2 4200 bottlenecks the crap out of my GTX. Not that it matters really cause it's not like you aren't going to get playable FPS. For example, the very opening scene of 3dmark 06 test 1(return to proxycon when the ship is getting ready to let the soldiers out) My GTX gets exactly the same FPS( 62) as my X1900XT got, but if I oc the heck out of my processor it will get up to about 70 in the same spot. As well as having my score go from 8000 to about 8600. And this is with keeping the video card at stock. It's funny though that I never even realized that the CPU was bottlenecking the X1900XT aswell.

3DMark06 is notoriously CPU intensive and will definitely bottleneck your GTX. Try actual gaming at >1600x1200 resolution and the bottleneck will diminish.

Try not to put too much into 3Dmark06. I find it is only good for looking at whether your system is running relatively normally compared to comparable systems, otherwise try out real games or applications, as that is what you should really care about.

KT

 

[Cheex]

I agree. 3Dmark06 does squat IMO. Real world performance for me is much better than suggested by 3Dmark06.

 

[nZone]

I have 8800GTX with Pentium D 805 (no OC).
Play Titan Quest; crank up all details (16x AA, 16xQ...and whatever available on nVidia 3D control I turned to the max). Smooth like silk! Also with V-Sync on. My screen is 1680x1050 res.

May be I could get better performance (may be 10-30% increase) if I have C2D and add-on sound card.

 

[happy medium]

Well with a monitor that has a 1680x1050 native resolution, I would NOT waste my money on a 8800 gtx. Save yourself some money and get a 8800 gts. 640mb. Really i'd be debating on a 320mb version.

 

[nZone]

Originally posted by: happy medium
Well with a monitor that has a 1680x1050 native resolution, I would NOT waste my money on a 8800 gtx. Save yourself some money and get a 8800 gts. 640mb. Really i'd be debating on a 320mb version.

heheh why would I do that if this is the case:

8800GTX = $519 (after apply for store card ($100 instant rebate upon approval); it's down to $419)
8800GTS = $399-$460

 

[happy medium]

Not to be a smart a$$ but I was talking to the OP. He has a 21 inch monitor that has a native res. of 1680x1050. Not to bust your bubble but your video card is being held back by your cpu plenty. You would get the same results with a much cheaper card. If you planned on a faster CPU well thats a different story.

 

[nZone]

Not trying to be a smart a$$; I was intentionally going to buy the GTS with hope that I can SLI them later. But once I got to the store; there was the deal PNY GTX cost $519 plus $100 instant rebate if apply for the store card. The EVGA GTS was $399 with a $30 mail-in rebate it'll go down to $369 (I'll pay $399 up front anyway). So my dilemma was $419 GTX or $399 GTS?

Anyway, the CPU will be upgrade later on but not now. I don't want to have to replace my motherboard with the new cpu. So the extra $$$ goes to Vista Ultimate.

 

[happy medium]

Good choice :thumbsup:

 

[Fistandantilis]

OK so I take it that my CPU wont be that much of a bottleneck and my PSU is going to make the grade... or am I wrong.
I am going to place the order tonight, I just want to make sure that I have all the bases covered.
I figure that I can upgrade my processor at a later date, right now I have the money for the card so if you guys think that my specs are up to par, I will let you know when I get it, thanks for the help.

Joshua

 

[nZone]

Originally posted by: Fistandantilis
OK so I take it that my CPU wont be that much of a bottleneck and my PSU is going to make the grade... or am I wrong.
I am going to place the order tonight, I just want to make sure that I have all the bases covered.
I figure that I can upgrade my processor at a later date, right now I have the money for the card so if you guys think that my specs are up to par, I will let you know when I get it, thanks for the help.

Joshua

I have a 550 watts NeoHE; each port output at least 18amps. Your current power supply should be enough for the GTS; all ports above 19amps.

 

[Fraggable]

Your CPU will be fine. The 8800GTX will kill any game at 1680 X 1050 unless you have an Athlon XP or something. I'd dare to say a 3000+ would be ok with it. Sure a faster CPU will make it a little smoother but it's no reason not to buy th 8800GTX. You can upgrade your CPU later and take the video card with you, so why wait if you're getting a good deal on it?

To the guy who says his X2 4400 is bottlenecking his 8800GTX, is 3DMark the only thing that OCing your CPU makes a difference in? If so, then who cares? 3DMark isn't a game and it makes no sense to optimize your system for it.

 

[Fistandantilis]

Originally posted by: Fraggable
Your CPU will be fine. The 8800GTX will kill any game at 1680 X 1050 unless you have an Athlon XP or something. I'd dare to say a 3000+ would be ok with it. Sure a faster CPU will make it a little smoother but it's no reason not to buy th 8800GTX. You can upgrade your CPU later and take the video card with you, so why wait if you're getting a good deal on it?

To the guy who says his X2 4400 is bottlenecking his 8800GTX, is 3DMark the only thing that OCing your CPU makes a difference in? If so, then who cares? 3DMark isn't a game and it makes no sense to optimize your system for it.

Good, I am glad to hear that my processor will do well, I ordered the GTX, it should be here hopefully tuesday. If my processor ends up not performing I am thinking about the FX-60, but I have also heard good things about the opterons... I still like the idea of the conroe but I need some time to really make a desicion on that change.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: Fistandantilis

Originally posted by: Fraggable
Your CPU will be fine. The 8800GTX will kill any game at 1680 X 1050 unless you have an Athlon XP or something. I'd dare to say a 3000+ would be ok with it. Sure a faster CPU will make it a little smoother but it's no reason not to buy th 8800GTX. You can upgrade your CPU later and take the video card with you, so why wait if you're getting a good deal on it?

To the guy who says his X2 4400 is bottlenecking his 8800GTX, is 3DMark the only thing that OCing your CPU makes a difference in? If so, then who cares? 3DMark isn't a game and it makes no sense to optimize your system for it.

Good, I am glad to hear that my processor will do well, I ordered the GTX, it should be here hopefully tuesday. If my processor ends up not performing I am thinking about the FX-60, but I have also heard good things about the opterons... I still like the idea of the conroe but I need some time to really make a desicion on that change.

I went from an X1900XTX to an 8800GTX with an 5000+ oc'ed to 2.8ghz & performance went through the roof in every game at any resolution over 1280x1024 in newer games, but more importantly I was also able to crank resolutions up to 1920x1200 with every IQ feature maxed out on my new 24 inch LCD in every game I play, which was my real goal when I decided to upgrade.

Bottom line is that the higher the resolution you run at, the less of an issue your CPU is (again only in newer games), so the moniter you run games on is really more of a deciding factor then the cpu when choosing the video card (although a cheap X2 would help overall system performance a lot) ... at 1920x1200 my system is close enough to the fastest C2D available so as not to matter much.

Bottom line is that if you have a low-end 19 inch CRT & never game above 1024x768 the GTX is a waste of money & yes it would run faster at those same low- res settings with a faster CPU... you'll even see increases in speed up to 1600X1200 or higher in a few games, but considering the small difference in price after you get the rebate, the GTX is a no-brainer.


Edit: You might want to give some thought to a new PSU in the not-too-distant future because although the TP550 will pump out enough amps to run a GTX short-term, it be getting pushed hard & those model Antecs have a serious problem with over-heating capaciters which can cause them to fail under sustained heavy load, somtimes taking other components with them when they go.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: happy medium
Well with a monitor that has a 1680x1050 native resolution, I would NOT waste my money on a 8800 gtx. Save yourself some money and get a 8800 gts. 640mb. Really i'd be debating on a 320mb version.

So you guys just told this guy to buy a 8800gtx for 550.00$ dollars for a monitor thats 1600x1050 native with a 3500+ cpu.

Well first of all 1600x1050 is a notch above 1280x1024 and a notch BELOW 1600x1200.
A 360.00$ 8800GTS is MORE than enough for that resolution and cpu. You just had that guy waste 200.00$. Why don't you tell him his psu isn't enough too.:roll:.

Yea he will see improvement, but the same improvement he could have got with a 320mb 8800gts for 289.00$. Mabe to future proof recommened a 640mb version ,but a gtx? Just plain dumb!


Edit : it don't matter what AMD cpu he has. At 1600x1050 and a GTX he will have a big bottleneck! Hell at that resolution he will bottleneck with a x1950xt

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: happy medium

Originally posted by: happy medium
Well with a monitor that has a 1680x1050 native resolution, I would NOT waste my money on a 8800 gtx. Save yourself some money and get a 8800 gts. 640mb. Really i'd be debating on a 320mb version.

So you guys just told this guy to buy a 8800gtx for 550.00$ dollars for a monitor thats 1600x1050 native with a 3500+ cpu.

Well first of all 1600x1050 is a notch above 1280x1024 and a notch BELOW 1600x1200.
A 360.00$ 8800GTS is MORE than enough for that resolution and cpu. You just had that guy waste 200.00$. Why don't you tell him his psu isn't enough too.:roll:.

Yea he will see improvement, but the same improvement he could have got with a 320mb 8800gts for 289.00$. Mabe to future proof recommened a 640mb version ,but a gtx? Just plain dumb!


Edit : it don't matter what AMD cpu he has. At 1600x1050 and a GTX he will have a big bottleneck! Hell at that resolution he will bottleneck with a x1950xt

Your points about the GTS vs GTX are certainly debateable, but I have to take issue with you stating that an X1950XT will be CPU limited @ 1600x1050 because my X1900XTX became the limiting factor in Oblivion, FEAR, NFS-Most wanted and most other newer games with all IQ settings maxed out between 1152x864 & 1280x1024. With FEAR in particular I was sorely tempted to drop resolution to 1024x768 at times because 1280x960 would get really choppy, while the lower resolution would be smooth as silk & 1600x1200 was completely un-playable... if I was CPU-limited there would have been little to no difference between the lower resolutions.

Also I think his PSU will work in the short-term as I said, but were it me I would replace it BEFORE I installed my shiny new 8800GTX just because I don't see the point in risking a $500+ part while skimping on a $100 part.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Fistandantilis
is my Athlon 3500+ going to bottleneck a 8800GTX?
Thanks

Yeah you'll only get 174 FPS vs. 345FPS if you had a E6700@4Ghz.

The real answer is even a smithfield 805 will be perfectly playable coupled with that card..eg. above 45FPS at all times.

Some day you guys posting in the video forum will relise CPU don't mean shat it's all about video card to get you playable at xyz res.

And I disagree with a poster who said you are wasting cash getting a GTX too - it's called longevity.

Same reason I havnt had to buy a new video card for a year and I'm good for another year with my SLI 7900GT's for $440 after rebates @ 16x10 too.

Yes it was overkill a year ago, still is overkill since it's about as fast as a GTX, but as new titles come online it will still be playable.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Fistandantilis
OK so I take it that I will not see a bottleneck there, what about my PSU, I have the Antec trupower 2.0, it has the 2 12v rails w/19amps each, is that going to be sufficient?

thanks

I'm not sure how it works with the two rails. 19A by itself is insufficient. 38A total probably is, but I think I read somewhere that you lose a ton of efficiency with two rails. I would bank on getting maybe 28A out of the two of them, which IMO is borderline.

How many watts is your PSU?