Quick bottleneck question: Opteron 165 + 8800 GTS/X?

[Spike]

ok, my main rig is an opteron 165 @ 2.52, 2GB OCZ 2-3-2-5, 7800GT, etc... I have decided there are alot of other things I could spend good money on right now so I am not going to build a new machine. That being said I like to game, so a GPU upgrade is in my (relativly) near future. It will be to a 8800GTS 640, GTX, or the new ATI card depending on price/performance at the time.

I game exclusivly at 1680x1050 and don't plan to upgrade the monitor at the moment, so will I get much of a bottleneck with the CPU or will the card be able to mostly shine? I will do a new build sometime in the future but that most likely will not be until next Christmas or later and UT 3, Crysis, and a few other future games are on my want list.

Thanks for any help and I apologize as I am SURE this has been asked but the search strings I tried yielded nothing. Thanks!

 

[PhoenixOrion]

an overclocked 165 is still a very good CPU to complement an 8800GTS 640.

definitely go for GTX or R600 if you have the cash and the case/power supply to support it....when the time comes.

with 16x10 resolution, GTS 640/GTX/R600 will have lots of spare raw power so that you can jack up all eye-candy on high/ultra-high.

 

[Painman]

GTX is overkill for 1680*1050 even with an Opty @ 2.5. Have a look at my rig link, basically similar to your sys except I'm driving 1900*1200 and that's where the GTX becomes a more prudent choice.

Get this bottleneck nonsense out of your mind - with LCDs you only need worry about maintaining 60 FPS. Any add'l horsepower the card has on tap should be devoted to image enhancement.

 

[Spike]

From what you both say it sounds like the GTX would be overkill on CURRENT games but as the games get more intense I should be able to maintain playable frams at 1680x1050 with an upgraded card. And my new Antec earthwatts 500w is enough for even a GTX (according to multiple reviews) but I won't know about the new ati card until it's out.

And yes, image quality would be my main concern with my current games as the FPS would not be an issue.

 

[Zstream]

Just wait for a DX10 benchmark or game.

Once one comes out and the benchmarks get done then buy what is best.