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Thinking about upgrading CPU. Anyone have this GPU ?

What would you do ?

  • Upgrade to Intel K-Series

  • Upgrade to a new FX-Series

  • Keep what I have a while longer

Results are only viewable after voting.
MentalIlness

MentalIlness

Platinum Member
I have a FX 8120 clocked at 4.0Ghz......and a EVGA GTX 760 SC ACX. Im thinking about upgrading the CPU to something from Intel.

Here is my question, Im looking for someone with something along the lines of a 3570K or a 4770K or in that league to run a few tests so I can see if this FX is holding back my GPU.

I have....

FX 8120 @ 4.0Ghz
8 GiG DDR3 1600
Sabertooth 990FX
EVGA GTX 760 SC ACX ( Core @ 1072 / 1137 Boost - Memory @ 1502)

Tests to run @ 1920x1080

Unigine Valley Xtreme
Ice Storm
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike

Would prefer the Intel system to have comparable memory as well. Chances are, you do anyway with a Intel CPU like that. 🙂
Id like the person offering to compare to run their CPU at 4.0Ghz as well if possible....but not needed...If stock and under 4.0Ghz....ill match your stock frequency.

I posted this here in the Video Forums because of the GPU tests. If it needs to be moved, im all for it and apologize in advance.

Any questions, just ask. 🙂

i5Mehcp.jpg
 
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Unless there's something you just can't do well enough, I'd say you're just fine. If you have a real upgrade itch, get a solid state disk if you don't have one already - big boost!!
 
If you want to see if your CPU is the bottleneck in a game, don't run GPU benchmarks, most of them are very light on CPU testing, except for the 3Dmark benchmark.

If you play at lower settings, and always shoot for over 60 FPS, you probably will run into CPU bottlenecks, but not on those benchmarks. If you turn the settings up, your GPU will likely hold you back first.
 
Reason I posted is, When I ran the Valley bench, my score was 1701 at 1080. I saw a almost exact build as mine, except the CPU was a 4770K and it was almost doubled at 3100. Settings were exactly the same.

Now the games I play, I average almost 55-60 in all of them at 1080 res...so yea, games isnt the problem really, I guess I had it in my head, the GPU was being held back by the CPU. But if it isn't, I guess no need to really be concerned about it. Yea ?

Im only into benchmarking to make sure a PC is running correctly and things like that. I dont do encoding or editing or anything at all of that nature, just gaming. But like I said, I was thinking id get more game performance with a better CPU.
 
overall that that cpu is going to be okay but in some games it will be terrible. you could throw a 780 in there and get little to no improvement in something like Thief.
 
Types of games I play on the PC are mostly shooters, strategy and some racing. Anything like 3rd person, hack n slash, and anything else is console only.
 
I agree, you need to test the games you are playing to see if you are CPU bound. Use something like MSI afterburner to see if your gpu is being utilized at close to 100 percent. If it is, you are gpu limited and a better CPU will not help much. As toyota said, that CPU will be decent in some games, but slower than an i3 in other games that depend highly on single threaded performance.
 
Based on the GPUz sensor log, while playing Far Cry 3 the GPU usage is sitting at 99% most of the time.

Core - 1293 boosted
Memory - 1603
Temp - 57c
Fan Speed - 100%
Memory Used - 1033MB
GPU Load - 99%
Volt - 1.2000
 
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If it still matters i ran valley benchmark with my i5 3570k at 4.00ghz 560 gtx sli overclocked to 900mhz and my score was around 1900
 
I have this CPU; right now I'm leaning towards 8320/8350......as my mb won't handle the 9000 series.

Its not a bad cpu; and no its terrible in anything. It runs everything I throw at it; I tend to also decode a lot of things. If you're finding yourself getting more and more cpu limited.......pop in 8320; you'll see gains....

Would it be worth trading out your entire system? Nope; not at all.....but change cpu for a bump......yea
 
I get why there's an itch to upgrade, but the 8120@4.0ghz AFAIK is not going to be holding you back much if at all in most games.

Sometimes when i'm really bit by the bug to upgrade, but I know I don't really need to, i'll go buy a cheap USB stick from Fry's and i'm good for a couple days 😉
 
I voted "keep it", unless there's a specific game you're having problems with. GW2 might be a slideshow in populous areas on that CPU for instance, but you don't play GW2. Intel quads are undoubtedly better for your needs, but were I in your shoes, it wouldn't be enough better to justify the cost unless you can get a good price on your current hardware.
 
Thanks guys. Well as for my current hardware, even if I would upgrade...I dont ever sell anything. 🙂 It gets handed down to other rigs.

I still have a Abit AN8 board, a Gigabyte 7VAXP and a ASUS A7V8X. So to upgrade and sell what I have wont happen...I keep stuff. :/

And anyway, I have been on 1600x900 resolution for years...and just now got a Acer 1080 monitor two weeks ago. Maybe thats why I am thinking it is holding back.
 
And I did notice in the CPU support list for this Sabertooth 990FX (first version) that the 9xxx FX series isnt listed, but it is in the Rev 2 and the later board. And their dont seem to be an update for the BIOS for it to support it. But if there were, Id get the FX 9590.
 
I voted for keep it. The CPU you have right now can be considered mid range with the OC you have it at. Upgrading to an OCed i5 or i7 would be beneficial in certain games moreso than in others, but it seems like you're not having fps issues as of right now. Upgrading to a Haswell i5 or i7 would cost you at least 300 bucks. Which is definitely not worth it in my opinion.
 
I vote for if you have the money and can afford to spend it just upgrade. New hardware is fun.

On the other hand. If you can wait until 2015 DX12 may make your CPU one get a new lease on life depending on how well DX12 multithreads, and how much is reduces driver overhead.
 
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