E8400 CPU bottleneck for video card?

[Lang15]

I currently have a GTX 260 and a C2D E8400 @ 4ghz. 4gig ram. I like to game at 1680x1050 with the highest settings AA/AF. I might even upgrade my monitor to 1920x1200.

I'm thinking of upgrading the video card to a ATI 5850 or 5870. Will the processor be a huge bottleneck for me? I see most high end systems having the i7.

Some of the games I play are Metro 2033, Just Cause 2, GTA IV, Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age, Dirt2, Need for Speed Shift.

 

[kylebisme]

If turning down your resolution doesn't improve your framerate, then you are bottlenecked by your CPU. I'm sure that is the case with your current rig in GTA4, and perhaps JC2 as well, but not the other games you listed or most games in general.

 

[toyota]

you will be fine but some of those games would certainly not be fully pushed while using a 5850/5870 without an i7. GTA 4 would probably have the biggest noticeable difference but it would still be playable for all parts unless going below 30-35 at times really bothers you. at 1680 I would personally get a 5850 instead of the 5870. at 1920 the 5870 still would be a hard to justfy spending 100 bucks more on when you can just oc the 5850 and basically get almost everything the 5870 would have given you. if you like your current monitor then I say stick with it and just get a 5850.

 

[tweakboy]

Your fine if you can OC from stock to 3ghz. Its good for your GTX 260. They go well together.

gl

 

[Attic]

4ghz for that proc is smokin. I'm seeing a majority of the games I play now benefiting from quad core, so I reccomend lookin at possibilities of picking one up when its appropriate.

 

[toyota]

Your fine if you can OC from stock to 3ghz. Its good for your GTX 260. They go well together.

gl

you never read carefully before posting do you? he is already overclocked to 4.0 and is asking if it would bottleneck a 5850 or 5870.

 

[zerocool84]

you never read carefully before posting do you? he is already overclocked to 4.0 and is asking if it would bottleneck a 5850 or 5870.

I swear I think something is physically wrong with his brain.

 

[jtisgeek]

You will be fine the 260 is almost always going to end of being the bottleneck at high res. Only a couple of games will see a big difference with a quad and it's not like it will be unplayable just run noticeably better on the quad.

So the best upgrade is a 58 series for sure.