Graphics card bottleneck

northlondon01 · 20 Jul 2011

Hello chaps,

I'm suffering from graphics card envy after my friend got a 570 and am looking at getting a new PSU and graphics card, but I don't want to spend more on one that is going to be let down by the rest of my set up!

I have a C2Q Q6600 2.4ghz, with 4GB of RAM, although my mobo only lets me use about 3.25GB for system RAM, even on 64bit.

From Google searches, It seems a Q6600 should be ok for the higher 5 series ATIs (something like a 5850, maybe 5870 and would this apply to the 6 series too?), but what about the RAM?

Also, and this might be better in a different thread, or maybe even forum, but what would I need to OC my Q6600 to 3ghz? I wouldn't OC it yet, as my PSU is already pushing it with my 5670. Should I get a better heatsink etc than the standard foxconn one?

Thanks as ever!

LiquidSnak · 20 Jul 2011

Post a snip of your resource monitor on the memory tab?

The 5670 is a decent card from what I've read... why are you unhappy with it?

northlondon01 · 21 Jul 2011

Thanks for the reply. The 5670 is ok for Valve games and stuff that's a year or two old, but nothing much new works with any kind of decent settings at a decent FPS!

Here's my memory tab.

Thanks again.

Ivan the SoSo · 21 Jul 2011

If you go halfway with the card, you will not be happy, and you will be less happy when you upgrade the motherboard...I would suggest getting the card you want, and not worry about the bottleneck.....

Zepher · 21 Jul 2011

When you overclock the Q6600, get the Cooler Master Hyper 212+ if it can fit in your case, otherwise I would get the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro (I used the Freezer 7 Pro on my Q6600 @ 3.06Ghz)

Btw, the 5850 and 5870 are both faster than the 68xx series cards, which means that the 58xx series cards sell used for more money than new 68xx series cards.
Just keep that in mind if you are looking at buying a used card. The Bitcoin Mining people drove the prices of the 58xx series cards up in the used market, which is great if you want to sell but sucks if you want to buy a used one for a Crossfire setup..

northlondon01 · 21 Jul 2011

Thanks for the replies chaps.

I think that makes sense to get something that I'd be happy to keep should I get a new set up (which ideally I'd love to do now). I thought the 58xx series were more powerful than the 68xx equivalents and I saw a 5850 for just over £100 recently, so I should be able to get a new heat sink, PSU and 5850 for under £200.

My case has it's own post code, so space for the heat sink shouldn't be a problem!

One last thing, can I OC via my mobo? This is the model?

Foxconn - Products: Motherboard

LiquidSnak · 21 Jul 2011

Uncheck memory mapping and thn in msconfig, uncheck max memory and cores, and that system reserved memory should go away, then you will be able to utilise all four GB with 64 bit OS

northlondon01 · 22 Jul 2011

Unfortunately I can't uncheck memory mapping in my BIOS. Which is very annoying, especially as the Foxconn site says up to 4GB but you can't even use the full 4GB! I found this out after trying a 64bit installation - what a waste of time that was!

Thanks for the thought though!

LiquidSnak · 22 Jul 2011

msconfig, not bios

Wishmaster · 22 Jul 2011

TBH, I wouldnt put to much into the whole bottlenecking issue.

I think the only time you are going to see any real major bottleneck issue from the CPU may be when running a SLI or Crossfire set up with multiple display setup.
For a single display, Im not sure it would be that much.

Don't get me wrong, there will be some, sure. But I honesty do not think its as bad as its made out to be.
I mean, you may have some CPU bottleneck in a game that very CPU heavy, like in a RTS game that uses all 4 cores.
But in many GPU heavy games, you will still see a huge improvement.

I would just get the card you want. And then, OC the Q6600 to around 3.0Ghz.