Can a GPU bottleneck the CPU?

[Kaffepannan]

Hi.

 

Just wondering, can the GPU bottleneck the CPU?

 

Im wondering because, im thinking of buying a I7 6700K processor, with a GTX 970 4GB with 16GB DDR4 Ram.

 

Will it be better (For gaming) To buy a I7 4790K with a GTX980 4 GB? Or the other way around?

 

Wich will give more FPS?

 

Do i need to upgrade my CPU (If i buy a 4790K) in a couple of years? Or can i play games in 5 years with my I7 6700 instead?

 

The 4790 has a couple of years on its neck, thats why im wondering.

 

I play all type of games from FPS to MMO to CPU demanding games (Attila total war)

 

What will i benefitt from if i dont want to upgrade my PC for 3 years?

 

Br ---> Kaffe

[DarkBlade2117]

@Aytex hehe

Go for a i7-4790k and a R9 390x

[Aytex]

@Aytex hehe

Go for a i7-4790k and a R9 390x

[DarkBlade2117]

We love you Aytex

[PlayStation 2]

my brother has an i7-2600 and an hd 7850 so eh

[Kenji the Uke]

4790k will be perfectly fine, though I would go for the i7 just because features 3: And if your gonna consider 980, get a ti, its not much more and its alot better.

[SeanAngelo]

Hi.

 

Just wondering, can the GPU bottleneck the CPU?

 

Im wondering because, im thinking of buying a I7 6700K processor, with a GTX 970 4GB with 16GB DDR4 Ram.

 

Will it be better (For gaming) To buy a I7 4790K with a GTX980 4 GB? Or the other way around?

 

Wich will give more FPS?

 

Do i need to upgrade my CPU (If i buy a 4790K) in a couple of years? Or can i play games in 5 years with my I7 6700 instead?

 

The 4790 has a couple of years on its neck, thats why im wondering.

 

I play all type of games from FPS to MMO to CPU demanding games (Attila total war)

 

What will i benefitt from if i dont want to upgrade my PC for 3 years?

 

Br ---> Kaffe

4690k with a GTX 980Ti maaaybe?

 

4690k or 4790k and a 390/390x

[Bl00dgod]

@Aytex hehe

Go for a i7-4790k and a R9 390x

the devils canyon earned the name and should work fine for like 3-4years

just put a nice gpu (IMO evga 980ti) or any other from team red or green depending on your needs/money and your fine

dont forget to pick a nice display for that new gpu if you wanna try 1440p or higher

[YubinTheBunny]

In terms of gaming, the 6700k won't perform that much better then the 4790k, so bottleneck is not going to be a problem. But the 6700k does calculations and encoding faster I think, depends on what you do with you pc.  

[manikyath]

a "bottleneck" is when one part of a system (doesnt even have to be a computer, even in factory design people talk about "bottlenecks") is the slowest piece of the full picture, and therefore it dictates how fast the entire system runs.

 

unless you have a perfectly balanced system (whats usually worked towards in a factory) there'll always be one part thats the bottleneck.

--

as for picking between the different options: it pretty much depends on how cpu and gpu intensive your games of choice are.

i'm gonna say 970 and 6700K, because its easier to upgrade your GPU, than it is to upgrade your CPU, so next time you have cash, you can either add a second card for sli, or upgrade to a newer model.

 

something to consider as well is you *can* turn graphics down a bit, lightening the load on your GPU, but in A LOT of games the CPU bound tasks arent able to be toned down a whole lot.

[Nena Trinity]

Well yes if the i7 is paired with a 250 then sure!

 

Most people preffer GPU bottle over CPU!

[The Official Czex]

Yes, but not so much in your case. In most applications, you want your GPU at 100% when your CPU is at 60-80%. A 4790K + 390X would be excellent... Maybe even a 4690K + 980 Ti if you don't need the hyperthreading. 

[ryanmmax]

I would argue that if your doing a new build the MOST important component is the CPU.

GPU's advance quickly in performance and decrease quickly in value in comparison to CPU's. So the financially smart thing is to invest in CPU because it will retain more value.

In addition upgrading a GPU is far easier as you won't have to change Mobo, ram, or even Windows keys. So the "system" can last longer by simply swapping the GPU in a few years when the performance of a 980TI is common place and still not be CPU limited because you invested in a good CPU.

Next as far as "future proof" games have relatively fixed demands for CPU but variable demands for GPU. As there is no "future proof" what you can be is prepared, in a future AAA you can always turn down the graphics to make it play well with your GPU, but how do you turn down the CPU demands.

Lastly IO/standards. DDR4, PCIE lanes, USB 3.1, m.2 etc.... Lots of changes with storage like NVME you may want the lanes when prices drop. And we'll we all want the best and newest

Personally I will be getting a 6700k to go with my 290 this Black Friday and in 2-4 years I will probably sli or upgrade GPU for <200$ And then in 6-8 years do a full system build... Good luck getting a GPU to last 6-8 years.

[Kaffepannan]

This is amazing, so many cooks to make 1 soup

 

I dont really know my budget yet (I will know in december)

 

GPU important, CPU important, GPU buy new in 2-3 years, CPU 5-6 years (If its a new model)

 

Depending on what im doing on my computer (Gaming, 1080x1920) Dont have a 4K screen.

 

But lets say the new Star wars game (That is quite demanding) Could i play in 1080x1920 on Ultra settings with a GTX 970 card and a I7 4790k ?

 

I havent played a really demanding game in a while now (Because my computer sucks ass)

 

So if someone can update me on this, that would be great.

 

Btw Thx for all the replies. Really appriciate it.

[ryanmmax]

Oh last thought

In 2011 the the best CPU was the i7-2600 and the best GPU was the GTX 590.... Which would you rather have today (4 years later).

Hint 1: the 590 underperformance to the r9-270. And the 2600 doesn't bottleneck a 980.

Hint 2: the 590 cost 800-1000$ in 2011. The 2600 cost 300$

If you have money to waste that's on you.

[ryanmmax]

This is amazing, so many cooks to make 1 soup

 

I dont really know my budget yet (I will know in december)

 

GPU important, CPU important, GPU buy new in 2-3 years, CPU 5-6 years (If its a new model)

 

Depending on what im doing on my computer (Gaming, 1080x1920) Dont have a 4K screen.

 

But lets say the new Star wars game (That is quite demanding) Could i play in 1080x1920 on Ultra settings with a GTX 970 card and a I7 4790k ?

 

I havent played a really demanding game in a while now (Because my computer sucks ass)

 

So if someone can update me on this, that would be great.

 

Btw Thx for all the replies. Really appriciate it.

Sorry to blow up you post, but simply put... CPU should be viewed as an investment and GPUs as a splurge. You also don't need to "invest" in the best CPU a 4790k will last a long time as well. But a 980ti is a strait splurge unless you have a >1440p monitor.

[Kaffepannan]

Sorry to blow up you post, but simply put... CPU should be viewed as an investment and GPUs as a splurge. You also don't need to "invest" in the best CPU a 4790k will last a long time as well. But a 980ti is a strait splurge unless you have a >1440p monitor.

 

Yeah but the truth is that i have a I7 920 OC 4.0 and a 760 card. And im only going to play in Full HD 1080x1920. So i dont think im "splurging" on the GPU since gaming is my main priority.

[Hiebly]

Technically yes, basically anytime the GPU is running at 100% you could say that the GPU is bottlenecking the CPU, because the CPU is capable of doing more... but realistically the GPU is what you WANT to be maxed out. The game will use all the GPU power it can make use of to pump out as high FPS as possible... the CPU is basically playing the supporting role; it's only needed as much as the game logic and GPU require it to be, whereas there is theoretically infinite amounts of GPU power to make use of.

[ryanmmax]

Yeah but the truth is that i have a I7 920 OC 4.0 and a 760 card. And im only going to play in Full HD 1080x1920. So i dont think im "splurging" on the GPU since gaming is my main priority.

Well those seem pretty well paired as far as power, also very capable of 1080. Are you having issues with any game?

I currently have a 955BE at 3.7 and an r9-290 that I put in 6 months ago when my GPU died.... The only reason I got such a powerful GPU is price-performance at 200$ I was ok with the splurge.... And I plan to upgrade to a 6700k for many reasons; I do CAD work and would like more threads, I am still on USB2, the one game I do play is CPU intensive, I plan on using it for a long time......

I by no means would argue against spending money on a GPU.... I will strongly argue against buying a lesser CPU in order to buy a better GPU. I would even go so far as to argue that you should buy a lesser GPU to buy a better CPU. But if your keeping your current CPU even better milk that CPU for all its worth.

[SoloDolo]

This is amazing, so many cooks to make 1 soup

 

I dont really know my budget yet (I will know in december)

 

GPU important, CPU important, GPU buy new in 2-3 years, CPU 5-6 years (If its a new model)

 

Depending on what im doing on my computer (Gaming, 1080x1920) Dont have a 4K screen.

 

But lets say the new Star wars game (That is quite demanding) Could i play in 1080x1920 on Ultra settings with a GTX 970 card and a I7 4790k ?

 

I havent played a really demanding game in a while now (Because my computer sucks ass)

 

So if someone can update me on this, that would be great.

 

Btw Thx for all the replies. Really appriciate it.

 

 

 

Processor: 4690k

GPU: 390x

 

The 4690k is far more than enough. If you are gaming an I5 is still incredible, Even an I5-2500k is still a beast. With DX12 it will only make CPU and GPUs more efficient.  I would get that I5 and get something like an 390x. It can handle 2560x1080 perfectly or 2560x1440 really nice. It comes with 8gb of GGDR5 which means that memory bandwidth issues would hardly be any issue anytime soon. Its a very nice sweet spot for enthusiast gamers.  If you want something stronger than that will then I do not recommend the R9 Fury(non X). You could pick up a 980 Ti or Fury X for about $100 more.