How far should I over clock my E8400 3ghz processor so it won't bottle neck my GPU?

[technoViking]

Hi guys,

I have an 8800gt like in my signature and I want to get the most performance out of it with my new processor.

My current rig I have next to me but not built because I have finals is:
E8400 3Ghz duo core INtel
DDR2-1066 G Skills Ram (2 gigs)
Gigabyte S-series DS3L mobo
with a freezer pro heat sink.

So I'm thinking I can get this puppy up to 4ghz with no problem, but what is the point where it stops bottlenecking my GPU? at what Ghz?

Thanks!

[aoch88]

I'm sure your E8400 would easily do 4Ghz stable (at least in my case both E8200 and E8400 did) :)

[technoViking]

Sweet!
I can't wait!!

[joesaiditstrue]

Hi guys,

I have an 8800gt like in my signature and I want to get the most performance out of it with my new processor.

My current rig I have next to me but not built because I have finals is:
E8400 3Ghz duo core INtel
DDR2-1066 G Skills Ram (2 gigs)
Gigabyte S-series DS3L mobo
with a freezer pro heat sink.

So I'm thinking I can get this puppy up to 4ghz with no problem, but what is the point where it stops bottlenecking my GPU? at what Ghz?

Thanks!

what kind of framerates do you want before you consider your GPU to be "bottlenecked" by the CPU? the only types of games out there where your CPU is going to be a limiting factor w/ an 8800 GT would be RTS games like Supreme Commander, otherwise if the game is running poorly on an 8800 GT, stop playing Crysis :) Because everything else out there for PC (for the most part, exception: Call of Juarez) will run at 60-70+ at maximum settings on an 8800 GT w/ a stock E8400. RTS games will be the types of games that will slow the game down and overclocking the CPU will show increased frames.

[technoViking]

ahh interesting. Well i hate crysis so that won't be a game i'll be playing i just wasn't sure how high I should overclock this thing to get the most out of it realistically not just increasing the numbers on 3dmark, but actually seeing a performance boost in gaming. I guess i'll just experiment once I get this rig set up

[Douken]

I don't think an E8400 would in anyway bottleneck your 8800gt at 3GHz... well if you underclock it it will but at default speed, I don't think so

[ChinStrap]

I don't think an E8400 would in anyway bottleneck your 8800gt at 3GHz... well if you underclock it it will but at default speed, I don't think so


yeah, it will. when the Core 2's first came out with the g80 GTX's and GTS's a lot of people around here ran a bunch of tests to see at what point the normal "bottleneck" from the CPU went bye-bye.

i can't remember what those threads were called - but i think they said it was between 3.2 and 3.6GHz depending on the game.

i set my e8400 @ 4GHz last night just to be safe. COD4 @ 4GHz under SLi screams.

[Douken]

Sir, Core 2's (1st ones) are Conroe, E8400 is Wolfdale, and the old bottleneck was 3.4GHz - 3.6GHz. I'm just saying the Wolfdale is a lot faster than Conroe and the performance jumps clock for clock, you may get a big boost just getting it to 3.3GHz (processor wise).

[ChinStrap]

thank you for buttoning up my 200MHz of 'clock for clock' confusion. i'm glad i now know the difference between the two different CPU's. god, how could i be soooo foolish.

[ChinStrap]

sarcasium

[Shiggity]

OC it to 1.3V and see where that will get you. Most people are hitting 4.0ghz at around 1.40V, which is around the highest vcore you want for 24/7.

Chinstrap ftw

[KillrBuckeye]

I'm sorry, but at typical gaming resolutions (1680x1050 or higher) and high quality settings, a 3.0 GHz E8400 will NOT bottleneck the 8800GT in the vast majority of games (excluding RTS games). You may see low single-digit changes in framerates, but definitely nothing that will be very noticeable. If you don't believe me, run some gaming benchmarks for yourself with your CPU at stock, and then again at 3.2 GHz, 3.4 GHz, etc. If you don't want to do that, there are tons of benchmark results you can find by searching that prove this point.

[ratbuddy]

i just wasn't sure how high I should overclock this thing to get the most out of it realistically not just increasing the numbers on 3dmark, but actually seeing a performance boost in gaming. I guess i'll just experiment once I get this rig set up

That's really the only way to go. People here have some really misguided ideas on bottlenecking (both sides of the debate, neither is right) and you aren't going to get a clear, straight answer.

Run your normal resolution and settings, and check your FPS. Overclock the CPU. See if the FPS goes up. If not, put the CPU back to stock and save some electricity. If it does go up, see how high you can clock the CPU before frames stop increasing. That's really the only way to do it. Post your results please!

[splat]

How far should I over clock my E8400 3ghz processor so it won't bottle neck my GPU?

As far as you physically can and still be stable...duh. is there any other way to overclock? :P

[Pennarin]

Er, I will run at 1920x1200, with a 9800GTX or 9900GTX, with a Wolfdale 3.16 GHz. Not yet OC'ed.

Any forseeable problems? Should I OC up to a certain point?

[Douken]

Only if you want... I would, probably only to 3.4GHz. If you want a high 3dmark score then get it to 3.9GHz or 4GHz. A CPU will only lag you in a game when you are watching a lot of particle effects and physics effects like Crysis CPU 2 Benchmark.

[NettieZoom]

I am seeing the same FPS with my E8400 at stock and OC to 3.6ghz. I am running a 8800GTS(G92) 512mb and run at 1920x1200 resolution.

[deathman20]

Aye stock shouldn't bottleneck the card. I've played around with it on and off faster 4.05Ghz and slower 3.0Ghz no issues. I haven't seen a major change in FPS, slow downs etc on a 1920x1200 display in games. So really I don't think the CPU will hinder your performance. Now if you get 2x 8800GT's yes the processor OCing will help out alot to make it nice and smooth but til then nopers.

Games that would eat CPU.. and sure there is more
Flight Simulator X
Supreme Commander
Crysis

Those are top notch on CPU eating games.

[Dak9767]

Not to highjack the tread, but why would RTS games cause a bigger framerate hit than other games?

[KillrBuckeye]

Not to highjack the tread, but why would RTS games cause a bigger framerate hit than other games?
Because the CPU has to power the AI of hundreds of units at a time. In a typical FPS game, events are often scripted and you're not dealing with nearly as many independent units. Intensive physics calculations will slow down an FPS game, though. Try playing with the Crysis sandbox and making thousands of barrels fall down or get blown around by a tornado. You'll probably see framerates in the single-digits! Fortunately, we don't encounter anything on that sort of scale during normal playing.

[Hazaro]

Because the CPU has to power the AI of hundreds of units at a time. In a typical FPS game, events are often scripted and you're not dealing with nearly as many independent units. Intensive physics calculations will slow down an FPS game, though. Try playing with the Crysis sandbox and making thousands of barrels fall down or get blown around by a tornado. You'll probably see framerates in the single-digits! Fortunately, we don't encounter anything on that sort of scale during normal playing.

Yup, SupCom is pretty brutal

[technoViking]

Hey guys sorry I havn't been responding, had finals and i'm finally done!
Will do the build today (well its 12:40am) so later today when I move back home).

I just hope everything works fine on the first build!

But great info! I'll let you know how it goes!