Advice on current rig with a new GTX 970

[Miggi03]

Hi guys

I was wondering if my current rig would bottleneck the new GTX970. A google search indicates it may do but couldn't find a post specific to my OC specs.

Current rig

Q9650 Overclocked to 4.2ghz Water Cooled
4GB 1066 DDR2
800W PSU Thermaltake
A-bit IP-35 Pro

GTX 550 ti

Would like to push the button but would like some input first if that's ok.

Ideal big games to play

Asseto Corsa,
Skyrim

Thanks.

[narz]

It might make the Q9650 work hard (depending on your res?)

The i7 4770k has a CPU usage of about 40-50% when playing gamings like watchdog with Ultra setting and 1080p res.

[Revvvhead]

Your quad core processor running at 4.2ghz should be fine.
I think just 4Gb of DDR2 ram might be a bottleneck.

[shaithis]

Depends on the game and settings. Some of the newer stuff I would expect to bottleneck it (Watch dogs, BF4 to name a couple), although how much of a difference that will make is going to be dependant on a lot of variables. Also would agree that 4GB RAM is cutting it close for high-end gaming these days. Now that we have 8GB consoles we are seeing 64bit-only games that consume 4GB+

[Miggi03]

Thank you for the detailed replies. I guess as the 970 is such a good bang for buck I'd see how it copes then upgrade the lot some point after. But seeing as DDR2 is ridiculously expensive now as goes the flow of memory when supply is cut I'll do the whole rig

Which I'll post here for review of course

Thanks again.

[narz]

But seeing as DDR2 is ridiculously expensive now as goes the flow of memory when supply is cut I'll do the whole rig

You can pick up 4Gb of DDR2 for £15-20 on ebay auctions

[Dark57ar42]

I'd recommend trying to find an 8gb kit rather than just buying another 4gb... At least get the same brand/speed as you've currently got... http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=271620607037 I found this

[mynameissi]

You can get good quality DDR3 2x4gb ram kits for around £70
if you have the money
DDR4 is a little more expensive probably about £80
But you need the right mobo for that ofc

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

It will be an upgrade but WD is meant to be quite CPU heavy - it is actually quite a CPU bound title.

The same goes with Skyrim but since it is a 3rd person SP game,it will still run OK.

The minimum specs for WD also states 6GB system RAM.

[Dark57ar42]

You can get good quality DDR3 2x4gb ram kits for around £70
if you have the money
DDR4 is a little more expensive probably about £80
But you need the right mobo for that ofc

That's all good... But DDR2 is needed here...

[mynameissi]

That's all good... But DDR2 is needed here...

Im suggesting he changes mobo and upgrades to DDR3 or DDR4
Getting DDR2 now would be idiocy

[lelouchvi]

I have an older pc running similar setup but with qx9775 OC to 4Ghz on air and 8gb ram ddr3. had 4 gb before and wasnt enough, so i just ebay some 4x2 kingston x beast which made a difference.

[Dark57ar42]

How does that make sense? Sure, buying DDR2 at retail would be hopelessly ineffective cost wise, but as it would only be a (relatively) short term solution, second hand ram would be fine...