CPU to bottleneck 9800GTX?

[timmymagic]

I have a question regarding CPU's "bottlenecking" the GPU and how much this effects performance.

I am looking to upgrade to the Q6600 in the next couple of weeks and was wondering how this would cope with a 9800GTX? Obviously the 9800GTX isn't out yet, but would I be right in assuming the Q6600 probably wouldn't hold the 9800GTX back? After all, we're talking about a quad core processor and a single core (I think? Possibly dual?) GPU.

I guess SLI rigs would probably help determine this? Are SLI rigs held back by the CPU in games? Particularly those that are multi-threaded.. Then again, maybe the software hasn't been produced in order to determine if this is the case?

Am I right in thinking the 9800GTX wouldn't be held back by this particular chip in games that support four cores? I'm obviously assuming these games will be multi-threaded in the future!

Also - the Crysis demo, does it come with multi-thread enabled? I haven't seen comprehensive tests betweens dual core/quad core (one site did but used different testing strategies so can't really tell), but it would be interesting to know whether it has been enabled. If so, I guess the quad would be holding back due to lack of GPU power?

If not, then I will go ahead and order the Q6600 with a 8800GT and then possibly upgrade in the future if I really need to.

Anyway, thought I'd ask

cheers for any input

 

[juno_first]

Well in Crysis I get 10fps at 10% CPU time with an 8800GTX so maybe a couple of 9800's could come close to maxing a Q6600 LOL

 

[liam8582007]

I'd expect some sort of emergency multi-core patch, as a few interviews appeared on review sites saying it was quad core all the way, lets hope it wasn't bs.

I'd expect an overclocked penryn quad to keep up with a 9800GTX.


Liam

 

[Talrinys]

Crysis is not even dualcore, they really need to fix this.

 

[timmymagic]

So it's unlikely that a Q6600 would bottleneck the next generation of GPU's?

 

[Corasik]

Surely that totally depends on the game. If the game is like supreme commander, with quite indepth stratigic planning, then the CPU can easily become a bottleneck. Same is true if the physics is run on the CPU.

On the other hand, a game with light physics, simple AI, but flash graphics will almost certainly move the bottleneck to the gpu instead.

Also depends if your overclocking it, and the design of the game. On older titles, a Q6600 performs as a single core 2.4Ghz, so in some situations a E6850 will be faster as its a 3ghz chip.

 

[Bony Maloney]

Get the Q6600 and o'clock it, they are hitting 3.0Ghz with ease and some people are getting 3.6Ghz on air (albeit with jet engine case fans). I have it running with a 7800GTXOC and it's no slouch. I can actually now play the Crysis demo on medium settings. (It was a slide show with my FX-53).Quad core is not yet supported in the demo, but it is supposed to be in the final release. I am itching to buy a GT but if I can wait a month or so, I'll get to see the new GTS and also what ATI has to offer.