SLI x3 GTX 280 would CPU be bottleneck?

[nirok]

Also, I have seen plenty of guides around including the ones on these forums, but would you recommend any guides for complete noobs in the overclocking world?

Thanks so much

 

[HaggisUK]

Oh really? even though the cores were only utilising 70% and 50%?

I'd overclock your current CPU which would likely give you an instant boost in that game, but yeah performance would improve even more with a sandybridge regardless of your current usage, they are just much more efficient.

 

[Michaeljcox24]

What heat sink are you using? I think I will try overclocking my CPU then

I'm on a corsair H100, but I was able to overclock just as well and never really entered the danger zone on a H50. try running heaven at default settings, and that will give you an idea as to how far away your sli 280's are from a 470

 

[Michaeljcox24]

and off the record, I can run Skyrim fine with barely any slowdown on the autodetected 'high' settings.

 

[nirok]

well I will try overclocking the CPU for now, I cant afford a new CPu & MOBO etc. Thanks for your help though.

 

[Michaeljcox24]

I reckon your safe up to about 1.4 volts. For stability mine needs 1.3875. Absolute max it's ever done is 4.2 and that was about 1.55 for a bench run.

And the differece between 4 and 4.2 in heaven was nothing.

 

[nirok]

and off the record, I can run Skyrim fine with barely any slowdown on the autodetected 'high' settings.

I seem to be able to run it fine on Ultra, but I followed the tweak guide (mentioned in OP) which makes quite a big difference. It makes the graphics much nicer and thats when I'm running into problems with my FPS. I'm a suckers for good looking graphics, So just wanting to squeeze the most out of my rig basically. I know for sure High res texture mods will be coming out very soon and if possible I would like to be able to run them. Most of the time my FPS is fine, just some places it dips to 20

 

[Michaeljcox24]

overclock chip as far as it will safely go.

overclock cards as far as they will safely go.

if you want the best graphics then you have to invest in the best cards.