PC Bottlenecking?

Question

Cpu: AMD Phenom II x4 945
Gpu: EVGA Gtx 660
Ram: 8 GB
Os: Windows 7 Ultimate x32

Okay so long time ago i decided to get the phenom II x4 945 (AMD)
Now I have a feeling it is super outdated...

So I have a gtx 660 in my rig, but i think the cpu is bottlenecking it to the fullest potential.

Intel is a bit expensive right now (i5 looks good) But is my current cpu actually bottlenecking??

And for around $100, what cpu would increase performance the most (if at all)?

Thanks everyone...

Answer 1

In any computer there will always be a bottleneck. The key is to match components so that any bottleneck occurs only near the peak performance of all components.



It isn't pleasant to receive this news but you are in for an overhaul. Your money would be better spent on an upgrade of your motherboard and CPU. For $150 you could buy the AMD FX-6300 and a supported motherboard. This will involve some more time and effort on your part but it will put you in a spot where you may easily upgrade in the future.

Answer 2

It depends entirely on the program. Measure your system load when running stuff. But your biggest problem appears to be having a 32-bit version of Windows which is letting half your 8 GB of RAM go to waste. You will need to install a 64-bit version of Windows and may need to buy a new license.



The Phenom II X4 is getting old but it's still a solid chip with no problems running most current games. To get a significant CPU improvement would require buying a new motherboard.



The GTX 660 isn't bad, but if you have the budget a new graphics card could improve your gaming.

Answer 3

yea its 7 years old now.

The cpu might be bottlenecking a little bit, but probably not alot. I believe the best you could do is a Phenom II X4 980, but it would be a very minor upgrade and gl finding one. You would need a new board aswell to get anything faster

Answer 4

The best CPU you can get is a Phenom II x6 1100T or 1090T

1090s are typically ~120$

and a step down,the 1055T is ~85$