6 years old i7 870 OC challenge for GTX970 upgrade need help
6 years old i7 870 OC challenge for GTX970 upgrade need help
Thanks for the response. As long as it stays above 60 fps, I don’t mind any bottleneck issues. However, it seems GTA V might have some bottlenecks. Sorry, I meant Intel Turbo Boost... I wish I could use a 200 Base clock, but using 200 x 20 would give me 4GHz, which during IntelburnTest would stress my CPU with 9x degrees, whereas 160 x 24 gives me 3.84GHz without such heating problems... From your perspective, should I just skip overclocking and stick to the stock speed of 3.2GHz until the next upgrade?
I need to explain what a "bottleneck" means. A bottleneck in computing refers to a subsystem that prevents other parts from using all its resources. For example, if the CPU is too weak, it won’t allow the graphics card to perform optimally. Your GPU will still run at full capacity, but your overall performance drops because the CPU processes fewer frames. In short, I recommend setting your I7 to about 3.5 GHz with hyperthreading enabled. LGA 1156 models are not ideal for high clock speeds, which is why Intel chose this socket type. They quickly discontinued LGA 1156 support.
An example of a bottleneck would be running a Core 2 Duo or a Pentium G.
A fresh CPU and its corresponding motherboard can boost FPS, though this depends on the situation.
Witcher 3 handles threads well, so I recommend setting the clock to about 3.5 GHz and turning on Hyper-Threading. Monitor the FPS afterward and let us know if it improves.
A GTX 970 cannot run all games at 1080p, as some titles have excessive anti-aliasing settings.
Check the review at the provided link for more details.
It's been several years since the thermal paste was applied (the material connecting your CPU to the heatsink or cooler). It's likely lost its effectiveness. First, remove the cooler and clean the fans thoroughly, focusing on the cooler itself. Dust buildup can block airflow, reducing its ability to dissipate heat. Metal is an excellent conductor of heat, while dust is not. After cleaning, ensure both surfaces are well-prepared, ideally using isopropyl alcohol to remove any remaining old paste. Apply a fresh batch of thermal paste, keeping in mind its limited shelf life. The goal is only to fill the tiny gaps and crevices between the metal surfaces for improved contact, not to excess. This should help raise temperatures noticeably. However, you might also consider slightly reducing the overclocking, as the CPU may be aging. If possible, check your GPU temperatures too—poor heat removal from the CPU could cause thermal throttling, which might affect performance.