lehpron

headbanging247
How would a Q6600 with a 3.4GHz overclock run with a 560 Ti or 570? I'm looking at upgrading from a GTX 280 for DX11 and a performance boost.

Reduce the problem down by looking at GPU core specs: GTX560 Ti had 384 shaders while GTX570 has 480-shaders. 

• In terms of total shaders: GTX570 = overclocked pair of GTX285 or dual GTX280, go find those reviews with your CPU class*.
• In terms of total shaders: GTX560 Ti = overclocked pair of GTX260 (or dual 450 or dual 550), go find those reviews with your CPU class*. 

*CPU class refers to similar architecture, like a Q6600 will have the same 1600Mhz Quad-pumped FSB if overclocked to 3.2GHz as a stock QX9770, so really they should perfom the same.  It is close enough to your 3.4Ghz that you can extrapolate.   

If you find an old review of a QX9770 or a QX9650 where either one is set to 3.2GHz or greater, and they are coupled with dual GTX260's (the 65nm core with 192-shaders), they you'll have a good idea how having a single GTX560 Ti would perform.

That's why I'm a bit skeptical the OP's Q6600 is really that bad with a GTX570, which is like having a pair of GTX280/285's, an overclock to 3.6Ghz would negate a complete system upgrade in terms of running modern games.  But if enough members coerced him to upgrade (as if it was the only way), then my post was too little too late.

lehpron

First, welcome to the forums.  Second, you'll have to forgive some of our members, we're accustumed to interacting with people who either have a decent idea of lingo and terminology or are easy to manipulate and coerce into buying things to "fix" their "problems".   But it goes both way, as long as you're patient, you'll be fine.

I'm more about understanding and getting you to help yourself rather than just take the advice given as if we speak for you with your preferences in mind.    Unless anyone asks you what you do or what you want, you technically should not accept the opinions of others as your own; don't even take mine.

Concepts:

1. All programs are coded such that the central processor (CPU) runs the program and instructs all other hardware what to do, namely graphics in this case.  No piece of hardware can run independant of the CPU, otherwise you should be able to remove the Q6600 from your system and it should work fine; it won't.
2. Understand and accept that many of us overclock our parts, we push the frequency beyond what we buy. Those of us that purchased Q6600's before got them anywhere from 3.6GHz up to 4Ghz, but with better after market coolers since stock cooler is really only good for stock speeds.   The primary advantage to overclocking is that your programs run faster, disadvatange is lifespan degradation and voiding warranty.   It is assumed we all accept that risk. 
3. Benchmark programs are mathematical number crunchers, they take frame rates and through some math make up a score value -- this score is only revelant under certain conditions. For example, two different CPU using the same graphics card can have different scores, or a reference clock and an overclocked CPU can be compared -- which is the mistake you're making when you compare different frequecies of the same hardware. 

 
Facts:

1. There is nothing 'wrong' with your benchmark score or hardware.  Neither Intel, AMD or nVidia sell slow stuff; most people that buy computers for personal use don't have the insatiable desires many of us have.  As long as we make our preferences the datum of judgement, that bias gets in the way of just telling you like it is.   Modern stuff will never be so fast you don't need to overclock as long as you want more, for instance.  Really the only "wrong" aspect is the performance/score expectation of overclocked systems from a non-overclocked system.
2. Regarding multi-core CPUs, all programs are only coded for a few cores based on a target audience of customers and what CPUs they are getting, whatever the majority gets.  They are not coded for as many cores as you have such that a slower quad is better than a faster dual.  This is not true; otherwise why stop at a single-CPU desktop, go get a 8-CPU server and never upgrade for decades.  Dual-cores have been around for seven years and only now are a majority of programs dual-threaded.  Q6600 debuted in Dec 2006 and it could be another 3-4 years before a majority of programs use more than dual-threads.  That doesn't mean there aren't programs that use more cores; it is true multi-core is the future, but we're talking about a few generation because of slow mass adoption of technology.
3. The idea behind a bottleneck is that something slows the potential of a system, I put that in italics because that potential isn't a constant and varies with quality (luck of the draw), and it also varies with preferences.  We are only gauranteed stock speeds (what we buy), we not gauranteed how far we can overclock them. 

 
CPU bottleneck:
If you upgrade graphics and performance either doesn't increase or it is subtle.  This is because the CPU isn't any faster to keep up with new graphics hardware.  Most people expect to run higher 3D details with faster graphics, but the CPU still has to generate those color coordinates to give the graphics card to basically 'connect the dots' and give you a picture.  All modern graphics cards do is draw a picture; they don't generate the scene, lighting, characters reactions, etc - that's all the CPU's job; and a slow/old CPU ruins the experience of a better graphics card.

GPU bottleneck
Mostly seen with integrated video or old/slow graphics cards. if you overclocks or upgrade CPU and nothing else, and nothing happens in terms of game improvements.  An example is my own experience, I have a GTX260 and play the RTS game "World in Conflict" at 1920x1080 resolution and at max details.  My frame rates don't vary much (in the 50's) whether I had my Core i7 920 as low as 1.6Ghz or up to 3.6GHz.  My GPU is bottlenecking me, if I get another GTX260 for SLI or a 500 series card, my frame rates should scale with the CPU speed.  Problem is my preference, beyond 40FPS I can't visually tell the difference because I don't play games often, so if I get a better card and get 80FPS, it is still a waste of my money.

This is what you need to keep in mind, most high-end enthusiasts that buy GTX570 or better want max details smooth at or above 60FPS, this forces expensive upgrades and high overclocks-- but if you don't need such high preferences to play a game, you don't need their hardware suggestions.  Look at your games with the 2.4Ghz Q6600 and GTX570, how are they?  If you saw an improvement in your games and you're happy, that's all that should matter and to hell with what everyone is saying. 

But if you expected more, then look to your other hardware.

You asked about modern Intel integrated video performance, considering the GPU is in the CPU die now, LGA1155 processors graphics are onpar with GeForce 7900GT or 9500GT.  So you can play any games from 2006 or earlier on max details without a dedicated card.  When the 22nm shrink comes in the same socket by about April 2012, that integrated performance should be 50% faster, so we're talking about 9600GT or 8800GT type performance.  Of course you can get that performace right now if you got an AMD A8-3850 in socket FM1, which were the much touted Fusion processors with an ATI GPU core. 

Aeneas32
Again, this is a response from an EVGA employee paid to simply perform sales and marketing here in the customer support forum.
This response does not respond to the concern I raised in my messages.
Stop selling product and respond to the specific concerns of the customer,
here in customer support forums.
The GTX 570 card is defective and should be redesigned.
Or designed by another Nvidia partner.

python

why start a thread if ur going to react like that ANUS32..oh i mean aeneas32..sorry type-o

"this is a response from an EVGA employee paid to simply perform sales and marketing here in the customer support forum."

random_matt
Perhaps you should call evga rather than post on a forum.

whiskers54
Aeneas32,
I read your thread in its entirety. There were a lot of members contributing information to you in hopes that it would help resolve your issues. These members varied in intelligence and experience. Some have also acknowledged that they themselves were owners/users of the same CPU that you are using and what they did with/to them to achieve the most bangs for the buck when upgrading and in the process keeping their cost down. But they also understood that there would be limitations. It basically depended on what they were using those systems for.

Your problems are not unique. As has been pointed out there were many discussions in other threads about problems such as what you are experiencing and not with just your card series. Perhaps you could perform a search regarding your issues and see what many members said in those threads. It may shed some light on what you are going through and offer various avenues to travel down in solving your problems.

I also remember years ago when I was speaking with a computer consultant/builder regarding computer speeds and he laughed at me. Not in a negative, mean way either. He explained to me that CPU speed was overhyped in the context that was being discussed. Essentially he said that the speed of the CPU is only as fast as the slowest component in the system and that would include itself.
Good luck.
PS.
I don't work for EVGA either. If I did, well let's just say that I would have to pay them for those bragging rights.

Aeneas32

johnalan

Aeneas32

random_matt
Perhaps you should call evga rather than post on a forum.

I have called them and received the runaround, as I mentioned.
In addition, I found that the people I spoke were not forthcoming about
the issues that they know about with this 570 card.
They generally have a hostile and disdainful attitude toward customers.
And they are trying to cheat me out of my right to replace this defective card
with something else.
And I have yet to make contact with the customer service manager.

This guy appears to be a trooling crybaby that has an antiquated piece of junk computer and wants EVGA to give him something he dosn't deserve. Grow up and up grade your dang fossil computer to something more modern and your video card will preform properly.

A quad Q6600 is an aggregate 9.600 GHz speed CPU.
That is still faster as an aggregate than most PCs being sold,
even to this day.