I'm currently using an i7-2600 with 16GB of RAM, an SSD, and a GT 730. I'm considering a GTX 1060, but I've heard the processor might bottleneck it. Would a GTX 1060 be a good choice, or should I look at another graphics card for gaming?
4 Answers
Even if the i7-2600 limits performance in some situations, a faster GPU is still better than the GT 730. Just avoid paying too much for an older 1060, and make sure your power supply has the required connectors and enough wattage.
Don’t focus too much on the word “bottleneck.” The best choice depends on the games, resolution, and frame rate you want. At 1080p, a GTX 1060 is a reasonable match, while a stronger card could make sense if you play at higher resolutions or plan to upgrade the rest of the system later.
You could also consider cards such as the RX 470, RX 480, RX 570, or RX 580 if you find one at a good price. They offer similar performance to the GTX 1060, but check power-supply requirements and condition carefully since many older cards have been heavily used.
A GTX 1060 should work fine with an i7-2600. You may see some CPU limitation in newer or CPU-heavy games, but it won’t make the card unusable. Compared with a GT 730, it would still be a huge upgrade.
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