Upgrading the graphics card - possible CPU bottleneck?

[thewhiteark]

Hello everyone,

After 4 years and now releasing next-gen games, my gaming PC officially needs some refreshment.
My first thought was to buy a new mid-high level graphics card. Then I started worrying about a possible CPU bottleneck! After some googling I couldn't reach a definite conclusion regarding CPU bottlenecks in games.
The computer in question:

AMD Phenom II x4 Quad-Core 955 Socket AM3 3.2Ghz
Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT-UD2H
12GB RAM
Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 1GB GDDR5
SeaSonic 520W Bronze Series Active PFC

My questions are: is there reason to fear a bottleneck? And if so, will OCing be compensation enough? (I read that 3.7Ghz can usually be reached with my processor).

 

[Nenu]

If you are aiming for 60fps then it will bottleneck in some games, more without a high overclock.
Have a look here to see how it fares.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html

 

[RamonGTP]

That processor will be a bottleneck in a lot of games these days. I'd find a used 680/770 or the AMD equivalent at best. More would be a waste unless you plan on upgrading the rest of the system in the near future and transfer the card over.

 

[Dangman]

I had a Phenom II X4 B93 that I had OC'd to 3.6Ghz up until early this year. It was limiting my performance in BF4. So yes, there is reason to fear a bottleneck. I ended upgrading to Intel.

 

[Odellus]

If you are aiming for 60fps then it will bottleneck in some games, more without a high overclock.
Have a look here to see how it fares.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html

eh.