The CPU (E8400) is an outdated one. A 2 core CPU is not sufficient nowadays, I am talking hardcore here, games like Crysis 2 will cry badly to run in it. You won't get more than 30 fps. So first thing first, Change the processor first, then Monitor and then think of 560 or any same/better card.
OP asked if GTX560 is an overkill for his current mentioned system or not. And the clear answer is YES, and Yes it's like if you are buying a 50" LCD and you don't have enough big room for it. Like you have purchased an A8 and you don't have a big enough garage to fit it. Overkill always matters with other things and that's what been said here. Frankly, E8400 with a 18.5" Monitor is not an Overkill but something like superkill imo. Someone here also said that E8400 still have the power, well if E8400 still have the power, then why a 560? Go for a 460 or even 550, they also have the power, don't they? Don't you guys know one of our member, Tenida, had the same situation, he purchased the same GPU for his E6300, and now that GPU is in 'Bazar' section. LOL. I said what's right/true. Now the money is OP's, who can deal with that?Listen, if the OP does not want to upgrade the display for now, don't suggest him to upgrade it. May be Full HD is current standard but there is no point to sell old 18.5" or 19" display every time you buy a new powerful card.
And Op clearly stated that we will upgrade components sequentially so keep your suggestion for what OP has asked for.
You guy's are suggesting like if you are buying a powerful card and you don't have Full HD display, you have to get a new display. But this is not the case...try to suggest what is asked for. It is like if you are buying a 50" LCD TV, you have to get a new flat first which has a very big room so that the TV looks great on the wall.
OP asked if GTX560 is an overkill for his current mentioned system or not. And the clear answer is YES, and Yes it's like if you are buying a 50" LCD and you don't have enough big room for it. Like you have purchased an A8 and you don't have a big enough garage to fit it. Overkill always matters with other things and that's what been said here. Frankly, E8400 with a 18.5" Monitor is not an Overkill but something like superkill imo. Someone here also said that E8400 still have the power, well if E8400 still have the power, then why a 560? Go for a 460 or even 550, they also have the power, don't they? Don't you guys know one of our member, Tenida, had the same situation, he purchased the same GPU for his E6300, and now that GPU is in 'Bazar' section. LOL. I said what's right/true. Now the money is OP's, who can deal with that?
If I said anything harsh pardon me.
Got your point. Yes, I also am not suggesting OP to get a new Monitor especially if he doesn't change his system and change his monitor it will be a shocking decision. But still I will suggest OP to either buy a Mediocre GPU and ran his system for another year OR wait a few days and change the whole system with GPU1st of all, he Tenida does not have a E6300, he has a E7300.
2nd thing is Tenida does have Full HD display and that's why his CPU is getting bottle-necked. Here we are talking about 1366X786 resolution
I think you didn't get my example right. in my example GTX 560 is the 50" LCD TV and flat is equivalent to your system.
here you can plug the Display in your small room but cannot get the full beauty but still it will get the job done, watching HD content on it.
Same thing here...if he use his GTX 560 along with the 18.5" display, may be he is not utilizing the whole system, but tell me can't he play games on it?
By the way, I was just addressing the Getting the New Display part, not the CPU part. Just Google a little and you will find out that there will be very very little bottleneck if you are playing upto 1600X900 resolution. It is 1080P when the CPU bottleneck starts to slow down your Gfx card. And a little overclocking the CPU will enhance the performance a lot.
And GTX 560 is a overkill for sure as even a 8600 GT SLI can handle the 1366X768 resolution & I've mentioned it in my first psot. But the thing is if you get a very good card now, in future upgrades you don't need to upgrade it. What I think is, Getting a new Processor still somehow makes sense, but the New Monitor Thing just unacceptable.
Got your point. Yes, I also am not suggesting OP to get a new Monitor especially if he doesn't change his system and change his monitor it will be a shocking decision. But still I will suggest OP to either buy a Mediocre GPU and ran his system for another year OR wait a few days and change the whole system with GPU
My point is, it is not worth buying a GTX560 with OP's current system.
That is a good idea I guess because that time because of the introduction of new gen graphics cards, the price of these cards will come down a lot. In fact OP can settle for a HD 6570 or HD 6770 which is more than capable to run all the games in their highest setting @ 1366X768 resolution and save the rest of the money for future upgrades.