What function does the processor fulfill in a Gaming PC?
Contrary to what many people believe, the processor is not the one that draws the graphics of the video game, but the one responsible for the reaction speed of the characters. That is, when you make a mouse movement, your character in the video game responds to it quickly or slowly, depending on the quality of the CPU.
Are processor cores important in video games?
We will start talking about the cores, since they are important in video games, but sometimes we value this point more than necessary. If the processor has 4 cores, it means that it can do several processes at the same time, specifically 4. However, many video games are not programmed to use many cores. Normally, newer and more demanding games use 8 cores at most, so a high-cost processor with 16 cores would not be used properly.
The only advantage of getting a 16 or more core processor is that if developers make more powerful games in the future, you won’t have to upgrade your computer. But according to current advances and the latest video game consoles, 8-core processors still have a long way to go.
In other words, cores do matter, just up to a point, and you don’t necessarily have to buy an 8-core processor if your games are low-end and mid-range. We advise you to review its minimum system requirements when purchasing a PC video game, so you won’t have compatibility problems with your current gaming computer.
Processor speed and how it helps in video games
The processor speed is represented in GHz and is responsible for the speed of video games. For that reason, the higher the processor speed, the better its compatibility with 30 and 60 fps video games. Specifically, for video games that run at 60 fps we recommend 4 GHz processors. Of course, this element of hardware must be well accompanied, especially with a powerful graphics card, 2 GB or higher. Otherwise, the computer will not work properly in some demanding video games.
There are 3 GHz processors that reach a maximum frequency of 4 GHz. Sometimes this happens because they have some kind of Turbo technology. Also, some of the Intel Core family allow overclocking, a trick that will serve to increase the performance and speed of your old processor. If you are interested in this topic, keep reading the article, because later we will talk about it.
Which brand of processor is better for PC Gaming, Intel or AMD?
Having the best Gaming PC (in this link you can find several products to analyze) is a goal that many of us want to reach, but what processor do we mount on our computer? The answer is simple, it all depends on the motherboard you bought, because some models are compatible with Intel processors and others with AMD.
But let’s assume that you haven’t chosen the motherboard yet. In this sense, we recommend you first think about the video games you want to play. On the Internet there is information about the minimum requirements that your computer must have for each video game. Check all of them and compare prices, you won’t always have to spend thousands of euros to build a suitable Gaming PC.
And, if what you want is a gaming computer that will serve you for today’s most demanding video games or future titles, we recommend these two processors.
Intel Core i9-10900X
This is one of the most recommended processors for gaming, due to its 10 cores and 20 threads, as it covers any high-end video game without slowing down the response of movements in the characters. In addition, it has a speed of 3.7 GHz, which can reach 4.7 GHz, thanks to its Turbo Boost 3.0 technology.
Before buying this processor you must take into account that its electrical power is 165 W, so you must use a compatible power supply. Also, keep in mind that the power supply must be used to power the graphics card, the processor, and other hardware elements.
Another important aspect is that the motherboard must have the LGA 2066 socket, otherwise you will not be able to use this processor in your Gaming PC.
AMD 3900X Ryzen 9
With its 12 cores and 24 threads you will be able to play the most recent titles and those that are due to be released by the end of 2022, for example, the long-awaited Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
Its base clock speed is 3.8 GHz, but it goes up to 4.6 GHz, being quite reliable for games at 30 and 60 fps. Also, if you use this processor together with a 4K graphics card, you will be able to see more immersive images without sticking and pixel distortion.
Take into account that you must have an AMD motherboard with socket AM4, so that this processor fits without problems in the corresponding slot.
What is more important in video games, processor or graphics card?
Actually, both hardware elements are important when building your own Gaming PC. Of course, there are video games that do not require a graphics card, for example, the classic Counter Strike, which can work if you have a 2-core processor and 2 GB of RAM.
However, for newer and more demanding video games you will need a processor and a graphics card. In that case, we recommend a processor equal to or greater than 3 GHz, together with a graphics card of at least 2 GB. Check your motherboard’s user manual to find out what processors and graphics cards it supports.
What is overclocking in a processor?
Overclocking is a useful process when you want to increase the performance of your computer without spending a lot of money. This allows a hardware component to get more performance than originally specified by the manufacturer. You can overclock processors, video cards, motherboard chips, and RAM. Intel recommends overclocking an Intel Core processor only if it is unlocked for that purpose. On its official page you can find the steps to follow.
