The choice of a central processor for a computer must be approached with the utmost responsibility, because. The performance of many other computer components directly depends on the quality of the selected CPU.
It is necessary to correlate the capabilities of your PC with the data of the desired processor model. If you decide to build a computer yourself, then first of all decide on the processor and motherboard. It should be remembered, in order to avoid unnecessary expenses, that not all motherboards support powerful processors.
The modern market is ready to provide a wide selection of central processors - from CPUs designed for low-performance, semi-mobile devices to high-performance chips for data centers. Here are some tips to help you make the right choice:
- Choose a manufacturer you trust. Today, there are only two suppliers of home PC processors on the market - Intel and AMD. Read more about the benefits of each of them below.
- Look beyond the frequency. There is an opinion that frequency is the main factor responsible for performance, but this is not entirely true. This parameter is also strongly influenced by the number of cores, the speed of reading and writing information, and the amount of cache memory.
- Before buying a processor, find out if your motherboard supports it.
- For a powerful processor, you will need to buy a cooling system. The more powerful the CPU and other components, the higher the requirements for this system.
- Pay attention to how much you can overclock the processor. As a rule, low-cost processors that at first glance do not have high performance can be overclocked to the level of a premium CPU.
After buying a processor, do not forget to apply thermal paste to it - this is a mandatory requirement. It is advisable not to save on this item and immediately buy a normal paste that will last a long time.
Choose a manufacturer
There are only two of them - Intel and AMD. Both produce processors for desktop PCs and laptops, however, there are very significant differences between them.
About Intel
Intel supplies enough powerful and reliable processors, but at the same time their price is the highest on the market. The most modern technologies are used in production, which saves on the cooling system. CPUs from Intel rarely overheat, so only top models require a good cooling system. Let's look at the advantages of Intel processors:
- Excellent distribution of resources. Performance in a resource-intensive program is higher (provided that no other program with similar CPU requirements is running besides it). all the power of the processor is transferred to it.
- With some modern games, Intel products work better.
- Improved interaction with RAM, which speeds up the entire system.
- For laptop owners, it is recommended to choose this manufacturer, because. its processors consume less power, they are compact and do not get as hot.
- Many programs are optimized to work with Intel.
- Multitasking processors when working with complex programs leaves much to be desired.
- There is a "overpayment for the brand."
- If you need to replace the CPU with a newer one, then there is a high probability that you will have to change some other components in the computer (for example, the motherboard), because. "blue" CPUs may not be compatible with some older components.
- Relatively small overclocking capabilities compared to a competitor.
About AMD
This is another processor manufacturer that has a market share roughly equivalent to Intel. It is mainly focused on the budget and mid-budget segment, but also produces top models of processors. The main advantages of this manufacturer:
- Value for money. You won't have to "overpay for the brand" in the case of AMD.
- Wide range of performance upgrade options. You can overclock the processor by 20% of the original capacity, as well as adjust the voltage.
- Products from AMD work well in multitasking mode, compared to their counterparts from Intel.
- multiplatform products. The AMD processor will work without problems with any motherboard, RAM, video card.
But products from this manufacturer also have their drawbacks:
- CPUs from AMD are not exactly reliable compared to Intel. Bugs are more common, especially if the processor is several years old.
- AMD processors (especially powerful models or models that have been overclocked by the user) get very hot, so you should consider buying a good cooling system.
- If you have an integrated graphics adapter from Intel, then get ready for compatibility issues.
How important is the frequency and number of cores
There is an opinion that the more cores and frequency a processor has, the better and faster the system works. This statement is only partly true, because if you have an 8-core processor installed, but in conjunction with an HDD, then the performance will be noticeable only in demanding programs (and even that is not a fact).
For standard work at a computer and for games at medium and low settings, a processor for 2-4 cores in conjunction with. This configuration will please you with speed in browsers, in office applications, with simple graphics and video processing. If this configuration includes a powerful 8-core unit instead of the usual CPU for 2-4 cores, then ideal performance will be achieved in heavy games even at ultra-settings (although a lot will still depend on the video card).
Also, if you have a choice between two processors with the same performance, but different models, you will need to look at the results of various tests. For many models of modern CPUs, they can be easily found on the manufacturer's website.
What to Expect from CPUs in Different Price Categories
The current pricing situation is as follows:
- The cheapest processors on the market are supplied only by AMD. They can work well for simple office applications, web surfing and solitaire games. However, a lot in this case will depend on the configuration of the PC. For example, if you have little RAM, a weak HDD and no graphics adapter, then you can not count on the correct operation of the system.
- Mid-range processors. Here you can already see quite productive models from AMD and models with average performance from Intel. For the former, a reliable cooling system will be required without fail, the costs of which can offset the benefits of a low price. In the second case, the performance will be lower, but the processor will be much more stable. A lot, again, depends on the configuration of the PC or laptop.
- High-quality processors in a high price category. In this case, the characteristics of products from both AMD and Intel are approximately equal.
About the cooling system
Some processors may come with a complete cooling system, the so-called. "Boxing". It is not recommended to change the "native" system to an analogue from another manufacturer, even if it does its job better. The fact is that "boxed" systems are better adapted to their processor and do not require serious configuration.
If the CPU cores began to overheat, then it is better to install an additional cooling system to the existing one. It will come out cheaper, and the risk of damaging something will be lower.
The boxed cooling system from Intel is much worse than from AMD, so it is recommended to pay special attention to its shortcomings. Clips are mostly made of plastic, which is also very heavy. This causes such a problem - if the processor, along with the radiator, is installed on a cheap motherboard, then there is a risk that they will “bend” it, rendering it unusable. Therefore, if you still prefer Intel, then choose only high-quality motherboards. There is also another problem - with strong heating (more than 100 degrees), the clips can simply melt. Fortunately, such temperatures are rare for Intel products.
The "Reds" also made a better cooling system, with metal clips. Despite this, the system weighs less than its counterpart from Intel. Also, the design of the radiators allows you to install them on the motherboard without any problems, while the connection with the motherboard will be much better, which will eliminate the possibility of damaging the motherboard. But keep in mind that AMD processors get hotter, so high-quality boxed heatsinks are a must.
Hybrid processors with integrated graphics
Both companies are also engaged in the release of processors, where there is an integrated graphics card (APU). True, the performance of the latter is very low and it is only enough to perform simple everyday tasks - working in office applications, surfing the Internet, watching videos, and even undemanding games. Of course, there are top APU processors on the market, whose resources are enough even for professional work in graphic editors, simple video processing and running modern games at minimum settings.
These CPUs are more expensive and heat up much faster than their conventional counterparts. You also need to take into account that in the case of an integrated video card, it is not the built-in video memory that is used, but the operational type DDR3 or DDR4. It follows from this that the performance will also directly depend on the amount of RAM. But even if your PC is equipped with several tens of GB of DDR4 RAM (the fastest type today), the integrated card is unlikely to be able to match the performance of a graphics adapter even from the middle price category.
The thing is that video memory (even if it is only one GB) is much faster than RAM, because. it is sharpened to work with graphics.
However, the APU-processor in conjunction with even a slightly expensive video card is able to please with high performance in modern games at low or medium settings. But in this case, you should think about the cooling system (especially if the processor and / or graphics adapter is from AMD), because. the resources of the default built-in radiators may not be enough. It is better to test the work and then, based on the results, decide whether the "native" cooling system copes or not.
Whose APU processors are better? Until recently, AMD was the leader in this segment, but in the last couple of years the situation has begun to change and AMD and Intel products from this segment have almost equaled in terms of power. The Blues try to take reliability, but at the same time, the price-performance ratio suffers a little. From the "red" you can get a productive APU processor for a not very high price, but many users consider budget APU chips from this manufacturer unreliable.
Integrated processors
Purchasing a motherboard that has the processor already soldered in along with the cooling system helps the consumer get rid of all sorts of compatibility issues and save time, because. everything you need is already built into the motherboard. In addition, such a decision does not hit the pocket.
But it has its significant drawbacks:
- There are no upgrade options. The processor that is soldered into the motherboard will become obsolete sooner or later, but in order to replace it, you will have to completely change the motherboard.
- The power of the processor, which is integrated into the motherboard, leaves much to be desired, so you won’t be able to play modern games even at the minimum settings. But such a solution practically does not make noise and takes up very little space in the system unit.
- Such motherboards do not have very many slots for RAM and HDD / SSD drives.
- In case of any minor damage, the computer will have to be handed over either for repair, or (more likely) to completely replace the motherboard.
Several popular processors
The best state employees:
Mid-range processors:
TOP processors:
If you are assembling a computer from scratch, then it is better to initially buy the processor, and then other important components for it - a video card and a motherboard.
Just in time for the beginning of the school year and during it, the need for new computers is increasing, and many will be wondering - which processor is better for gaming?
To answer this question, let's look at the variety of modern models, and by what parameters and criteria a chip is generally chosen for modern games.
PC processor price
When assembling a gaming computer, the main thing is not the processor, but the video card, the main expenses will be on it. You can naturally spend money and assemble from all the best, but such a system unit will be very expensive, which is far from accessible to everyone.
If you want to spend not very much, but get a fairly good gaming PC, you will have to save on something. One of the options is to save on the processor, which does not always play such a decisive role in the performance of toys.
For example, Intel processors of the i3, i5, i7, i9 families differ in price, but all four can be used in gaming systems. The best processor for gaming is of course the i9 series, but the price of the youngest of them starts at $1,000 (60,000 rubles). Another thing is the i3, which costs several times cheaper - $ 150 (9000 rubles), but it can also be installed in a gaming computer.
If you choose the AMD platform, then it has traditionally always been cheaper than Intel. The junior version of the top-end Ryzen Threadripper 1920X processor, which is on par with the most powerful Intel chips in terms of performance, will cost $ 800 (48,000 rubles), which is already cheaper. If you choose the younger AMD Ryzen 3 1200, then the price for it is only $110, and yes, it can also be used for a gaming computer.
This range of prices raises many questions, which we will try to answer below.
What processor for games to choose?
Let's divide all the processors listed below into some subgroups: premium, fast and good. The latter will be the best option when the budget is not very large. Premium ones are of course very productive, but they are designed for buyers who often want to highlight their high social status.
Premium Processors
Fast processors
Good processors
There are many processor models that can be used in a gaming computer. We chose purely for our own subjective reasons. This does not mean that even cheaper and lower-performance chips cannot be used, but if you want to unleash the full potential of a gaming video card, then we choose at least the last four.
Characteristics of processors for games 2017
Now let's take a look at some of the main characteristics and nuances by which you should choose a gaming processor. Today's latest generation chips like AMD Ryzen are equipped with more advanced architectures to enable never-before-seen multiprocessing and multithreading, along with intelligent features that optimize power on their own. Although not all games or applications can reveal all these possibilities, everything is moving in this direction. Consider the main selection criteria.
Frequency
This is one of those parameters by which the processor for gaming is most often chosen. Usually, something below 2.8 GHz is not considered a gaming processor, so we try to select it in the 3-4 GHz range. What is above this threshold is usually overclocked “stones” for overlocking. Such models have an unlocked multiplier and can significantly increase the frequency with good cooling. Both Intel and AMD often refer to them as K and X, for example, our list has the Intel Core i7-7700K.
True, most modern processors independently regulate the frequency within certain limits (2.9-3.9 GHz), if required by the task being performed. The Intel Core i7-7700T processor from our list is just that.
Cores and Threads
More and more modern games require a minimum of 4 cores (GTA V, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Far Cry 4 or Assassin's Creed Unity) to give acceptable performance on a pair with your gaming graphics card. True, multi-core does not always affect performance; multi-threading often plays a key role. All modern Intel processors support Hyper-Threading technology, which implements twice the number of threads in relation to cores, which gives higher performance. The new AMD Razens are also equipped with similar technology. All processors with such parameters can be safely written into gaming ones.
Cache
The size of the cache usually does not affect performance in games, but will be noticeable if you run many programs at the same time or surf the Internet like crazy, opening many tabs at the same time. It is definitely impossible to exclude this parameter in the rapidly developing world of technology. Some processors, such as the premium AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X, are equipped with a huge amount of this memory (38 MB in total). There are 1st, 2nd and 3rd level caches.
Intel or AMD?
Traditionally, AMD processors were always cheaper than their competitor Intel, and did not have the same performance capabilities, so they were more often bought because of their budget. However, the latest generation of AMD Ryzen, thanks to the introduction of the latest technologies (including intelligent ones), even bypassed many models of Intel chips. This is despite the fact that the prices for them are decently cheaper.
The time has passed when AMD trailed behind Intel, now the company is gaining more and more momentum and is likely to bypass its eminent brother. Moreover, the last few years the latter does not offer anything fundamentally new.
Which processor to choose for 4K games?
Although many top-end video cards support 4K resolution, only a system of two or even three video cards will allow you to get a fairly acceptable performance (at least 60 FPS) at maximum settings. Accordingly, such a configuration requires a sufficiently powerful central processor.
For these purposes, choose from fast processors, and preferably premium ones. Expensive, yes, but you get a completely different gaming experience with ultra-high resolution.
Which processor is suitable for VR games?
To comfortably use a VR helmet, any chip from the good processors section is enough. Even high-end headsets only offer Full HD resolution, which any mid-range gaming graphics card can handle, providing good performance and high frame rates (FPS).
If you can get an expensive VR headset like the HTC Vive or PlayStation VR, you can probably put together a very decent system unit with an expensive processor.
Conclusion
So, which processor to choose for games? If you are not constrained by means and want to surprise your friends and pamper your self, then the answer is obvious. And if the budget is small, but at the same time you really want to play in comfort, then choose a processor with at least 4 threads. An Intel Core i3-7320 from our list or an AMD Ryzen 3 1300X will work. But it is better to install the Intel Core i5-7600, which will be the best option with a small margin for the future, because the gaming industry offers more and more interesting games that require high power.
When buying a new processor, gamers most often focus on the price / performance ratio. Someone does not want to spend a lot of time and buys a system unit with components, while someone, on the contrary, is more advanced and, as they say, assembles his computer on his own.
The second option is the most optimal, as it will help you save money and get decent performance.
Before buying a new processor, we face the following questions: how many cores are needed, what characteristics it has, cache memory level, clock speed. This article will answer these questions.
Features of choice
Choosing a processor for a computer is a matter in which there are many nuances. Beginners buy ready-made models, and in the future their performance in most cases is not satisfactory.
The stores mainly offer what you need to sell in the shortest possible time. You can easily be persuaded to buy that computer, which in reality can not claim the status of a gaming computer. Therefore, further we will consider all the nuances of the choice.
Manufacturer's choice
At first glance, it seems that everything is quite simple in choosing a manufacturer, since there are only two leading companies on the market: Intel and their competitor, AMD. Each of them has its pros and cons.
At the moment, the sales leader and the standard, of course, are Intel. Despite all the efforts of "AMD", in terms of sales, the former significantly overtake the latter. The reason lies not only in the marketing component and brand promotion, but also in the technical part.
But AMD does not lag behind its main competitors, they tightly occupied the niche of budget microprocessors, which is a definite plus. In the AMD product line, you can find quite powerful models in the price range from $50 to $150, which are great for gaming.
Reliability
Another important aspect in the choice is reliability. Modern Intel and AMD models are equipped with a system that can prevent overheating, which significantly eliminates the early failure of the component.
Based on practice, per thousand released processes, only one or two fail in the first months of operation. Thus, we can say that most products have a fairly high percentage of reliability and practically exclude premature failure.
Processors with integrated graphics
AMD and Intel have so-called hybrid processors in their product line. Hybrid processors are models where the processor itself and the integrated video card are directly located on the same chip.
The capabilities of the integrated video card are quite good, but they are unlikely to be suitable for timely games, because even at the minimum quality settings there will be freezes (not to mention medium and maximum quality settings).
Hybrids are ideal if you decide to build a computer for simple tasks, such as surfing the Internet, working with undemanding graphic editors and low-demanding games.
Hybrids are designed to reduce power consumption, minimize component heating and thus improve reliability.
They are equipped with a video card that has a "GDDR3" memory type, which is not known for its speed (many models of modern video cards are equipped with a "GDDR5" memory type, which makes them more efficient).
If you need a computer for simple tasks, then an integrated graphics card will be a good budget solution.
I would like to say a little more about the built-in video cards. AMD is doing much better in this regard than its competitors. Based on most tests, AMD's embedded solutions are significantly ahead of Intel's.
Thus, if you decide to purchase a hybrid that has an integrated graphics card, it is without a doubt better to choose "AMD", since for games it will be a relatively good solution. If a computer is needed for tasks that do not require large computing power, then you can give preference to Intel.
Video: processor for games
Specifications
One of the features of choosing a processor is its characteristics, which will determine the performance in demanding games.
Number of Cores
Many people think that the more cores, the better the performance will be, but this is one of several misconceptions. Performance (loading the operating system, the number of frames per second in games, the speed of programs) is not so much dependent on the number of cores, but also on the hard drive (HDD or SSD).
Do not stick to and chase the principle: the more the better. You can assemble a fairly productive computer with a quad-core and an SSD drive on board. We can say with confidence that such a bunch of components will significantly increase the performance in modern games and allow you to play at high settings, provided that you have at least an average-level game card.
Let's take for example. For undemanding applications and surfing the Internet, the Athlon II X2 will suffice. But if, for the same tasks, we take Core i3 or Core i5 or FX 4xxx, then the increase in performance in undemanding applications will not be very noticeable. You can fully experience the increase in performance in stress tests ("LinX", "AIDA64", "PassMark", "OCCT") or in resource-intensive applications (graphic editors and games).
If you want to build a computer to perform tasks on it that do not require a lot of computing power (working in Office, surfing the Internet, undemanding games), then it is best to purchase 2-3 cores.
If the PC is going to play games, then in this situation a minimum of 4 core processors is needed. But as we can see, for modern games released in 2014 and released in 2015, 4-6 cores are already required (to play at minimum settings).
Cache
One factor in high performance is cache memory. Microprocessors equipped with their own cache are much more productive than those without or reduced memory cache.
For example, boosting the performance of a gaming computer equipped with a processor with cache memory, the performance increase can be up to 25 percent, which is quite good.
I would like to note that when buying a new processor, you should pay attention to its cache memory. The amount of cache memory can significantly increase the performance of your computer.
Clock frequency
Many people often ask the question, what frequency should the processor have. Clock frequency is the number of operations that the processor can perform in one second. In the past, clock speed was one of the very first factors that affect performance. But at the moment this is not entirely true.
Clock speed is not a determining factor in computer performance. Performance is also affected by technologies that modern processors use (Hyper-Threading).
Chipset technologies
Most modern processor models are equipped with special technologies that significantly improve performance.
Hyper Threading
Hyper-Threading is a technology implemented in Intel products."Hyper-Threading", in simple terms, represents each physical core as two logical ones.
Photo: Hyper-Threading - splitting the core
Thus, when performing a certain logical operation, the processor does not fully use its resources and, thus, some of them are idle. Just the same, "Hyper-Threading" allows you to use these most unused resources to process parallel operations.
Of course, you should not count on the fact that "Hyper-Threading" will increase the performance of the computer quite strongly, but the increase in performance will be quite noticeable (it will be especially noticeable in games).
TurboBoost or TurboCore
TurboBoost technology implemented by Intel. "TurboBoost" automatically increases the nominal clock speed. Increasing the frequency is only possible if the power limit is not exceeded. "TurboBoost" significantly increases the performance of applications that have one or more threads.
"TurboCore" technology implemented by AMD "TurboCore", as in the case of Intel's "TurboBoost" allows you to automatically increase the clock speed. The main objective of TurboCore technology is to dynamically increase the performance of individual cores.
With the help of "TurboCore", each core gets an increase to the nominal clock frequency of up to 500 MHz, which will help to significantly increase the speed of the computer.
Which processor is best for games winter 2014 - 2015
We have come to the most important thing, which processor for games is better in the winter of 2014-2015. For convenience, the processors will be divided into several groups: "Budget", "Average", "Powerful".
Budget
AMD Athlon II X3 455
A budget and quite productive model with a high nominal clock frequency of 3.3 GHz. AMD Athlon II X3 455 is also characterized by a rather high overclocking potential.
Main characteristics:
- architecture - "Rana";
- number of cores - 3;
- nominal clock frequency - 3.3 GHz;
- cache L1 / L2 - 128 KB / 1536 KB;
- socket-AM3.
The cost is $35 (2300 rubles).
Photo: AMD Athlon II X3 455 processor
Athlon II X4 750K
The budget model is characterized by a fairly low cost, but at the same time, it has a fairly high performance. Another undoubted advantage of the Athlon II X4 750K is its good overclocking potential.
Athlon Key Features:
- architecture - "Trinity";
- number of cores - 4;
- nominal clock frequency - 3.4 GHz;
- cache L1 / L2 - 48 KB / 4096 KB;
- socket-FM2.
The cost is $50 (3500 rubles).
Intel Pentium G3420 Haswell
Intel Pentium G3420 Haswell - Intel Pentium™ is one of the oldest products of Intel, but, nevertheless, is still on the market and occupies a significant niche. Pentium G3420 Haswell is a new solution that provides a good performance boost.
Main characteristics:
- architecture - "Haswell";
- number of cores - 2;
- nominal clock frequency - 3.2 GHz;
- cache L1/L2/L3 -64 KB/512 KB/3072 KB;
- socket-LGA1150/
The cost is $55 (3800 rubles).
Intermediate level
Powerful enough six-core, providing optimal performance in today's games.
Main characteristics:
- architecture - "Vishera";
- number of cores - 6;
- nominal clock frequency - 3.5 GHz;
- cache L1 / L2 / L3 - 48 KB / 6144 KB / 8192 KB;
- socket-AM3+.
The cost is $80 (5500 rubles).
Built on the "Vishera" architecture. It has 8 physical cores and a high clock speed. AMD FX-8350 is the best amd gaming processor 2014-2015.
Main characteristics:
- number of cores - 8;
- nominal clock frequency - 4.0 GHz;
- cache L1 / L2 / L3 - 48 KB / 8192 KB / 8192 KB;
- socket-AM3+.
The cost is $130 (9000 rubles).
Productive solution from Intel. Powerful quad-core, will provide excellent performance in modern games. Built on the "Haswell" architecture.
Main characteristics:
A quad core with a fairly good overclocking potential is based on the Haswell architecture. As practice shows, the Core i5-4690K provides maximum performance in games of 2014 - 2015.
Main characteristics:
Powerful
The Intel Core i7-3770K is the top-end, built on the Ivy Bridge architecture. Provides maximum performance in games at high graphics settings.
Main characteristics:
- architecture - "Haswell";
- number of cores - 4;
- integrated graphics core - HD Graphics 4000
- cache L1/L2/L3 -64 KB/1024 KB/8192 KB;
- socket - LGA1155;
The average retail price is $305 (21,000 rubles).
The question of which processor is best for intel games can be answered as follows. For high gaming performance, the Intel Core i7-5930K Extreme Edition is the best solution. One of the features of the Core i7-5930K is support for LGA2011-v3 sockets and DDR4 SDRAM memory.
The product is based on the Haswell-E microarchitecture.
Main characteristics:
- number of cores - 6;
- nominal clock frequency - 3.5 GHz;
- integrated graphics core - absent;
- cache L1/L2/L3 -64 KB/1536 KB/15360 KB;
- socket - LGA2011-3;
- technology support - Hyper-Threading.
The average retail price is $652 (45,000 rubles).
The flagship product from AMD, built on the Vishera architecture. Eight cores and a high clock speed will provide the best performance in today's games.
Main characteristics:
- number of cores - 8;
nominal clock frequency - 4.7 GHz;
cache L1 / L2 / L3 - 48 KB / 8192 KB / 8192 KB;
socket-AM3+.
The average retail price is $220 (15,000 rubles).
Table of performance and price ratio
| Microprocessor name | Performance test | Retail price | The ratio of performance and price. The higher the number, the more profitable the purchase of the product |
| Budget models winter 2014-2015 | |||
| Athlon II X3 455 | 0,231 | 2300 rubles | 99 |
| Athlon II X4 750K | 0,245 | 3500 rubles | 70 |
| Pentium G3420 | 0, 235 | 3800 rubles | 63 |
| Medium models winter 2014-2015 | |||
| FX-6300 | 0,368 | 5500 rubles | 72 |
| FX-8350 | 0,545 | 9000 rubles | 61 |
| Core i5-3330 | 0,416 | 11000 rubles | 42 |
| Core i5-4690K | 0,526 | 15000 rubles | 37 |
| Powerful models winter 2014-2015 | |||
| Core i7-3770K | 0,605 | 21000 rubles | 30 |
| Core i7-5930K | 0,925 | 45000 rubles | 27 |
| FX-9590 | 0,616 | 15000 rubles | 51 |
This article reviewed the best processors for a gaming computer in 2014-2015.
Carefully study the test results so that later there are no performance problems. Do not forget that in order to assemble a productive computer, you need to pay attention to other components (video card, RAM, and others).
On the same subject
When it comes to gaming builds, the focus is on the graphics card. It is logical, because it is the graphics adapter that is responsible for supporting certain technologies, as well as for the level of performance in games. However, only a well-chosen central processor will allow it to reach its full potential. The question often arises: will such and such a chip “pump” such and such a video card? This material is an attempt to determine in practice the main characteristics of the central processor that affect the performance of a 3D accelerator in modern games.
The first quad-core processor was released in the fall of 2006. They became the Intel Core 2 Quad model, based on the Kentsfield core. At the time, bestsellers such as The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion and Half-Life 2: Episode One were considered popular games. The "killer of all gaming computers" Crysis has not appeared yet. And the DirectX 9 API with shader model 3.0 was in use.
But it's the end of 2015. On the market, in the desktop segment, there are 6- and 8-core central processors, but 2- and 4-core models are still considered popular. Gamers are raving about the PC versions of GTA V and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and yet there is no gaming graphics card in nature capable of delivering a comfortable level of FPS in 4K resolution at maximum graphics quality settings in Assassin's Creed Unity. In addition, the release of the Windows 10 operating system took place, which means that the era of DirectX 12 has officially begun. As you can see, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge in nine years. Therefore, the question of choosing a central processor for a gaming computer is more relevant than ever.
The essence of the problem
There is such a thing as the effect of processor dependence. It can appear in absolutely any computer game. If the performance of the video card rests on the capabilities of the central chip, then they say that the system is processor-dependent. It must be understood that there is no single scheme by which the strength of this effect can be determined. It all depends on the features of a particular application, as well as the selected graphics quality settings. However, in absolutely any game, tasks such as organizing polygons, lighting and physics calculations, artificial intelligence modeling, and many other actions fall on the “shoulders” of the central processor. Agree, there is plenty of work.
In processor-dependent games, the number of frames per second can depend on several parameters of the "stone": architecture, clock speed, number of cores and threads, as well as cache size. The main purpose of this material is to identify the main criteria that affect the performance of the graphics subsystem, as well as to form an understanding of which central processor is suitable for a particular discrete video card.
Frequency
How to identify processor dependence? The most effective way is empirically. Since the CPU has several parameters, let's analyze them one by one. The first characteristic, which most often pay close attention to, is the clock frequency.
The clock frequency of the central processors has not been growing for quite a long time. At first (in the 80s and 90s), it was the increase in megahertz that led to a frenzied increase in the overall level of performance. Now the frequency of AMD and Intel CPUs is frozen in the delta of 2.5-4 GHz. Everything below is too budget and not quite suitable for a gaming computer; anything higher is already overclocking. This is how processor lines are formed. For example, there is an Intel Core i5-6400 running at 2.7GHz ($182) and there is a Core i5-6500 running at 3.2GHz ($192). These processors have the same absolutely all characteristics, except for the clock frequency and price.
On sale you can find chips with an unlocked multiplier. It allows you to independently overclock the processor. At Intel, such "stones" have the letters "K" and "X" in the name. For example, Core i7-4770K and Core i7-5690X. Plus, there are separate models with an unlocked multiplier: Pentium G3258, Core i5-5675C and Core i7-5775C. AMD processors are marked in a similar way. So, hybrid chips in the name have the letter "K". There is a line of FX processors (AM3+ platform). All "stones" included in it have a free multiplier.
Modern AMD and Intel processors support automatic overclocking. In the first case, it is called Turbo Core, in the second - Turbo Boost. The essence of its work is simple: with proper cooling, the processor during operation increases its clock frequency by several hundred megahertz. For example, the Core i5-6400 operates at a speed of 2.7 GHz, but with the active Turbo Boost technology, this parameter can permanently increase to 3.3 GHz. That is exactly 600 MHz.
I'll take the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X video card - the most powerful single-chip gaming solution of our time. And the Intel Core i5-6600K processor is a mainstream model equipped with an unlocked multiplier. Then I'll fire up Metro: Last Light, one of the most CPU-intensive games of our day. The graphics quality settings in the application are selected in such a way that the number of frames per second each time rests on the performance of the processor, but not the video card. In the case of the GeForce GTX TITAN X and Metro: Last Light - the maximum graphics quality, but without anti-aliasing. Next, I will measure the average FPS level in the range from 2 GHz to 4.5 GHz in Full HD, WQHD and Ultra HD resolutions.
The most noticeable effect of processor dependence, which is logical, is manifested in light modes. So, in 1080p, as the frequency increases, the average FPS also steadily increases. The results were very impressive: when the speed of the Core i5-6600K increased from 2 GHz to 3 GHz, the number of frames per second in Full HD resolution increased from 70 FPS to 92 FPS, that is, by 22 frames per second. With an increase in frequency from 3 GHz to 4 GHz - another 13 FPS. Thus, it turns out that the processor used, with the given graphics quality settings, was able to “pump” the GeForce GTX TITAN X in Full HD only from 4 GHz - it was from this mark that the number of frames per second with an increase in the CPU frequency stopped growing.
As the resolution increases, the effect of processor dependence becomes less noticeable. Namely, the number of frames stops growing, starting from 3.7 GHz. Finally, in Ultra HD resolution, we almost immediately ran into the potential of the graphics adapter.
There are many discrete graphics cards. It is customary in the market to catalog these devices in three segments: Low-end, Middle-end and High-end. Captain Evidence suggests that different processors with different frequencies are suitable for different performance graphics adapters.
Now I’ll take the GeForce GTX 950 video card - a representative of the upper Low-end segment (or lower Middle-end), that is, the absolute opposite of the GeForce GTX TITAN X. The device belongs to the entry level, however, it is able to provide a decent level of performance in modern games in Full HD resolution. As you can see from the graphs below, the processor, operating at a frequency of 3 GHz, “pumps” the GeForce GTX 950 in both Full HD and WQHD. The difference with the GeForce GTX TITAN X is visible to the naked eye.
It is important to understand that the less load falls on the “shoulders” of the video card, the higher the frequency of the central processor should be. It is irrational to purchase, for example, an adapter of the GeForce GTX TITAN X level and use it in games at a resolution of 1600x900 pixels.
Video cards of the Low-end level (GeForce GTX 950, Radeon R7 370) will have enough of a central processor operating at a frequency of 3 GHz. Middle-end adapters (Radeon R9 280X, GeForce GTX 770) - 3.4-3.6 GHz. High-end flagship video cards (Radeon R9 Fury, GeForce GTX 980 Ti) - 3.7-4 GHz. Productive bundles SLI/CrossFire - 4-4.5 GHz
Architecture
In reviews devoted to the release of one or another generation of central processors, the authors continually state that the difference in performance in x86 calculations is a meager 5-10% year after year. This is a kind of tradition. Neither AMD nor Intel has seen any serious progress for a long time, and phrases like " I continue to sit on mySandyBridge, I'll wait until next year»become winged. As I said, in games, the processor also has to process a large amount of data. In this case, a reasonable question arises: to what extent is the effect of processor dependence observed in systems with different architectures?
For both AMD and Intel chips, you can define a list of modern architectures that are still popular. They are relevant, on a global scale, the difference in performance between them is not so big.
Let's take a couple of chips - Core i7-4790K and Core i7-6700K - and make them work at the same frequency. Processors based on the Haswell architecture are known to have appeared in the summer of 2013, and Skylake solutions in the summer of 2015. That is, exactly two years have passed since the update of the “so” processor line (this is how Intel calls crystals based on completely different architectures).
As you can see, there is no difference between Core i7-4790K and Core i7-6700K running at the same frequencies. Skylake is ahead of Haswell only in three games out of ten: in Far Cry 4 (by 12%), in GTA V (by 6%) and in Metro: Last Light (by 6%) - that is, in all the same processor-dependent applications. However, 6% is mere trifles.
A few platitudes: it is obvious that it is better to assemble a gaming computer based on the most modern platform. After all, not only the performance of the chips themselves is important, but also the functionality of the platform as a whole.
Modern architectures with a few exceptions have the same performance in computer games. Owners of processor families Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge and Haswell can feel quite calm. With AMD, the situation is similar: various variations of the modular architecture (Bulldozer, Piledriver, Steamroller) in games have approximately the same level of performance
Cores and Threads
The third and perhaps the determining factor that limits the performance of a video card in games is the number of CPU cores. It's no coincidence that a growing number of games have a quad-core CPU in their minimum system requirements. Vivid examples include such modern hits as GTA V, Far Cry 4, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and Assassin's Creed Unity.
As I said at the very beginning, the first quad-core processor appeared nine years ago. Now there are 6- and 8-core solutions on sale, but 2- and 4-core models are still in use. I will give a table of markings for some popular AMD and Intel lines, dividing them depending on the number of "heads".
2-core | 4-core | 6-core | 8-core |
|
FX-4000, A8, A10, Athlon X4 | FX-8000, FX-9000 |
|||
Pentium, Celeron, Core i3 | Core i5, Core i7 | Core i7-3900, Core i7-4900, Core i7-5800 |
AMD hybrid processors (A4, A6, A8 and A10) are sometimes referred to as 8-, 10- and even 12-core. It's just that the company's marketers add elements of the built-in graphic module to the computing units. Indeed, there are applications that can use heterogeneous computing (when x86 cores and embedded video process the same information together), but this scheme is not used in computer games. The computational part performs its task, the graphic - its own.
Some Intel processors (Core i3 and Core i7) have a certain number of cores but double the number of threads. This is the responsibility of Hyper-Threading technology, which was first used in Pentium 4 chips. Threads and cores are slightly different things, but we will talk about this a bit later. In 2016, AMD will release processors based on the Zen architecture. For the first time, the "red" chips will acquire technology similar to Hyper-Threading.
Let's do a little experiment. I took 10 popular games. I agree that such an insignificant number of applications is not enough to state with 100% certainty that the effect of processor dependence has been fully studied. However, the list included only hits that clearly demonstrate the trends in modern game development. The graphics quality settings were selected in such a way that the final results did not rest against the capabilities of the video card. For the GeForce GTX TITAN X, this is the maximum quality (without anti-aliasing) and Full HD resolution. The choice of such an adapter is obvious. If the processor can "pump" the GeForce GTX TITAN X, then it will cope with any other video card. The stand used the top Core i7-5960X for the LGA2011-v3 platform. Testing was carried out in four modes: when activating only 2 cores, only 4 cores, only 6 cores and 8 cores. Hyper-Threading multithreading technology was not involved. Plus, testing was carried out with two frequencies: at nominal 3.3 GHz and overclocked to 4.3 GHz.
GTA V is one of the few modern games that use all eight "crusts" of the processor. Therefore, it can be called the most processor-dependent. On the other hand, the difference between six and eight cores was not so impressive. Judging by the results, the two cores are very far behind other modes of operation. The game slows down, a large number of textures are simply not drawn. The stand with four cores shows noticeably better results. It lags only 6.9% behind the six-core one, and 11% behind the eight-core one. Whether in this case the game is worth the candle - you decide. However, GTA V clearly demonstrates how the number of processor cores affects the performance of the video card in games.
The vast majority of games behave in a similar way. In seven out of ten applications, the system with two cores turned out to be processor-dependent. That is, the FPS level was limited by the central processor. At the same time, in three out of ten games, the six-core bench showed an advantage over the quad-core one. True, the difference cannot be called significant. Far Cry 4 turned out to be the most radical game - it stupidly did not start on a system with two cores.
The increase from the use of six and eight cores in most cases turned out to be either too small, or there was none at all.
The three games loyal to the dual-core system were The Witcher 3, Assassin's Creed Unity and Tomb Raider. In all modes, the same results were demonstrated.
For those who are interested, I will give a table with the full test results.
Four cores is the optimal number for today. At the same time, it is obvious that gaming computers should not be assembled with a dual-core processor. In 2015, just such a “stone” is the bottleneck in the system
We figured out the cores. The test results clearly show that in most cases four "heads" in a processor are better than two. At the same time, some Intel models (Core i3 and Core i7) can boast of supporting Hyper-Threading technology. Without going into details, I note that such chips have a certain number of physical cores and twice the number of virtual ones. In ordinary applications, Hyper-Threading is certainly useful. But how does this technology fare in games? This issue is especially relevant for the line of Core i3 processors - nominally dual-core solutions.
To determine the effectiveness of multithreading in games, I assembled two test benches: with a Core i3-4130 and a Core i7-6700K. In both cases, a GeForce GTX TITAN X graphics card was used.
In almost all games, Hyper-Threading technology has affected the performance of the graphics subsystem. Naturally, for the better. In some cases, the difference has been enormous. For example, in The Witcher, the number of frames per second increased by 36.4%. True, in this game without Hyper-Threading, disgusting friezes were observed every now and then. I note that the Core i7-5960X did not notice such problems.
As for the quad-core Core i7 processor with Hyper-Threading, support for these technologies made itself felt only in GTA V and Metro: Last Light. That is, only two games out of ten. They also noticeably increased the minimum FPS. Overall, the Hyper-Threaded Core i7-6700K was 6.6% faster in GTA V and 9.7% faster in Metro: Last Light.
Hyper-Threading in Core i3 is really dragging, especially if the system requirements indicate a quad-core processor model. But in the case of Core i7, the increase in performance in games is not so significant.
Cache
We figured out the main parameters of the central processor. Each processor has a certain amount of cache. Today, up to four levels of this type of memory are used in modern integrated solutions. The cache of the first and second levels, as a rule, is determined by the architectural features of the chip. The cache of the third level from model to model can change. I will give a small table for your reference.
No L3 cache | 10 or more MB L3 |
||||||
A4, A6, A8, A10, Athlon X4 | FX-6000, FX-8000, FX-9000 | ||||||
Core i3, Pentium | Core i3, Core i5 Broadwell | Core i5, Core i7 Broadwell | Core i7-3900, Core i7-4900, Core i7-5800, Core i7-5900 |
So, the more productive Core i7 processors have 8 MB of cache in the third level, the slower Core i5 have 6 MB. Will these 2 MB affect performance in games?
It's very easy to check. To do this, you need to take two processors from the Core i5 and Core i7 lines, set the same frequency for them and disable Hyper-Threading technology. As a result, in the nine games tested, only F1 2015 showed a noticeable difference of 7.4%. The rest of the 3D entertainment did not respond in any way to the 2-MB cache deficit in the third level in the Core i5-6600K.
The difference in L3 cache between Core i5 and Core i7 processors in most cases does not affect system performance in modern games
AMD or Intel?
All tests discussed above were carried out with the participation of Intel processors. However, this does not mean at all that we do not consider AMD solutions as the basis for a gaming computer. Below are the results of testing using the FX-6350 chip used in the highest performing AMD AM3+ platform, using four and six cores. Unfortunately, I did not have an 8-core AMD "stone" at my disposal.
GTA V has already established itself as the most processor-intensive game. With the use of four cores in an AMD system, the average FPS level turned out to be higher than, for example, Core i3 (without Hyper-Threading). In addition, in the game itself, the image was rendered smoothly, without slowdowns. But in all other cases, the Intel cores turned out to be consistently faster. The difference between processors is significant.
Below is a table with full testing of the AMD FX processor.
There is no noticeable difference between AMD and Intel in only two games: The Witcher and Assassin's Creed Unity. In principle, the results lend themselves perfectly to logic. They reflect the real alignment of forces in the market of central processors. Intel cores are noticeably more powerful. Including in games. Four AMD cores compete with two Intel. At the same time, the average FPS is often higher for the latter. Six AMD cores compete with four Core i3 threads. Logically, eight "heads" of the FX-8000/9000 should impose a fight on the Core i5. Yes, AMD cores are absolutely deservedly called "semi-cores". These are the features of modular architecture.
The result is banal. For games, Intel solutions are better suited. However, among budget solutions (Athlon X4, FX-4000, A8, Pentium, Celeron), AMD products are preferable. Testing has shown that the slower four cores perform better in CPU-intensive games than the faster two Intel cores. In the middle and high price ranges (Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, A10, FX-6000, FX-8000, FX-9000), Intel solutions are already preferable
DirectX 12
As mentioned at the very beginning of the article, with the release of Windows 10, DirectX 12 became available for game developers. The DirectX 12 architecture finally determined the direction of development of modern game development: developers began to need low-level programming interfaces. The main task of the new API is to rationally use the hardware capabilities of the system. This includes the use of all computational threads of the processor, and general-purpose calculations on the GPU, and direct access to the resources of the graphics adapter.
Windows 10 has just arrived. However, there are already applications in nature that support DirectX 12. For example, Futuremark has integrated the Overhead subtest into the benchmark. This preset is able to determine the performance of a computer system using not only the DirectX 12 API, but also AMD Mantle. The way the Overhead API works is simple. DirectX 11 imposes limits on the number of processor drawing commands. DirectX 12 and Mantle solve this problem by allowing more draw commands to be called. So, during the test, an increasing number of objects are displayed. Until the graphics adapter can no longer cope with their processing, and the FPS does not fall below 30 frames. For testing, I used a stand with a Core i7-5960X processor and a Radeon R9 NANO video card. The results turned out to be very interesting.
It is noteworthy that in patterns using DirectX 11, changing the number of CPU cores has almost no effect on the overall result. But with the use of DirectX 12 and Mantle, the picture changes dramatically. Firstly, the difference between DirectX 11 and low-level APIs turns out to be just cosmic (somewhere by an order of magnitude). Secondly, the number of "heads" of the central processor significantly affects the final result. This is especially noticeable when moving from two cores to four and from four to six. In the first case, the difference reaches almost a two-fold mark. At the same time, there are no special differences between six and eight cores and sixteen threads.
As you can see, the potential of DirectX 12 and Mantle (in the 3DMark benchmark) is simply huge. One should not forget that we are dealing with synthetics, they do not play it. In reality, it makes sense to evaluate the profit from using the latest low-level APIs only in real computer entertainment.
The first PC games that support DirectX 12 are already on the horizon. These are Ashes of the Singularity and Fable Legends. They are in active beta testing. The other day colleagues from Anandtech conducted a large-scale testing of Fable Legends with DirectX 12. The results were not as impressive as we would like.
Testing was carried out with three Intel processors and two video cards: GeForce GTX 980 Ti and Radeon R9 Fury X. Processor dependence was observed only at a very low resolution of 1280x720 (720p), which is not surprising. At higher resolutions, the stands showed almost the same results.
Finally
Let's summarize all the information received. What should be the ideal central processing unit for a gaming computer? First, it must have at least four threads. As testing has shown, the Hyper-Treading technology in the Core i3 really contributes to an increase in the number of frames per second. If we are talking about Intel processors, then the Core i5 models are the golden mean. At the same time, several games have demonstrated that they are well optimized for working with 6- and 8-core "stones". Why Core i5? Unfortunately, the price difference between the quad-core Core i5-6600K and the six-core Core i7-5820K is no less than $147, and the difference in gaming performance is a few percent.
If we are talking about AMD processors, then for the top-level video cards of the Middle-end, as well as the High-end, only an 8-core FX-8000/9000 chip is required. At the same time, in the budget segment, 4-core AMD models (A8, Athlon X4) look better than dual-core Intel Pentium/Celeron. In the middle and high ranges, the situation is reversed. Here the superiority of Intel processors is noticeable.
If you try to make a recommendation for choosing a processor for a gaming computer in one phrase, it will turn out something like this: take the Core i5.
Secondly, the clock frequency of the processor is important. Video cards of the upper level of the Low-end and the lower level of the Middle-end are suitable for models operating at a speed of 3 GHz and higher. Adapters of the upper level Middle-end and initial High-end - 3.4-3.6 GHz. The flagship AMD Radeon and NVIDIA GeForce will require a CPU running at 3.7-4 GHz. Finally, tandems of top-end CrossFire/SLI video cards require a chip operating at frequencies of 4-4.5 GHz and higher. Do not forget about such a moment as the rational use of the graphics adapter.
As testing has shown, architectural features do not greatly affect performance in games. Therefore, solutions based on modern architectures are equally suitable for assembling a gaming computer: Intel has Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, Haswell, Broadwell and Skylake; AMD has Bulldozer, Piledriver and Steamroller.
In conclusion, I will give a table in which, according to my opinion, I will try to put processors and video cards in their places. I hope you find it useful.
Processor brand | CPU frequency | Examples of gaming graphics cards |
AMD (4 cores):
Intel (2 cores, 4 threads):
| 3000-3300 MHz |
|
Initial Middle-end:
|
||
AMD (6 cores):
Intel (2 cores, 4 threads):
| 3400-3600 MHz |
|
AMD (8 cores):
Intel (4 cores):
| 3400-3600 MHz | Initial High End:
|
AMD (8 cores):
Intel (4 cores or more):
| 3700-4000 MHz |
|
Computers have entered our lives so tightly that we already consider them something elementary. But their structure is by no means simple. Motherboard, processor, RAM, hard drives: all these are integral parts of a computer. It is impossible to throw out this or that detail, because they are all important. But the most important role is played by the processor. They don't call it "central" for nothing.
The role of the CPU is simply huge. He is responsible for all calculations, which means that it depends on him how quickly you will complete your tasks. It can be surfing the web, drafting a document in a text editor, editing photos, moving files, and much, much more. Even in games and 3D modeling, where the main load falls on the shoulders of the graphics accelerator, the central processor plays a huge role, and with an incorrectly selected “stone”, the performance of even the most powerful video card will not be revealed to its fullest.
At the moment, there are only two major processor manufacturers in the consumer market: AMD and Intel. It is about them that we will talk in the traditional rating.
The best inexpensive processors: budget up to 5000 rubles.
4 Intel Celeron G3900 Skylake
The most affordable Intel processor
Country: USA
Average price: 4 381 ₽
Rating (2018): 4.5
The rating is opened by an extremely weak processor of the Celeron line. The G3900 model has two cores of the previous generation - Skylake, which, coupled with a frequency of 2.8 GHz, gives the lowest performance result. In synthetic tests, the processor shows a result about half that of the Core i3. But the price here is quite budgetary - 4-4.5 thousand rubles. This means that this processor is perfect for assembling, for example, a simple office computer or a multimedia system for the living room. In general, this model cannot be called bad. Still, the 14 nm process technology provides good power efficiency, and the HD Graphics 510 graphics core is suitable for casual games.
Advantages:
- Lowest price in the class
- Great for office PC or HTPC
Flaws:
- Does not support Hyper-Threading Technology
3 AMD Athlon X4 845 Carrizo
Best price
The country:
Average price: 3 070 ₽
Rating (2018): 4.5
The processors of the Athlon line belong to the budget class, which is clearly seen in the price of the bronze medalist. But for over three thousand rubles you will get a very interesting stone. There are 4 cores (2 logical cores for each physical core) made according to the 28 nm process technology. Thanks to this, power consumption is low, and heat dissipation is quite low for AMD - only 65 watts. True, this is not particularly rejoicing because of the locked multiplier - it will not work to overclock the processor. Also, the disadvantages include the lack of a built-in graphics core, which means that when assembling an office PC or a multimedia system, you will have to separately purchase a video card.
Advantages:
- Lowest price in the class
- Great performance for the price
Flaws:
- Lack of integrated graphics core
- Not unlocked multiplier
2 AMD FX-6300 Vishera
The only 6-core processor in the class
The country: USA (Made in Malaysia, China)
Average price: 4 160 ₽
Rating (2018): 4.6
AMD's FX-6300 is the only processor in the category with six cores. Unfortunately, one cannot hope for high power in the budget class - the model is based on the 2012 Vishera core. In normal mode, the cores run at 3.5 GHz, but like many AMD CPUs, it overclocks perfectly. Yes, performance, judging by user reviews, is enough even for games, but there are still enough minuses.
One of the main ones is high power consumption. Due to the use of an inexpensive 32 nm process technology, AMD gets very hot and consumes a lot of electricity. Also note the lack of support for modern DDR4 RAM. Because of this, the processor can be advised not to build a new PC, but to upgrade an old one without replacing the motherboard and other components.
Advantages:
- 6 cores. Great for doing multiple simple tasks at the same time.
- Good overclocking potential
- Low cost
Flaws:
- Poor energy efficiency
- Legacy platform
At the moment, there are only two players in the processor market - Intel and AMD. It's just that the choice doesn't get any easier. To make it easier for you to decide whether to buy a CPU from one manufacturer or another, we have listed some of the main pros and cons of these companies' products for you.
| Company |
pros |
Minuses |
|
Programs and games are better optimized for Intel Lower power consumption Performance tends to be slightly better Higher cache frequencies |
Effectively work with no more than no more than two resource-intensive tasks Higher cost When changing the line of processors, the socket also changes, which means that the upgrade is more complicated |
|
|
Below cost Better price-performance ratio Work better with 3-4 resource-intensive tasks (better multitasking) Most processors overclock well |
Higher power consumption and temperatures (not exactly true for the latest Ryzen processors) Worse program optimization |
1 Intel Pentium G4600 Kaby Lake
Best Performance
Country: USA
Average price: 7 450 ₽
Rating (2018): 4.7
We can recommend the good old Pentium for purchase in this category. This processor, like the previous participants, is made according to the 14 nm process technology, socket LGA1151. Refers to one of the latest generations - Kaby Lake. Of course, there are only 2 cores. They operate at a frequency of 3.6 GHz, which causes the gap from the Core i3 by about 18-20%. But this is not much, because the difference in price is twofold! In addition to the frequency of the cores, the relatively low power is due to the small amount of L3 cache - 3071 KB.
In addition to the excellent price-performance ratio, the advantages of this CPU include the presence of an integrated graphics core Intel HD Graphics 630, which is more than enough for comfortable use of a PC without a discrete graphics card.
Advantages:
- Great price for this performance
- Generation Kaby Lake
- Good integrated graphics
The best mid-range processors: budget up to 20,000 rubles.
5 Intel Core i3-7320 Kaby Lake
The most affordable processor with integrated graphics
Country: USA
Average price: 12 340 ₽
Rating (2018): 4.6
Let's open the rating with the most affordable processor of the i-core line. The model is extremely difficult to call excellent in terms of price / quality ratio, because the cheaper ryzen 3 even shows slightly better results in synthetic tests. Nevertheless, the model that opens the TOP-5 can be safely chosen not only for an office system, but also for a gaming computer.
There are only two physical cores, but these are modern 14 nm chips of one of the latest generations - Kaby lake. Frequency - 4100 MHz. This is a very shameful indicator. In addition, there is the possibility of overclocking. Considering the excellent energy efficiency and low heat dissipation - even with the bundled cooler the idle temperature stays at 35-40 degrees, under load up to 70 degrees - you can painlessly increase the frequencies. Unlike competitors from AMD, Core i3 has an integrated graphics core, which allows it to be used in an office system without a discrete graphics card. But keep in mind that officially it only works on Windows 10.
Advantages:
- Integrated graphics core
- Overclocking capability
- Low temperatures
Flaws:
- Weak performance for the price
4 AMD Ryzen 3 1200 Summit Ridge
Best price
The country: USA (Made in Malaysia, China)
Average price: 6 917 ₽
Rating (2018): 4.7
Ryzen 3 is AMD's low-cost new line of processors, designed to once again impose a fight on Intel. And the 1200 does a great job. For 7 thousand rubles, the buyer receives a 4-core processor. The factory frequencies are low - only 3.1 GHz (3.4 GHz in high performance mode), but the multiplier is unlocked, which means that enthusiasts can easily make the "stone" a little faster.
The transition to new chips not only improved performance, but also reduced power consumption, and also allowed temperatures to be reduced to acceptable values. Due to the lack of an integrated graphics chip, we can only recommend this processor for budget gaming builds. The performance is only slightly better than the previous entrant.
Advantages:
- Unlocked multiplier
Flaws:
- No built-in graphics chip
3 Intel Core i5-7600K Kaby Lake
Great processor for gaming
Country: USA
Average price: 19 084 ₽
Rating (2018): 4.7
Let's start with the fact that the i5-7600K is by no means an outsider. Yes, in terms of performance, it is somewhat worse than the mastodons that you will see below, but for most gamers it will be enough with the head. The processor has four Kaby Lake cores running at 3.8 GHz (in reality up to 4.0 GHz with TurboBoost). There is also a built-in graphics core - HD Graphics 630, which means that even demanding games can be played at the minimum wage. With a normal video card (for example, GTX 1060), the processor reveals itself completely. In most games at FullHD resolution (most gamers have such monitors) and high graphics settings, the frame rate rarely drops below 60 fps. Is there anything else needed?
Advantages:
- Best price
- Enough power for most gamers
- Excellent graphics core
2 AMD Ryzen 5 1600 Summit Ridge
Best price/performance ratio
The country: USA (Made in Malaysia, China)
Average price: 11 970 ₽
Rating (2018): 4.8
The second line of the TOP-5 mid-range processors is occupied by one of the best processors in terms of price / performance ratio. With an average cost of only 12,000 rubles, in synthetic tests, Ryzen 5 is able to compete with the well-known Intel Core i7-7700K at standard settings (In PassMark 12270 and 12050 points, respectively). Such power is due to the presence of six Summit Ridge physical cores, made according to the 12 nm process technology. The clock frequency is not a record - 3.6 GHz. The possibility of overclocking is present, but in the reviews, users claim that at frequencies above 4.0-4.1 GHz, the processor behaves unstable and gets very hot. At factory settings, in idle time, temperatures are kept at 42-46 degrees, in games 53-57 when using a standard cooler.
Also, high performance is due to large cache volumes of all levels. The CPU supports the modern DDR4-2667 standard, which allows you to create excellent computers based on this processor for playing at medium-high settings in FullHD.
Advantages:
- Excellent price/performance ratio
- Little heated
Flaws:
- Low overclocking potential
1 AMD Ryzen 7 1700 Summit Ridge
The most powerful processor in the class
The country: USA (Manufactured in Malaysia, China, China)
Average price: 17 100 ₽
Rating (2018): 4.8
As expected, the processor from the top Ryzen 7 line has the best performance in the class. Again, one cannot help but recall the cost - for 17 thousand rubles we get power at the level of the top Core i7 of previous years. The processor includes eight cores divided into two clusters. With a stock clock speed of just 3.0GHz, the Ryzen 7 is guaranteed to top out at 3.7GHz, and with a bit of luck, up to 4.1GHz.
Like the previous representatives of the line, the leader is made according to the 12 nm process technology, which makes it possible to save energy. The situation with heat dissipation is good - in stress tests, temperatures are kept at 70-75 degrees.
Advantages:
- High performance
- Overclocking available
- Fresh platform to be supported for at least 4 years
The best top processors
3 Intel Core i7-7700K Kaby Lake
The most popular top processor
Average price: 29 060 ₽
Rating (2018): 4.6
More recently, the i7-7700K was the top processor in Intel's lineup. But technology is developing extremely quickly, and in 2018 it is difficult to recommend this particular chip for purchase. According to synthetic tests, the model clearly lags behind its competitors - in PassMark, the CPU scores only 12,000 points, which is comparable to modern mid-range processors. But these figures are achieved at standard settings, when 4 physical cores operate at a frequency of 4.2 GHz, and the CPU can be easily overclocked to even higher frequencies, thereby increasing performance.
Yes, the bronze medalist lags behind competitors, but costs at least half as much, and given the popularity, it is quite possible to find a good second-hand processor. Also, the high prevalence and long-standing presence on the market allows you to find an affordable motherboard with an LGA1151 socket. In general, we have an excellent base for a powerful gaming system at a relatively low cost.
Advantages:
- Good price for this class
- High performance
- Great overclocking possibilities
- High popularity
Flaws:
- Not really relevant in 2018
2 Intel Core i9-7900X Skylake
The most powerful processor in the Intel line
Country: USA
Average price: 77 370 ₽
Rating (2018): 4.7
Until recently, Intel's top line was the Core i7 series. But modern realities require more and more power. If you have few familiar solutions, pay attention to the Core i9-7900X. The processor is already at the standard clock frequency is able to enter the TOP-10 most powerful CPU. For example, in PassMark, the model scores almost 22 thousand points - this is twice as much as that of the bronze medalist in the rating. At the same time, in the reviews, users talk about trouble-free overclocking to 4.2-4.5 GHz with high-quality air cooling. Temperatures do not exceed 70 degrees under load.
Such high performance is due to the use of 10 cores made according to the 14 nm process technology. The model supports all the necessary modern standards and commands, which allows it to be used for any task.
Advantages:
- Top performance
- Excellent overclocking potential
- Acceptable temperatures
Flaws:
- Very high cost
- No solder under the lid.
1 AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X
The leader of the rating is insane in everything - starting at a price of 65 thousand rubles, ending with incredible performance. In terms of power in synthetic tests, the model is slightly ahead of the previous participant. The internal arrangement is significantly different. Threadripper uses 16 (!) cores. The clock speed is comparable to the Core i9 - 3400 MHz - but the overclocking capabilities are more modest. Stable "stone" works at a frequency of 3.9 GHz, with an increase in rates, the necessary stability is lost.
Such a large number of cores performs well in all tasks. But using a monster for games is not entirely reasonable - not all projects can reveal its potential. AMD is useful for professional video editors, 3D designers and more. - in professional software, the addition of cores gives a significant increase in rendering speed.
Advantages:
- Relatively low price tag
- high power
- Excellent performance in professional programs
