Top computer processors for gaming

To top it all off, the clocks for this processor are so powerful that it runs at up to four hundred and forty-seven AMPS. The main reason why the Intel Core iK is so well suited to today's high-end gaming notebooks is the processor that it carries.

The new Intel Turbo Boost Max technology 3. The best part about the Core i processor is that it supports both the multi-core processing and the Hyperthreading features. Multi-core processing with Hyperthreading technology can greatly improve the speed of your processor and is one of the reasons why many people prefer the Core i5 processor.

This kind of processor can be considered as the perfect processor for those who are planning to build gaming computers at home. If you are also planning to purchase a processor for gaming and want to use it at maximum frequency, you can opt for the high clock version of the Intel Core i This variant is able to boost up the maximum frequency of your processor by a massive margin, which means that you will be able to enjoy gaming experience at its best.

It is because of the feature called Turbo Boost that these processors are able to achieve this feat. The Intel Core i has some interesting features. It is a multicore processor with support for the Turbo Cores and Hyper threading.

These enable the processor to speed up applications and make the best use of the multiple cores. It has a maximum memory of 8 GB and the maximum performance level is over two hundred and ten gigabytes. It has four general settings with support for the Turbo Cores and four individual profiles for gaming, browsing, image processing and visual effects.

The overall speed with which the processor runs can be increased by increasing the turbo core frequencies which helps it to increase the performance levels and make it faster. Two threads can be run at the same time if they have similar maximum speeds. There is a cache controller that controls the work queue and the settings for the cache. This helps in providing the best services for the tasks and the applications. It's worth remembering that most games are GPU-limited, which means the graphics card is the limiting factor in terms of performance, and you would likely see the same essential frame rates with either CPU manufacturer when a discrete graphics card is used.

This is especially true as you up the resolution, with 4K having little between the top chips. The honest answer is: no. Overclocking your processor is not necessarily the risky move it once was, but equally, the benefits of doing so have drastically dropped in recent times. When we're talking about gaming performance, having a slightly higher clocked CPU can make a bit of a difference, but arguably your graphics card will be the part that limits the speed of your system.

There is also the point that overclocked CPUs create more heat, require more intensive and expensive cooling solutions, need those coolers to work harder, and are, therefore, often louder.

For us, overclocking your CPU to gain real-world performance benefits is not something we'd recommend most PC gamers do. CPUs contain caches designated as Level 1, 2, and 3, with L1 being the fastest and smallest and L3 being the slowest and largest.

Clock speed - The speed at which a CPU can execute instructions, measured in hertz. A processor with a 3.

Clock speed is one of the most critical factors for determining performance in games and workload functions. Heat sink - A cooling solution for PCs that utilize fans or liquid cooling active or aluminum radiators passive that rely on convection to regulate a component's temperature. Hyper-Threading SMT - Intel terminology for a tech that allows a processor to handle two sets of instructions 'threads' simultaneously. LGA is used on Intel sockets with pins as part of the socket.

A BGA socket is when the processor is permanently soldered to the motherboard, typically on a laptop. TDP - Thermal design power, the maximum amount of heat a system or chip can produce that the attendant cooling system is designed to deal with under workload. This term can apply to PCs as a whole, GPUs, CPUs, or nearly any other performance component that generates heat and is in large part an indicator of how much power a part draws.

Thread - A thread refers to a series of CPU instructions for a specific program. Turbo Boost - Intel technology that allows processors to run at higher clock speeds under demanding loads. AMD also supports turbo or boost clocks, and we use the terms interchangeably regardless of CPU vendor. Alan has been writing about PC tech since before 3D graphics cards existed, and still vividly recalls having to fight with MS-DOS just to get games to load. He fondly remembers the killer combo of a Matrox Millenium and 3dfx Voodoo, and seeing Lara Croft in 3D for the first time.

He's very glad hardware has advanced as much as it has though, and is particularly happy when putting the latest M. Included in this guide: 1. AMD Ryzen 9 X. View Deal. Intel Core iK. Intel Core i5 K. Threads: Base Clock: 3. Boost Clock: 4. Overclocking: Yes. L3 Cache: 20 MB. Processor Base Power: W. PCIe 5. Reasons to avoid - Still more power hungry than Ryzen - Doesn't play nice with some games. Intel Core i9 K. Boost Clock: 5. L3 Cache: 30 MB.

Reasons to avoid - Some games don't play nicely with Alder Lake yet - High power consumption - Potentially high platform costs at launch. Still, you might consider budgeting in a better low-end cooler to unlock the full performance, particularly if you are overclocking. Speaking of which, the Ryzen 3 X can overclock to the highest all-core frequencies we've seen with a Ryzen series processor, making it a great chip for enthusiasts.

Unlike AMD's other current-gen Ryzen 3 processors, you'll need to pair this processor with a discrete GPU, but the low price point leaves extra room in the budget for a more capable graphics card. You can stick with the value theme and drop this capable chip into existing X of B motherboards, but you'll lose access to the PCIe 4. Better yet, AMD has its new B motherboards on offer. These new motherboards support the PCIe 4. The Ryzen 5 G comes to market during the worst GPU shortage in history, so many users will upgrade to this chip and use its potent integrated graphics for gaming until GPU pricing improves.

The Ryzen 5 G lives up to that bill, too, stepping into the arena as the new value champ for APUs, which are chips that come with strong enough integrated graphics that they don't require a discrete GPU for light gaming, albeit at lowered quality settings. That makes it the best value APU on the market. As long as you're willing to sacrifice fidelity and resolution, and keep your expectations in check, the Ryzen 5 G's Vega graphics have surprisingly good performance in gaming. The G's Vega graphics served up comparatively great x gaming across numerous titles, but options become more restricted at p.

Of course, you can get away with p gaming, but you'll need to severely limit the fidelity settings with most titles. With eight cores and 16 threads that operate at a 3. The chip also comes with a bundled Wraith Stealth cooler, sweetening the value prop, and drops into existing series and some series motherboards, though support on the latter will vary by vendor. He writes news and reviews on CPUs, storage and enterprise hardware. Included in this guide: 1. Image 2 of 6. Image 3 of 6.

Image 4 of 6. Image 5 of 6. Image 6 of 6. Intel Core iK. Specifications Architecture: Alder Lake. Socket: LGA Base Frequency: 3. Top Boost Frequency: 4. AMD Ryzen 5 X. Specifications Architecture: Zen 3. Socket: AM4. Base Frequency: 4. Reasons to avoid - Higher gen-on-gen pricing. Top Boost Frequency: 5. AMD Ryzen 9 X.

It's unlikely you'll find a game that this CPU can't handle with ease, even if you're playing at p to push the processor to its limits while gaming at high frame rates. This processor also nets you access to PCIe 4. If you don't want to bet the performance of your gaming rig on a budget CPU, the Intel Core iK can meet you in the middle. This chip also comes with integrated graphics that can help you get your next PC build set up even if you don't have the graphics card yet.

With six cores and 12 threads capable of running at up to 4. And, if you're finding the CPU is holding you back, you can try to eke even more power out of it as it is an overclockable model.

Just make sure you get an adequate CPU cooler if you plan to push the overclocks. Though this one stays at the same 65W TDP as its smaller sibling, AMD has packed in eight cores with multi-threading, and the processor can hit boost clocks up to 4. This chip also comes with a little extra oomph in the graphics department thanks to an extra graphics core, bringing the total to eight Radeon Graphics cores.

Now, that's officially mainstream — or enthusiast anyway. Plus, it keeps those cores fed with information thanks to a hefty 64MB L3 cache. With this many cores, you'll have no problem recording and streaming your gameplay. And, when it comes to editing, the Ryzen 9 X won't miss a beat.