Best CPUs for Gaming: February 2024

In the fast-paced world of video games, where speed and power are key elements for an immersive experience, the heart of any gaming system lies in its processor. The processor, often called CPU (Central Processing Unit), and as we have already told you in previous posts on our blog, plays a fundamental role in determining the responsiveness, execution speed, and efficiency of a system. However, when you delve into the gaming universe, a category of processors arises specifically designed to meet the demanding demands of the most passionate gamers.

Best CPUs for Gaming: February 2024

A gaming processor is not simply another component in a computer configuration. It is the engine that powers the smooth execution of intensive graphics, the speed of loading virtual worlds, and the ability to instantly respond to each player’s action. In this post, we will unravel the intricacies of these specialized processors, examining their distinctive features, their impact on gaming performance, and how they have transformed the gaming experience into an exciting technological odyssey. In addition, we will show you some processor proposals, evaluating features, performance, and price to make your choice easier.

Get ready to delve into the very core of gaming power.

Detailed analysis of the gaming processor.

What makes a good processor that is suitable for gaming?

Some of the main key factors to consider when choosing a gaming processor are the clock speed, the number of cores and threads, the architecture, etc., but a good gaming processor must have other specific features that optimize performance in the videogames. Here we detail some of these key characteristics that make a processor suitable for gaming.

High Clock Speed. The clock speed, measured in GHz (gigahertz), determines the speed at which the processor executes instructions. A processor with a higher clock speed tends to perform tasks more quickly, which is beneficial for gaming. Low-end processors, usually between 1.0 GHz and 2.5 GHz, are common in more basic and less powerful devices. Mid-range processors, between 2.5 GHz and 4.0 GHz, are common. Many general-purpose processors and some mid-range gaming processors fall into this range. High-end processors, between 4.0 GHz and 5.0 GHz, are high-performance processors, especially those designed for demanding games and applications, typically operate in this range. And finally, Enthusiast/Overclocked processors, above 5.0 GHz, are common. Some enthusiast processors, especially those that allow overclocking, can reach frequencies above 5.0 GHz.

It is important to note that this clock frequency alone is not the only determining factor in performance. As we will now see, the processor architecture, the number of cores and threads, the cache and other factors also influence the overall performance. Furthermore, in recent years and as we will now see, processor manufacturers, such as AMD and Intel, have adopted more complex strategies, such as IPC (instructions per cycle) optimization and the implementation of multiple cores/threads, to improve performance. without relying exclusively on higher clock frequencies.

Number of cores and threads. A processor with multiple cores and threads can handle multitasking better. Modern games and many high-demand applications take advantage of parallel processing power, so having more cores and threads can improve performance.

efficient architecture. The internal architecture of the processor is also crucial. More efficient architectures can perform more work per clock cycle, improving overall performance. Architecture refers to its internal design, the arrangement and operation of its key components. In the context of a gaming processor, it is decisive for optimal performance in specific tasks, such as playing video games and more, in cutting-edge gaming proposals with high demands on the equipment.

High performance cache. A large, high-performance cache can speed up access to frequently used data, which is beneficial for games that require a large amount of information in real time, games that demand more information due to their advanced graphics, expansive environments, complex simulations and/or a large number of interactions in real time. Open World Games like The Witcher 3, Wild Hunt with a vast open world, detailed graphics and complex missions, this game demands a lot from the system hardware. Red Dead Redemption 2, another open-world gem with an impressive level of detail, expansive environments and an advanced physics system.

Also Simulation Games, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, a flight simulator known for its extremely realistic representation of the Earth, with incredible geographical and climatic details. Or Cities: Skylines, a city building game that can test the processor’s capabilities with numerous simulations and real-time processes. It would also be the case of Real Time Strategy (RTS) games like StarCraft II, these often require rapid processing of information to manage units, tactics and events on the battlefield. Age of Empires IV would be another example of an RTS that can be challenging for the hardware due to the number of units and real-time events.

Without also forgetting games with advanced graphics and special effects, such as the well-known Cyberpunk 2077, with proposals for futuristic graphics and advanced visual effects, this game can be very demanding in terms of performance. Or Control, with physics effects and environmental destruction, this game stands out for its demand for graphical power. And finally virtual reality (VR) games, like Half-Life. Alyx is the VR game that requires exceptional performance as you need to render two images simultaneously and maintain a high frame rate to avoid motion sickness.

These are just a few examples, and as technologies advance, games are continually being released that challenge the limits of existing hardware, so when choosing a gaming processor, it’s crucial to consider the specific demands of the type of games you plan to play.

Support for current technologies. A good gaming processor should support the latest technologies, such as DirectX, Vulkan, and other graphics APIs used in current games. It should also be able to handle features such as ray tracing. For those of you who are not familiar with this terminology, ray tracing is an advanced graphics rendering technique that simulates how light interacts with objects in a three-dimensional environment. This technique seeks to emulate the realistic behavior of light by following the path of light rays as they interact with objects in a scene.

In the context of video games, ray tracing has a significant impact on visual quality by providing more realistic lighting effects. Although ray tracing offers exceptional visual quality, it is computationally intensive and has historically been difficult to implement in real time in games due to the load on the hardware. However, with the advancement of the processing power of next-generation GPUs and the development of specific technologies, such as Nvidia real-time ray tracing (NVIDIA RTX), game developers are beginning to implement this technique to achieve more immersive and realistic visual experiences.

Overclocking capability. Overclocking is a practice by which the clock frequency of a hardware component is increased, such as in this case the processor, but also the graphics card or RAM, beyond the factory specifications to improve its performance in terms of performance. speed and processing capacity. For those who want to squeeze even more performance out of their hardware, a processor that allows overclocking can be beneficial. This involves manually increasing the clock frequency for additional performance. Overclocking is especially popular among hardware enthusiasts, gamers, and those looking to get additional performance from their existing hardware.

Fast memory support. The speed and amount of RAM are also important. More modern games often benefit from fast memory and enough to handle intensive graphics demands.

Low latency. Latency would be the time it takes for an operation to execute from start to completion. In the context of computer hardware, latency can be measured in different aspects of the system, such as memory access latency, or access latency to cached data, or interconnection latency between different components of the system, and each of them has an impact on overall performance. In the case of low latency it is essential for immediate response in games. That is, the speed at which the processor can process and respond to instructions, which directly affects the gaming experience.

After everything detailed, it is important to remember that the performance in your games also depends on other components. As you already know, other components such as the graphics card (GPU), RAM or storage meet a perfect balance that will guarantee that optimal gaming experience appropriate to your demands.

Best gaming processor proposals for performance and features.

Currently on the market, there are several processor models with excellent considerations for gaming, and the choice will largely depend on your budget and specific needs. Below, I provide you with some outstanding models of gaming processors.

Intel Core i7-12700KF-12ª Gen

Intel processors.

Performance and capacity.

Since the origins of the computing revolution, Intel® has been a pioneering brand and leader in the development of processors that have driven the heart of technology. Founded in 1968, Intel has earned a reputation as a tireless innovator, providing processing solutions that have shaped the landscape of modern computing.

Intel processors are today synonymous with reliable performance and cutting-edge technology. From the iconic Core® series, designed for high-demand activities, to advances in architectures such as Intel Xeon® for business environments, the brand has maintained a constant commitment to technical excellence and continuous evolution.

Intel’s ability to anticipate and address changing market demands has led to the creation of processors that go beyond expectations, providing efficient solutions for both everyday users and computing professionals. Below we show you some proposals from this brand, oriented by their performance, to the demands of next-generation games.

  • Intel Core i7-12700KF.

The 12th Generation Intel® Core™ desktop processor redefines the performance of x86 architecture. Introducing our new hybrid performance architecture, which combines performance cores with efficient cores to improve gaming, productivity and creation. These advanced processors intelligently optimize workloads and pave the way for future technological leaps in processor design.

Enjoy the full range of the latest platform innovations, including industry-first PCIe 5.0 availability and DDR5 memory. With Intel® UHD Graphics, immerse yourself in a visually stunning experience with support for up to 8K HDR and the ability to display 4 4K displays simultaneously. 12th Gen Intel® Core™ desktop processors deliver the features you need to play, work, and create like never before. These processors belong to the 12th generation Alder Lake series. With its multiple cores and overclocking capacity, even though it is a late 2021 generation, it is a powerful and highly recommended option for demanding games and tasks.

procesadores-gaming-intel-core-gen13-i7

  • Intel Core i5-13600KF.

13th Gen Intel® Core™ desktop processors deliver advanced core performance. Now with up to 24 cores (8 Performance-cores and 16 Efficient-cores) and up to 32 threads, plus the Performance-cores are capable of reaching 5.8 GHz6 with Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost to improve performance. Intel® turbo Boost Max Technology 3.07 further strengthens performance in light thread cases by identifying the best-performing Performance-cores. Meanwhile, additional E-cores enable an increase in Intel® Intelligent Cache (L3) for more efficient processing of larger data sets and better performance. The L2 cache of the P-core and E-core of these processors has also been increased compared to the previous generation, thus minimizing the amount of time spent exchanging data between the cache and memory to speed up your workflow.

  • Intel Core i7-13700KF.

With a higher core count, this processor continues to utilize Intel’s hybrid performance architecture to optimize your gaming, content creation, and productivity. Take advantage of the industry’s best bandwidth of up to 16 PCIe 5.03 lanes and DDR5 memory of up to 5600 MT/s. Boost your CPU performance with a powerful suite of tuning and overclocking tools. Enjoy your favorite gaming experiences on up to 4 simultaneous 4K60 displays or up to 8K60 HDR video with dynamic noise suppression. Support for Intel® 700 Series Chipsets and support for Intel® 600 Series Chipsets will give you access to the features you need for any task. Working, streaming, gaming, or creating content, 13th Gen Intel® Core™ desktop processors bring you the next generation of breakthrough performance.

  • Intel Core i9-13900KF.

13th Gen Intel® Core™ desktop processors give you the ultimate immersive experience, whether you’re engaged in intense gaming and content creation, or fully focused on work sessions. Enhanced Intel® UHD Graphics via Xe11 architecture deliver vibrant, high-quality visual support for 8K60 HDR video and up to 4 simultaneous 4K60 displays.

Enjoy efficient noise suppression and professional voice performance with Intel® Gaussian & Neural Accelerator 3.0 (Intel® GNA). These premium sensory experiences are achieved through best-in-class wired and wireless connectivity, provided by Intel® Killer™ Wi-Fi 6/6E,12, which intelligently manages and routes your Internet traffic to help you stay connected. to the fastest channels. 13th Gen Intel® Core™ desktop processors deliver a seamless experience to unleash your creativity and focus.

This extremely powerful processor, the highest of its generation, comes equipped with the highest technology. Delivers astonishing system performance acceleration: up to 16 PCIe 5.02 lanes double I/O performance for accelerated processing power. Take advantage of the latest industry-changing DDR5 support for speeds up to 5600 MT/s,3 high bandwidth and improved productivity, as well as continued DDR4 support up to 3200 MT/s. Supports comprehensive advanced tuning and overclocking8, including Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility,9 Intel® Extreme Memory Profile, and Intel® Dynamic Memory Boost10.

It gives you intelligent overclocking performance on demand, so that more experienced overclockers can get the most out of their unlocked processors. Plus, support for Intel’s 600 and 700 series chipsets gives you the flexibility to upgrade without compromising performance or features.

  • Intel Core i7-14700KF.

The 14th Gen Intel® Core™ processors feature a hybrid performance architecture with up to eight Performance-cores (P-cores) and up to 16 Efficient-cores (E-cores), combined with intelligent workload steering through Intel® Thread Director 2 . It’s the fastest PC chip Intel® has ever introduced. Designed for gamers who demand maximum performance to run the most advanced games while simultaneously handling other workloads. Your PC with 14th Gen Intel® Core™ processors makes the impossible, possible.

The 14th Gen Intel® Core™ processor family offers faster P-cores and more E-cores that support DDR4/DDR5 and PCIe 4.0/5.0. This provides a platform that can maximize multitasking and configuration options. They also offer a highly flexible architecture and industry-leading tools for the best customization of your tasks.

The Intel Core i7-14700KF processor is the most powerful Intel® Core™ processing unit with a number of outstanding features. It offers a total of 8 P-Core cores and 12 E-Core cores, with a base frequency of 3.40 GHz for the P-Core and an impressive maximum frequency of 5.60 GHz. The 33 MB cache memory ensures performance fast and efficient. Compatible with LGA1700 motherboards, this processor belongs to the 14th generation series and uses the Raptor Lake Refresh microarchitecture. In addition, its unlocked multiplier allows custom settings, and its TDP is 125 W.

Get the performance you need, where you need it, regardless of whether you are dedicated to gaming, content creation or any home use, this family of processors will not leave you indifferent.

AMD processors.

Power and energy efficiency.

Advanced Micro Devices, universally known as AMD, has left an indelible mark with its range of innovative processors. Since its founding in 1969, AMD has emerged as a key competitor in the processor market, offering solutions that combine solid performance, power efficiency and an attractive price proposition.

AMD processors have earned the attention and loyalty of you users for their focus on innovation. The brand has introduced revolutionary architectures, such as Ryzen, that have redefined performance standards in the industry. In the field of gaming, productivity applications or more intensive workloads, AMD processors have amply demonstrated their ability to offer competitive performance.

From the award-winning Ryzen processors, which have set new standards for efficiency and multitasking, to the EPYC series processors, designed for enterprise and server environments, AMD continues to push technological boundaries, where innovation and performance converge to deliver experiences. exceptional computing. Among its extensive range of products, we propose three serious options with guarantees that meet your expectations as a player.

  • AMD Ryzen 5 5500.

With this processor, you have the most advanced desktop architecture for gamers and content creators. Your possibilities are endless. Whether you’re playing the latest games, designing the next skyscraper, or processing masses of data, you need a powerful processor that can handle all of these demands and more. Without a doubt, AMD Ryzen™ 5000 series desktop PC processors will meet your level of expectations, whether you are a gamer, designer, or artist in general.

Finally, tell you that these processors are equipped with AMD StoreMI Technology. It is software that combines the speed of SSD with the capacity of the hard drive in a single unit that is fast, easy to manage, and free with the AMD 400 Series motherboard. AMD StoreMI technology is a powerful tool for those who want to speed up build times. a load of your PC, system startup speed, file management, or computer response. A whole revolution at your fingertips.

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D.

  • AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 5Ghz.

This ideal processor for gaming dominates the gaming world thanks to its AMD 3D V-Cache™ technology.
Regardless of the configuration or resolution you use, you will gain gaming performance and lead your team to victory with this wonderful processor. Also enjoy the benefits of AMD 3D V-Cache™, the cutting-edge technology that is synonymous with low latency and high gaming performance. With AMD 3D V-Cache™, AMD has established itself as a leader in advanced technology design. AMD is implementing 3D vertical cache to create the fastest gaming desktop processor available and the world’s most powerful server processors for technical computing. AMD 3D V-Cache™ technology positions them as leaders in density and energy efficiency.

AMD-Ryzen-7-7800X-3D

  • AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D 4.5Ghz.

This processor, with similar characteristics to the previous one, also has a very advanced desktop processor architecture. Without a doubt, another good option for your PC, and at a somewhat lower cost than its 5Ghz version.

Ryzen 9-7 performance comparison

  • AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D.

This extremely powerful desktop processor has extraordinary power, for gaming or live streaming, thanks to AMD 3D V-Cache™ technology, to gain even more gaming performance. With a processor as advanced as this, you can do whatever you want, and in a big way. In addition, with all the advantages of AMD 3D V-Cache™, as we have told you before, the cutting-edge technology that is synonymous with low latency and great gaming performance.

_Procesador-AMD-Ryzen-9-7900X3D-5.6GHz-Socket-AM5-Boxed

Processors for tighter budgets.

  • Intel Core i5-12400F.

This is a good option for all those looking for performance and results, but at a lower cost, as they address less demanding tasks. This processor gives you the latest platform technologies that power incredible gaming, workflow, and creation experiences. This range of 12th Generation Intel® Core™ processors provides up to 20 lanes (16 PCIe 5.0 and 4 PCIe 4.0) to deliver optimal discrete graphics performance and storage performance by enabling higher bandwidth endpoints. DDR5 delivers fast speeds of up to 4800 MT/s, enabling increased memory bandwidth speeds compared to previous generations using DDR4 3200 MT/s memory.2.

Fine-tune computing power and performance with these unlocked 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processors with overclocking capabilities and support for advanced tuning configuration assistance using Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU).3 With these and other enhancements platforms, you can work, play, and create as you wish.

Intel Core i5-12400F 4.4GHz Socket 1700 Boxed - Procesador

  • AMD Ryzen 5 5600G.

Despite their price, this range of processors offers a highly advanced architecture, suitable for gaming and creation. The possibilities are endless. Whatever you do, you always need a powerful processor that can meet all your demands. And, without a doubt, the AMD Ryzen™ 5000 Series desktop processors will raise your expectations, with performance you never expected.

These processors are more than prepared for the next generation of games. They offer a uniquely immersive experience and master all the tasks of multiple simultaneous processes, such as 3D video rendering and software compilation.

Along with their great processing power, they are backed with the latest AMD brand technology. They feature a full suite of technologies designed to elevate your PC’s processing power, including Precision Boost 25, Precision Boost Overdrive6, PCIe® 4.0 (on select processors), and Resizable BAR. Plus, AMD Ryzen™ processors are easy to configure and customize.

What is to come? Future trends and technologies.

Ryzen 7 5700X3D

Among other speculations, although this is already a confirmation, AMD plans to launch the new Ryzen 7 5700X3D processor during the first quarter of 2024. This very powerful 8-core processor with 3D V-Cache memory would be especially suitable for gaming, it is already known that these X3D processors manage to significantly improve gaming performance compared to processors without this type of cache memory.

According to sources from the COOLMOD Blog editorial team, the Ryzen 7 5700X3D will be a processor with 8 physical cores operating at a base frequency of 3 GHz and will reach 4.1 GHz in Boost mode, which represents a 400 MHz reduction compared to the next higher processor, the 5800X3D. It seems that this new processor would maintain the 96 MB of L3 cache, but so far other details such as TDP, price, and availability are still unknown.

It is almost confirmed that the Ryzen 7 5700X3D will not be AMD’s only proposal for the AMD AM4 socket, as there is also talk of the marketing of a somewhat lower and cheaper six-core model, the 5500X3D, whose presentation is expected with posteriority.

With these proposals, AMD wants to continue betting on the AM4 platform, and this is very good news for its users. This bet will allow you to update the PC without having to invest too much to make the jump to the AM5 socket, only needing to be able to change the processor and maintain the rest of the components.

AMD Ryzen 8000G

On the other hand, it is also worth mentioning AMD’s long-awaited launch of its new series, echoing the revelations that the brand itself already made at CES 2024, where it put on the table approximate launch dates for its new line of APUs. desktop with integrated graphics: the Ryzen 8000G series. According to official sources, the four different models are already known: AMD Ryzen 7 8700G, Ryzen 7 8600G and 8500G, and Ryzen 3 8300G. And even AMD reserves the right to release the Ryzen 9 later.

Technical sheet of the AMD Ryzen 8000G

AMD RYZEN 7 8700G

AMD RYZEN 5 8600G

AMD RYZEN 5 8500G

AMD RYZEN 3 8300G

GRAPHICS

AMD Radeon™ Graphics

AMD Radeon™ Graphics

AMD Radeon™ Graphics

AMD Radeon™ Graphics

CPU cores

8

6

6

4

EXECUTION THREADS

16

12

12

8

BASE FREQUENCY

4,2 GHz

4,3 GHz

3,5 GHz

3,4 GHz

MAXIMUM FREQUENCY

5,1 GHz

5,0 GHz

5,0 GHz

4,9 GHz

CACHE

24 MB

22 MB

22 MB

12 MB

TDP

65 W

65 W

65 W

65 W

NPU

Yeah

Yeah

PRICE

$329

$229

179 dollars

According to AMD, these new Ryzen 8000G will allow you to play all the latest games of the moment at more than 60fps in 1080p, from ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ to ‘Asassin’s Creed: Valhalla’, and with very satisfactory results compared to analog processors from the competition, such as the i5-12400F.

Another novelty presented in these products is AMD Expo technology. This technology allows for higher memory frequencies. The Ryzen 7 8700G will reach a maximum of 5.1 GHz, with a base frequency of 4.2 GHz, providing consumption and energy efficiency data of 65W.

The AMD Ryzen 8000G series processors, if everything continues as normal, will be available for sale starting this January 31. Thus, it is expected that AMD’s different partner manufacturers will begin to market them in the second quarter of 2024.

To conclude, we hope that this extensive post has awakened your research curiosity and enriched your knowledge about the exciting world of GPUs. We are convinced that after this information you will be able to choose the processor that best suits your needs.

And you know! If you have any questions, you always have the option of completing your information with the advice of a professional. In reference portals or specialized stores, such as COOLMOD, we will be happy to listen to you and offer you the solution you need.

By win12

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