Hardware Minimum CPU Required for Mainstream Gaming

[marcus134]

what GPU do you have?

actually, the i5 3570 doesn't have 2 threads per core...

wrong, it has 4 cores
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_Bridge_(microarchitecture)#Desktop_processors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_i5#Core_i5_2

also, tom's hardware best cpu for the money : http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-2.html

 

[Foxi4]

Define mainstream gaming.

Playing retail games, I'd imagine.

 

[PityOnU]

wrong, it has 4 cores
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_Bridge_(microarchitecture)#Desktop_processors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_i5#Core_i5_2

also, tom's hardware best cpu for the money : http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-2.html

Good article! Now that's what I'm talking about.

So basically, you can actually get away with a surprising horrible CPU, as long as you have a nice graphics card.

Hmmm...

 

[Mantis41]

Good article! Now that's what I'm talking about.

So basically, you can actually get away with a surprising horrible CPU, as long as you have a nice graphics card.

Hmmm...

I've tried selling this theory to friends. As an example you can get an i5 3570 and an ATI 7950 for about the same price you can get an i3 3240 and an ATI 7970. I am pretty sure the second system would do much better in most games.

In my mind you are better off getting an adequate CPU and putting everything into the vid. I use the same theory for the system board. Buy a good quality no frills board and put the 100 or so dollars saved into the vid. Every time I bring this up I get shot down.

 

[GreatCrippler]

This may be a question for another thread, but I think I am probably going to throw together a new gaming rig using the 4770K (i7) Any thoughts on GPU Preference? I am a little stuck between a GTX 770, or an ATI 7970... Any thoughts between the two? Or Skip those and suggest else?

 

[marcus134]

I've tried selling this theory to friends. As an example you can get an i5 3570 and an ATI 7950 for about the same price you can get an i3 3240 and an ATI 7970. I am pretty sure the second system would do much better in most games.

i'd go with the 3570k because the difference between 7950 and 7970 ain't that great but the difference in terms of cpu power is quite sizable as soon as you do something else than gaming. when it comes to longevity of the platform, the use of 4 threads in games is still in it's infancy but in the next few year it'll become a requirement, also when you add the fact that the 3570k is unlocked, you can easily boost it's performance to keep up with games requirement for probably the next 4 to 6 years however the gpu may not last more than 3-4years (depending on your backlog of games to play), no matter which gpu you choose.

 

[PolloDiablo]

wrong, it has 4 cores

I didn't say that... I said that It doesn't have 2 threads per core
the i5 line doesn't have hyperthreading resulting in a total of only 4 threads

i5 --- 4 cores - 4 threads
i7 --- 4 cores - 8 threads

 

[Mantis41]

This may be a question for another thread, but I think I am probably going to throw together a new gaming rig using the 4770K (i7) Any thoughts on GPU Preference? I am a little stuck between a GTX 770, or an ATI 7970... Any thoughts between the two? Or Skip those and suggest else?

For an extra $90 you could swap out the 4770 for a 4670 and then change up to a GTX780. This way you also get 3GB which could become a requirement for future games. Other wise it is a problem on one had you get more memory and on the other you get PhysX and slightly better performance.

 

[GreatCrippler]

I am not opposed to spending the extra money... 4770K and a GTX 780 Would be your reccomendation?

 

[Lanlan]

Lol @ the people thinking you need an i5

 

[Mantis41]

I am not opposed to spending the extra money... 4770K and a GTX 780 Would be your reccomendation?

I wouldn't call it value for money but if that's not a problem then of course.

EDIT: Actually I just saw a 4GB version of the 770. That is probably much better value for money and have plenty of performance for a while unless you are gaming at silly resolutions then I would still spend the extra on the 780.

 

[GreatCrippler]

I wouldn't call it value for money but if that's not a problem then of course.

Nah, every 3-5 years, I try to throw stupid money at a computer to get what I want. I think I am there again.

 

[Mantis41]

Nah, every 3-5 years, I try to throw stupid money at a computer to get what I want. I think I am there again.

Actually I just saw a 4GB version of the 770. That is probably much better value for money and have plenty of performance for a while unless you are gaming at silly resolutions then I would still spend the extra on the 780.

 

[GreatCrippler]

Yea, $200 Difference... 770 with 4 gb should be pretty future proof. Meh, I'll see how I feel when I get it all on paper, but thanks. The input is very helpful.

 

[Originality]

Yea, $200 Difference... 770 with 4 gb should be pretty future proof. Meh, I'll see how I feel when I get it all on paper, but thanks. The input is very helpful.

The 780 is only useful for multi-monitor/3D gaming at massive resolutions. The 770 2GB is sufficient for maxing out any game, and the 4GB one sees nearly no improvement except in a couple games that can use the extra vRAM. It may be future-proofing, but I don't see the 2GB one falling flat any time soon (so I got one myself last week). If you're only gaming at 1080p, you can even afford to drop down to the 760. Basically, which card to get depends on the size of your monitor.

On topic, I think the minimum CPU for gaming is either a Core i3 (as mentioned several times) or a Trinity APU (e.g. A4). The Intel CPU will be stronger than the AMD APU, but how well the game performs really will depend on the graphics.

 

[the_randomizer]

Lol @ the people thinking you need an i5

Nothing wrong with an i5, that's what I have and I don't think it's overkill. i7 on the other hand, unless you're doing extreme video/audio editing while watching a bluray, then no, i7's are overkill. i3's don't suit my needs is all

 

[Mantis41]

The 780 is only useful for multi-monitor/3D gaming at massive resolutions. The 770 2GB is sufficient for maxing out any game, and the 4GB one sees nearly no improvement except in a couple games that can use the extra vRAM. It may be future-proofing, but I don't see the 2GB one falling flat any time soon (so I got one myself last week). If you're only gaming at 1080p, you can even afford to drop down to the 760. Basically, which card to get depends on the size of your monitor.

On topic, I think the minimum CPU for gaming is either a Core i3 (as mentioned several times) or a Trinity APU (e.g. A4). The Intel CPU will be stronger than the AMD APU, but how well the game performs really will depend on the graphics.

Sorry to stay slightly off topic but I am always amazed at how quickly games tend to catch up with the current technology and all of a sudden we are pushing to get 30fps again.

 

[trumpet-205]

If you are using Haswell, I discourage you to overclock it. It really doesn't make sense since its overclocking headroom is even smaller than Ivy Bridge.

My recommendation is to get Xeon E3-1240/1245 v3 instead of i7-4770 or 4770K (a lot cheaper). Intel Core i5 and i7 are actually using the same die as Xeon, but with disabled ECC RAM controller. Same strategy are also used with AMD FX processors (they all use the same die as Opteron).

You can definitely use Xeon E3 with desktop chipset such as H87 or Z87. In terms of GTX 770 vs HD7970, GTX has more performance but HD7970 has more value due to bundled games.

 

[Mantis41]

If you are using Haswell, I discourage you to overclock it. It really doesn't make sense since its overclocking headroom is even smaller than Ivy Bridge.

My recommendation is to get Xeon E3-1240/1245 v3 instead of i7-4770 or 4770K (a lot cheaper). Intel Core i5 and i7 are actually using the same die as Xeon, but with disabled ECC RAM controller. Same strategy are also used with AMD FX processors (they all use the same die as Opteron).

You can definitely use Xeon E3 with desktop chipset such as H87 or Z87. In terms of GTX 770 vs HD7970, GTX has more performance but HD7970 has more value due to bundled games.

Does PhysX offer any improvements visually or can the same effects just be offloaded to CPU/GPU any way.

 

[trumpet-205]

Does PhysX offer any improvements visually or can the same effects just be offloaded to CPU/GPU any way.

It depends on each game. Some games allow you to run PhysX on CPU while some don't.