Intel and AMD are constantly battling for the CPU Crown, with the latest tests showing the Intel Core i9-9900K is the fastest CPU in the world for gaming, while the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X was given top billing for overclocking. The Question What processor do I need for gaming? is quite common.
One thing is for certain, however: if you want to be playing games at the highest possible settings, then you’ll need a modern CPU with at least an 8-core, 16-thread configuration.
This guide will show you what you can get with the core processors on the market, as well as the minimum you’ll need.
The processors listed below will also be tested by our in-house PC benchmarking software, PCMark 8, which should help you pick the one with the right level of power for your needs.
And if you’re wondering about the very latest Intel Core processors – check out the best Intel Core i9 CPU deals.
What sort of gaming PC do I need?
If you’re thinking about building a new gaming PC, you’re going to need a powerful graphics card, which is why you should start by looking for one with AMD Radeon or Nvidia GeForce graphics.
It doesn’t matter which you choose, as long as it supports DirectX 12 and an external graphics card will allow you to overclock the processor. This will allow you to further speed up performance with better frame rates in games such as Fortnite, which is one of the most popular games right now.
You don’t need to buy the most expensive graphics card either – there are budget cards that will still have enough performance to play most games with reasonable frame rates at medium graphics settings.
So for example, there’s a new AMD Radeon RX 550 (4GB) graphics card for just £60, while the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 2GB (1GB) costs just £62.50. The minimum graphics card you need is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti (4GB), which you can get for £150.
What sort of hard drive do I need?
You need a hard drive with at least 6GB of storage to be able to run a game on at medium graphics settings with a 30fps frame rate.
However, 4GB of storage is more than enough to play games on at medium graphics settings with a 60fps frame rate, and 8GB of storage is a safe bet for most gamers.
Generally speaking, we’d recommend a hard drive that has at least 500GB capacity for your PC, but if you want to get the most for your money, a 1TB capacity drive is a good buy too.
What type of CPU do I need?
Once you’ve bought the best graphics card for your budget, you’ll want to install the game you want to play and see how it runs. You’ll probably want slightly lower graphics settings for both titles, and you’ll also want a decent graphics processor to get the best performance.
With many games, you’ll be able to get away with a mid-range processor, like the Intel Core i5-8300H (£180) or even a slightly cheaper Intel Core i3-8100 (£180).
However, you’ll want a beefier processor if you’re planning to play titles like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey at 4K resolutions with ultra high-dynamic-range (HDR) support, which requires a mid-range graphics card.
Our testing has revealed the best Intel Core i9-9900K processor (which costs around £400), as well as the best AMD Ryzen 7 2700X processor (around £280) – read the full guide to finding the best gaming CPU for your budget here.I try to explain to you What processor do I need for gaming?
What graphics card do I need?
As you’re likely to have a decent graphics card already, it’s time to start looking at what to get for your graphics card.
As the prices of graphics cards continue to fall, you can now pick up a graphics card with Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 – or better – for £300. However, some older Nvidia GeForce GTX GPUs with older technologies are cheaper – like the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070Ti, which you can buy for as little as £380.
Otherwise, if you want a mid-range graphics card, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB of VRAM (around £400) is a good choice.
There’s also the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070Ti (8GB), which costs around £460.
What CPUs should I buy?
Intel and AMD are battling it out for your PC CPU crown, and the latest results mean the best CPU for gaming is Intel.
The Intel Core i5-8400 (£190) is just a bit cheaper than the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (£230) processor. Meanwhile, Intel’s Core i3-8300 is cheaper than the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 (£135).
The Intel Core i7-8700 (£400) is a mid-range CPU that is likely to outperform the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X. However, you can also get the same processors with a higher 4K resolution and higher specs for slightly more money.
Meanwhile, AMD has replaced its 7th Generation processors with the 8th Generation. You can find some of the new processors for £60 less, like the Intel Core i5-8600K (£350) or the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 (£300).
Not all of the latest CPU generations have been released yet, so it’s worth checking the older CPUs we’ve tested in the same size processor before you buy.
What processor do I need for gaming?
Graphics cards are getting more expensive as we near the end of the year, so you’ll want to buy the best graphics card you can afford, which means you need to consider the kind of GPU you desire.
With Nvidia GTX 1070Ti graphics cards, you can get the latest performance in games for a bargain price, but if you want more graphical performance, a £500 graphics card is still a good choice. Now, What processor do I need for gaming? is not difficult for you.
Alternatively, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 costs as little as £230 for the 6GB model, so if you’re looking to play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey or Tomb Raider at the highest graphics settings, you can pick up one of these graphics cards for as little as £230.
Hope You know the answer Now: What processor do I need for gaming?
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