When choosing components for a gaming computer, almost all the criteria are reduced to a simple formula: the more - the better e. And only one question often remains hazy: which processor is better for games?
To understand the computer brain is not so simple: in addition to performance parameters, with which it is more or less clear, there are all kinds of technologies and optimizations that affect the quality of the game application quite significantly. In this article, we consider the key points on which the gaming functionality of the CPU depends.
Clock frequency and number of cores
The clock frequency is the number of operations performed by the processor in one second. Until recently, this parameter remained the most important characteristic of the processor, which unambiguously determines the level of its performance. Today everything is quite different.
The advent of multi-core technology has significantly increased the performance of the CPU, if only the application for this technology is optimized. In addition, more and more important are the various technologies implemented in modern processors. They also move the clock frequency to the background. We'll talk about this a little later.
Modern gaming applications are designed to work with quad-core processors, so buying a dual-core "stone", even with a high clock speed, does not make sense, unless it is equipped with special technologies that increase performance( see the description of the HYPER-THREADING technology below).
Another tip: do not overpay for a processor with a higher clock speed within the same line. At the work of the gaming application, the advantage of 100-133 MHz will not be reflected in any way, especially since a "weak" processor can most often be "overclocked" to the frequency of more expensive models.
cache The full processor has a cache memory - a buffer zone, into which data is loaded before it gets into the processor itself. The bus between the processor and the cache memory has a high data transfer rate, while from the RAM bits and bytes have to "drag" much slower. Therefore, processors with a reduced or missing cache memory, which receive data directly from the RAM, are inferior in performance to their "cached" counterparts.
The game processor, equipped with a cache memory, wins at a speed of about 15-20%.As an example, we can cite Intel Core i7-975X and i7-980X processors. Both chips have the same clock frequency, but the second demonstrates in games much better results than the first. The reason is different in size cache. In 975, it is 8 MB, while in 980-m it is 12 MB.
Any cunning "fraud" manufacturers with cache memory can play a cruel joke with the buyer of the processor. So, your dear Core i5 or i7 may be weaker than the cheaper Pentium B600, which belongs to the previous generation. And all because you did not specify the amount of cache on your processor version.
Built-in technology
In an effort to make the work of their processors more efficient, manufacturers equip them with special technologies. The list is quite extensive, but only some of them should be interested in gamers:
Hyper-Threading( SMT-technology)
This option, used in Intel processors, allows using one physical core as two logical ones. In the language of an amateur, this can be explained approximately as follows: the fact is that when performing a logical operation, the processor uses only part of its pipelines and blocks.
Hyper-Threading technology allows the use of "idle" processor resources to perform parallel operations. Of course, such a "focus" will not replace a full-fledged dual-core structure, but it provides quite a significant increase in games. Obviously, buying a quad-core processor with this technology at the moment does not make sense, since modern games more than four cores do not yet understand.
TurboBoost( Intel) or TurboCore( AMD)
Quite relevant technology, allowing to increase the efficiency of the CPU.Multi-core processor, which provides such a technology, can adjust the clock frequency of individual cores depending on their load. At the same time, the frequency of the most loaded nuclei increases, and those that are "dummy" - decreases.
Thus, if the "brain" of your computer has four cores, and the game is written under a dual-core system, your CPU will provide it with the two cores, while raising their clock frequency and decreasing the frequency of the two remaining ones. This mode is not at all an overload, since the total energy consumption and heat transfer will remain at the same level.
Which manufacturer is better: amd or intel?
Hardly anyone can unequivocally answer this question. And the one and the other side has both successful and not very good processors. In an accessible class, you can note the tri-core line from AMD.Attracts an advantageous combination of low price and good characteristics, as well as the ability to unblock the fourth core.
In the price range from 4000 to 5000 rubles.not bad proved to be the Intel Core i3-530.It is quite suitable for games on a laptop or computer, because it has a new generation architecture and at the same time is not burdened with excessive amount of expensive, but not always necessary technologies. Thanks to the Hyper-Threading technology described above, this dual-core CPU in games is often not inferior to quad-core competitors.
Among the expensive quad-core it is difficult to allocate the best processor for games, but we can definitely recommend the Phenom II X4 9xx series from AMD.Somewhat more expensive, about 6 thousand rubles."Pull" Intel Core i5-750 / 760.Unlike the 800-th version, this processor does not provide the technology of Hyper-Threading, which led to a good discount in the price. Such a processor can be considered optimal for a gamer, as, as already mentioned, even the most modern games, more than four cores do not use and, accordingly, Hyper-Threading still would not increase performance.
Forward, to the future!
Do not forget that the world does not stand still. The game industry is developing with leaps and bounds and the limit of four cores will be overcome sooner or later. Manufacturers of processors in the sweat of the face are getting ready for this moment, presenting more and more powerful products. So, AMD released a series of six-core processors PHENOM X6 on the market. However, objectively speaking, the top solutions from AMD have not yet been able to surpass the analogue of the Intel 9XX series by the CPU class.
Whatever it was, gamers like to buy these "monsters" do not make sense, because a slight increase in the speed of the application can hardly be considered adequate to a fabulous amount of money, which will have to pay for any of these processors.
