The Best Gaming CPUs
Although the graphics card is the most important component in a gaming system, choosing the right CPU for your gaming system is still important as it make a difference in some games. Choosing a more capable CPU will also enable you to do more with your PC, such as creating great videos.
Today's CPU market is dominated by Intel, which produces a huge range of different processors at price points varying from as little as £30 to as much as £2,200. The reason for such a huge span is that each of these models is optimised for different tasks, be it basic internet browsing, word processing, watching films, playing games or digital content creation such as creating and editing graphics, video and music.
The latest Intel processors are based on the Coffee Lake architecture which delivers excellent performance while consuming less power than earlier CPUs. This is important as it means modern PCs cost less to run and are quieter than their predecessors. With so many CPUs to choose from here is our guide to the most popular models.
| Intel Gaming CPUs | |
|---|---|
| Core i3 | These quad-core processors are much faster than the cheaper Celeron and Pentium models making them a great choice for an gaming PC. |
| Core i5 | The most affordable six-core Intel processors, Core i5 CPUs provide the most bang-per-buck and so are a great choice for a gaming PC. Look out for models with a K on the end of the name as they can be overclocked for even greater performance. |
| Core i7 | These six-core processors have more cache memory than the Core i5s and also support Hyper-Threading, allowing them to work on up to twelve threads simultaneously. A Core i7 is the ideal choice for a high-end gaming PC, with the K edition CPUs being overclockable for an added performance boost. |
| Core X-Series i5 & i7 | Sitting above the normal Core i5 and i7 processors is a special range of Core i5 and i7 X-series CPUs which require a Socket 2066 motherboard. Available with either quad, six, eight or ten cores plus Hyper- Threading these CPUs are incredibly fast, delivering excellent performance, especially in heavily multithreaded applications. Please be aware that the two quad-core Core X CPUs feature dual-channel memory controllers, while the six-core models and above have quad-channel memory controllers for added bandwidth and support more PCI-E lanes so you can connect more PCI-E devices such as graphics cards, RAID controllers and SSDs. |
| Core X-Series i9 | Intel’s flagship desktop CPU series is Core i9, with up to 18-cores plus Hyper- Threading, these are the ultimate CPU for multitasking and heavily multithreaded applications. They have quad-channel memory controllers for added bandwidth and support more PCI-E lanes so you can connect lots of PCI-E devices such as graphics cards, RAID controllers and SSDs. |
While the graphics card has the biggest influence on the performance of a gaming PC, selecting the right CPU is important. For instance, while most first person shooter type games will run happily on a Core i3 or above, the faster CPUs will show more of a benefit in strategy games and more complex simulators. Here are some benchmarks of the most popular CPUs in a variety of games, showing the difference choosing a more expensive CPU may make.
When gaming you should be looking for a CPU that produces a minimum frame rate of at least 25fps for a smooth experience, anything less than 25fps and games will appear jerky and won't be fun to play. All benchmarks were carried out at 1,920 x 1,080 with a GeForce GTX Titan X graphics card. .
Grand Theft Auto V
Core i7
Core X
Core i5
Core i3
The Witcher 3
Core i7
Core X
Core i5
Core i3
Company of Heroes 2
Core X
Core i7
Core i5
Core i3
Project Cars
Core X
Core i7
Core i5
Core i3
Overclocking
If you're after the best-possible performance then our engineers can overclock the CPU in your gaming PC. Overclocking is the process of boosting the CPU frequency above what Intel normally sets it at. Only Intel Core i5, i7 and i7 Enthusiast CPUs with the name ending in the letter K or X can be overclocked, and you can choose how far you want the CPU to be overclocked using our online configurator.
Overclocking will boost performance in some games, but as a side effect it generates additional heat. Our overclocked systems account for this heat by using high quality air and watercooling systems from companies such as Noctua, Be Quiet! and Corsair. These keep an overclocked CPU cool, ensuring that you get the best possible performance without any additional noise. Choosing an overclocked CPU in the configurator does not affect system stability as we stress test all overclocked PCs for 24 hours before shipping and overclocked systems are covered under our Premium 3 Year Warranty.
Grand Theft Auto V
Core i7
Core X
Core i5
Core i5
Core i5
Core i5
The Witcher 3
Core i7
Core X
Core i5
Core i3
Core i5
Core i3
Company of Heroes 2
Core X
Core i7
Core i5
Core i3
Core i5
Core i3
Project Cars
Core X
Core i7
Core i5
Core i3
Core i5
Core i3