Choosing the Right CPU for Pro Graphics
Although the graphics card is the most important component in a graphics workstation, the CPU still has a massive effect on performance. 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 Kaby 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 Core CPUs | |
|---|---|
| Core i3 | These quad-core processors are much faster than the cheaper Celeron and Pentium models making them a great choice for an entry-level workstation whether you are working with 2D or 3D graphics. |
| 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 CAD workstation using applications such as Autodesk Inventor. 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 workstation and is much faster than a Core i5 when it comes to rendering complex models and multi-threaded calculations. Models with a K on the end of the name are 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. |
Intel Xeon E3 1200
A Xeon E3 1200 is a special professional quad-core CPU. Unlike the consumer-grade Core i5, the Xeon E3 1200 supports ECC RAM that detects and corrects memory errors on the fly. This makes workstations with a Xeon E3 1200 around 2-3% slower than Core i5 workstations, but with superior reliability, making them ideal for processing large datasets that may take several days to work through.
Intel Xeon E5 2600
If your application is heavily multithreaded then a pair of Xeon E5 2600 CPUs will provide the ultimate in performance. These CPUs are available as basic quad-core models all the way up to 18 cores, giving a massive 36 cores if a pair of CPUs is fitted. Xeon E5 2600 supports more RAM than Core i7s and support ECC Registered memory, which provides maximum reliability.
The following graphs show the relative performance you can expect from the different CPU series in a variety of CPU-intensive professional graphics workflows.
Maxon Cinema 4D
CPU rendering in Cinebench of a 3D scene comprising 300,000 polygons
Intel Core i3
Intel Core i5
Intel Core i7
Intel Core i9
2x Intel Xeon E5 2600
Performance is shown as score, with a higher number indicating a shorter render time
Caselab Euler 3D
CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation of airflow over an aircraft wing
Intel Core i3
Intel Core i5
Intel Core i7
2x Intel Xeon E5 2600
Intel Core i9
Performance is shown in hertz, with a higher number indicating a faster frequency of CFD cycles