Choosing the Right Gaming CPU: Basics and Suggestions

When it comes to system performance, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the heart of all activities occurring within a computer. When choosing to upgrade, replace, or build a system with a new CPU, it is important to at least know basic specifications, and be aware of modern game minimum specifications. In this article are some considerations.

Currently there are two real big players in the CPU market, AMD and Intel. Both have been around for quite some time and offer a variety of CPUs for different computing needs, such as, mobile computing, gaming computing, and more. This isn't to say that a CPU not designed, marketed, and target towards gaming won't run games. The truth is quite the contrary; however, the experience may not be all that satisfactory.

After deciding on a preferred brand, there are a few technical details to consider. First and foremost is the processor's speed, which is the number most computer shoppers have been familiar with for some time. Current and modern speeds are rated in GHz (GigaHertz), and the higher the number, the faster the processor. As an example, current popular CPUs come as 2, 2.2, 2.6, and 3 GHz speeds. CPUs can also contain on-board memory to hold small amounts of frequently or previously used data. Rather than accessing the computer system's main memory which can be slower, an on-board cache can increase performance significantly.

Core technology was introduced not long ago, and each manufacturer has its implementation method. Core processing simply means that a CPU is capable of handling and processing data in each of its internal cores separately from the other. Today, most systems are multi-core systems, and greatly benefit OS (Operating System), application, and game performance.

Other things to consider when selecting a CPU for gaming: Overclocking, the socket connection, and heat reduction. Overclocking is popular with gamers and involves tweaking the CPU to run at a higher speed than listed by the manufacturer. Care should be taken when doing so as overclocking incorrectly can cause stability problems and excess heat. Whether overclocking or not, a heat reduction strategy should be considered with an appropriate cooling system.

Now that the mystery of the technical basics has been cleared, let's look at some of the CPUs that are available and popular today. Tom's Hardware, a great hardware review website, offers a great breakdown on CPUs by features combined with price

For the budget conscious and casual gamer, there are some great CPUs that cost under $200. The brand new AMD Athlon II X4 640 is very similar to its older brother, the AMD Phenom II X4 940/945. Both processors are quad core CPUs running at 3.0 GHz, are very similar in design. The main difference of these CPUs: motherboard slot type, and the fact that the the Phenom includes a 6MB L3 Cache. Intel offers the Core i3-530, and the Core i3-540. Running as dual core processors with hyperthreading, both CPUs include a 4MB L3 Cache, with the 530 running at 2.93 GHz, and the 540 at 3.06 GHz.

For gamers that want the highest quality gaming experience, the Intel Core i5-730, the i7-930, and the i7-980 Extreme boast 8MB, 8MB, and 12MB L3 Caches respectively. The 908 Extreme also runs with 6 cores, but has a suggest retail price of near $1,000!

Sources/Resources:

Tom's Hardware