What processor is needed for a gaming computer? Which processor is best for a gaming computer?
The processor (CPU) is the heart of the computer. The more power your processor has, the more gigahertz and cores, the faster a personal computer can work. Gamers also need a powerful graphics card.
Processor prices
Now there are many current processors on the market to build your computer. They can be divided into five groups according to their cost (including performance).
Processors up to 3 thousand rubles, for example AMD Athlon II / any Intel Celeron. Such models are most often purchased so that they can “sit out” until they upgrade to a better model.
Good inexpensive processor
The best processors in this category as of mid-2017 are the AMD Athlon II X3 460 and Intel Celeron G3900. Each of them will cost approximately 2000 rubles. The first one can be put into a motherboard with an AM3+ socket, and the second one into a 1151. Put it in, use it and save it for a further upgrade to the processors that I will indicate below.
Budget gaming processor
Budget gaming processor for 4-9 thousand rubles. These include Intel Core I3 / Pentium Kaby Lake (G4600, G4620, G4560), as well as AMD FX-6000. Budget processors are suitable for class video cards like Radeon RX 460, 470 or GeForce analogues - GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 TI.
At the moment, it is better to take a six-core AMD-FX 6300 processor for 5,000 rubles or a dual-core Intel Pentium G4560 for 4,000 rubles. The first is suitable for streaming due to the fact that it has 6 cores, while the second shows better performance in games.
Mid-range processors
Middle class for 7-14 thousand rubles. These include: AMD FX-8000 / any Intel Core I5. They are suitable for video cards of the Geforce GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 480 level. In this case, the optimal solution would be to take processors: AMD FX 8320e for 7,000 rubles or Intel Core I5 7400 for 12 thousand rubles.
Pre-top processor for 20-34 thousand rubles (AMD Ryzen 7, lower versions of I7 (I7-6700 and I7-6800K, also I7-700 and I7-7800K)). Processors of this class are the golden mean in terms of price and performance. They can handle graphics cards like the Geforce GTX 1070, GTX 1080, as well as the Radeon RX 480 or the upcoming RX 490. The pre-top segment is the minimum for serious streaming.
The optimal choice is Intel Core I7-7700K or AMD Ryzen 7 1700. Both cost approximately 21 thousand rubles.
Top processor
Top flagships for 60-120 thousand rubles are older versions of Intel Core I7 (I7-6900K and higher). Top flagships are worth buying if you are going to install two or more video cards, such as the GTX 1070 or GTX 1080, as well as the Geforce GTX Titan.
At the moment, buying such flagships does not matter, since in games there is no particular difference between such processors and, say, an Intel Core I7-7700K.
What to choose, AMD or Intel?
If you need a top-end system for streaming or gaming, take Intel. At the moment, the best processor for these purposes is the Intel Core I7-7700K (costs approximately 21,000 rubles). If you have the budget to buy it, take it. It runs all games at maximum and ultra settings.
If you have a limited budget, take processors from AMD. Let's say the FX-8320E processor costs only 7,000 rubles, and on its basis you can build a full-fledged gaming computer capable of running all new games. This processor will provide you with not only a smooth picture, but also a game without freezes and stutters. There is no alternative to this processor in terms of price and quality. In addition, this assembly can also be suitable for streaming or video rendering.
If you are ready to tinker with overclocking, take AMD. The performance of FX or Ryzen processors can be significantly increased by overclocking. FX processors need to be overclocked together with RAM, as they are sensitive to RAM speed. If you don't want to understand the intricacies of overclocking, then take Intel.
If you are planning to buy a cheap system for a further upgrade, take Intel. A good choice would be the Pentium G4560. In the future, it can be replaced with an Intel Core I7-7700, but you will have to buy a motherboard with a reserve.
If you need performance in single-threaded applications, take Intel. In terms of per-core performance, AMD is inferior to Intel by a large margin. This difference is especially noticeable in games and applications that are not optimized for multi-core processors. (These games include World of Warships and World of Tanks).
Is the Ryzen 7 line worth buying?
There are currently three Ryzen 7 models on the market priced from 21,000 to 35,000 rubles. In games they lag behind the Intel Core I7-7700K. This is explained by the fact that most games are not optimized for the new architecture and do not use all 16 threads.
After the release of Ryzen, prices for Intel products decreased. The Intel Core I7-7700K can be bought for about the same money (about 21 thousand rubles) as the younger AMD Ryzen 1700. At the moment there are no competitors for the I7-7700K, but if you suddenly do video processing or work in highly loaded applications, then AMD Ryzen 7 will be preferable to you.
What is better to buy, BOX or OEM processor?
The BOX version is sold in branded packaging and often together with coolers, which is most often significantly more expensive than the usual “loose” packaging. In addition, the boxed versions come with a 3-year warranty, and the loose ones - 1. It is best to take the OEM version, since this is a waste of money and the cooler that is in the package will be cheaper if you buy it separately.
How do I know how much weaker my old processor is than the one I want to buy?
There are many videos on YouTube for this, as well as many comparisons on the Internet.
When assembling a high-performance computer for resource-intensive dynamic games, a potential buyer is always faced with a choice: which processor to give preference to. After all, in addition to several branded manufacturers, there are many platforms on the market, each of which has its own flagship.
The focus of this article is the gaming processor. The reader will get acquainted with the manufacturers' proposals, find out which product is better in each price category, and also see the test results clearly.
Weak link
It’s better to start with the fact that all processors that are based on one physical core will not be considered. The fact is that there has long been evidence of the low efficiency of single-core platforms. Any attempt by a buyer to purchase such a gaming processor will not lead to anything good.
Firstly, most modern games are created for multi-core platforms (2-4 cores). The second criterion for the failure of a low-performance crystal is the inability to unleash the potential of a gaming video adapter. Naturally, the user has a lot of questions regarding the inoperability of an expensive graphics accelerator.
Also, experts in their reviews recommend that potential buyers not consider crystals operating at low frequencies as gaming solutions. It is better to set the minimum mark at the threshold of 3000 MHz. This condition affects not only personal computers, but also mobile devices, albeit with increased power consumption.
Pricing policy and games of manufacturers
There has long been an opinion on the market that the AMD gaming processor has the best value, and in terms of performance nothing can be found more powerful than an Intel crystal. There is some truth to this if we look at the problem from one angle, when we compare the number of cores and their operating frequency, but IT experts recommend focusing on the needs of the end user.
Almost all AMD crystals overclock superbly, which attracts the attention of potential buyers who want to save money. But for some reason, in reviews and tests there is no information about the heating of crystals and the necessary cooling. On the other hand, they attribute too many advantages that a modern game lover does not need at all. Therefore, a buyer who wants to purchase a fairly powerful device at minimal cost will have to become more familiar with the processors on the market.
Crystals of the previous generation
It's no secret that Intel processors based on 4 cores are still in demand among many fans of resource-intensive games. True, this solution will only be useful to those users who own a full-fledged ATX motherboard that supports 8 GB of RAM (4 sticks of 2 GB each). It is also recommended to pay attention to processor support. Very often, manufacturers of cheap motherboards do not work with powerful multi-core crystals.
A budget gaming Core Quad processor or a Xeon server solution paired with a gaming video adapter and a solid-state SSD drive can handle any existing game in the world. But you won’t be able to achieve perfectly realistic quality - there is a serious limitation on medium graphics settings. But such an inexpensive solution suits many users, so crystals for the socket 775 platform will be in demand for a long time.
Don't forget that the availability of two and four Xeon-based cores does not limit the performance of the old platform. There are still ultra-fast Extreme Edition crystals on the market, which can double or even triple the performance of the corresponding system (we are talking about Socket 775).
Available segment
The entry-level class of modern components is opened by AMD gaming processors with two cores of the A4 line. It would seem that what could be better than 2 physical cores operating at 3200 MHz! In addition, the chip has a built-in AMD Radeon HD7480 graphics core. However, during testing it turns out that the processor has obvious problems with mathematical calculations. The reason for this is the small amount of cache memory (and the processor has only two levels).
In the price category up to 2000 rubles, the A4 line has only one competitor - the 4th generation Intel Celeron. As practice shows, this budget crystal also has built-in graphics, but, unlike AMD products, it cannot be overclocked.
Both budget products are clearly not among the top gaming processors, but fans of low-power games (for example, World of Tanks) will like them, because using integrated graphics, at a resolution of 1600x900 dpi, the user will be able to achieve 50 FPS at medium quality settings.
Manufacturer's red herring
Readers have already encountered Intel Pentium G series processors for the platform more than once. The manufacturer claims that the new crystal is capable of surprising any buyer. Yes, the owner’s surprise will know no bounds when he decides to purchase such a product to replace the obsolete Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Any testing (synthetic or game) will confirm that there is no difference in performance between both processors.
In fact, this is the same crystal, which has been slightly improved. After all, the best gaming processor simply could not disappear from the market. However, the buyer's transition to a new platform opens up more opportunities for the player. Over time, you can increase the amount of RAM, change the processor or video card, which could not be done with an old motherboard.
Top seller
In the entry-level gaming class, AMD X4 series crystals with 4 physical cores are in great demand. The fact is that this particular product has become for many users a real golden mean in terms of price-performance ratio.
For many potential buyers who wanted to have 4 physical cores on one platform, the choice of gaming processor ended with just one manufacturer - AMD. The fact is that Intel has nothing to offer in the price category up to 10,000 rubles.
The FX series processors, which have 4 and 8 cores on board, have also proven themselves well in this class. The manufacturer has tried to saturate the sought-after market with interesting and affordable products. Here it is better for the buyer to focus on the first level cache and choose a crystal with the highest core frequency. After all, for AMD processors, these parameters primarily affect the performance of the entire platform.
winged swing
Intel gaming processors are also present in the entry-level class, but they are all limited to only two physical cores. Naturally, the buyer will clearly not like such an offer, but there is no need to rush to conclusions. As practice shows, Core i3 crystals are capable of much, and even outperform all competitors in performance.
Intel processors have a large cache size and do an excellent job with mathematical calculations, but they have serious problems when working with RAM. This is exactly what competitors take advantage of, selecting special tests that require the speed of information exchange between the processor and memory. In resource-intensive games that require a large amount of memory (for example, GTA 5), you can notice the difference in the operation of two processors (Intel and AMD), but not all games are so dependent on memory frequency.
Higher, faster, stronger
A powerful gaming processor in the price category up to 15,000 rubles is not so easy to choose. On the one hand, Intel offers its Core i5 solution, which is capable of handling any resource-intensive games that exist on the market. On the other side is the AMD team, which has prepared a surprise for all its fans by providing the crystal with a powerful gaming video adapter integrated directly into the processor.
Naturally, many buyers prefer the “2 in 1” system, because discrete graphics accelerators are not cheap and users simply do not want to overpay. But there is also the other side of the coin - the integrated video card “steals” RAM for its own needs, and the speed of exchange of this memory between the graphics processor leaves much to be desired (DDR3 versus DDR5).
How to deal with things?
In the mid-price category, it is not so easy to choose a gaming processor. “Which one to choose - Core i5 or A10?” - almost every second buyer is interested. Experts in their reviews recommend that beginners take their time and set priorities by deciding on their needs.
A powerful multi-core Intel chip will be of more interest to owners of high-performance gaming-grade video adapters, because only it can fully unleash the potential of a graphics accelerator. Also, the Core i5 is worth a closer look for people who are not only interested in games, but also work at a professional level with 3D graphics, modeling or video editing.
But for owners of budget video adapters who use all the resources of a personal computer for games, it is better to give preference to the AMD A10 series processor. And you shouldn’t get too carried away with overclocking such a crystal, because the thermal package of 95 Watts requires decent cooling.
Unique processors
An AMD gaming processor with six cores on board is clearly capable of attracting attention. After all, this is one of the few products on the market that combines affordable cost and high performance. Although many users in their reviews reproach the manufacturer for using 8-core solutions with locked cores to create such crystals, the fact remains that in the mid-range segment this processor is still considered the best choice.
An important factor responsible for performance is not the core frequency, but the installed cache. All 6-core platforms with this parameter are in perfect order: the crystal copes well with mathematical calculations and is quite competitive with Intel Core i5 products. The only thing that confuses us is the lack of an integrated graphics accelerator, which all fans of AMD products are so accustomed to. But still, the performance of the entire platform is more interesting to the buyer than an incomplete symbiosis.
Powerful gaming platform
Intel managed to attract the attention of potential buyers to its unique socket 2011 platform. The best gaming processor, Core i7 Extreme Edition, still ranks first in the performance rankings of all platforms. The only thing that confuses us is the price of such a solution - not every buyer is willing to pay 50,000 rubles for one crystal.
The main feature of such a system is support for three-channel RAM. Don't forget about the PCIex16 slots for graphics accelerators - they all also support accelerated data transfer and are focused on high performance of the entire gaming platform.
The only negative that owners pay attention to in their reviews is the cost of all components. A processor, memory, motherboard and several video adapters require quite significant financial resources from the buyer. On the other hand, such a platform is capable of handling any resource-intensive game.
New technologies are the key to success
After the new DDR4 RAM format appeared on the market, Intel hastened to surprise its fans with new crystals in the Core i3/5/7 line. True, under the slogan “Choose a gaming processor!” a well-known American manufacturer forgot to add that in practice the overall performance of the system does not increase in proportion to the cost of the crystals. As for professional computer use (3D modeling, video processing and working with complex mathematical calculations), such a platform is unlikely to be suitable. At least in terms of price-quality ratio, you can assemble a platform much cheaper.
Perhaps in the next few years, manufacturers will be able to significantly increase the speed of the platform, but at the moment there is no point in overpaying for the transition to Socket 1151 and 2011-3. Here it is better to follow the example of AMD, which did not decide on such an insidious plan to attract potential buyers to its products.
A new trend dictates conditions
In pursuit of a powerful crystal, most buyers try to save money on a video card. But gaming GPUs are the basic devices for running any resource-intensive games. As practice shows, it is better to save on a processor and take a powerful video adapter than to be content with a budget accelerator with a powerful processor.
In fact, in the media you can find quite a lot of comparisons of both video cards and crystals, but experts recommend focusing on market segmentation. Don't forget about integrated solutions. Often, such a purchase allows the user to get good performance and benefits.
Inexpensive AMD processors with four cores that have a small cache size are best purchased with integrated graphics. The crystal will not be able to unleash the potential of a discrete gaming adapter, but the user will be able to save a lot of money.
Mobile market with its own conditions
Gaming processors for laptops are practically no different from the components of a personal computer. The same price segmentation and performance division. True, there is another branch that significantly influences the choice of buyers. Intel crystals installed in laptops have low heat dissipation, while AMD products tend to get very hot due to increased power consumption.
As practice shows, for most users, a powerful AMD processor in a mobile device often causes trouble. However, experts in their reviews assure that the whole problem comes down to the human factor. The fact is that all gaming laptops need to be cleaned of dust frequently (2 times a year). Naturally, most users do not do this, blaming AMD for producing low-quality processors.
Gaming laptops
With mobile devices everything is simple - the buyer does not need to look for which processors are gaming and which are not. In the expensive segment, the manufacturing company independently calculated the performance of the entire platform and provided the end customer with a decent result. True, the choice is not as great as in the personal computer market.
Users can give preference to AMD A10 line crystals or look towards Core i5/7 processors from Intel. This is where the whole choice ends, and the potential buyer faces the problem of choosing a gaming video adapter with which the laptop is equipped. Once again, experts in their reviews recommend that beginners give preference to a powerful discrete video card at the expense of processor performance.
The right approach
Among sellers in the computer market, there is a special technique that allows you to quickly assemble a personal computer. Oddly enough, the gaming processor is not selected first. Preference is given to the motherboard and video adapter. Well, then comes the turn of choosing a crystal and RAM. At this point, the layout is completed by agreeing on the final cost.
And then everything is simple: the cost of the hard drive, power supply, case, monitor and other computer components is announced one by one. And the buyer decides whether he is willing to pay extra for equipment, or whether in order to purchase the necessary component he will have to sacrifice the performance of the personal computer as a whole.
This technique allows a potential buyer to understand what the difference is between components in different price categories, because the seller, when changing the configuration, comments on what games and at what settings will run on the assembled computer.
In conclusion
Choosing a gaming processor on the domestic market is quite easy. You just need to find out the system requirements for your favorite toy and choose the right components to build a gaming platform, focusing on your own finances. At first it seems difficult, but in practice everything is solved in a matter of minutes. The main thing is to always remember that the performance of the entire system depends not only on the processor, but also requires a powerful graphics accelerator with sufficiently fast RAM.
At the moment, the following disadvantages of AMD compared to Intel can be cited:
- An older technical process, as a result, increased heat generation.
- Excessive number of cores that are not always used.
- Lack of support for new DDR4 RAM
Eight-core AMD processors require a heatpipe cooler for cooling
Other points can be considered insignificant and accusations of other “sins” are nothing more than nit-picking. And in the budget (up to 10 thousand) segment, even these 3 accusations cannot be called significant. Problems with cooling processors with a power of up to 100 W are a thing of the past back in the days of the Pentium 4; not a single best budget processor of 2016 is equipped with eight cores, and DDR4 RAM is still a bit expensive.
After a brief overview of all the comments towards AMD, we can get straight to the point. The AMD FX-6300 review is intended to prove that the best budget processor for gaming in 2016 may well be a representative of the AMD brand. Of course, the newer FX-6330 could be considered instead, but there is no significant difference between them. At the same time, the “old man” is supported by a much larger number of motherboards, so preference was given to it.
AMD FX-6300 Review
AMD FX-6300 Key Features
AMD FX-6300 packaging
The AMD FX-6300 comes in the Tray package, that is, without coolers, in a regular box. It costs from 8 thousand rubles. There are also boxed modifications with a cooler, but they are about a thousand rubles more expensive. The characteristics of the AMD FX-6300 are as follows:
- 3 dual-core units with 2 cores each (6 cores in total), operating at a frequency of 3.5 to 4.1 GHz;
- 3 L1 cache blocks, 96 KB each;
- 3 L2 cache blocks of 2 MB each;
- Shared 8 MB L3 cache;
- Up to 128 GB of supported DDR3 RAM, frequency up to 1866 MHz;
- Bus with an effective frequency of 5200 MHz;
- Process technology 32 nm;
- Heat dissipation at 95 W.
Characteristics of AMD FX-6300 in the CPU-Z program
The AMD FX-6300 is installed in the long-known AM3+ socket, which may please owners of PCs purchased up to 5 years ago. Many AMD AM3 motherboards, after updating the BIOS to the latest version, begin to support bulldozers and piledrivers. And replacing 2 cores of some Athlon II X2 270 with 6 new ones is not a bad idea.
The processor case is traditional, with 942 legs and a cover that protects the crystal from chipping and improves heat dissipation. It contains the marking of the chip, the year the production of cores on this architecture began, data on the country of origin and a QR code.
Photo of AMD FX-6300 cover
AMD FX-6300 Features
The capabilities of the AMD FX-6300 are more than enough for operation. But since the chip is nominated for the title of “best budget gaming processor,” games should be the measure of its capabilities. For measurements, we used a high-end gaming video card GeForce GTX 680 2 GB (a little outdated, but not inferior to modern mid-level solutions). There was 8 GB of RAM, it worked at a frequency of 1866 MHz. Screen resolution is 1680x1050 pixels, graphics settings in games are the highest. Windows 7 x64 system and games were installed on a Kingston SSD. The already slightly outdated Core i3 -3240, which costs a little more (in comparison with it, the successors of the 4th or 6th series have become more economical, but their performance has hardly increased), and the quad-core AMD FX-4300 were also selected for the test.
Intel Core i3-3240 is the main rival of the FX-6300 in the test
Let's start with the mega-popular online RPG World of Tanks. The brainchild of Wargaming is distinguished by the fact that it was developed on the ancient BigWorld engine, which cannot work properly with a large number of cores. The platform was created back in 2006, when dual-core chips were just spreading their wings, and quad-core chips were a novelty.
At maximum graphics settings, at a resolution of 1680x1050, the FX-6300 demonstrates from 31 to 61 FPS. For comparison, the Core i3 3240 produces from 37 to 60 frames per second (due to the powerful two cores), and the AMD FX-4300 from 27 to 45 FPS. That is, even taking into account the far from modern engine, the performance in World of Tanks is good and does not fall below the conventional comfort limit of 30 fps.
The popular Elder Scrolls game, Skyrim, is also doing well. With the same high settings and monitor resolution, the processor allows you to develop from 50 to 80 FPS. The FX-4300 shows from 41 to 72 frames per second, but the Intel Core i3 is noticeably ahead, showing a maximum of 106 FPS (minimum 70).
But in Prototype 2, the FX-6300 fully justifies the title of “best budget processor for games.” It demonstrates from 54 to 80 FPS, which is 5% more than the Core i3-3240 (older and costing around 10 thousand). The junior model of the FX series, number 4300, produces from 40 to 66 frames per second.
In Hitman Absolution, the best budget processor for games in 2016, the FX-6300, is also good. It produces from 45 to 56 FPS, versus 39-48 for the mentioned i3 and 33-41 for the FX-4300 model.
In Far Cry 3, the hero of the review once again had the last word. It allowed you to squeeze out from 64 to 80 FPS from the game. The competitor from Intel showed 60-75 frames, and the quad-core “little brother” - from 50 to 65.
The last game in the test was the notorious GTA V. This game is often considered the standard of a heavy application, in addition, it is a cross-platform project. The fifth part of the Grand Theft Auto series gains from 30 to 42 FPS, which is quite good. The Core i3 3240 shows parity, delivering between 32 and 41 frames per second. But the quad-core FX-4300 is not far behind: the minimum 25 frames per second is not particularly attractive, but tolerable, and the maximum is 36 FPS.
Minimum FPS values in games
Average maximum FPS
Conclusion
The best budget processor for gaming in 2016, represented by the AMD FX-6300, fully justifies this honorary title. It demonstrates results that slightly exceed the average capabilities of the slightly more expensive and aging Intel Core i3 3240. The junior model in the line, called FX-4300, in principle also shows acceptable results, but in FullHD resolution the potential of this CPU will seem small. However, all 3 models are great for a budget gaming PC.
Vacations are in full swing, but the weather outside is not very good. What would you do with this? I suggest spending time with pleasure: playing computer games. Is your “old man” not up to modern toys? Maybe, . But which one?
Today's article is designed to help you decide on the choice of “pebble” for your gaming PC. The rating of the best processors as of mid-summer 2017 included models that showed the optimal balance in terms of performance and price. For your convenience, we have divided them into 3 groups: costing approximately $100, approximately $200 and approximately $300. So that no one feels left out, each group consists of a pair of processors - one Intel and one AMD.
Around $100: Intel Core i3-7100 and AMD FX-8320
Intel Core i3-7100
Yes, it has only 2 cores, but this drawback is compensated by a high clock frequency (3900 Mhz), support for DDR4-2400 memory and, to some extent, Hyper Threading technology, which allows the operating system to use each physical core as 2 logical ones. In addition, the “pebble” has good built-in graphics with support for 4k resolution at 60 Hz. Thanks to it, you will be able to do without a discrete video card if for some reason you put off purchasing one.
Specifications
- Microarchitecture: Kaby Lake (7th generation).
- Number of cores: 2.
- Clock frequency: 3900 Mhz.
- Socket: LGA1151.
- Process technology: 14 nm.
- Multiplier: 34, unlocked.
- L1 cache: 64 Kb (instructions + data).
- L2 cache: 512 Kb.
- L3 cache: 3072 Kb.
- PCI Express controller: yes.
- Technologies: Hyper Threading, EM64T (x64 support), Virtualization Technology (virtualization), Enhanced SpeedStep (power saving), hardware encryption, XD Bit, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSSE3, VT-x,MMX.
- Thermal power (TDP): 51 W.
- : 100 °C
The most attractive qualities of the Core i3-7100: high performance, reasonable price, integrated graphics and low TDP - the small cooler included in the kit is enough to cool the processor even under maximum load.
Disadvantage – it only works on Windows 10 (as well as Linux and Mac OS). Those who just can’t part with the “seven” and “eight” will have to choose – either the system or a new processor. By the way, this drawback applies not only to the Intel Core i3-7100, but to the entire Kaby Lake and AMD Ryzen line.
AMD FX-8320
8 cores, 4000 Mhz frequencies with the possibility of increasing to 4600 Mhz or more due to overclocking by a multiplier (here, unlike its competitor Intel, it is free), as well as support for DDR3-1866 memory perform well in multi-threaded games like Battlefield.
Specifications
- Microarchitecture: Vishera.
- Number of cores: 8.
- Clock frequency: 3500-4000
- Socket: AM3+.
- Technological process: 32 nm.
- Multiplier: 17.5, free.
- Integrated graphics: no.
- L1 cache: 96 Kb.
- L2 cache: 2048 Kb.
- L3 cache: 8192 Kb.
- PCI Express controller: no.
- Maximum supported memory size: 128 GB.
- Supported memory standards: DDR3-800/1066/1333/1600/1866. There is ECC support.
- Technologies: AMD64 (x64 support), Virtualization Technology, AMD PowerNow (noise reduction), Turbo Core 3.0 (increasing frequency during peak loads), NX Bit, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4, SSE1, SSE4.2, SSSE3, MMX, VT, XOP, TBM.
- Thermal power (TDP): 125 W.
Advantages of the AMD FX-8320: high performance, reasonable price ($115-120), the multiplier makes it possible to build an inexpensive gaming computer that will remain relevant for the next 3-4 years.
Disadvantages: very hot - requires a powerful cooling system, consumes a lot of energy, does not have a graphics core.
About $200: Intel Core i5-7500 and AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Intel Core i5-7500
The clock frequency of this processor reaches 3800 Mhz (or a little more) with dynamic overclocking, there is built-in video - the same as the i3-7100, and support for DDR4-2400 memory.
Specifications
- Microarchitecture: Kaby Lake.
- Number of cores: 4.
- Clock frequency: 3400-3800
- Socket: LGA1151.
- Process technology: 14 nm.
- Multiplier: 39, unlocked.
- Built-in graphics: HD Graphics 630.
- Graphics core frequency: 1100 Mhz.
- L2 cache: 1024 Kb.
- L3 cache: 6144 Kb.
- PCI Express controller: yes.
- Number of PCI Express 3.0 lanes: 16.
- Maximum supported memory size: 64 GB.
- Supported memory standards: DDR3L-1333/1600, DDR4-2133/2400.
- Technologies: Turbo Boost0 (increasing frequency during peak loads), EM64T, Virtualization Technology, Enhanced SpeedStep, Intel vPro (remote computer control outside the OS), hardware encryption, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSE4a , SSSE3, MMX, TBT 2.0, VT-x, XD Bit.
- Maximum temperature: 80 °C
Advantages of the Intel Core i5-7500: fast, cool (TDP 65 W), supports dynamic overclocking (Turbo Boost 2.0), has built-in graphics, and the Intel vPro function is implemented. The latter allows you to remotely edit the BIOS and run diagnostic tests outside the operating system by connecting to your computer over the network.
Disadvantages - no support for the universally beloved Windows 7, no hyperthreading, locked multiplier (for this price, as many believe, they could implement Hyper Threading and make multiplication free).
AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Processors based on the Zen microarchitecture, one of which is the Ryzen 5 1600, are characterized by low power consumption and TDP (which is unusual for the bulk of AMD products). In addition, the boxed model includes a compact, efficient and quiet cooler, the power of which is sufficient even with some overclocking.
Specifications
- Number of cores: 6.
- Clock frequency: 3200-3600 Mhz.
- Socket: AM4.
- Process technology: 14 nm.
- Multiplier: 32, free.
- Integrated graphics: no.
- L1 cache: 96 Kb.
- L2 cache: 3072 Kb.
- L3 cache: 16384 Kb.
- PCI Express controller: yes.
- Number of PCI Express 3.0 lanes: 16.
- Maximum supported memory size: 64 GB.
- Supported memory standards: DDR4-1866/2666.
- Technology support: multithreading, AMD64, virtualization, hardware encryption, Precision Boost (increasing clock cycles during peak loads), Pure Power (energy saving), SSE instructions, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSE4a, SSSE3, MMX .
- Thermal power (TDP): 65 W.
Pros of AMD Ryzen 5 1600: excellent performance at a moderate price ($200-210), low heating, low power consumption, overclocking, the ability to unleash the potential of any modern video card.
Cons: no integrated graphics, no support for Windows 7.
Around $300: Intel Core i7-7700K and AMD Ryzen 7 1700
Intel Core i7-7700K
Specifications
- Microarchitecture: Kaby Lake.
- Number of cores: 4.
- Clock frequency: 4200-4500
- Socket: LGA1151.
- Process technology: 14 nm.
- Multiplier: 42, free.
- Built-in graphics: HD Graphics 630.
- Graphics core frequency: 1150 Mhz.
- L1 cache: 128 Kb (instructions + data).
- L2 cache: 1024 Kb.
- L3 cache: 8192 Kb.
- PCI Express controller: yes.
- Number of PCI Express 3.0 lanes: 16.
- Maximum supported memory size: 64 GB.
- Supported memory standards: DDR3L-1333-1600, DDR4-2133-2400.
- Technologies supported: Hyper-Threading, Turbo Boost0, EM64T, Virtualization Technology, Enhanced SpeedStep, hardware encryption, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSSE3, MMX, XD Bit.
- Thermal power (TDP): 91 W.
- Maximum temperature: 100 °C
Strengths of the Intel Core i7-7700K: the best ratio of performance in games and purchase costs ($300-315), unlocked multiplier, high-performance video core. In short, a good foundation for the future.
Weaknesses: in case of overclocking, it requires a powerful, expensive cooling system; it does not support Windows 7.
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
“Under the hood” of this processor: 8 physical and 16 virtual cores, a free multiplier, 16 Mb L3, support for DDR4-2933, 24 PCI Express lanes (competitors have 16), the frequency of each core in dynamic overclocking is 3700 MHz, when overclocked by the multiplier – up to approximately 4100 MHz. There is no built-in video card, but the systems for which the Ryzen 7 1700 is intended do not need it. Besides, he's cold. Even under intense load (by the way, it is extremely difficult to load it 100%), it does not heat above 50 °C.
The cost of the model is comparable to the Core i7-7700K.
Specifications
- Microarchitecture: Summit Ridge (Zen).
- Number of cores: 8.
- Clock frequency: 3000-3700 MHz.
- Socket: AM4.
- Process technology: 14 nm.
- Multiplier: 30, free.
- Integrated graphics: no.
- L1 cache: 256 Kb (instructions + data).
- L2 cache: 4096 Kb.
- L3 cache: 16384 Kb.
- PCI Express controller: yes.
- Number of PCI Express 3.0 lanes: 24.
- Maximum supported memory size: 64 GB.
- Supported memory standards: DDR4-1866/2933.
- Technology support: multithreading, AMD64, virtualization, hardware encryption, Precision Boost, Pure Power, SSE instructions, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSE4a, SSSE3, MMX.
- Thermal power (TDP): 65 W.
- Maximum temperature: 90 °C
Advantages of AMD Ryzen 7 1700: amazing power, multitasking, versatility, energy efficiency. Disadvantage: there is no support for older versions of Windows.
According to many owners and experts, the Ryzen 7 1700 is AMD’s huge leap forward. The release of this processor showed that the Reds are not as hopelessly behind as they are thought to be, and are still capable of giving the Blues a hard time. As they say, they harness for a long time, but go quickly.
Updated: 02/13/2018 12:18:37
The Intel Core i5 series includes mid-range processors that are suitable for most users (even light gamers).
Which i5 processor to choose: what to look for?
When choosing an Intel Core i5 series processor, you should pay attention to the following device parameters:
Generation (determines socket and performance);
Base clock speed and heat dissipation;
Complete set (BOX or OEM).
Almost all processor parameters can be found directly from its name. More precisely, from the alphanumeric code, which is indicated immediately after the series and looks like “8350U”.
For example, the Intel Core i5-8350U belongs to the eighth generation, provides fairly average peak performance and is intended for use in ultrabooks. This is clear from the model code. The first digit in the entry – in this case “8” – means the generation of the model. The second is productivity. The higher it is, the higher the base clock speed of the processor. The last character - in this case "U" - indicates the type of processor.
Intel updates its processors annually. Therefore, as of the fourth quarter of 2017, the eighth generation of chips – Coffee Lake – is relevant.
The generation of chips determines not only performance and other operational characteristics, but also the compatibility of the processor with the motherboard. The fact is that the socket (connector) is updated approximately every two to three years. Thus, processors of the Haswell and Broadwell generations (fourth and fifth, respectively) are designed for installation in the LGA1150 socket, while Skylake, Kabu Lake and Coffee Lake (sixth, seventh and eighth) are designed for LGA1151.
Since there is no cross-compatibility between Intel sockets, you must select a processor based on which socket is installed in your existing motherboard. So, if it is equipped with LGA1150, then an upgrade or replacement of the processor is only available within the Haswell and Broadwell generations.
If you want to purchase a more recent processor, you will need to replace the motherboard with one equipped with the most current version of the socket (at the end of 2017, this is Intel LGA1151-v2, designed specifically for Coffee Lake).
Processor type
Intel Core i5 processors are available in various configurations. So, today you can find the following versions of chips on the market:
Y – for laptops and subnotebooks. Have the lowest energy consumption;
U – for ultrabooks. They have low power consumption, but optimal performance, especially in multi-threaded mode;
Q – quad-core versions;
K – versions with an unlocked multiplier. Provide the highest performance, suitable for gamers. They can be overclocked directly through the computer's BIOS.
It is worth considering that many Intel Core i5 models, which are sold in BOX and OEM configurations on the retail market, simply do not have a letter addition in their name. This means that these processors are designed for use in desktop systems and correspond in their capabilities and characteristics to Q-configurations.
Base clock speed and heat dissipation
The base clock frequency is a parameter that indirectly determines the performance of the processor. In fact, it’s not worth chasing its maximum value within the Intel Core i5 line. If you replace a seventh-generation processor with a base clock speed of 2.5 GHz with a processor of the same generation, only with 3.0 GHz, there will be no noticeable increase in performance.
But heat generation and energy consumption will increase. And these parameters will also have to be taken into account. You may need a new cooler and power supply.
Thus, the appropriate method for choosing a processor when upgrading is:
First try to find a more recent model (next generation);
If this is not possible, purchase a model with a higher clock frequency.
However, this is only true when upgrading within the Intel Core i5 family. If an upgrade is required to improve the performance of the computer, it is advisable to replace the chip with one belonging to a different family (i7).
Processor performance is determined by 2-4 digits in the model number. The higher the three-digit number they form, the faster the chip works.
Equipment
On the retail market, Intel Core i5 processors are available in two configurations – BOX and OEM.
The first one is really focused on the retail market. The BOX package, in addition to the processor itself, includes numerous instructions for it, a cooler with a mount, and a three-year warranty.
In the second option – OEM – the buyer gets only the processor. And its warranty is 1 year.
However, purchasing the BOX package is not advisable. It is more expensive than OEM, and the cooler included in it is usually not very productive and is quite noisy. Therefore, many professional assemblers immediately change it to some other one. The only advantage of the BOX package is the three-year warranty on the processor. But if the chip works for the first year without any complaints, it will function normally for the rest.
Resume
Thus, when choosing a processor, you should start from the characteristics of an existing one, and the selection method for upgrading is as follows:
Try to “raise” the generation. Sandy Bridge can be upgraded to Ivy Bridge, Haswell to Broadwell, Skylake to Kabu Lake or Coffee Lake, Kabu Lake to Coffee Lake;
If your computer already has Ivy Bridge or Broadwell generation processors installed, you can choose a more powerful chip configuration (with a higher clock frequency) or purchase a model from the i7 family;
If the computer already has a top-end Ivy Bridge or Broadwell processor installed, then the only way out is to replace the motherboard with a more recent one.
If we are talking about buying a processor for the first computer build, then it is advisable to look at models of the Lake families.
Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a guide to purchase.