Which i7 for gaming

The only time an Intel Core i7 from the latest generation or better is truly justified for gaming is when you want to play AND stream your games at the same time on services like Twitch or YouTube. When streaming your game, you not only have to ensure that your CPU has enough juice to play the game on high graphics, but also make sure that it has the capacity to encode your streams for your online viewers. Encoding can be taxing on your system. The higher the resolution and graphics settings on your game and the higher the encoder quality settings, the more powerful CPU with a higher core count you will need.

Most professional streamers who game at QHD or 4k resolution do not shy away from investing on a Core i9, let alone a Core i7. Yes, the newer 10th and 11th gen i7 processors with 8 cores and 16 threads are particularly great for gaming and streaming.

As mentioned earlier, streaming can eat through your core count. Hence a CPU with a high core count can certainly improve the experience. Generally, if you have budget to spare, do not go for CPUs older than a couple of generations. For instance, the flagship 11th gen Core i7 for laptops i. Compare this to Passmark score by desktop-based flagship Intel Core iK 11th gen processor.

So is Core i7 good for gaming? To summarize, the answer to this question depends upon two factors:. In addition to that, popular online eSport titles do not require a powerful CPU. In fact, an Intel Core i3 CPU from a relatively newer generation is quite sufficient for a popular online games.

If you work at home, you may want something that can handle everything, like our best overall choice: the AMD Ryzen X.

What do you use your PC for? Are you spending most of your time surfing the web and word processing, or are you performing heavier tasks like content creation? How much multitasking do you need to do?

This is particularly useful for graphic designers, media editors, and other people whose work requires a lot of numbers to be crunched or images to be rendered. A gaming processor doesn't need to have the top specs in terms of core count, but it should be able to handle heat and it should have fast clock speeds and overclocking.

Processors that are overclockable are marked by having a "K" at the end of their name. The i3 may be fine for basic browsing and word processing, while the i5 will work for a mix of workflows along with some gaming. Depending on what you plan to do, these or an affordable model from AMD's Ryzen lineup could be better buys.

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Twitter LinkedIn. Updated on May 10, Tweet Share Email. The Rundown. Best Overall:. Best for Graphic Design:. Most Popular:. Best for Gaming:. Best Older Model:. Best for Content Creation:. However, you definitely don't need the newest chipsets in order to game confidently a processor will typically be upgraded every years. We personally recommend going after a high-end previous generation CPU and then spending that extra money on a new graphics card, as an older GPU is going to bottleneck your system far more than a year or two old chipset will.

Gaming in Quad HD p in high refresh rates or 4K60 on PC doesn't need to be crazily expensive, and you can sure save a few bucks by opting for a just-as-capable 11th-gen i5 as opposed to an i7. Or an i9 monster, for that matter. The higher clock speed on the iK means it can hold its own effectively against Ryzen alternatives and some of the 11th generation i7 on CPUs on a base level from a purely gaming perspective as well.

That's to say nothing of the overclocking potential afforded by said-higher clock speed, with the potential of being able to be dialled up all the way to 4. If you're after a faster-than-light setup for gaming at a competitive price, there isn't much better from Rocket Lake's revisions for the money. Want the best CPU for gaming?

According to benchmarks, the x fits the bill nicely. It's a remarkable feat of engineering - in terms of pure gaming performance, it outshines all of the 10th-generation Intel Core line, as well as holding its own well against the i and ik. Because they're the processor's direct competition and because Intel's ruled the roost for a long time , that's pretty significant. This success comes down to how effectively AMD has managed to optimize their chipsets for modern gaming performance, with that mantra being the sole intention of these processors out of the gate.

The long and short of it? For the asking price, you can't get any better processor for gaming in With its staggering core 24 threads architecture, it's no surprise that this Ryzen processor is an absolute beast for just about any task put in front of it - especially high-end gaming in 4K at exceedingly high frame rates when paired with a capable graphics card, of course.

With that said, if you're only interested in a processor from a raw gaming perspective, then the x is absolute overkill.

If you're in the creative field and need a real workhorse that can effortlessly game as well and you've got the money , there's no doubt that this is the one to get. In terms of speed, it's the best CPU for gaming. We've personally sworn by the ik since its introduction, having used it in one of our own recent desktop builds. At the same time, one of our current laptops, a Razer Blade 15 Base, also utilizes a 6-core mobile version of the chipset H , and it's absolutely bulletproof.

The best thing about the k is not only its availability on the market but also its price in ; it's a significant amount cheaper - and easier to find - than the current 11th generation. And although Intel opted not to pursue hyperthreading with this particular batch of processors instead preferring to bump the core count up , that still results in faster gaming performance in some instances than its 10th-gen rival.

In terms of raw performance, it's not going to be the CPU which bottlenecks - or restricts - your system's full potential either. If your main goal is gaming, you of course can't forget about the graphics card. So be sure to check out Best Graphics Cards page, as well as our GPU Benchmarks Hierarchy to make sure you have the right card for the level of gaming you're looking to achieve.

You can see some of those numbers in the charts above, including overclocked performance results marked as PBO for AMD processors. This group of results comprises only the chips that have passed through our newest test suite, while the tables in our CPU benchmark hierarchy include rankings based on past CPU benchmarks, and also include breakdowns of single- and multi-threaded performance across a broad spate of processors. Finally, the pricing in the charts above represents MSRPs.

Given the current state of chip shortages, you likely won't find many of these chips at these prices at retail. Coupled with the snappy single-threaded performance, this is the gaming chip to beat.

The K comes with six threaded P-cores that operate at 3. That's paired with 20MB of L3 and 9. The chip supports 16 lanes of the leading-edge PCIe 5. Most gamers will enjoy the lower price and comparable performance of DDR4, but you can step up to the more expensive DDR5 if you need access to more memory throughput. The K comes with a maximum power rating of W, but the chip sucks significantly less power than its prior-gen counterpart while delivering much more performance in gaming.

The lowered power consumption allows the chip to work well with a wide variety of standard air and water coolers, but you'll need to make sure your model supports the LGA socket. Speaking of which, you'll also need a new series motherboard for the processor, and Z models are currently your only option. You can find a wide selection of high-end models that support DDR5 memory, and although you'll only find lower-end and mid-range DDR4 motherboards, there's still plenty of selection available.

The AMD Ryzen 5 X takes the top spot in the gaming PC market with a solid blend of Intel-beating performance in both gaming and application workloads. The Ryzen 5 X even beats the Intel Core iK at gaming, which is an incredible feat given its price point.

Not to mention that it's the most power-efficient desktop PC processor we've ever tested. That makes the X an incredibly well-rounded chip that can handle any type of gaming, from competitive-class performance with high refresh rate monitors to streaming, while also serving up more than enough performance for day-to-day application workloads.

The Ryzen 5 X has a 3. The chip also has a 65W TDP rating, meaning it runs exceptionally cool and quiet given its capabilities the previous-gen model was 95W. Existing AMD owners with a series motherboard will breathe a sigh of relief as the X drops right into existing series motherboards.

You can also drop the chips right into series motherboards. If you need a new motherboard to support the chip, both and series motherboards are plentiful and relatively affordable, with the B lineup offering the best overall value for this class of chip.

The Intel Core iK is the fastest gaming processor on the planet. It's also the uncontested leader in x86 single-threaded performance. The chip comes with eight P-cores that support hyper-threading, and eight single-threaded E-cores for a total of 24 threads. The P-cores have a 3.

Meanwhile, the E-cores have a 2. This K has a W PBP base and W MTP peak power rating, but we recorded considerably lower power consumption than its prior-gen counterpart, and you get industry-leading performance in exchange.

You'll need to buy a capable cooler for the chip, and you'll also need a new series motherboard. You can find a wide selection of high-end motherboards that support DDR5 memory, and although you'll only find lower-end and mid-range DDR4 motherboards, there's still plenty of selection available.

High end desktop processors have long offered the ultimate in performance, as long as you were willing to pay the price. Aside from high MSRPs, the chips also require expensive accommodations, like beefy motherboards and the added cost of fully populating quad-channel memory controllers.

Add in the inevitable trade-offs, like reduced performance in lightly-threaded applications and games, and any cost-conscious users who could benefit from the threaded horsepower of a HEDT chip just settle for mainstream offerings.