pc games hardware cpu benchmark

PC Games Hardware CPU Benchmark: A Simple Look at What Makes the Difference

You know, when folks talk about the best CPUs for gaming, it can be a real muddle to figure out what’s what. It’s like when someone tells you that a certain kind of potato is the best for making mashed potatoes—sounds fancy, but when you boil it down, all potatoes do the job. Well, that’s how it feels when talking about all them fancy processors, but I’ll try to explain it in simple terms, like how I’d explain a good old-fashioned game of checkers. Let’s take a look at what really matters in CPU performance for gaming, and which ones are up there at the top.

Now, first thing you gotta know about CPUs is that they’re like the brain of your computer, the one doin’ all the thinking and making sure everything runs smooth. When it comes to gaming, some brains just work faster and smarter, making them the champions. And when you talk about the performance of these brains, there’s something called a benchmark that tells you how good they are at doing the work. These benchmarks are numbers folks use to compare one CPU to another, kinda like how you might compare the size of potatoes by weight.

CPU Benchmarking: What’s That All About?

Alright, so let me break it down for you. You might hear about something called the CPUMark score, which is just a number that shows how well a processor does its job. The higher the number, the better the CPU. It’s like if you were pickin’ out potatoes and one was bigger than the other—well, the bigger one’s usually gonna do more work, right? So, a high CPUMark means your computer’s gonna run faster and better, especially when you’re playing them newfangled PC games.

Now, back in the day, a CPUMark of 8,000 was considered pretty good, especially for a new machine. But nowadays, folks are talkin’ about numbers higher than 20,000—meaning the processors today are working like racehorses compared to the old workhorses from a few years ago.

What About the Best CPUs for Gaming?

If you’re lookin’ for a CPU that’s gonna give you smooth gameplay, especially for them demanding games, then you gotta pay attention to what’s on top right now. As of 2024, the Intel Core i9-13900KS is sittin’ pretty at the top for single-core performance, meaning it does the best job at handling one thing at a time really fast. It’s like when you need a potato to cook up quicker than the others—this one does the job in no time flat, with a score of 3,136 on the Geekbench tests.

But hold on a second, AMD isn’t far behind. In fact, they’ve been the ones folks are talkin’ about the most when it comes to gaming. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the fastest gaming chip right now, and it ain’t even close. You can say it’s like comparing a plow horse to a thoroughbred—this AMD chip is up to 35% faster than Intel’s own top-of-the-line chip, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, at running games in 1080p. That’s a big difference when you’re tryin’ to get smooth gameplay without any lag. AMD’s chips, especially their X3D models, have been way out ahead for over two years now, with no signs of slowing down.

Why AMD and Intel Are Battling for the Top Spot

So, why does all this matter? Well, if you’re building yourself a PC to run them games you love, picking the right CPU is key. It’s like building a good house—you need a solid foundation. A faster CPU means quicker load times, smoother framerates, and less time spent waiting around for the game to catch up with you. And right now, AMD’s winning when it comes to gaming performance, thanks to their X3D chips.

But that doesn’t mean Intel is out of the picture. They’ve been working hard to catch up, and they still make some of the best processors for general computing. But for gaming, AMD has had the upper hand for a while now. Still, if you want to go with Intel, that Core i9-13900KS is a solid choice for single-core performance, so it’s good for games that need one thing to happen real fast, like when you’re playin’ an action-packed shooter or racing game.

What You Should Look for in a Gaming CPU

• Core count: More cores can handle more tasks at once, but games often care more about how fast the CPU can do one thing at a time. So, for gaming, focus on the clock speed and single-core performance.
• Speed: A CPU’s clock speed tells you how fast it can go. Faster means better, but it also needs to be balanced with how well it can handle gaming workloads.
• Cache: The cache is where the CPU keeps the things it needs to do quickly. A bigger cache can help speed things up, especially for games that need quick access to data.
• Thermals: A CPU that runs too hot will slow down. Make sure your system has good cooling if you’re goin’ for one of the high-end CPUs.

In the end, whether you pick Intel or AMD, the key is knowing what you’re lookin’ for. If you want a CPU for gaming, you’ll want something that can handle the heavy lifting and make sure you’re not left waitin’ around. The benchmarks, like CPUMark and Geekbench, help you figure out which ones are really worth your time and money.

Wrapping it Up

When it comes to picking a CPU for your gaming rig, there’s no one-size-fits-all. You gotta know what you need and pick accordingly. But right now, AMD’s X3D chips are the ones to beat if you want the fastest gaming experience. Intel’s still got some good options, especially for single-core tasks, but for now, AMD’s lead in gaming is strong. Keep an eye on those benchmarks, and make sure your CPU can handle the games you love playin’—whether that’s the latest blockbuster or a good old-fashioned RPG.

Tags: [PC Games, CPU Benchmark, Gaming Hardware, Intel vs AMD, Best Gaming CPU, Single-core Performance, AMD Ryzen, Intel Core, Geekbench]