What is a Decent CPU Speed for Gaming in 2024?
Hey friend! As a long-time gamer and computing enthusiast, one question I get asked a lot when building a new gaming rig is – what‘s a good CPU speed for the ultimate gaming experience?
It‘s a great question, because the processor is at the heart of any gaming system. While there are recommened specs for individual games, as an overall guide I‘d say a speed of 3.5 GHz to 4.5 GHz is a sweet spot in 2024.
But CPU performance isn‘t just about speed anymore! There are a few key factors in play:
CPU Cores and Threads
Gone are the days when games relied on raw clock frequency alone. Modern games are designed to leverage multiple cores and threads – allowing them to process game logic and graphics rendering in parallel.
This is why you need a CPU with at least 4 to 6 physical cores in 2024, with multi-threading support. Here‘s a look at how core counts have improved over generations for Intel and AMD processors:
| CPU Generation | Intel Core Count | AMD Ryzen Core Count |
| 6th Gen (Skylake) | 4 Cores | – |
| 7th Gen (Kaby Lake) | 4 Cores | 8 Cores (HEDT) |
| 8th Gen (Coffee Lake) | 6 Cores | – |
| 9th Gen (Coffee Lake) | 8 Cores | 12 Cores |
| 10th Gen (Comet Lake) | 10 Cores | 16 Cores |
| 11th Gen (Rocket Lake) | 8 Cores | – |
| 12th Gen (Alder Lake) | 16 Cores | – |
| 13th Gen (Raptor Lake) | 24 Cores | – |
As you can see, there has been a significant jump in the number of cores across generations. Games like Assassins Creed, Far Cry and Battlefield can utilize up to 6-8 cores effectively.
I‘d go with an octa-core i7 or premium hexa-core i5 CPU for the best experience today. Ryzen 7000 and new Intel 13th gen chips take it even further with up to 24 cores!
Quick Tip: Hyperthreading (Intel) / SMT (AMD) splits each core into two virtual threads, effectively doubling them for software scheduling. Games derive 10-15% extra framerates from this!
Instructions Per Clock (IPC)
Along with sheer core count muscle, per-core performance has seen major IPC uplifts recently.
IPC or Instructions-per-Clock tells you how much work each CPU core can accomplish per cycle. The higher the IPC – the better!
Check out the phenomenal generational IPC gains from AMD‘s latest Ryzen 7000 CPUs based on the efficient 5nm Zen 4 architecture:
| CPU Generation | IPC Improvement |
| Zen 3 (Ryzen 5000) | 19% Faster than Prior Gen |
| Zen 4 (Ryzen 7000) | 31% Faster than Prior Gen |
Similarly for Intel, the hybrid Performance-Efficiency core design on 12th Gen Alder Lake CPUs delivered a 20% average IPC uplift over 11th gen Rocket Lake chips.
The latest 13th Gen Raptor Lake goes a step further on the P-Core front with boosted clock speeds.
IPC boosts have a direct impact on gaming fps, as you extract more performance from every CPU cycle at same clock speeds.
Overclocking Headroom
Here‘s where buying an unlocked enthusiast-class CPU pays dividends for gaming. Both AMD and Intel‘s K-SKU chips are designed for easy overclocking to hit speeds between 4.5 GHz to 5.0 GHz out of the box depending on cooling.
For instance, Intel‘s Core i9-13900KS can hit an insane 6.0 GHz through thermal velocity boost. AMD‘s upcoming Ryzen 9 7950X3D V-Cache flagship will also offer bountiful OC headroom.
This allows you to push frame-rates even higher in games limited by serial code. With beefy cooling you can gain an extra 10-15% performance from overclocking alone!
Per-Game Needs
Ultimately as you decide on what CPU speed is sufficient for gaming, also factor in the recommended requirements for the games you play.
Certain simulation and strategy games rely more on single-threaded grunt, while fast-paced shooters and battle royale titles can leverage many cores.
As an example, here is a comparison of how two popular games fare across entry-level, mid-range and high-end CPUs:
| Dota 2 (FPS) | Call of Duty MW2 (FPS) | |
| Intel Core i3-12100F | 162 | 71 |
| Intel Core i5-13600K | 246 | 148 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | 297 | 201 |
See the difference in scaling? Dota 2 relies more on IPC and clocks, while COD MW2 can take advantage of more cores.
I‘d recommend going with a mid-range 6-8 core CPU as the best value option. But make sure to match against the publisher recommended specs!
Impact of Other Components
Lastly, while rushing out to grab the fastest, meanest CPU might seem tempting, don‘t neglect other components like the GPU.
Getting an overpowered CPU that isn‘t balanced by equivalent graphics horsepower could lead to a bottleneck. You won‘t leverage the full CPU performance during gaming!
At 1440p resolution, an entry level RTX 4080 is a good match for 8-core 5GHz CPUs. While flagship RTX 4090 class GPUs pair well with 16 core monsters like the 13900K and 7950X.
- Clock Speed: 3.5 – 4.5 GHz offers the optimum gaming experience in 2024
- Cores / Threads: At least 6 to 8 physical cores, with SMT/HyperThreading
- IPC: Faster per-core throughput directly accelerates gaming fps
- Overclocking: Pushing enthusiast K-SKU CPUs to 5.0+ GHz gains extra frames
- Game Requirements: Some favor high IPC for simulation, others need core count
- Compatibility: Match your CPU with an equivalent GPU to avoid bottlenecking
So don‘t get carried away chasing peak GHz alone! With rapid improvements in efficiency, core counts and overclocking potential – modern CPUs deliver excellent gaming performance across different areas.
Picking the right processor that balances speed, longevity and price is key for building a gaming rig in 2024. Let me know if you have any other questions!
