When I was building my pc I overestimated how much your CPU affected the performance of your computer when playing games.
I wondered how much the CPU really affected my FPS, and realized I didn’t need a CPU as powerful as the one I bought for the games and tasks I was using it for on my pc.
Throughout this guide, I will explain how much your CPU really affects your FPS performance when gaming and what factors make a difference and improve your FPS.
Can Your CPU Affect FPS When Gaming?
There are many different factors in a CPU that will affect the performance and FPS you will get out of a CPU.
It is a good idea to take a step back and assess your situation to determine what type of CPU you need to buy, and what factors will more heavily affect your CPU performance depending on what you are using your CPU for.
The most important Things to keep in mind are:
- How much FPS are you looking to achieve when gaming
- How the CPU and GPU work together to improve performance when gaming
- If you need a CPU with integrated graphics and how it effects performance
- Whether you need a CPU with a higher core count or higher clock speed
- How GHz affects the performance of a CPU
- How to keep your CPU cool so you can do things such as overclocking
Going down this list will set a baseline for what type of CPU to purchase and how you can optimize the performance of the current CPU you are using.
I have written in-depth articles on all the topics at hand, so I suggest taking your time to read through all of them to figure out what you need to do to get the most performance possible out of your system.
How Much FPS Do You Need?
The baseline for most modern-day games is 60 FPS. As this framerate is where the images displayed on your screen start to appear very smooth.
This is especially true with most new high-paced shooters where a lot of actions are being performed on the screen and a good framerate can help you see what is going on.
It is also important to note that most affordable monitors are manufactured to have a 60Hz refresh rate.
A monitor with a refresh rate that is too low can cause your screen to tear, whereas a refresh rate that is too high can cause your game to render the same image twice.
This article I wrote about monitor refresh rates goes into greater detail about the topic.
Furthermore, you should also note that games are becoming more advanced, and having a higher framerate can give you a greater advantage when playing competitive games.
Therefore, obtaining a higher FPS will give you the advantage over an enemy player.
If you are looking to get an advantage when playing a competitive game, or are preparing for the future; then increasing your FPS to 120 or above is ideal.
This is even more important if you are looking to invest in a gaming monitor where the refresh rate is 144Hz or above.
How Do The CPU and GPU Work Together When Gaming?
How Do The GPU and CPU Work Together?
This article shows how the CPU and GPU are used to increase performance in games. Then, wraps it up by showing how they can work together to get the best performance possible
Read the articleDo CPUs With Integrated Graphics effect Performance?
Do All CPUs Have Integrated Graphics?
This article takes a deep dive into integrated graphics. How integrated graphics work, how it affects performance, and what CPUs support integrated graphics.
Read the articleDo More CPU Cores or Higher Clock Speeds Matter More For Gaming?
Higher Clock Speeds or More Cores When Gaming?
This Article goes in-depth on how more cores and higher clock speeds can improve your performance when gaming. It also talks about what games benefit from higher core count, and what games benefit from a faster clock speed.
Read the articleHow Does GHz Affect the CPUs Performance?
What is The Meaning of GHz, How Does it Affect Performance?
This article is a very detailed guide explaining what CPU GHz is, and how it can improve performance. It gives suggestions on how many GHz you need in your CPU depending on what you are doing.
Read the articleWhy Keeping Your CPU at an Ideal Temperature Can Improve Performance
Why Managing Your CPU Heat Matters
This article explains the importance of keeping your PC at an ideal temperature, how a cool PC can improve performance, and provides ways to keep your CPU cool
Read the article