what is the cheapest CPU that can max out EVERY game?

[FuzzyYellow]

That's not maxing out every game.

then what is? we're talking about 4k here. It's way more dependant on the GPU than the CPU.

[Sam Z Man]

then what is? we're talking about 4k here. It's way more dependant on the GPU than the CPU.

Well if a better processor is getting higher framerates with the same GPU and it's beyond the margin of error, then your definitely not maxing it out.

[TrinityHigh]

I would think the best bang for the buck for just gaming is the Intel i5 4690K!

[Glenwing]

then what is? we're talking about 4k here. It's way more dependant on the GPU than the CPU.

 

If a G3258 can't max out a game at 1080p, it won't be able to max it out at 4K. Increasing the resolution won't make things easier for your CPU, and if your CPU is the limiting factor in your framerate it won't get higher by increasing the resolution.

 

For example, in StarCraft II at 1080p, my i5-2500K can only get about 45fps in large battles. When I increase the resolution to 4K, I still only get about 45fps, because my GPUs (dual 780 Ti's) are still way overkill and my CPU is still the limiting factor.

 

If your GPUs are still enough to handle the increased resolution and your CPU is still the limiting factor, then your framerate will be as it is at 1080p. So, if a CPU is not powerful enough to max a game at 1080p, it will be exactly the same at 4K, unless your GPUs can't keep up in which case your framerate will be even lower. But in no situation would you need less CPU power because you increased the resolution.

[Prysin]

i5 4460

most modern games you can max out with a Athlon 860k/i3 4360. Most newer games are so GPU bound, that after a while, you see little to no real improvement in the games. Even a Athlon 860k at stok settings an reach 60FPS + with a 970/980 at max settings in almost every game. There is exceptions ofc

older games that use dual or single core only can only ever be maxed on a i5 4460 or higher.

[Mew]

There is none. Every hardware will bottleneck in each situation. An overclocked 4690k would still bottleneck LoL because it's a single threaded game. 

[Majestic]

The question in the OP is ill-defined. The correct answer is; any CPU capable of booting windows and the game is capable of maxing the game, since you defined no requirements or user experiences.

 

"maxing" is one of those buzzwords, much like "bottleneck" and "lag" that make no sense out of context.

 

Being able to set the settings to the maximum AND still having a respectable framerate, does not imply you can't have better framerates with a faster CPU. 

Sure, at higher resolutions, or with weaker graphics cards, you run into diminishing returns, but they will still increase with a faster CPU. Especially the min. fps and frametime consistency. 

 

The i5-4460 is a potent CPU, but a 4790K or 4690K @ 4.5ghz will still get more saturation out of the proposed TitanX.

 

http://www.pcper.com/image/view/58470?return=node%2F63310

http://www.pcper.com/image/view/58544?return=node%2F63312

http://pclab.pl/zdjecia/artykuly/chaostheory/2015/05/w3/charts5/w3tx_ultra_cpu.png

 

But a 6.5 ghz 4790K will still have more fps. Hence there will always be a "bottleneck" or determining factor, like kurahk7 mentioned. So eventhough the i5-4460 gets you respectable framerates with fast GPU's, there is still reason to get a faster chip.

[IMPERIUS]

i5-4440

[Delusional Phil]

Apply sarcasm a bit more, lad.

I don't have any to begin with  :mellow:

 

i5-4460 with GTX 980Ti would maxed out 1440p 60 Hz , the soon to be niche for FPS/Resolution , for now at least ... 

[ThomasD]

I think you're missing the point. a g3258 CANNOT max out every game at 4k, at all. Gotta do some research mate. Infact, none of those cpus will max out 4k in any way, shape, or form.

 

Higher resolution =/= Better cpu performance

Higher resolution = = More gpu usage, so less noticed cpu bottlnecking, the gpu will bottleneck first

I think you are misunderstanding the jargon.

 

Think of it as "getting what you can get."  So, as you note, in 4k the GPU will be the ultimate bottleneck, therefore a less powerful CPU will not be a noticeable problem.

 

Unlike at a lower resolution, where the GPU will take all the CPU can deliver.  And in which case you will want a better CPU.

 

To the OP:  Realistically speaking you will not see appreciably better performance with most any given GPU/game combination above an i5-4460.  

 

But that will change in the next couple years as more demanding games roll out.

[Biggerboot]

My 4670 has problems running large cities in Cities: Skylines. Not possible to get stable 60FPS.

 

Obviously a special case.  Cities can give any CPU a run for its money.

 

I'd go as far as to say an i3-4160 would be just as good as an i5-4430 in most gaming situations because its single thread performance actualy rates slightly higher on passmark, and its overall score is only ~1000 less.  The reason is probably due to higher clock speed.

[ThomasD]

That's not maxing out every game.

Think of it another way - Would you get better performance by swapping to a different CPU?

 

If not then you are "maxxed out."

[Syfes]

A better CPU will always result in some increase in performance for some games. Please define what you mean by "maxing out", because if you're looking for the point where additional CPU capacity wouldn't have any tangible result in any game... well then I'm afraid that CPU just doesn't exist yet

[FuzzyYellow]

If a G3258 can't max out a game at 1080p, it won't be able to max it out at 4K. Increasing the resolution won't make things easier for your CPU, and if your CPU is the limiting factor in your framerate it won't get higher by increasing the resolution.

 

For example, in StarCraft II at 1080p, my i5-2500K can only get about 45fps in large battles. When I increase the resolution to 4K, I still only get about 45fps, because my GPUs (dual 780 Ti's) are still way overkill and my CPU is still the limiting factor.

 

If your GPUs are still enough to handle the increased resolution and your CPU is still the limiting factor, then your framerate will be as it is at 1080p. So, if a CPU is not powerful enough to max a game at 1080p, it will be exactly the same at 4K, unless your GPUs can't keep up in which case your framerate will be even lower. But in no situation would you need less CPU power because you increased the resolution.

of course, but that's only with a severe CPU bottleneck. in pretty much every other game, the max fps for a G3258 is about 70-90. this is well above the 30-60 that a Titan X could get at 4k.

[typographie]

CPUs aren't rendering pixels so they don't generally have an effect on whether or not you can "max out" a game, or what resolution at which you're able to run it. They affect framerates, particularly at the higher-end, but usually regardless of your in-game graphics settings.

[Nena Trinity]

The answer is FX if you aim for 60 FPS and do not play GTA V...

But i5 for 144 FPS and is probably better if you play poorly optimized games!

[FuzzyYellow]

Well if a better processor is getting higher framerates with the same GPU and it's beyond the margin of error, then your definitely not maxing it out.

did you look at the graphs? in almost all the games, the overclocked G3258 (4.5Ghz) was beating the overclocked 4790K (4.7Ghz) by 1-2FPS. I know this is well within the margin of error, but still. I think it proves my point.

 

the stock settings are hard to compare because the 4790K has a stock clock of 4Ghz, plus turbo boost, and the G3258 has a stock clock of 3.2Ghz with no turbo boost. That's a big difference.

[Prysin]

It is to an extent.

how about no?

[Atmos]

I think you are misunderstanding the jargon.

 

Think of it as "getting what you can get."  So, as you note, in 4k the GPU will be the ultimate bottleneck, therefore a less powerful CPU will not be a noticeable problem.

 

Unlike at a lower resolution, where the GPU will take all the CPU can deliver.  And in which case you will want a better CPU.

 

To the OP:  Realistically speaking you will not see appreciably better performance with most any given GPU/game combination above an i5-4460.  

 

But that will change in the next couple years as more demanding games roll out.

I hate your logic, but see it. As I had said, the gpu will most likely bottleneck first, but the difference you would see going from an Athlon 860 to a real cpu like a 4460 even at 4k would still be huge,especially in games like Arma where even my 4790k oc'd at 4.7ghz will bottleneck my 270x

[ThomasD]

I hate your logic, but see it. As I had said, the gpu will most likely bottleneck first, but the difference you would see going from an Athlon 860 to a real cpu like a 4460 even at 4k would still be huge,especially in games like Arma where even my 4790k oc'd at 4.7ghz will bottleneck my 270x

Not "my" logic at all.  If it were up to me we'd throw out all these misleading sorts of shorthand.

 

Starting with "bottleneck."  Not because it is a bad word, but because the majority of people who use it have no idea what they are actually talking about (i.e. those, unlike you, who do not recognize that a bottleneck is not only hardware, but application specific.)

[Atmos]

Not "my" logic at all.  If it were up to me we'd throw out all these misleading sorts of shorthand.

 

Starting with "bottleneck."  Not because it is a bad word, but because the majority of people who use it have no idea what they are actually talking about (i.e. those, unlike you, who do not recognize that a bottleneck is not only hardware, but application specific.)

Glad to see someone who sees that too. Which is why I hope at least we can agree that if you're going to game at 4k,do not buy an Athlon 860k yes?

Better safe than sorry

[Glenwing]

of course, but that's only with a severe CPU bottleneck. in pretty much every other game, the max fps for a G3258 is about 70-90. this is well above the 30-60 that a Titan X could get at 4k.

 

You're missing the point. What CPU is required to max out a game is completely independent of resolution. If your GPU becomes a bottleneck at 4K when it wasn't one at 1080p, then that's a separate issue, but it doesn't increase the CPU's maximum possible framerate. It just sets an even lower limit based on the GPU.

 

The question you're answering is "what CPU do I need to stay ahead of what my GPU can handle?" But let's look at your answer a little more closely in the context of "what CPU can max out every game", and we'll say that "maxing out" a game means maintaining 60fps at high settings.

 

What you're saying is that at 1080p, you need an i5-4460. So then, this means a G3258 is not enough to get 60fps. Let's say it's only enough to get 40fps. If you change the resolution to 4K, you'll still only be able to get 40fps no matter what graphics cards you  have, because your CPU will be maxed out at 40fps if your graphics cards aren't already. What you're saying is that at 4K, the graphics card will most likely limit you to an even lower framerate, thus hiding the CPU limit.

 

But even if that's the case, the CPU is still not enough to max out the game. It's just that your graphics card is ALSO not enough to max out the game.

 

So no, at 4K a G3258 is not enough to max out every game.

[FuzzyYellow]

You're missing the point. What CPU is required to max out a game is completely independent of resolution. If your GPU becomes a bottleneck at 4K when it wasn't one at 1080p, then that's a separate issue, but it doesn't increase the CPU's maximum possible framerate. It just sets an even lower limit based on the GPU.

 

The question you're answering is "what CPU do I need to stay ahead of what my GPU can handle?" But let's look at your answer a little more closely in the context of "what CPU can max out every game", and we'll say that "maxing out" a game means maintaining 60fps at high settings.

 

What you're saying is that at 1080p, you need an i5-4460. So then, this means a G3258 is not enough to get 60fps. Let's say it's only enough to get 40fps. If you change the resolution to 4K, you'll still only be able to get 40fps no matter what graphics cards you  have, because your CPU will be maxed out at 40fps if your graphics cards aren't already. What you're saying is that at 4K, the graphics card will most likely limit you to an even lower framerate, thus hiding the CPU limit.

 

But even if that's the case, the CPU is still not enough to max out the game. It's just that your graphics card is ALSO not enough to max out the game.

 

So no, at 4K a G3258 is not enough to max out every game.

the OP asks what is the minimum CPU to max out games with a Titan X. a G3258 can do that.

[Glenwing]

the OP asks what is the minimum CPU to max out games with a Titan X. a G3258 can do that.

 

He said "the other parts don't matter, let's say you have a titan x".

 

He's only giving an example, the idea is that you have a situation where you have as much GPU power as you need.

 

And, you're still missing the point. If you consider an i5-4460 capable of maxing out games at 1080p, but a G3258 not capable of maxing out games at 1080p, then changing to 4K gives you 2 possibilities:

 

(A). If you're still CPU-bound at 4K, your framerates will be exactly the same as they are at 1080p. If you don't consider that framerate as "able to max out games" at 1080p then I don't see how it would be any different just because you're at 4K.

 

( B). If you're now GPU-bound at 4K, your framerates will be even lower than they were at 1080p. If you didn't consider that as "able to max out games" I don't see how you could consider getting even lower framerates as "able to max out games" just because your GPU is the problem now, and not the CPU.

 

Again, you're answering the wrong question. A G3258 is not able to max out all games at 4K, it doesn't matter whether you have 4 TITAN X's or a GTX 750 Ti. That's just a question of whether the CPU will limit you, or something else will set an even lower limit.

[FuzzyYellow]

He said "the other parts don't matter, let's say you have a titan x".

 

He's only giving an example, the idea is that you have a situation where you have as much GPU power as you need.

well then, if there's no theoretical GPU limit, then there's not going to be a CPU on the market that will keep up to an infinite amount of GPU horsepower.