How many cores for gaming?

[boyu]

Does anyone know how many cores modern AAA games can utilize?

[Arika]

Just now, boyu said:

Does anyone know how many cores modern AAA games can utilize?

A large majority still rely on a single core. Any game that supports multiple cores will generally be able to utilise all of them in one way or another

[GoldenLag]

2 minutes ago, Arika S said:

A large majority still rely on a single core. Any game that supports multiple cores will generally be able to utilise all of them in one way or another

A modern title using modern APIs will usually utilize up to around 6 cores/threads. There are a few exceptions like CIV V/VI that can use even more cores, but for the moment 6 cores is the "limit".

 

@boyu out of curiosity, why are you asking?

[Princess Luna]

9 minutes ago, boyu said:

Does anyone know how many cores modern AAA games can utilize?

6 cores, 'threads' don't count.

[boyu]

3 minutes ago, Princess Cadence said:

6 cores, 'threads' don't count.

So 6C 12T would be overkill?

[EthanCoow]

6 minutes ago, boyu said:

So 6C 12T would be overkill?

For now anyway.

[Princess Luna]

Just now, boyu said:

So 6C 12T would be overkill?

I said threads don't count >:/

 

No listen, for the longest time we only had quadcores, so the greatest majority of games is effectively optimized for it, hyper-threading and SMT think of that as a feature that makes each individual real core about 30ish% better, don't think it's extra thread is any where close the actual core.

 

However there's more to it, since latest games fully utilize 4 cores you have to keep in mind that you still have OS and background/side stuff running, so hyperthreading like 4c/8t CPUs showed great improvement in relieving the choke.

 

Although nowadays we have perfectly affordable 6c/12t processors with the Ryzen 5 2600, and I'd take it over any current day quadcore by Intel, since it'll provide all the cores your games are likely to need while keeping just enough free to ensure your system is still running butter smooth.

[xg32]

5 hours ago, boyu said:

So 6C 12T would be overkill?

i'm gonna try and give u a very clear cut answer This gen i've built a 8600k and a 8700k coming from 2600ks.

 

The 8600k gets to 100% load on so many things i'd deem hyperthreading a necessity (thank god the 9900k can be used on z370), not to mention it actually bottlenecks a 1080 ti slightly.

 

ACU, FC5, Kingdom Come, Monster Hunter World (!!), Shadow of War, Ark Downloading and moving over 80mb/s on steam (!!) unzipping stuff. Running ANYTHING in the background while playing AAA games, you can be sure it'll only get worse with time. (I don't care about poor optimization when the 8700k can run it better)

 

I probably missed a couple.

 

No complaints about the 8700k other than meltdown, if the rumored speed of the 9900k/soldering turns out to be true i'm upgrading that too.

 

 

[boyu]

On 2018/8/26 at 5:54 PM, GoldenLag said:

A modern title using modern APIs will usually utilize up to around 6 cores/threads. There are a few exceptions like CIV V/VI that can use even more cores, but for the moment 6 cores is the "limit".

 

@boyu out of curiosity, why are you asking?

@GoldenLagI'm just trying to find a proper CPU for my new machine

[boyu]

On 2018/8/26 at 6:11 PM, Princess Cadence said:

I said threads don't count >:/

 

No listen, for the longest time we only had quadcores, so the greatest majority of games is effectively optimized for it, hyper-threading and SMT think of that as a feature that makes each individual real core about 30ish% better, don't think it's extra thread is any where close the actual core.

 

However there's more to it, since latest games fully utilize 4 cores you have to keep in mind that you still have OS and background/side stuff running, so hyperthreading like 4c/8t CPUs showed great improvement in relieving the choke.

 

Although nowadays we have perfectly affordable 6c/12t processors with the Ryzen 5 2600, and I'd take it over any current day quadcore by Intel, since it'll provide all the cores your games are likely to need while keeping just enough free to ensure your system is still running butter smooth.

So if I get something with 6c12t, those extra threads can be used for other programs and the system? I think I'm going to go with 6c12t or 8c8t, leaning towards 6c12t

[Princess Luna]

5 minutes ago, boyu said:

8c8t, leaning towards 6c12t

Exactly, nowadays for a GAMING only computer your best choice is a 6 cores CPU.