Hardware – Page 2 – Game Voyagers

Figuring out the right pieces to optimize your rig for 4K gaming can be a pain with all the competing options available. Balancing your budget between a powerful GPU and an adequate CPU is often the most confusing part. Yes, the CPU absolutely does matter for 4K gaming, though not as much as it does while gaming on lower resolutions. A strong GPU is much more important than the CPU, thanks to how games are often developed. However, this isn't always the case, so we will cover what you need to keep in mind when making the CPU upgrade for 4K gaming. The Nature of Game Design As games have evolved, they have required an increasing amount of power to handle their graphical loads. Eventually, the GPUs left the sides of CPUs on the motherboard as companies like Nvidia and Radeon emerged to lead the way. Thanks to the GPUs being separate entities, developers began focusing their creations on using the power of the GPU instead of the CPU. Today most games are "GPU-bound," relying primarily on the GPU for most of their graphical processes. The CPU's Role in Modern Gaming With GPU's getting more powerful by the year and quickly becoming the most significant financial sink for a gaming PC, the role of the CPU has indeed shrunk for high-end gaming. Still, you don't want too big a gap between your CPU and GPU's quality if you want to experience games in their optimal form. Your CPU is essential for helping the GPU keep up with the game's processes, and if they aren't of comparably quality, a poor CPU can end up pulling your GPU behind. This does depend on the game, though, and also how you intend to play it. How 4K Gaming Relates to the CPU Traditionally the GPU is the primary workhorse, with the CPU following along at the best speed that it can. This is true for most lower quality games or those running at lower resolutions. Due to the GPU being able to render more, the CPU can struggle to keep pace if there is too much of a gap. The cool thing about 4K gaming for purchasing a CPU is how it changes the balance. With 4k gaming, the GPU will not be able to render as much, so the load decreases for the CPU. Even though the result is the inverse of what you would expect, 4K gaming manipulates the graphics enough that the GPU and CPU often stay pretty tight. Other Things to Consider Having a solid GPU alone isn't all you will need, but it is undoubtedly where you will want to invest the most if you are looking to enjoy 4K gaming. Making sure you have the right specs to play the game you're interested in should be the first thing you look at. As long as your computer can handle the game graphically, your CPU shouldn't hold you back much when it comes to 4K gaming. It is always best to match quality if you can, however, to lighten the load on your system.