How many CPU cores do games need? bit-tech article

[Marine-RX179]

I saw this article post over at the bit-tech today, and though it might provide something to think about when choosing CPU for gaming:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2010/07/05/how-many-cpu-cores-do-games-need/1

Do feel free to post you own opinion of what you make of it.

 

[Marine-RX179]

*skips to the conclusion* nothing I didn't know already really. but I guess it's nice for those who read reviews but don't ask on forums for advice.

Well, many people are still buying 1055T instead of 955BE for a gaming rig, despite the 955BE is a) cheaper b) more likely to overclock to 4.0GHz with the unlocked multipler c) 1.5MB of shared L3 cache per core (6MB divide by 4 cores) instead of 1.0MB of shared L3 cache per core (6MB divide by 6 cores)

 

[Marine-RX179]

because they are old gamers that were programmed to worth with 2?
most games in development will use more

I guess you must have miss this:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2010/07/05/how-many-cpu-cores-do-games-need/5
BFBC2 is considered as one of the best multi-cores optimised game there is, but even that is only using the cores at 20-60% CPU usage (look at the line graphic!), which means the game really just need 3-4 cores.
No offense but I think by the time that 6-cores become a common standard or required for gaming (not going to be in the near future), I think the Phenom II K10 architecture, or even the i7 980X would be considered as too obsolete...

 

[Marine-RX179]

i don't think L3 cache works like that..

i think the cores thats be used gets more of the L3 cache.... example if core 0 and 1 is underload they get more of the access to the L3 cache

Well, I only said what I said base on what bit-tech mentioned in their review for 1090TBE:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2010/04/27/amd-phenom-ii-x6-1090t-black-edition/2
"The X6 1090T BE has the same 6MB of shared Level 3 cache as the X4 965 BE, a significant 33 per cent reduction per core. Each of the core's Level 1 and Level 2 caches remain the same size though; 128KB and 512KB respectively."

 

[Marine-RX179]

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat ? i found bc2 to have stuttering pausing etc on a core 2 duo soon as I went to quad (at the same clock speed) all that went.

They clearly have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to that game.

never liked bit tech anyway think their hardware reviews are shallower than a puddle.

bit-tech didn't say that in the article...

The "BFBC2 - No benefit from having more then 2 cores" you quoted was the interpretation of the person who posted it...

From the article:
"Interestingly it seems Nvidia requires three cores to get going whereas ATI only needs two. We repeated testing on both cards and found the results to be consistent. That said, using an ATI card also seems to cause slight performance dents with triple and five cores versus four and six - something which doesn't happen with Nvidia."

What they are saying is the 5870 can reach reasonable frame rate with just two cores, whereas the GTX470 need 3 cores to push it to reasonable frame rate.

HD5870: 2 cores min 48fps, average 71fps
HD5870: 3 cores min 45fps, average 73fps

GTX470: 2 cores min 37fps, average 54fps
GTX470: 3 cores min 42fps, average 62fps

 

[Marine-RX179]

I'm not too sure about this you know. I've just gone from an E6600 (was running 400x9 for 3.6ghz) to I5 750. Using the same video card and same amount of RAM as I was before and the difference is nothing short of astounding. All the games I've tried so far have been much better, much smoother and much higher average frame rates.

For me 4 cores are working much better than the 2 I had before. Perhaps the difference with the newer dual v quad is not as apparent as it was for me. The E6600 is a fairly old chip but it did me proud. Suppose it'll be different for everyone!

I think the "modern day dual core" that Freddie1980 was referring to are highly overclocked (i.e. 4.0GHz+) E8000 series and i3 530, not slower Core2Duos.

 

[Marine-RX179]

http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,...nom-strong-Update-Lynnfield-results/Practice/

resident 5 begs to differ so why didnt they use it? its well known as a cpu intensive game

Well, I think frame rate gap for the the results would shrink between Dual vs Quad, if the CPUs were overclocked to their air-cooled max (i.e. E8400 at 4.5GHz) instead of comparing at stock speed (i.e. E8400 at 3.0GHz).

 

[Marine-RX179]

For GTA IV, from what I read about the GTA IV...the PC port was poorly optimised for using two cores or less, rather than the game being demanding.

So is it really fair to say the dual-core are incapable because of poor coding/porting? Just wondering.

Edited: Didn't they later released a patch, and then dual-core works fine afterward?

 

[Marine-RX179]

personally I'd like a standard to be introduced that developers work with. Most games are more than 1 core these days, Assassins Creed, Force Unleashed and mass effect 2 all need a dual core minimum. But what happens when games start being 3\4\5 core minimum. It's going to happen, developers like to push games to reach their biggest potentional and that will result in hardware to suit. My upgrade is going to be a 6core with overclock potentional, Maybe the clocks arent as high as some of the dual and quads but the extra cores I believe will keep the Processor useable for longer in the future when it comes to new releases.

I do agree that since most games are using 2 to 3 cores, so it's best to get a decent Quad and overclock it.

However, I don't think it make sense to buying Hex core now, simply because by the time that games (and I don't mean one or two games, but like at least 30% of the games) are actually require the processing power of 6 cores (could be 5 to 10 years later), the current Hex core CPU, or even the i7 980X could be considered old and obsolete by then, and history will repeat itself and people will be buying 8-12 cores CPU dispite games only need 6 cores

 

[Marine-RX179]

i bought a 1055t so i can game and still do other stuff.

i can play a game and transcode some of my missus cam corder footage at the same time and not even notice it while gaming

That make sense. I guess it really down to how the users use their PC. If gaming only and not really doing other demanding tasks in the background at the same time, then a decent Quad would be enough, however if having other semi-demanding tasks/applications running in the background while gaming (like your example), then I guess Hex core CPU would be a good idea.