General buying tips and current buying recommendations

Even the most modern games do not need a high CPU to run at decent FPS values. Because the graphics card plays the biggest role when it comes to the number of frames per second that your computer can render. However, a powerful CPU can definitely provide a boost or prevent the graphics card from being fully used due to CPU limitation. A CPU upgrade or CPU upgrade package with a mainboard and, if needed, RAM can be just as useful as a new graphics card. We explain how and why your CPU can limit gaming, give you tips on currently recommended sockets and CPUs for your gaming PC, and more.

There are CPUs for an entry-level computer for under €100. The second best gaming CPU is available for €490 – it’s hardly weaker than the best gaming CPU, which in turn costs close to €700. You can find out which models are included later in the article. But we’ll start with the CPU limit first. Since the FPS i.e. frames per second you have available in a game depends on the overall system. However, it can also unnecessarily limit your CPU or graphics card.

Jams in the computer

An FPS limit that is not due to a specific limit in the game but to the CPU or graphics card and causes relatively low FPS values ​​is colloquially referred to as a bottleneck.

For example, it may happen that the weaker graphics card provides only 40 FPS in new games, even though your CPU will allow 80 FPS. A more powerful CPU doesn’t help here. Conversely, the CPU can also slow down the system: if, as in the example, the current CPU hits a maximum of 80fps, then the graphics card that can achieve 120fps will be slowed down and only render about 80fps. per second.

So the CPU is the limit here. Of course, it is better if you have a combination graphics card and CPU that can deliver acceptable high FPS values ​​for you even in modern games.

In general, even an entry-level CPU is sufficient for gaming in order to easily reach over 60 FPS with a good graphics card, which is a kind of magic target limit for many. In essence, CPU games are rather demanding, since they are designed mostly for console CPUs aside from graphics.

You should at least pair a powerful graphics card like the MSI GeForce RTX 4080 Gaming X Trio with a modern 8-core CPU.
Source: MSI

Divide the budget between the CPU and the graphics card

Let’s say you have 1,000 euros available for your graphics card and CPU. Pairing a $100 CPU with a $900 graphics card isn’t a good idea.

But 200 to 300 euros for a CPU and 700 to 800 euros for a graphics card results in a very powerful duo. Of course, if you can afford it, you can also use a high-quality CPU to lay the foundation for many years, during which you only occasionally need a new graphics card to be able to play the latest games with high FPS values.

However, with many computers, it is difficult to judge which of the two components should be upgraded first. Since mostly new games are tested with different graphics cards, but with the highest current CPU you can get a good idea of ​​your graphics card performance.

If, according to testing, you can easily manage over 60fps in a new game, but you might only have 40fps, it smells almost like a new CPU. If you analyze your PC with tools, it is important to know that CPU or graphics card usage in games can be tricky.

Because it may be because the CPU or graphics card is generally not fully utilized, but a component of the CPU or graphics card is very good at full load. For example, loading a single core of an older 4-core CPU can slow down FPS, even though the CPU load is generally only 40 percent.