If you are tinkering with your PC and wondering which processor to buy based on my graphics card , you are in the right place!
Yes, many hardware beginners and gamers make this mistake which costs them (literally) dearly by imagining that only the graphics card is essential for gaming.
However, the GPU and the CPU must be harmonized . So that you can choose your PC processor for your PC graphics card, we offer you this article which will allow beginners to no longer make these mistakes.
3 beginner mistakes to avoid when buying your processor!
A processor powerless against a powerful graphics card
You've been dreaming of this powerful graphics card for gaming, allowing you to play all the games you want , graphics at maximum and 60hz minimum!
But when you launch the game, disaster! It's like your graphics card is useless. Have you checked the processor power?
Yes, this is a common mistake among hardware beginners . Remember that it is your computer's processor that performs the calculations.
In other words, if your graphics card sends too much data to it to process and it does not have the capacity to do so, your gaming graphics card is automatically restricted !
At that point, you can't exploit the potential of your new GPU, which is a shame considering what a gaming graphics card costs.
This is valid for anyone carrying out graphic projects on a PC.
Do not calculate GPU-CPU balance
Now that you know that it is necessary to balance the computing powers of the two PC components , how can we know if they are compatible?
First, you can do it by eye. Indeed, getting used to the hardware and technologies will know if the frequency (Ghz) and the number of cores is adequate for their graphics card.
Secondly, there are websites allowing you to enter your computer components and obtain a score like this one https://pc-builds.com/calculator/
Finally, although this is not an error but more a lack of consistency, it is interesting to optimize the components of your PC as much as possible by choosing the same manufacturer for your processor as for your graphics processor , such as with an AMD processor. , you were opting for an AMD graphics card and not an Nvidia graphics card.
Don't pay attention to the processor socket!
Excited at the idea of acquiring their new processor, many beginners came back disappointed from the store to see that it could not be integrated into their motherboard…
The processor socket is the socket into which it fits on your motherboard. You understand that purchasing a processor adapted to this socket is essential for using your components.
What is the use of a powerful processor?
To give you an idea, the most common sockets are LGA1155 , LGA1150 and LGA1151 (at Intel)
As we defined above, if you have a powerful graphics card and exploit its full potential, you will have to invest in a CPU correspondingly at least i5, i7 or FX.
If this is the case, it is because you are a gamer and want to play games on games requiring a lot of resources, so it is essential for you to have a graphics processor suitable for gaming .
Graphic designers, photographers and video editors are not left out and will need powerful processors to use their professional software.
In any case, don't be fooled by the packaging, make sure that your graphics card and processor are balanced while benefiting from good value for money.
How to choose the right PC processor?
Now that we have defined the main mistakes that you could make as a beginner with the hardware of your desktop computer, we offer you a buying guide so that you can choose the right processor for your PC , adapted to your graphics card .
Determining CPU Power
This is the question that immediately comes to mind when we are told about a computer processor: how powerful is this processor? How to determine it? This is described on the boxes with 2 elements:
- Processor frequency
- The number of cores of the processor
We invite you to take a look at these 2 components just below!
Processor frequency
When you look at the technical characteristics of a processor, you come across a value in Ghz .
This corresponds to the frequency of your processor which determines its calculation speed. It's quite simple, if you want a powerful processor for a powerful graphics card , this figure will need to be as high as possible!
Look at the frequency of your graphics card and compare it with that of your processor. The two components of your gaming PC must be balanced.
We advise you to have a processor with a frequency slightly higher than that of the graphics card. For daily use 1.2 Ghz to 2.5 does the trick, however, for gaming, you will need to go with at least 3 Ghz for large video games.
However, this calculation frequency does not become more efficient beyond 4Ghz simply because no processor goes beyond that. This is why the number of cores of your processor is another factor to know.
The number of cores of the processor
A more important factor than frequency, the number of cores will determine the high performance of your processor and gaming PC . CPU core count represents the number of processors present in your chip. But what use can this be?
When you play, your processor doesn't just run your graphics card, it calculates a whole bunch of data and open software in the background.
Thus, a large number of cores makes it possible to process several tasks at the same time (this is why your smartphones have an impressive number of cores of up to 8 cores).
Therefore, it is more interesting to have an Intel with 4 cores and 2.5Ghz than a 3.5Ghz processor for a single core . This is an essential fact to take into account that beginners can forget, that of not focusing on frequency.
TPT consumption
Secondary but important factor if you do not have an efficient cooling system (fan and liquid): the TPT consumption of your processor.
The more powerful your processor, the more energy it consumes and therefore the more likely it is to overheat. So make sure that your cooling system with ventilation or liquid system is sufficiently effective to avoid overheating and the sad loss of your PC processor and even your computer in the worst case.
Cache memory
Like human beings, your gaming PC needs:
- Long-term memory represented by the hard drive
- Short-term memory (cache memory of your components, RAM, etc.)
Therefore, your gaming processor needs sufficient cache memory to be able to store and process recently sent information.
It's simple, if you don't have cache memory, your game won't even start and will only lag. Hence the importance of having one sufficient and adapted to your gaming graphics card.
Rest assured, it is very rare that with a powerful processor you end up with a ridiculous 2MB cache memory.
In general, for a classic processor from 1.2 to 2.5 GHz , the cache memory is 2 to 6 MB for a maximum of 25 MB.
System bus speed
We are starting to get into the somewhat complex hardware details. As a beginner, we will simplify these details as much as possible to allow you to know whether or not your processor is good and compatible with your gaming graphics card.
The system bus speed is a data expressed in GigaTransfer per second . Your processor needs the help of your RAM (random access memory) to perform its calculations. A constant transfer occurs between these 2 computer components such that the higher the transfer speed, the higher the calculation speed of your processor.
As with cache memory, we would like to reassure you: most system bus speeds are 5GT/s which is very good for graphics software and gaming . You don't need to rack your brains over it.
However, beware of unpleasant surprises for your CPU!
Our FAQ on the balance between processor and graphics card!
It is completely normal for some questions to remain unanswered, especially on a subject as specialized as the graphics card processor relationship .
This is why we suggest you finish this guide for beginners by answering all the questions you might have about these PC components!
What budget for a processor?
As you can imagine, computer components are not cheap. However, it is important to remember that (if you have chosen them well) they will last you a few years.
Obviously, the price will depend on how you use it! We do not advise you to go for a cheap and low-end processor. At first it may not be adapted to your powerful graphics card.
Secondly, you will be limited as soon as you want to do some somewhat complex things (gaming even on games requiring few resources, photos, videos, etc.).
As we said, your processor will in part be dictated by your graphics card.
However, plan on around €150 for a quality processor . For gaming on games with a lot of resources to manage, you will have to start with a minimum of €300.
Which brand to choose in Intel and AMD?
The gaming processor market can be summed up as competition between the two brands AMD and Intel. Theoretically, you will have no difference in choosing one CPU over another, however be careful of the fact that if you had purchased a gaming computer with an integrated processor and graphics card, it is possible that the socket will only be suitable 'to the brand previously established on your gaming PC.
Indeed, it is the socket of the processor which will largely determine the purchase of it between the 2 brands, these taking care that you do not have the choice on your motherboard to take them one more than the other.
How do I know if my processor matches my graphics card?
As we have seen, it is important that your gaming processor and graphics card are balanced so that you can benefit from the power of the CPU and GPU with complete peace of mind .
But how do I know if my gaming components are? First of all, we told you about the processor frequency which must be similar to the graphics card frequency in Ghz .
We also advised you to have a frequency of your gaming processor slightly higher than that of your graphics card.
Anyway, once installed, you can test the balance of your 2 hardware components using websites like the following https://pc-builds.com/calculator/
For gamers, sites like https://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/ will let you know if your graphics card-processor pair will be able to support the next game you want to play.
What to look for when choosing your graphics card?
To ensure that your processor is perfectly compatible with your graphics card, you must first know more about the important specificities of the card.
If you plan to play the latest releases in 4K and 120 Hz, you will have to choose from the latest generations of graphics cards which are always more and more powerful and optimized, both in terms of power and consumption!
There are also differences between models from AMD and Nvidia. Difficult to understand all this for a young geek!
Power and speed of a graphics card
For each graphics card model, there are characteristics that will allow you to gauge performance.
In other :
- raw power TFLOPS
- CUDA cores
If you compare these elements on two graphics cards of the same generation, you will know which one is more powerful!
For example, a higher number of frequency cores, TFLOPS or CUDA on one of them will tell you who wins.
With new generations of graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX, there are new indicators to watch!
This is the case of Nvidia RTX graphics cards with Turing architecture, in which we now have measurements of giga-rays per second and RTX-OPS.
It is therefore necessary to compare all of the characteristics mentioned, in these cases the Tensor Cores and the RT Cores.
The amount and type of memory on graphics cards
Although raw power is an important factor when choosing your graphics card, the type of memory and its bandwidth (measured in GB/s) must be taken into account!
And be careful because a graphics card with the same GPU can vary in performance depending on the amount of memory! So be careful...
Connectors, power supply and video outputs
Don't make the mistake of buying your graphics card only looking at the performance it can offer you!
The number of connectors offered by the card will determine how you use it! Are there enough connectors to accommodate multiple PC monitors? What maximum resolution is supported? As well as compatibility!
Maximum consumption
To find out the maximum consumption authorized by the card, the overclocking possibilities and the power requirements, refer to the TDP .
Cooling system
Be careful with standard cooling systems, as the noise at full performance of the graphics card will totally depend on it, if you hate noise, watch out for this!
Manufacturer's Editions and SLI
For each new release, the two giants AMD and Nvidia complete their models with personalized editions in different aspects and often include interesting options!
Among other things, an improvement in the cooling system, more ports and connectors, and the possibility of overclocking!
How do I change my computer's processor and graphics card?
Once you have purchased your CPU and graphics card, all that remains is to install them! Installation can be tricky if you are not used to handling laptops or desktop computers in the bowels of the hardware. However, it is easier than it seems.
In fact, depending on the models of your gaming PC (laptops or) you will first open it. Normally, you will find yourself facing the fan .
With a screwdriver you will disassemble it and finally be able to access the processor just below the ventilation system.
For more details we invite you to search for the model of your PC and watch an explanatory video.
