Just like GPUs, you need a capable CPU for developing and designing games.
In this article, we list the best CPU for game development (Unity, Unreal Engine, Houdini, etc).
Overclockable, high base frequency and plenty of cores makes it the best choice for game development and design.
The AMD Ryzen 9 is a multi-core performance beast.
The AMD Ryzen 5 is a solid budget CPU for game development and design
Overclockable, high base frequency and plenty of cores makes it the best choice for game development and design.
The AMD Ryzen 9 is a multi-core performance beast.
The AMD Ryzen 5 is a solid budget CPU for game development and design
Last update on 2024-05-14 at 15:39 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Which Processor Is Best For Game Development?
The Intel Core i9 and AMD Ryzen 9 take the best spot of the best processors for game development.
These are very high-performance CPUs that have numerous cores and very high clock speeds.
In developing or designing AAA title games, these two should be your top choices.
Best CPU For Game Development Buyer’s Guide
Here are a few things to know when looking for the best CPU for game development and design.
Type of Game Being Developed or Designed
Knowing the type of game you develop in terms of how demanding it will be is very important because if you design AAA title games.
You need hardware that can run AAA title games smoothly. The same applies to less demanding games.
You don’t need powerful hardware if it’s going to be a 2D game or a light game. You don’t need a nuclear bomb to kill an ant. You just need a shoe or something small that will get the job done.
The same applies to game development and design. Choose the right hardware that will get the job done. This will also serve as the minimum and recommended system requirements for gamers.
Number of Cores and Threads
The more the number of cores and threads. The more powerful the CPU/processor.
This allows the CPU to complete tasks in a short period of time and efficiently because while one core is working on a task, another core is working on a different one.
If you are planning to develop a game that is more CPU-intensive, then it makes sense to get a great CPU.
For example, CS: GO is more CPU-intensive than GPU. Because it makes use of the CPU’s resources more than the GPU.
Clock Speed
Clock speed measured in Hz is the speed of the processor. The higher the Hertz (Hz), the faster the number of instructions it can complete.
Ideally, in developing AAA title games you need a CPU with numerous cores and high clock speeds.
Budget
Yes, CPUs cost money. The most powerful CPUs can cost quite a lot, so knowing what type of game you want to develop and how much you are willing to spend is very important.
This allows you to get the best bang for the buck when you plan on creating a CPU for game development and design.
When choosing a CPU for game development, there are several important factors to consider to ensure optimal performance and efficiency in your workflow. Here are some key tips:
Key Factors for Choosing a CPU for Game Development
Factor |
Description |
Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|
Core Count and Threads |
CPUs with higher core counts and threads allow better multitasking and efficiency. |
Essential for running multiple development tools simultaneously. |
Clock Speed |
Higher clock speeds process instructions faster, crucial for compiling and testing. |
Consider both base and turbo boost speeds. |
Architecture and IPC |
Newer architectures and higher IPC mean better performance and efficiency. |
Higher IPC results in better performance even at lower clock speeds. |
Compatibility |
Ensure compatibility with your motherboard, RAM, and cooling system. |
Check socket type and RAM support. |
Graphics Support |
For graphically intensive games, support for high-end dedicated GPUs is important. |
Integrated graphics may not suffice for advanced development. |
Thermal Design Power (TDP) |
Indicates the heat generation and power consumption of the CPU. |
Higher TDP usually requires better cooling solutions. |
Cache Size |
Larger cache allows for faster data access and speeds up tasks. |
Important for efficient development and testing. |
Future Proofing |
Consider a CPU that remains relevant and powerful for a longer period. |
Invest in a CPU with more power than currently needed. |
Budget |
Balance your budget with the performance requirements of your projects. |
More expensive CPUs usually offer better performance. |
Remember, the best CPU for you depends on your specific game development needs, the software you use, and your overall system configuration. It’s also a good idea to consider how the CPU fits into your entire system, including RAM, storage, and GPU, to ensure a well-balanced machine.
Best CPU For Game Development Reviewed & Rated
➕ Pros
- Very fast processor
- Can be overlocked
- Great for content creation and gaming
➖ Cons
- Needs a powerful cooler
Operating Frequency: Up to 5.2 GHz | Max Frequency: 5.2 GHz | Number of Cores and Threads: 10 Cores and 20 Threads | L3 Cache: 20MB |TDP (Thermal Design Power): 125W
One of the best and most powerful processors from Intel. The Intel Core i9 is the most popular choice amongst gamers, video editors and content creators in general.
This is a very fast and high-performance processor making it a great choice for developing and playing AAA title games.
High clock speeds with turbo boost frequency and numerous cores make it easy to run the demanding tasks and applications.
Furthermore, you can overclock the Intel Core i9 to unlock more performance. The catch is that you need a very good cooling system because the Intel Core i9 runs very hot.
Overall, the Intel Core i9 is a powerful CPU and one of the best CPUs for game development. Highly recommended if you develop and design 3D AAA title games.
➕ Pros
- Best multi-core performance
- Overclockable
- Power efficiency
- Good price-to-performance ratio
➖ Cons
- Needs a powerful PSU
- Requires some serious cooling
Operating Frequency: Up To 4.8 GHz | Max Frequency: 4.8 GHz| Number of Cores and Threads: 12 Cores and 24 Threads | L3 Cache: 70MB |TDP (Thermal Design Power): 105W
The AMD Ryzen 9 is an insanely powerful processor. Known as the best processor when it comes to very demanding video editing or multi-core applications.
The AMD Ryzen 9 is the perfect processor for developing and designing the most demanding AAA title games, especially if you want it to have realistic graphics.
Because a high clock with 16 cores and 32 threads make even the most demanding of applications run smoothly, you can also overclock but not so much as the Intel Core i9.
Also, AMD Ryzen 9 is a powerful processor that needs some serious cooling. Processors with this kind of performance run very hot. Do not skimp on the cooling system when getting it.
Also, you need a powerful PSU to provide it with enough wattage to achieve the desired performance.
Overall, AMD Ryzen 9 is one of the best CPUs for game development.
It has an insane performance and it’s a great value buy because of the sheer number of cores you get at its available price tag.
Where To Buy
➕ Pros
- Excellent multi-core performance
- Great value
- Comes with a cooler
- Runs cool
➖ Cons
- None
Operating Frequency: Up To 4.7 GHz | Max Frequency: Up To 4.7 GHz | Number of Cores and Threads: 8 Cores and 16 Threads | L3 Cache: 36MB | TDP (Thermal Design Power): 105W
The AMD Ryzen 7 is a processor that gets almost everything right. Performance, price, etc. you name it.
This makes it the best value processor on the market because you don’t need to spend a lot on others to get powerful performance.
An octa-core CPU that is powerful, thanks to its high operating frequency. This provides it with excellent multi-core performance making it a suitable choice for game development and design.
It’s also one of the few CPUs that runs cool. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a powerful cooler.
Compared to similar processors, the AMD Ryzen 7 will run the coolest when the same cooler is used for the processors.
To sum it all up, the AMD Ryzen 7 is one of the best value CPUs for game development and design. It has plenty of processing power whilst being affordable.
Where To Buy
➕ Pros
- Very high single core performance
- Overclockable
- Excellent for gaming
➖ Cons
- No hyper-threading
- No stock cooler included
Operating Frequency: Up To 5.0 GHz | Max Frequency: 5.0 GHz | Number of Cores and Threads: 8 Cores and 8 Threads | L3 Cache: 12MB | TDP (Thermal Design Power): 125W
The Intel Core i7 is one of the most popular CPUs for gaming. It also has one of the best single-core performance out there.
This is a double-edged sword because even though it’s a multi-core processor. It isn’t the best but only dominates in single-core applications.
Also, Intel removed the hyper-threading technology which allows a CPU to perform multiple tasks at once.
The good news is that the Intel Core i7 can be overclocked which allows better performance. But, at the cost of it running hotter.
There is no stock cooler included and it’s more expensive than the AMD Ryzen 7. This makes it have less value compared to it.
Still, the Intel Core i7 is a powerful multi-core processor that excels in single-core applications. A solid choice if plan on developing single-core games.
Where To Buy
➕ Pros
- Best budget CPU
- Plenty of performance
- Affordable and great value
- Bundled cooler
- Power-efficient
➖ Cons
- No integrated graphics
Operating Frequency: Up to 4.6 GHz | Max Frequency: 4.6 GHz| Number of Cores and Threads: 6 Cores and 12 Threads | L3 Cache: 35MB | TDP (Thermal Design Power): 65W
The AMD Ryzen 5 is literally the best budget CPU for game development and design.
At its budget price, it is a powerful CPU. And it doesn’t stop there. The multi-core and single-core performance make it great for a lot of demanding applications.
It also comes with a bundled cooler which makes it a great value buy. The AMD Ryzen 5 is also powered efficient compared to the Intel processors. It also runs cool under demanding loads.
If you want to develop fairly demanding or mid-range 1080p games without spending a lot, then this is the processor for you.
Overall, the AMD Ryzen 5 checks all the boxes except for one thing – no integrated graphics.
To be honest, it’s not much of an issue because it has plenty of performance and you will use discrete instead of the integrated graphics card.
Highly recommended if looking for the best budget CPU for game development.
Where To Buy
➕ Pros
- Good gaming performance
- Very affordable
➖ Cons
- Locked ratio multiplier
Operating Frequency: Up to 4.9 GHz | Max Frequency: 4.9 GHz| Number of Cores and Threads: 6 Cores and 12 Threads | L3 Cache: 9MB | TDP (Thermal Design Power): 125W
The Intel Core i5 is a solid budget CPU that can be used to design fairly demanding games. This is not the most powerful CPU but it offers good gaming performance.
One of the most popular choices for budget 1080p gaming even more so when you pair it with an NVIDIA RTX 3060.
It has quite a high base frequency, plenty of cores and bundled cooler. So it’s able to dish out a decent performance.
However, the Intel Core i5 has a locked ratio multiplier that prevents you from overclocking unless it’s disabled.
Overall, the Intel Core i5 is nothing more than a budget CPU that delivers good gaming performance. This makes it one of the best budget CPUs for game development.
Final Thoughts
Some games are CPU-intensive and others are GPU-intensive. Depending on the type of game you are designing just like the GPU, you shouldn’t skimp on quality and performance.
A solid CPU makes it easy to develop the type of games you have in mind.
That’s it for the best CPU for game development and design.
