I'm building a gaming PC for a 1440p monitor limited to 60 Hz. Is it worth spending more than twice as much on the higher-end X3D processor, or would the less expensive six-core model be enough for gaming at 60 FPS? I'm also wondering whether that extra CPU performance would provide any noticeable benefit with a powerful graphics card or if I'd be better off upgrading the monitor first.
3 Answers
The monitor is probably the part worth upgrading first. Moving from 60 Hz to 144 Hz or higher is a very noticeable improvement, especially in fast-paced games. Once you have a faster display, a stronger CPU can make more sense if you’re targeting high frame rates.
For 1440p at 60 FPS, the less expensive processor should be plenty. At that resolution, the graphics card usually does most of the work, and most modern CPUs can keep up with a 60 FPS target. The higher-end X3D chip may improve frame-time consistency, but it’s difficult to justify paying more than twice as much for that use case.
It depends on the games and graphics card. A high-end X3D processor is useful for demanding simulation games, heavily modded games, or very high-refresh-rate gaming, and it offers more upgrade headroom. But if you’re staying at 1440p and 60 FPS, it’s likely overkill unless you plan to upgrade the rest of the system soon.
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