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When building a gaming PC here's why I always focus on the CPU first
When building a gaming PC here's why I always focus on the CPU first
Building a gaming PC starts with the component selection, but within that, it can be daunting for novice builders to choose a starting point. Many enthusiasts will start with the case,graphics card, or even motherboard, and for experienced builders, they might already have an idea of where the build is going to take them. For most PC builders, however, starting with the CPU is critical to ensure the rest of your gaming rig not only remains within your budget, but runs the way you need it to.
The heart of your PC
Sets the base for the rest of your build
The CPU is the heart and soul of your PC build. In today's PC gaming landscape, more than ever, the CPU handles the brunt of basically all calculations that aren't graphic-related. If you know you want as many frames as possible in an esports title, for example, you'll need a CPU that's good at churning out frames, such as any of the Ryzen X3D CPUs.
If you're planning on doing content creation on the side in addition to gaming, it might be worthwhile to spend a little extra for a higher core count, as productivity-oriented applications are suited to higher core-count CPUs. Budget and upgrade paths are additional considerations. If you're not trying to break the bank right off the bat, you might want to grab a slightly lower-spec CPU, but stick with the newest platform so you have a runway to upgrade later.
Games are becoming much more CPU-bound
The CPU is doing some heavy lifting these days
In the last few years, we've seen a pretty significant shift take place in some corners of the gaming world. While some (mostly single-player) titles got more GPU-bound with the introduction of technologies like path tracing, others got more CPU-bound. Esports titles likeRainbow 6 SiegeandCounter-Strike 2have always been this way, but even games likeS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyland the last fewCall of Dutytitles have been increasingly tough on the CPU. Sometimes it's due to optimization, while other times it's down to the kind of game it is. Ultimately, you'll have to make a decision based on the games you play the most. If the CPU is a very important factor in any significant number of them, you might want something a bit beefier.
GPU is still important, but not as important
You have to have a good base first
Many builders start with a graphics card, and this is often a consequence of the current era of PC component purchasing that we live in. GPUs are hard to get, plain and simple. Some just don't want to run out and buy a bucket of parts, only to find that the crown jewel of their rig is impossible to buy at reasonable prices. Starting the build only after you get your hands on a GPU is understandable, but having a CPU in mind first is most important.
You don't want to bottleneck your shiny new GPU, and while you could go with the easy approach of just buying the highest SKU AMD or Intel CPU and calling it a day, it's not the most refined way to go about things. CPUs do tend to last through multiple generations, while GPUs are much more susceptible to the advancements of modern games.
Technologies like real-time ray tracing have affected the performance of high-end GPUs in a very profound way, leaving flagship cards like the 2080 and 3080 in the dust. That's not to say those cards aren't capable of running titles now, but if you want great framerates at high resolutions, keeping a GPU through multiple generations won't cut it. Your CPU just won't be affected the same way, which is why shifting more of your budget to the CPU might help you reap the value benefits later on when you go to upgrade.
The CPU is the key to the longevity of your gaming rig
Ignoring the pure difficulty of getting your hands on a GPU in the current era of PC building, the CPU is worth most of your attention and is one of the most important components in any build, not just a gaming-oriented one. Demands for single-core performance are as high as they've ever been, and even new titles continue to feast on the ever-increasing amount of cache we stuff into these chips. All the more reason to choose a CPU as the first part of your gaming rig.
