With new CPUs continuously being released boasting higher core and thread counts, many gamers wonder how many CPU cores they actually need for gaming. The question of whether you need 12 cores for gaming depends on several factors. While 12 cores may provide benefits in certain games and scenarios, most gamers can still have a great experience with fewer cores.
Quick Answer
For most gamers, 12 CPU cores are overkill and provide diminishing returns. 6-8 core CPUs like the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i7-10700K are sufficient for nearly all current games when paired with a powerful graphics card. Even 4-core CPUs can deliver high frame rates in many titles. However, 12 cores may provide performance advantages in certain games and scenarios:
- Simulation and strategy games that utilize multiple cores
- Gaming while running other intensive background tasks
- High resolution, high refresh rate gaming e.g. 1440p 144Hz
- Game streaming while playing CPU intensive games
So while 12 cores can be beneficial in some use cases, 6-8 cores are the current sweet spot for most gaming builds.
Why Cores Matter for Gaming
In order to understand how many cores are needed for gaming, it helps to first understand why CPU cores matter for games in the first place. Here are some of the main reasons:
- Games rely on the CPU for critical background tasks like physics calculations, AI logic, drawing calls, and preparing frames to send to the GPU.
- Many games cannot fully utilize multiple threads and cores. But some newer games are becoming more multi-threaded.
- Higher single threaded CPU performance results in higher frame rates, especially at lower resolutions.
- Background tasks like Windows processes, antivirus software, Discord etc. all compete for CPU resources with your game.
So in summary, having more cores and threads allows your CPU to handle game and background tasks more efficiently. This can lead to higher, smoother frame rates. Now let’s look at how many cores current games can benefit from.
CPU Requirements of Popular Games
While some games like simulation and strategy titles can scale across many CPU cores, most modern games see diminishing performance returns beyond 6-8 cores. Here are the recommended or ideal CPUs for some popular games:
| Game | Recommended/Ideal CPU |
|---|---|
| Fortnite | 4 cores / 8 threads (Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i5-9600K) |
| Apex Legends | 4 cores / 8 threads (Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i5-9600K) |
| PUBG | 6 cores / 12 threads (Ryzen 5 5600X or Core i7-10700) |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 8 cores / 16 threads (Ryzen 7 5800X3D or Core i7-12700K) |
| Call of Duty: Warzone | 6 cores / 12 threads (Ryzen 5 5600X or Core i7-10700) |
As you can see from these system requirements, most popular games run great on modern 6 core or 8 core CPUs. Only a few titles like Cyberpunk 2077 benefit from having 12 or more threads. Now let’s go over the advantages and drawbacks of a 12 core CPU for gaming.
Benefits of a 12 Core CPU for Gaming
Here are some of the benefits you can expect from using a modern 12 core / 24 thread CPU like the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X or Intel Core i9-12900K for gaming:
- Higher frame rates in certain games: As mentioned, some new games are optimized for higher core/thread counts and see scaling beyond 8 cores. Examples include Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs Legion, and Battlefield 2042. So a 12 core CPU will provide better performance in these titles, especially at higher resolutions.
- Smoother gaming while multitasking: A 12 core CPU provides enough threads so gaming performance won’t take a big hit if you are also streaming, recording gameplay, watching video, etc. on a second monitor.
- More future proof: As games continue to get more complex and utilize more cores, a higher core count CPU will likely maintain smooth frame rates for more years before needing an upgrade.
- Faster game and application loading times: Thanks to having more cores and cache, 12 core CPUs can significantly reduce loading times in games stored on fast NVMe SSDs.
Games that Benefit from 12 Cores
Here are some examples of game genres and titles that can take advantage of a CPU with 12 or more cores:
- Complex strategy games: Civilization 6, Total War series
- MMORPGs: World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV
- Simulation titles: Microsoft Flight Simulator, Cities: Skylines
- Battle Royale: Fortnite, PUBG, Apex Legends
- Open world games: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey/Valhalla, Watch Dogs Legion, Horizon Zero Dawn
- Esports games: Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant (high fps gaming)
Of course, these games will still run well on 6 or 8 core CPUs in most cases. But you may see noticeably higher average and 1% low frame rates with a 12 core processor.
Downsides of a 12 Core CPU for Gaming
While they provide some benefits, 12 core CPUs also come with a few disadvantages for gaming use:
- Higher cost: 12 core CPUs have a significantly higher cost compared to mainstream 6 core and 8 core processors. For example, the Ryzen 9 5900X costs around $120-150 more than the 6 core Ryzen 5 5600X.
- Diminishing returns: Many games won’t see substantial gaming performance gains from 12 cores over an 8 core CPU. So you’ll be paying a lot more money for small improvements in some titles.
- Potentially lower clocks speeds: When optimizing a CPU for higher core counts, manufacturers sometimes have to reduce base and boost clock speeds compared to lower core count CPUs. This can negatively impact gaming performance.
- Overkill for most gamers: If you mainly play games and don’t stream or run other intensive background tasks, a 12 core CPU is likely excessive and wasted. A cheaper 6 or 8 core CPU will provide nearly the same gaming experience.
For these reasons, most typical gamers are better off saving money and going with a mid-range 6 core or 8 core CPU.
When a 12 Core CPU Makes Sense for Gaming
Here are the main scenarios where splurging for a 12 core CPU is justified for gaming:
- You want to future proof your build for next gen games
- You regularly stream or record gameplay while gaming
- You often play simulation, strategy and heavy multitasking games
- You plan to play at very high frame rates (165Hz+) and resolutions
- You prefer to keep background tasks open while gaming
So in summary, a 12 core CPU for gaming makes the most sense for hardcore gamers, streamers, content creators and power users. But it’s overkill for mainstream gaming.
6 Cores vs 8 Cores vs 12 Cores for Gaming
To summarize the CPU core counts for gaming:
- 6 cores like Ryzen 5 5600X or Core i5-12600K are the minimum for smooth high fps gaming
- 8 cores like Ryzen 7 5800X or Core i7-12700K provide a bit more headroom and future proofing
- 12 cores like Ryzen 9 5900X or Core i9-12900K are best for advanced gamers who stream, record and run other tasks
While 12 cores sound impressive on paper, the reality is 6-8 core CPUs hit the sweet spot for most gamers. Here’s a quick comparison:
| 6 Cores | 8 Cores | 12 Cores | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaming performance | Great | Excellent | Best |
| Streaming performance | Good | Great | Excellent |
| 1080p performance | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| 1440p performance | Great | Excellent | Best |
| 4K performance | Good | Great | Excellent |
| Cost | Fair | Moderate | Expensive |
So in most gaming scenarios, an 8 core CPU hits the sweet spot between performance and value. But let’s look at some specific CPU recommendations.
Best CPUs for Gaming
Here are some examples of excellent modern CPUs for gaming from both AMD and Intel:
AMD CPUs
- 4 Cores: Ryzen 3 3300X, Ryzen 3 4300GE
- 6 Cores: Ryzen 5 5600, Ryzen 5 5600X
- 8 Cores: Ryzen 7 5700X, Ryzen 7 5800X3D
- 12 Cores: Ryzen 9 5900X, Ryzen 9 5950X
Intel CPUs
- 4 Cores: Core i3-12100F
- 6 Cores: Core i5-12400F, Core i5-12600K
- 8 Cores: Core i7-12700F, Core i7-12700K
- 12 Cores: Core i9-12900K, Core i9-12900KS
The Ryzen 5 and Core i5 models offer the best bang for buck, while moving up to Ryzen 7 and Core i7 provides noticeably higher performance for more intensive gaming. The Ryzen 9 and Core i9 CPUs are best reserved for hardcore gamers who can justify the much higher costs.
Conclusion
While 12 CPU cores sound extremely powerful on paper, most gamers can expect a similar experience with a good 6 core or 8 core processor from AMD or Intel. A 12 core CPU mainly provides advantages for gamers who stream, record gameplay, run other demanding tasks in the background, or aim for very high frame rates.
So if you’re building or upgrading your gaming PC, choosing a CPU with at least 6 cores is recommended for optimal performance in the latest games. But an 8 core model like the Ryzen 7 5800X or Core i7-12700K will offer more headroom for gaming while multitasking. For mainstream gamers who don’t need to run extensive background tasks concurrently, a 12 core CPU is likely overkill and not worth the extra cost.