How many years will it be until games start to use 8 core processors?

PotatoeJuiceBox · Nov 1, 2013

Roughly, because im gonna buy a i7 4770k 3.4 GHz CPU. but at the same time when games start using 8-core processors, i dont want to be left with no money and not be able to upgrade. So i just want to see how long i will be able to play with quad cores instead of 8.

MD1987 · Nov 1, 2013

I'm not an expert, but with 8-core hardware powering both the Xbox One and PS4 it shouldn't be too long at all before devs start taking advantage of this kind of hardware. At least, this is what I'm hoping for because an FX-8320 is in my future!

Blaise170 · Nov 1, 2013

There's currently only a handful of games that are in development able to use more than 4 cores. You will be safe with the i7 for now, especially since it has better power/core performance than does AMD.

Traciatim · Nov 1, 2013

If you want an 8 core processor why would you buy a 4 core processor? Also, if you are comparing the 8 cores of the new consoles, keep in mind that those are netbook cores . . . a current gen i3 can pretty much destroy them already.

stickmansam · Nov 1, 2013

You never know how everything will advance, I would say we're only just hit quad core gaming for about 2 years, I would expect by the time you would require 8 cores to play a game, 8 cores cpus would cost about what 4 cores cost now so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Also given that the latest consoles only have 8 cores (6ish for games) and they are under powered, the i7 4770k should last you quite a while IMO

babernet_1 · Nov 1, 2013

You could always get a I7-4930K with six cores and hyperthreading. AMD will probably never catch up with it. Just a couple hundred bucks beyond the 4770K.

But you are probably better off going with the I5 4670K and save a cool hundred from the 4770K for it isn't better with games as of now.

JOOK-D · Nov 1, 2013

Traciatim :

Also keep in mind that games will be optimised for that CPU, so it will perform much better than netbook cores.

stickmansam · Nov 1, 2013

JOOK-D :

Even if they optimize it, they won't come near the level of an i5/i7. They're clocked at 1.6ghz, so even if they're heavily optimized, they'll hit a wall eventually. I would say, they could give an i3 a run for its money, but even an FX6300 should beat it handily (since dual cores are on a decline now)

JOOK-D · Nov 1, 2013

stickmansam :

JOOK-D :

Even if they optimize it, they won't come near the level of an i5/i7. They're clocked at 1.6ghz, so even if they're heavily optimized, they'll hit a wall eventually. I would say, they could give an i3 a run for its money, but even an FX6300 should beat it handily (since dual cores are on a decline now)

Fair point.

Samuel25 · Nov 2, 2013

JOOK-D :

that is overlooking facts, it ain't true at all, when it comes to parallel processing, parallel processing is important, it means that you need 8 cores for individual segment, AI runs on one core, Physics runs on another etc...there it odesnt really matter how powerful your cpu is single threaded, the way it is processed is important, now i tell you something, why cant you emulate ps3 games on your i5? or can you play your android games on your pc? they way of processing is imporatnt, now that's why emulators are so slow, because they emulate the way that processor works, as for next gen gaming, pure fact today cpus are much stronger, the only problem goes to reckless, irresponsible ports, that's where similar architecture, the same vendor, and the same codes will come in handy, not that you can't play those games, you have to wait for patches, fixes....even today alot of games run much better on fx8350 comparing to i5s, and in crysis 3 forexample fx 8350 surpasses i7-3770k...yet none of these games have used full potential of this cpu, probably watch dogs in 2014 will be the first

Lessthannil · Nov 2, 2013

Not even for the forseeable future. Games today already struggle to tap out Haswell i5's 4 cores at 100% load.
AMD processors will see a benefit in 8 core optimization, putting it around the locked Ivy Bridge's i5 performance.

Even with the 8 core hype train BF4 is, an FX 8 core processor doesn't show any benefit over 4 cores, whether they be from AMD or Intel.
http://www.techspot.com/review/734-battlefield-4-benchmarks/page6.html

Gaidax · Nov 2, 2013

PotatoeJuiceBox :

Go on and buy it, I7-4770K basically rocks any desktop 8 core CPU in existence right now even in games that support 8 cores to begin with. It will easily be a great CPU for the next 3-4 years.

The issue that people fail to see really is that it does not matter what consoles use and how many cores are there - consoles CPUs' based on Jaguar architecture are so weak that just about any proper 100$ desktop CPU can stomp those easy.

Any game ported to PC will first and foremost be optimized for dual/quad cores in the next 5-6 years, reason is very simple and here it is: http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/cpus/

Currently 46.7% of all Steam users game on Dual Core CPUs' and 44.6% use Quad Cores. Add to this single and tri-core solutions and as of now - October 2013 - roughly 97.5% of all Steam gamers got Quad Core or lower rigs.

So in short - any PC game or port coming our in the next 5 years at the very least WILL be aimed and optimized for the Quad/Dual core crowd, since that's where the money is for the devs.

Basically, what this means is while FX is pretty much dependent on Game Developers' graces in supporting multi-cores for PC titles - Intel Quad Cores will be guaranteed to get the best support in the years to come, since that is the real main stream here and I7 is pretty much a top pick in this game dev's darling club.

Other than that - let's not forget the obvious - every single Intel core is much more powerful than FX single core, thus this creates a situation where AMD basically competes only with I5s' and thus prices their CPUs' accordingly. I7 is way out of their reach, since Hyper-Threading is a smart way to boost CPU utilization and efficiency of I5, which is pretty much the same as FX processors (minus not sucking for every single thread friendly process)..

Samuel25 · Nov 2, 2013

Lessthannil :

Gaidax :

hoooooooa!!! out of reach!? easy pal...easy.... we beat your i7 beast here http://www.pcgameshardware.de/Crysis-3-PC-235317/Tests/Crysis-3-Test-CPU-Benchmark-1056578/ .... in multi threaded games and apps they are equal...all i7s (3rd or fourth) are top notch...no doubt about it, but what about their prices!? you can buy FX 8350+ the best single gpu in the planet, and that i7 is overkill for the gpu you want to buy...fx 8350+ r9-290 that's all you need, as for steam users they should understand, we are entering new era so why dont you play with your ps2 dude? that is technology, it improves sad for pc after every console generation and we are done with xbox 360 and ps3.... it's the new era, and have you ever asked yourself why every game developer is jumping to 64 bit!? ask and then re-ask...

Gaidax · Nov 2, 2013

Which is coincidentally the ONLY example of this happening in existence... which is a moot point since we have Haswell I7s' now

Even in your holy grail of multi-threading, you bring in every thread - Battlefield 4 - I7 stomps FX. Heck, in your very own link you so love to toss around stock I7 nuked the crap out of 5 GHz overclocked FX... Awesome there, haha. http://www.bf4blog.com/battlefield-4-retail-gpu-cpu-benchmarks/

Hope you are not going to claim that your example is not reliable now?

JOOK-D · Nov 2, 2013

Gaidax :

You must concede that it's pretty impressive what FX can do at the low price point now that some optimisation has come into play. I'm not biased to either AMD or intel, both are great but I feel they are targeted at different markets. It'll be an interesting next few years.

As always though, the biggest factor in gaming performance is the GPU.

Samuel25 · Nov 2, 2013

Gaidax :

ok so we should compare your haswell, which doesnt feel well these days of course with fx 9590....let's run a crysis 3 benchmark huh?! i7 stompppesdad fx i paid money fo i

...dude i7 4770k is for 350$ fx 8350 200$ and that single game is an example for alot of games in the future...about battlefield 4 that level was not a cpu dependent part in battlefield 4 look here http://www.bf4blog.com/battlefield-4-retail-gpu-cpu-benchmarks/ overclock you cpu easily to 5ghz and it is 9590, 200 $ and you are on the top...easy, listen to me all you need is a better gpu, fx 8350 is more than enough

stickmansam · Nov 2, 2013

JOOK-D :

Yeah for now, even the i5's are still fine for 64man multiplayer in BF4, the real killer game that requires more than 4 cores is not quite here yet

Gaidax · Nov 2, 2013

Yes, that is impressive, but really, every sane person would see clear as a day that I7s are simply superior to FX-8350 or whatever FX there is really.

The point is simple - the person here is not sure if I7-4770K is a good investment and the answer is that it damn sure is and bringing some 8 core trash CPUs' which once in a blue moon manage to get close, won't be really helping to calm him down and proceed with a purchase.

Blaise170 · Nov 2, 2013

Gaidax :

I won't argue that he should definitely purchase the 4770K, but the FX series is not "trash".

Gaidax · Nov 2, 2013

Blaise170 :

FX series could be much better, but AMD simply fell short of delivering what potentially could be the king. I guess the Faildozer made them make a knee-jerk reaction with a half-baked update.

I am frustrated with AMD really, they simply gave up the fight and ran away to please the low end market.

Samuel25 · Nov 2, 2013

Gaidax :

Listen pal I never claimed fx 8350 is better than i7 4770k what I am saying is that, fx 8350 is more than capable for the current generation of gaming, and that he can allocate more money on his gpu....am I mistaken here!?

Blaise170 · Nov 2, 2013

Gaidax :

No. The FX-8350 can hold its own, and no one is arguing that Intel isn't the best of the best. There's a difference between not being the best and being "trash".

random stalker · Nov 2, 2013

Ladies, let's not forget, that the FX series is of modular architecture - and therefore 4 modules can not be count as 8 cores /even if the marketing division states that/.

AMD module is a little faster than a regular core in multicore apps - something games are not. Even if a game uses more cores, it is not for a single task like winrar, usually there are many different tasks with a core assigned to each one of them. Thus it may seem like a game is using 4 cores, but it works like many single threaded apps...
And since every Intel core is about 1.3-1.4x faster as a whole AMD module in single thread, Intel easily gains lead....

That's all there is to it

PS: i7 is and will be overkill for gaming - if you don't stream your gameplay and cut videos, it is not needed

and won't be for a long time

Samuel25 · Nov 2, 2013

Gaidax :

AMD knows what it is doing, it is vendor of the next gen consoles, it went to 8 cores on consoles because it wanted to start this war, because it wanted games to become multi threaded, their game, their rule...and who said AMD is going to please the low end market!!? :lol: who said that, AMD is focusing on its 8 core APUs from now on...streamroller is the 8 core APUs exaclty like the one on xbox one and ps4

Gaidax · Nov 2, 2013

Samuel25 :

Gaidax :

AMD knows what it is doing, it is vendor of the next gen consoles, it went to 8 cores on consoles because it wanted to start this war, because it wanted games to become multi threaded, their game, their rule...and who said AMD is going to please the low end market!!? :lol: who said that, AMD is focusing on its 8 core APUs from now on...streamroller is the 8 core APUs exaclty like the one on xbox one and ps4

With all the respect - APUs' are the very definition of low end and XBONE and PS4 CPUs' are a pure trash, really.

Wanna argue with that too?

How many years will it be until games start to use 8 core processors?

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