As someone who’s been into PC gaming for a while now, I can say that there are many factors to consider when it comes to getting the best gaming experience. One of the most important aspects of any gaming setup is undoubtedly the CPU.
Choosing the right CPU for your needs is essential if you want to get the most out of your games, and with so many different options on the market, it can be tough to know which one is right for you.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best CPUs for 1440p gaming, and I’ll help you decide which one is right for you with a quick buying guide. So without further ado, let’s get started!
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Top Pick CPU for 1440p Gaming Intel Core i7-12700K Read More | See On Amazon |
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Best Value CPU for 1440p Gaming AMD Ryzen 7 5800X Read More | See On Amazon |
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Best Budget Intel CPU for 1440p Gaming Intel Core i5 11600K Read More | See On Amazon |
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Best Budget AMD CPU for 1440p Gaming AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Read More | See On Amazon |
With Intel Alder Lake 12th gen processors, Intel is catching up to AMD in the processor race. These new processors come with two kinds of cores stated as performance cores and efficient cores.
The performance cores as the name suggest can be used for gaming and other high-performance activities while the efficient cores are meant for running background apps and multitasking. For example, if you’re gaming and streaming at the same time, the efficient cores will be used to encode the video while the performance cores will be used for gaming.
While on the other hand, If I talk about AMD, their processors don’t come with two types of cores, but the core counts are higher which provide similar performance as Intel’s 12th gen processors.
However for 1440p gaming, you don’t only need a high-end CPU, but a good GPU too that can take full advantage of those high frame rates.
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Is 1440p Gaming Worth It?
1440p is a standard between 1080p and 4k. It is the sweet spot for gaming when you want to jump for higher-resolution gaming. As 4k can be so expensive because it requires flagship hardware for gaming at high frame rates. While 1080p is too old now and doesn’t always provide the best shadows and visuals in games.
On the other hand, 1440p is relatively cheap and stands in the middle of 1080p and 4k. It is also not as demanding as 4k, so you can easily game at high frame rates with higher refresh rate monitors.
1440p is also a future-proof resolution as most of the entry-level CPUs, and GPUs are tested and optimized for gaming at this resolution. So, if you want to game at 1440p resolution, then you can easily do so with an entry-level CPU like Core i5 or Ryzen 5 paired with a mid-range GPU like RTX 3070 or Radeon RX6600.
The 4 Best CPU for 1440p Gaming Reviews
Intel Core i7-12700K
The first up we have is Intel’s 12th gen Core i7-12700K, which is one of the fastest processors for gaming. This processor gets a huge performance upgrade if we compare it to its last year’s predecessor, the 11th gen Core i7-11700K. We can now have two types of cores that will give your gaming experience a performance boost.
This processor is powered by Intel’s latest 10nm technology and comes with 12 cores, and 20 threads for maximum performance. These 12 cores are further divided into two types, 8 performance cores, and 4 efficient cores.
The 8 performance cores can give you a base clock speed of 3.6GHz, while on the other hand, the 4 efficient cores can give you a base clock of 2.7GHz. With Intel’s Turbo Boost tech you can achieve the boost clock speed of 4.9GHz on the performance cores, and 3.8GHz on the efficient cores. Combining both will give you a total of 5.0GHz of clock speed which is quite impressive.
For 1440p gaming, this processor will be more than enough, and you can easily pair it with a mid-range GPU like the RTX 2060 Super or the RX 5700 XT, and you will be able to get the most out of 1440p gaming.
As this chip is rated for 125W TDP, you need to make sure that you have a good Z690 chipset motherboard along with a good cooler because this processor can get pretty hot (up to 90 degrees Celcius) when overclocked. Otherwise, if you’re using it for normal usage this processor will run cool and quiet.
You can buy this processor from different stores for around $350-$380, which can be a bit expensive for some people, but considering the performance it offers, it is definitely worth the price. This can be a futureproof processor as it will be able to handle 4K gaming too. Overall, if you’re looking for the best CPU for 1440p gaming, then this is the one you should consider in the first place.
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
If you’re looking for something from AMD, then I would highly recommend the Ryzen 7 5800X. It is the latest processor from AMD, released in 2020, and it is one of the fastest processors which can counter AAA title games and heavy rendering workloads.
Featured with 8 cores and 16 threads, this processor can easily outperform Intel’s Core i7-11700K. Despite being a two-year-old chip, it also performs quite well against Intel’s new 12th gen processors.
The base clock speed of this processor is 3.8GHz, and with a boost clock speed of up to 4.7GHz, this processor is definitely a beast when it comes to gaming and other high-performance activities.
As it is designed with AMD’s 7nm process node, this processor is quite power efficient too. It comes with a default TDP of 105W, which means that a normal PSU can easily handle this chip. Plus with a good cooler like Noctua NH-U12S, you will be able to keep this processor cool and stable during overclocking and gaming sessions.
The Ryzen 5800X processor is a powerhouse of an AMD core, sporting 4 MB L2 cache and 32MB L3. With its impressive speeds, you can do everything from multitasking to heavy-duty processing all at once without any hiccups or glitches in between! Plus this bad boy supports DDR4 memory up to 36000 MHz which will make your games run silky smooth without any hitches.
It comes with a price of around $349-$355 which is quite reasonable considering its performance. If you’re building your gaming rig on your own, make sure to buy an AM4 motherboard with a good VRM, so that you can make the most out of this processor. Overall, the Ryzen 7 5800X is one of the best CPUs for 1440p gaming, and it will definitely give you a smooth gaming experience.
Intel Core i5 11600K
Got a little tight budget? No problem. You can opt for the Intel Core i5-11600K because it comes with a decent price point and can fulfill all your 1440p gaming needs. It is part of Intel’s Tiger Lake series of processors, and it performs very well for next-gen AAA gaming titles.
Despite being a budget processor, it still offers very good performance. It is a 6-core and 12-thread processor, with a base clock speed of 3.9GHz and a boost clock speed of up to 4.9GHz.
This processor is also power efficient, with a TDP of only 125W. This means that you don’t need a very powerful PSU or a big cooler to keep this processor running cool. For PSU, you can go with a 750W PSU, and for the cooler, you can go with a basic air cooler like the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo.
Since it doesn’t come with an integrated graphics card, you have to buy a separate graphics card to achieve 1440p gaming. For example, if you’re using a 750W PSU, then you go with a mid-range GPU like RTX 3060 or Radeon RX 6600.
When it comes to gaming, this processor can easily handle most of the games at 1440p or even 4K resolution. It is also a future proof processor, as it will be able to handle the next-gen games too. Overall, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly CPU for 1440p gaming, then this is the one you can consider.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
The Ryzen 5 5600X is also a part of AMD’s latest-gen chips, but it comes with a decent price and offers value for money! As most people nowadays prefer AMD chips over Intel, because they are cheap and provide similar (sometimes higher) performance. That’s why I have listed this processor keeping in mind as the best budget AMD processor for 1440p gaming! With a price range of $220-$240, this processor can provide exceptional performance for your gaming rig.
This processor also comes with 6 cores and 12 threads just like Intel’s Core i5-11600K. But it has a slightly lower base clock speed of 3.7GHz and a boost clock speed of up to 4.6GHz. Despite a lower clock speed, this processor is also rated for a lower TDP of 65W, which when compared to Intel’s budget chip, is quite amazing!
A lower TDP means that this processor will generate less heat and you don’t have to buy a big hefty cooler for this processor. Although, this processor also comes with a stock AMD’s Wraith Stealth cooler, which you can put on and enjoy its full potential. However, if you’re an overclocking guy, you should buy a bigger cooler to keep it cool and not fry up the chip!
Moreover, Ryzen 5600X also supports DDR4 memory for up to 3200MHz and is also optimized with AMD’s StoreMi technology. This technology helps to boost the overall performance of your system and also reduces the loading times of your games. There is also a 3MB of L2 and 32MB of L3 cache which helps to further improve the speed and performance of your system.
