{"id":2253,"date":"2022-09-03T18:36:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-03T13:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/?p=2253"},"modified":"2022-09-02T21:23:11","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T15:53:11","slug":"is-intel-core-i3-good-for-gaming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/processor\/is-intel-core-i3-good-for-gaming\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Intel Core i3 Good for Gaming? (and Which GPUs Pair Best)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you're building a PC and looking to game with an Intel Core i3 CPU, you should get decent gaming performance under the right conditions. The integrated GPU in a Core i3 CPU isn't that great, so beyond basic titles, there's little hope. However, paired with a decent entry-level graphics card like the GTX 1650, running games on low to medium settings will be possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Budget is one of the major things that hinders people when they're trying to build a gaming PC. With a smaller budget, an Intel Core i3 processor might seem to be the best choice for you. If you love playing games like one of my friends does and are wondering <em>is Intel Core i3 good for gaming<\/em>, then you're in the right place. Keep reading to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_64 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-661111469ba91\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-661111469ba91\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/processor\/is-intel-core-i3-good-for-gaming\/#How_Is_the_Gaming_Performance_on_an_Intel_i3_iGPU\" title=\"How Is the Gaming Performance on an Intel i3 iGPU?\">How Is the Gaming Performance on an Intel i3 iGPU?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/processor\/is-intel-core-i3-good-for-gaming\/#How_to_Know_Which_Intel_Core_i3_CPUs_Have_iGPUs\" title=\"How to Know Which Intel Core i3 CPUs Have iGPUs?\">How to Know Which Intel Core i3 CPUs Have iGPUs?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/processor\/is-intel-core-i3-good-for-gaming\/#Is_the_Intel_Core_i3_Good_for_Gaming_with_a_Dedicated_GPU\" title=\"Is the Intel Core i3 Good for Gaming with a Dedicated GPU?\">Is the Intel Core i3 Good for Gaming with a Dedicated GPU?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/processor\/is-intel-core-i3-good-for-gaming\/#What_Does_It_Mean_When_a_CPU_Bottlenecks_a_Graphics_Card\" title=\"What Does It Mean When a CPU Bottlenecks a Graphics Card?\">What Does It Mean When a CPU Bottlenecks a Graphics Card?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/processor\/is-intel-core-i3-good-for-gaming\/#What_Are_Good_GPUs_to_Match_with_a_Core_i3\" title=\"What Are Good GPUs to Match with a Core i3?\">What Are Good GPUs to Match with a Core i3?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/processor\/is-intel-core-i3-good-for-gaming\/#What_Makes_an_Intel_Core_i3_Different_from_Other_Intel_Processors\" title=\"What Makes an Intel Core i3 Different from Other Intel Processors?\">What Makes an Intel Core i3 Different from Other Intel Processors?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/processor\/is-intel-core-i3-good-for-gaming\/#Final_Words\" title=\"Final Words\">Final Words<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Is_the_Gaming_Performance_on_an_Intel_i3_iGPU\"><\/span>How Is the Gaming Performance on an Intel i3 iGPU?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to play games with an Intel Core i3 processor, you might be wondering whether you need to get a graphics card to use with it. <a href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/processor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Most CPUs<\/a> in this series have an integrated GPU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unless you play the most basic games, you're going to find it hard or even impossible to do any PC gaming using the integrated graphics card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Woman-Playing-Computer-Games-With-Headphones.jpg\" alt=\"Woman Playing Computer Games With Headphones\" class=\"wp-image-2259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Woman-Playing-Computer-Games-With-Headphones.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Woman-Playing-Computer-Games-With-Headphones-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to keep in mind that the GPU in your Intel Core i3 CPU depends on the exact generation and model that you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It's unlikely that you're using the early generations, which came with graphics cards like the Intel HD Graphics 2000. These struggled to even run games back in 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you're buying a more modern Core i3, you're going to likely find yourself with either the Intel UHD Graphics 630 or 730.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While these chips are leagues better than their HD Graphics brethren, they shouldn't be thought of as gaming workhorses. If the most modern game you play is something like FIFA 21, you should be able to get by on low settings. Most games made after 2015 likely won't play well, even on low settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you want to know which popular games you can get working at least at low settings, I've put together a list below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>GTA V<\/li><li>Overwatch<\/li><li>Counter-Strike: GO<\/li><li>FIFA 21<\/li><li>Apex Legends<\/li><li>League of Legends (all the way to Ultra)<\/li><li>Sims 4<\/li><li>Call of Duty WWII (just barely)<\/li><li>Battlefield 1<\/li><li>Metal Gear Solid V<\/li><li>Team Fortress 2<\/li><li>Rocket League<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Know_Which_Intel_Core_i3_CPUs_Have_iGPUs\"><\/span>How to Know Which Intel Core i3 CPUs Have iGPUs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you're going to buy an Intel Core i3 processor for PC gaming, you'll need to make sure that you get the right model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although most Core i3 CPUs have an integrated graphics card, some of them do not. If you happen to get one of those, you won't be able to use your computer until you plug in a dedicated graphics card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To know which Intel Core chips to avoid if you want it to have integrated graphics, any model number that has an F at the end indicates that it doesn't come with a graphics card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, if you opt for the i3-12100, you get Intel UHD 730 graphics with it, but the similarly-named Intel i3-12100F drops the graphics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_Intel_Core_i3_Good_for_Gaming_with_a_Dedicated_GPU\"><\/span>Is the Intel Core i3 Good for Gaming with a Dedicated GPU?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the graphics card that comes built into the Intel Core i3 CPUs doesn't cut it for the popular games you like to play, you're probably already considering getting a proper dedicated graphics card to go into your rig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If that's the case, you might be wondering, is the Intel Core i3 a good processor for gaming?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you're looking to use entry-level computer components to build a PC, the Intel Core i3 series of processors can work quite well for gaming. The most important thing is to match it with a decent graphics card so that it won't end up bottlenecking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, keep in mind that some modern games are CPU-intensive, and the minimum requirement for a processor may be an i5. In these cases, you're bound to get poorer performance, even with the right card handling graphics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Computer-Gaming-GPU-Graphic-Card-with-Fan.jpg\" alt=\"Computer Gaming GPU Graphic Card with Fan\" class=\"wp-image-2262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Computer-Gaming-GPU-Graphic-Card-with-Fan.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Computer-Gaming-GPU-Graphic-Card-with-Fan-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Does_It_Mean_When_a_CPU_Bottlenecks_a_Graphics_Card\"><\/span>What Does It Mean When a CPU Bottlenecks a Graphics Card?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Think of the biggest and greatest graphics card that comes to mind. The RTX 3080 Super from Nvidia probably comes to mind. Then, let's pair it with a lower-end processor, like the Intel Core i3 that we've been talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PC games are quite CPU-intensive. During gaming, the processor matters a lot. It takes care of calculations for physics, audio, input, positioning, networking, and most importantly, tells the graphics chip what to render.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GPUs are responsible for the actual rendering process. Your CPU sends the instructions to your GPU, which then handles processing graphical information and displaying it on the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, let's look back at the components mentioned earlier. Your Intel Core i3 CPU will handle processing and calculating a lot of data, but compared to the RTX 3080 Super, it does so at a relatively slow rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of this performance difference, your RTX 3080 will not receive its rendering instructions promptly enough. So, despite the performance gain that it has over so many other graphics cards, that headroom is wasted because the data input is significantly lower than the maximum output.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is what is known as bottlenecking, and it is simply a result of a difference between the maximum performance of two components in your PC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_Good_GPUs_to_Match_with_a_Core_i3\"><\/span>What Are Good GPUs to Match with a Core i3?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Without a flagship Intel Core processor by your side, the GPUs that you should consider with Core i3 CPUs are limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there are still some great graphics chips you can consider, and they come at a relatively affordable price too. Let's get into some of the options that can match an i3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a class=\"aawp-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B081R425YH?tag=cpu4-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1\" title=\"Nvidia GTX 1650 Super\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-aawp-product-id=\"B081R425YH\" data-aawp-product-title=\"EVGA GeForce GTX 1650 Super SC Ultra Gaming 4GB GDDR6 Dual Fan Metal Backplate 04G-P4-1357-KR\" data-aawp-geotargeting=\"true\">Nvidia GTX 1650 Super<\/a>: The GTX 1650 Super was released by Nvidia in 2019. Don't dismiss it because it's relatively dated. You'll find that this card has more than enough power to handle modern games at medium settings and higher. Plus, it won't cost you an arm and a leg these days.<br><\/li><li><a class=\"aawp-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07ZHZL2JB?tag=cpu4-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1\" title=\"Nvidia GTX 1660 Super\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-aawp-product-id=\"B07ZHZL2JB\" data-aawp-product-title=\"EVGA 06G-P4-1068-KR GeForce GTX 1660 Super Sc Ultra Gaming 6GB GDDR6 Dual Fan Metal Backplate\" data-aawp-geotargeting=\"true\">Nvidia GTX 1660 Super<\/a>: If you have a little more to spare, the Nvidia GTX 1660 Super is a mid-tier gear that will fit into your i3 rig quite nicely. With flagship processors, you'll be able to handle games from 2022 at Ultra settings, but with a lower-end Intel processor like the Core i3, you might need to stick to High for most.<br><\/li><li><a class=\"aawp-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B09QV67R17?tag=cpu4-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1\" title=\"AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-aawp-product-id=\"B09QV67R17\" data-aawp-product-title=\"GIGABYTE Radeon RX 6500 XT Eagle 4G Graphics Card WINDFORCE 2X Cooling System 4GB 64-bit GDDR6 GV-R65XTEAGLE-4GD Video Card\" data-aawp-geotargeting=\"true\">AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT<\/a>: If you're an AMD type of person, the Radeon RX 6500 XT is the one for you. Keep in mind that this chip has a slight price difference when compared to the Nvidia chips here, though its performance is somewhere on par with the GTX 1650 Super for most AAA titles. That means you should have little issue playing games at medium detail levels when you've got it paired with an Intel Core i3.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Makes_an_Intel_Core_i3_Different_from_Other_Intel_Processors\"><\/span>What Makes an Intel Core i3 Different from Other Intel Processors?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Intel Core i3 CPUs are at the bottom of Intel's CPU hierarchy. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as these are cheaper than most others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It's hard to pick out a primary difference between the CPU options that Intel has, but if there were to be one, it would probably be the core count. The cores are the part of the CPU responsible for doing the calculations. So the more there are, the better performance you get. Keep in mind that not all applications can utilize more cores though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Intel Core i3 processors have just two or four cores, i5 CPUs have a core count of either four or six, and the i7 processors use either six or eight. Finally, at the pinnacle is the Core i9 series, where the chips have a core count of eight or more cores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides the core count, CPUs also have a small cache where they store files that they are about to use. The i3 processors have the smallest cache, while the Core i9 has the largest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, clock speed is another important metric when assessing the overall performance of the CPUs that Intel makes. The higher you go, the more likely you are to find processors that can hit higher clock speeds and core counts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/CPU-Chip-Processor.jpg\" alt=\"CPU Chip Processor\" class=\"wp-image-2267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/CPU-Chip-Processor.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/CPU-Chip-Processor-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Words\"><\/span>Final Words<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you're planning to build a PC for gaming and you want to put an Intel Core i3 in it, you'll be able to play a lot of games quite decently, but will definitely need to put a discrete graphics chip inside it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can pair a Core i3 with Nvidia GPUs like the GTX 1650 Super or 1660 Super, but if you prefer using Radeon cards, the RX 6500 XT is one of the best options that balances price and power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We hope this article helped you learn more about your Intel i3 CPU and whether it's good for gaming. Take a look at our related articles for more computer information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you're building a PC and looking to game with an Intel Core i3 CPU, you should get decent gaming performance under the right conditions. The integrated GPU in a Core i3 CPU isn't that great, so beyond basic titles, there's little hope. However, paired with a decent entry-level graphics card like the GTX 1650, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":2269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2253"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2253"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2253\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2291,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2253\/revisions\/2291"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}