Is Intel Xeon Good for Gaming? Explained [2024]

Intel Corporation, commonly known as Intel, is an American multinational corporation and technology company, also the world’s largest semiconductor chip maker by revenue. The company is best known for CPUs based on its x86 architecture, which was created in the 1980s and is constantly being revised, redesigned, and modernized. Xeon is a brand of x86 microprocessors designed, manufactured, and sold by Intel, based on the 400MHz Pentium microprocessor, for the non-consumer workstation, server, and embedded systems markets.

Intel Xeon processors have a large number of cores, and they also have unique features that make them ideal for running intensive programs and mission-critical tasks. It’s known for its power and performance but is Intel Xeon good for gaming, or is it just a rumor? This is a confusing question for many gamers and challenging to answer. So, here are a few things to consider when looking at this question. Today we’re going to look at the Intel Xeon processor and whether it’s a great gaming chip. We’ll also see how they perform in modern games.

Is Intel Xeon good for Gaming?

Whether Xeon processors are suitable for gaming or not is a much-debated topic. Some gamers swear by them, while others say these are too much. The truth is, it depends on what type of game you’re playing and the performance you’re looking for. If you’re a casual gamer, you probably don’t need a Xeon processor. However, a Xeon processor might be worth the investment if you’re a hardcore gamer looking for the best performance. Let’s make some crucial discoveries about these chips before heading further!

Higher clock speeds, lesser the lifespan. 

These servers from Xeon typically need to be running 24/7. The higher the clock speed, the higher the CPU temperature. The higher the CPU temperature, the shorter the life of the chip. Since these servers run 24/7, they also consume a lot of power. For these reasons, many servers will feature lower-clocked Xeons and many cores. When businesses spend their hard-earned money on these servers, in some cases, they are expected to run around the clock for more than ten years.

We don’t recommend choosing to run anything below 2.66 GHz, as that is the base clock speed. These chips simply won’t perform well in games. A 4-core Xeon running at 2.66 GHz might not be the best either. In 2021, I recommend picking something with a base clock speed of at least 2.66 GHz and 6 or more cores unless you plan to overclock. If you pair a Xeon with the right motherboard, you can overclock it and get incredible performance. There are many such products on the market today at meager prices.

Xeon processors have lots of cores.

The great thing about Xeon chips is that they have a lot of cores. When it comes to servers, they need to do a lot of enterprise-level work. They communicate with many other machines, servers, and computers worldwide. They share and transfer information faster with the movement of your mouse. These heavy workloads require a device with lots of cores, more cache, and lots of RAM. That’s why Intel Xeon chips have more cores and cache than traditional consumer chips like the Core series.

Developers have been optimizing games for multi-core CPUs, but games have only been optimized for 4 cores for several years. This is because the two most popular gaming CPUs are the Intel i5 and i7. From 2007 to 2016, both chips had only 4 cores. Note that the i7 does have hyperthreading, but most games don’t make much of a difference between an i5 and an i7. In short, before purchasing a Xeon processor, make sure to keep these facts in your mind. 

Games favor clock speed over core count.

When it comes to gaming, the number of cores matters. But we’ve seen that games often prefer clock speeds over core counts. That’s why AMD’s FX-series chips struggled to keep up with Intel’s i5 and i7 in gaming between 2007 and 2016. FX series chips have many cores but poor single-core performance. For a lot of games, this isn’t a big deal. But other CPU-intensive games, such as 4k strategy, and simulation games, struggle to maintain stable frame rates.

Arma III and Squad are my personal favorites and are in the analog category. But unfortunately, my AMD FX 8350 (Black Edition) really struggles with these games. That’s why I recommend at least a Xeon with a base clock speed of 2.66 GHz. If you pick the right Xeon, it should keep up with the 8th gen i3 or i5. Intel Xeon E5 series chips still perform well in many games today. These chips can also be overclocked when we choose the right motherboard.

Optimizing games for more cores.

Due to the continued success of AMD Ryzen, today’s CPUs are equipped with more cores and threads. As 4, 6, 8, and 10-core CPUs become more common, developers will build their games to take advantage of more of these resources. This is excellent news for anyone looking to assemble a Xeon build. If we look six years back, the lower-clocked Xeon might not perform well in some games because it only had 2 to 4 low-power cores being used.

Today, the same CPU performance can be surprisingly good. Remember that it will still have an older instruction set so that each core won’t perform as well as a 10th or 11th gen core. But since most games use all of its cores these days, it might perform better than you think. Of course, the core count isn’t everything. Games tend to use higher clock speeds rather than core counts. Therefore, it is essential to know this information before purchasing your next Xeon build.

What are the benefits of Xeon processors for gaming?

A Xeon processor is the best choice for gaming for a few reasons.

• Excellent Performance: A Xeon processor is designed for high performance, so it has the power to handle the most demanding games. 
• Reliability: Such a processor is built for reliability, so you can be sure that these processors won’t overheat or break down during gaming sessions.
• Extra features: These processors have many features that can improve your gaming experiences, such as support for multiple monitors and high-resolution 4k graphics.

What are the downsides of Xeon processors for gaming?

There are a few cons of Xeon processors for using gaming. 

• High price: One is that they are more expensive than other processors. 
• Unimpressive single-threaded performance: Also, they tend to be less potent in terms of single-threaded performance, which can be important for some kinds of games.
• Made for servers: The Xeon processors are designed for server workloads and may not be suitable for gaming as compared to other types of processors.

Conclusion

No doubt, a processor is vital to your game since it helps with everything that happens to the unit. But the thing is, since the game isn’t as demanding, a processor that’s too powerful might just be a waste of time, although it will Get the task done. In contrast, for some gamers, it can be quite shocking to think that some processors weren’t built for gaming. But still, we must know, is the Intel Xeon processor good for gaming, or is it just a waste of money? It’s interesting that some gaming systems Intel Core i7 processors are even too much for them, as they would pair well with a Core i5.

With above-average core counts and excellent single-core performance, older Xeons can still make great gaming CPUs in 2021 and 2022. You can pair it with a superior graphics card and other PC components to enjoy high-resolution graphics settings. An Intel Core i5 or i7 will usually be a better gaming chip because of its higher clock speed, which tends to be favored and boost your gaming performance and give you better results. If you’re looking for the ultimate Xeon gaming build, pair your chip with an overclockable motherboard. Intel Xeons are more than enough for gaming in 2021 and 2022.

Arslan Ashraf

EDITOR

Arslan Ashraf is a dedicated tech writer with a rich background in Computer Science and five years of experience in the field. While pursuing his Bachelor's degree from Virtual University, he has honed his expertise in CPUs and CPU Coolers. His ability to simplify complex technological concepts has made him a valuable resource for a wide audience.