Is a high-end CPU a real need for a gaming computer?

How We Tested

During our benchmarking sessions, we used the configuration listed below. Between our benchmarking sessions, the only variable device was the CPU being tested and the motherboard, which had to be replaced to match the different CPUs.
Hardware Configuration

• Motherboard (Core 2 Quad Q8300): Gigabyte G41MT-ES2L
• Motherboard (Core i7-4770K, Core i3-4150 and Pentium G3220): ASRock Z97 Extreme4
• CPU Cooler: Intel stock
• Memory: 8 GiB DDR3-2133, two G.Skill Ripjaws F3-17000CL9Q-16GBZH 4 GiB memory modules configured at 1,066 MHz, 1,333 MHz or 1,600 MHz depending on the maximum speed supported by the CPU
• Boot drive: Kingston HyperX Savage 480 GB
• Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 750 (GV-N750OC-1GI)
• Video Monitor: Philips 236VL
• Power Supply: Corsair CX500M

Operating System Configuration

• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• NTFS
• Video resolution: 1920 x 1080 60 Hz

Driver Versions

• NVIDIA driver version: 353.3
• Intel Inf chipset driver version: 10.0

Software Used

• Battlefield 4
• Dirt Rally
• Dragon Age: Inquisition
• Dying Light
• GTA V
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Error Margin
We adopted a 4% error margin. Thus, differences below 4% cannot be considered relevant. In other words, products with a performance difference below 4% should be considered as having similar performance.