It’s basic to forget that quad-core processors still exist, but this core-count configuration is still the primary configuration used by Intel and AMD in their entry-level solutions. Random gaming in HD on YouTube compared AMD’s latest entry-level server processor, the AM5-based EPYC 4124P, with the RTX 4060 and RTX 4070 Super, delivering 60+ frames per second gameplay even in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077.
The EPYC 4124P is a quad-core, eight-thread enterprise processor based on the AMD Zen 4 processor architecture. The processor has a TDP of 65 W, 16 MB L3 cache and a maximum boost clock of 5.1 GHz. Its price is $149. At the time of writing, the 4124P is AMD’s fastest quad-core processor.
| Sports competitions | Average frame rate | 1% of lows | Settings |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 87 frames per second | 62.6 fps | 1080p, high |
| Stalker 2 | 62.4 fps | 39.5 fps | 1080p, medium |
| Indiana Jones and the Great Circle | 95 frames per second | 49.9 fps | Medium resolution 1080p |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | 53.4 fps | 33 fps | Medium resolution 1080p |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 78.7 fps | 59.2 fps | High settings except Ultra Textures, High TAA |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 269.6 fps | 128.2 fps | 1080p high resolution, anti-aliasing disabled |
| Fortnite | 96.2 fps | 70.8 fps | 1080p medium resolution, nanite support |
The YouTuber tested the system with 32 GB of 6400 MHz memory and an RTX 4060 card placed on the Asus Prime X870E motherboard. The YouTuber reports that despite not appearing on the motherboard’s supported processor list, the chip booted without any issues and works perfectly with his Asus X870E board.
The games were tested Cyberpunk 2077, Stalker 2, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, IFRS 2024, Red Dead Redemption 2, Counter-Strike 2AND Fortnite. Thanks to RTX 4060, Cyberpunk 2077 at the high resolution of 1080p, an average frame rate of 87 FPS was achieved with the lowest 1% being in the 62.6 FPS range. Stalker 2 with the 1080p medium, an average of 62.4 FPS was provided; Indiana Jones and the Great Circle 1080p medium ran at 95 FPS; IFRS 2024 clocked at an average of 53.4 FPS at an average level of 1080p; RDR2 ran at an average FPS of 78.7 FPS on high settings; CS2 hit 269.6 FPS average at 1080p and Fortnite it ran at 96.2 FPS at 1080p medium resolution with Nanite enabled.
In the extensive majority of titles tested, the EPYC 4124P was able to power the RTX 4060 without major CPU bottleneck issues. Most of the time, the RTX 4060 CPU was at peak utilization, while the 4124P CPU utilization was in the 75-90% range on average.
However, the RTX 4060 seems to be the maximum performance that the EPYC 4124P can handle reliably without seriously taxing the CPU. The YouTuber also tested the quad-core RTX 4070 Super at 1440p in a few games and found that the CPU was starting to have a tough time keeping up with the more powerful GPU. For example in Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1440p ultra, the 4070 Super could only reliably achieve around 90% GPU utilization with constant CPU load in the lower 80s. CS2 was the worst offender as the 4070 Super was only able to maintain around 50% to 75% utilization.
The 4124P may not make our list of the best gaming CPUs, but it can clearly handle demanding AAA titles. It may not be the best deal at $149, but it could certainly appeal to those who choose to run games on this little chip. This also shows that quad-core CPUs can still be enough for gaming, especially for systems paired with GPUs no more powerful than an RTX 4060.
