Should I Use Only Physical Cores Tarkov?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You have a CPU with a high ratio of logical to physical cores (e.g., many hyper‑threaded cores) and notice frame‑time spikes that disappear when hyper‑threading is disabled.
• Good fit: You run Tarkov with CPU‑bound settings (high enemy counts, many AI bots) on a workstation where other applications share the same core pool and you want to guarantee dedicated physical resources for the game.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: Your processor has few physical cores (e.g., a 4‑core/8‑thread CPU) and you rely on multithreaded performance for high graphics settings; limiting to physical cores may lower overall FPS.
• Warning sign: You are using a laptop or a system with aggressive power‑saving profiles; restricting cores can cause the CPU to stay at lower frequencies, worsening heat and battery life.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Reduces scheduling overhead caused by hyper‑threading interference, which can yield smoother frame times on some CPUs.
• Provides a consistent performance baseline for benchmarking or streaming, as logical cores can introduce variability.

Cons

• Potentially caps maximum achievable FPS, especially on CPUs where logical cores contribute significantly to throughput.
• May increase power consumption and heat because physical cores run at higher utilization without the helper threads.

Decision Checklist

• Do you observe noticeable frame‑time jitter that correlates with hyper‑threaded core usage?
• Does your CPU have more than double the number of logical cores compared to physical cores?
• Can you test the setting in a controlled session and compare average FPS and stability before committing?

Alternatives to Consider

Instead of locking the game to physical cores only, you can try adjusting the game’s thread priority, limiting the maximum FPS, or using CPU affinity tools to assign specific cores while keeping hyper‑threading enabled. Updating drivers, tweaking in‑game graphics, and ensuring the latest game patch are also lower‑risk ways to improve stability.

Final Recommendation

If you have a high‑core‑count CPU with noticeable hyper‑threading‑related jitter, testing Tarkov with only physical cores is worth a trial and may improve smoothness. However, on modest CPUs or when you need maximum raw performance, keep hyper‑threading enabled and focus on other optimisations. Always monitor temperatures and benchmark results before making the change permanent, and consult hardware forums or a PC‑building professional for personalised advice.