The Best CPUs: Productivity and Gaming



Even even though we review new CPUs at some stage in the yr and revisit a number of the maximum thrilling matchups months and years later, in this buying guide, we positioned it all collectively to keep your CPU shopping as truthful as possible.

The right CPU choice will heavily rely on your specific use case. Therefore, we will discover the pros and cons in every segment, starting from the maximum low-priced CPUs to the core-heavy monsters, so that you'll know what works best for you. We additionally generally keep in mind platform charges and capacity destiny improve options while making our suggestions, and this discussion will be no one-of-a-kind.

It's exciting to peer how matters have changed over the past few years. Intel remains incredibly aggressive at the low-give up, but now not a lot at the top. Meanwhile, AMD has been making some strides there with the Ryzen five 7600 at $200.

When it comes to gaming, the Ryzen 7800X3D is a big headache for Intel, it's this sort of specialised component. Then at the excessive-stop, Intel falls victim to immoderate strength usage, and whilst some will claim undervolting and lowering power goals is the way to go, you could nevertheless attain higher performance and efficiency with a Ryzen 9 CPU.

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• Entry Level $a hundred

  Core i3-12100F and Ryzen five 5500

  Price: $91
• $two hundred or Less

  Ryzen 5 7600 and Ryzen 7 5700X

  Price: $194
• $300 or Less

  Core i5-13600KF and Ryzen 7 7700X

  Price: $249
• $400 or Less

  Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Ryzen 9 7900X

  Price: $347
• $500 Flagships

  Ryzen 9 7950X3D

  Price: $579

Entry-Level Options: Every Dollar Counts

Core i3-12100F and Ryzen 5 5500

In numbers Price: $ninety one on Amazon TechSpot Metascore: 86 User Reviews: nine.Four

Starting with the access-degree class, we understand the importance of price range issues. However, we accept as true with that opting for the cheapest choice won't constantly be the wisest choice if some thing handiest barely more high-priced is a lot quicker.

For example, allow's take the Intel Core i3-10100F, currently priced at $eighty five. This is a aggressive charge for the component, but it is really worth noting that the Core i3-12100F is simply $10 greater, representing a mere 12% premium. However, on average, it offers over 20% better gaming performance.

So, if you are running with a good budget and aiming to maximize the price of your funding, we recommend skipping the 10th technology element and going directly for the 12th era Core i3. At $ninety five, the 12100F gives a without a doubt great deal. You can locate LGA 1700 boards for as little as $80, and decent forums able to dealing with Core i9 processors starting at around $120. Both DDR4 and DDR5 memory options are fairly priced. We advise DDR5, however if you're trying to save every penny, DDR4 will the activity carried out.

As for AMD alternatives, there are not many compelling alternatives presently to be had. The Ryzen 5 5500, priced at $one zero five, is truly underwhelming, as it offers similar multi-middle overall performance to that of the 12100F but with weaker gaming overall performance. However, the gain of the Ryzen processor lies inside the AM4 platform, taking into account future improvements to processors like the Ryzen 5 5700X or 5800X3D. Good first-rate boards for this platform can be observed for $90. While the 5500 has a few redeeming traits, our preference leans closer to Intel's Core i3-12100F.

On a side be aware, we advise in opposition to choosing the Intel Core i3-13100F, priced at $one hundred twenty. It's basically a refreshed 12100F, meaning it is the precise same CPU with a new name and a $25 rate hike.

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Up to $two hundred: Budget CPUs with Some Oomph

Ryzen five 7600 and Ryzen 7 5700X

In numbers Price: $194 on Amazon TechSpot Metascore: seventy two User Reviews: nine.4

We've compiled a shortlist of 9 alternatives inside this price variety, however we can get rid of 5 of them right away. The Core i5-10400F at $a hundred and twenty and the 11400F at $a hundred thirty offer decent cost and may be really worth considering if you can stretch your finances slightly. However, in this variety, we lean in the direction of recommending the AM4 platform for its notable improve capability. For $130, the Ryzen 5 5600 affords better performance.

The Core i5-10600K at $one hundred fifty faces a comparable destiny. At this degree, the Intel LGA 1200 platform would not offer the same fee as it used to. On the opposite hand, the outgoing LGA 1700 platform nevertheless affords a compelling alternative. With the Core i5-12600KF now to be had for $one hundred sixty, it's an excellent deal, imparting superior gaming and productivity performance compared to the Ryzen five 5600.

Countering that deal is the Ryzen 7 5700X, additionally priced at $160, delivering similar gaming and productiveness overall performance. Opting for excessive-velocity DDR5 memory in a 12600KF construct have to yield better gaming overall performance but comes at a better cost. The Ryzen 5700X performs well with low cost DDR4 reminiscence, and AM4 motherboards are less expensive, imparting the potential for destiny upgrades.

For those seeking to maximize gaming overall performance whilst staying inside a price range, the Ryzen five 7600 at $two hundred appears to be a top notch deal. It can outperform the 12600KF in gaming. However, the real drawcard right here is the AM5 platform's assist for future CPUs. The 12600KF is $40 cheaper, representing a 20% financial savings, however keep in thoughts that the overall financial savings may be less than 20% once you aspect in motherboard and reminiscence expenses.

To summarize, at gift, the Ryzen 7 5700X alternative at $one hundred seventy would require a further $ninety for a respectable B550 board and $60 for a 32GB package of DDR4-3600 reminiscence, totaling $320 (or $280 with the Ryzen 5 3600). In our opinion, spending an extra 14% for a 33% increase in processing electricity is a worthy preference.

Alternatively, the Core i5-12600KF is priced at $one hundred sixty, a first rate DDR4 Z690 board costs around $one hundred twenty, and a 32GB package of DDR4-3600 memory adds another $60, making it $340 in overall – similar to the price of the 5700X for comparable performance. If you choose DDR5, Z690 forums begin at $a hundred and sixty, with a 32GB package of DDR5-6000 costing round $ninety, bringing the DDR5 configuration's price to $410. This represents more or less a 20% top class over the DDR4 configuration, which may not be justified for this processor blend.

Lastly, we have the $2 hundred Ryzen five 7600, and any B650 board is well suited with it, helping as much as the Ryzen 9 7950X. For budget builds, we pretty recommend the Asrock B650M-HDV/M.2 priced at $a hundred and ten. Additionally, you'll need $ninety for a 32GB package of DDR5-6000 reminiscence, resulting in a total build value of $400. This is why we do not propose pairing the 12600KF with DDR5.

As superb as the 12600KF DDR4 choice is, we would either go with the 5700X on AM4 for a total platform value of $320 or, ideally, invest the greater $eighty to move to AM5 with new DDR5 reminiscence and the Ryzen five 7600. If AMD can maintain the 7600's rate at or around $two hundred, it is going to be a difficult option to beat.

But what when you have a barely larger price range to work with? ...

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Up to $300, Now We're Getting Serious!

Core i5-13600KF and Ryzen 7 7700X

In numbers Price: $249 on Amazon TechSpot Metascore: 91 User Reviews: 9.6

There are well over a dozen CPUs to pick out from inside the $three hundred to $400 charge range, and lots of them could make sense, complicating our pointers. Let's begin with the most low-priced alternatives at the $two hundred mark. The Ryzen 7 5800X, priced at $220, is easily dismissible; the 5700X gives comparable overall performance for considerably much less. Opt for the 5800X simplest if it's about $10 extra; in any other case, pick out the cheaper version.

The identical goes for the Ryzen 7 7600X: it's just a $20 top rate over its non-X counterpart, but this is not justified. Enabling PBO at the 7600 is an choice, however the more power-green stock configuration of the 7600 is preferable. Save the $20 and choose it. Also priced at $220 is the Core i5-12500, however it's less attractive compared to the advanced 7600 and the greater cheap 12600KF.

The Core i7-12700KF at $230 is interesting. It gives eight twelfth-gen P-cores and a cluster of E-cores, totaling 12 cores. Although not all cores are same, this configuration presents sizable processing energy for $230. Generally speaking, you're looking at similar gaming and productiveness performance to that of the Ryzen 7 7700X which prices $320. However, the Core i5-13600K, with comparable productiveness overall performance and typically superior gaming consequences, is a better option. Currently, the 13600KF is $250, with the usual 13600K at $270. Despite the 12700KF's enchantment at $230, we might lean in the direction of the slightly pricier thirteenth-gen Core i5.

The Core i5-13600KF at $250 is the first CPU on this bracket that certainly stands out. It matches the 7600's gaming performance using DDR5-6000 reminiscence and offers extensively higher productivity performance. However, a decent DDR5 Z690 or Z790 motherboard will cost approximately $50 more, totaling an extra $one hundred for this combination over the 7600 – a 25% hike at $500.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, at $290, barely falls below $three hundred. It's a possible choice in case you're already the usage of the AM4 platform. Otherwise, for barely extra, the Ryzen 7 7700X gives similar productivity overall performance with a whole lot advanced gaming performance. Investing a chunk extra inside the AM5 platform is a clever choice.

If considering simply over $three hundred, the 7700X at $320 is a amazing choice, tremendously extra low-cost than its non-X counterpart at $330. The best actual competitor is the Core i5-14600K at $270, a rebranded 13600K. Paying over 20% greater for essentially the equal product is unwarranted. Depending on motherboard costs, the 7700X might be closer in value to the 13600K than anticipated, making it a potentially higher purchase.

However, complicating our selection are the Core i9-12900K and KF models, now decreased to $315 and $310, respectively. We advocate the i9-12900K at $315 among the 2, but even at this decreased charge, it is not a definitive advice. The 13600K's newer Raptor Lake architecture almost fits its productivity performance while the use of considerably much less strength and matching gaming overall performance. So, we would decide on the 13600KF at $250.

Finally, the 5800X3D at $320 is an first-rate CPU for the ones committed to the AM4 platform. For others, the 7700X is the better choice.

All said and completed, the choice boils right down to the Core i5-13600KF or Ryzen 7 7700X. Depending on motherboard costs, we ought to move either way. A nicely-priced LGA 1700 DDR5 board makes the 13600KF a treasured alternative, however the capability upgrade route of AM5 additionally makes the 7700X attractive, even though its destiny offerings remain unsure.

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Spending Up Around $four hundred

Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Ryzen nine 7900X

In numbers Price: $347 on Amazon TechSpot Metascore: 87 User Reviews: nine.6

For those willing to spend $400 to $500 on a CPU, you'll find a few strong effective alternatives from both AMD's AM5 and Intel's LGA 1700 structures. At this price point, it's best to avoid anything based totally on older platforms, which includes AM4 or LGA 1200, as they constitute terrible fee for brand spanking new machine builders.

If gaming is the number one attention, the 7800X3D is the pinnacle desire. It normally outperforms the gaming competencies of the Core i9-14900K, and does so at a lower price of $360. The 7900X3D, however, is a much less powerful gaming CPU. With simplest six cores having direct get right of entry to to the stacked three-D V-Cache, it affords a scheduling task and isn't a realistic choice for either gaming or productivity.

For productiveness-targeted users, the Ryzen 9 7900X at $390 is a far superior alternative. It's $a hundred less luxurious and competes nicely with the Core i7-14700K, priced barely higher at $four hundred, though its KF version is to be had for $390.

The 14700K usually excels over the 7900X in center-heavy workloads, however it substantially will increase general system power usage – over 70% better in our observations. If energy performance is a issue, the Ryzen 9 element is in a specific league. However, for predominantly gaming customers, the 14700K outperforms the 7900X. Yet, there is a caveat with the i7: the 7800X3D, being cheaper and quicker, is the favored alternative for gamers.

In short, for around $400, the 7800X3D is the unrivaled choice for gamers, a advice that stands for any price point above $four hundred. Meanwhile, for productivity, the 7900X at $390 gives an unbeatable combination of performance and efficiency.

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The Flagship Desktop Fight: $500 CPUs

Ryzen nine 7950X3D

In numbers Price: $579 on Amazon TechSpot Metascore: 86 User Reviews: 9.Four

Time for the Core i9 vs. Ryzen nine showdown, with every team presenting several options. First, it is critical to note that the thirteenth and 14th-gen Core i9s are essentially the identical CPU, so there's no point in paying a top rate for the 14th-gen models.

The 14th-gen's best capability benefit lies in Intel's APO (Application Optimization software program feature), that may enhance game performance. However, presently, it is powerful in just two games, and this appears more like a marketing method to sell the newer chips to game enthusiasts. That stated, the 14900KF is presently just $30 greater than its thirteenth-gen counterpart, whilst the 14900K is $40 greater than the 13900K. With much less than a 10% fee distinction, it is in all likelihood clever to choose a 14th-gen model.

This leads us to the 14900KF at $550, the 7950X at $570, the 7950X3D at $580, and the standard 14900K. We recommend spending the greater $30 to get the 14900K. The moderate top rate for the iGPU is worthwhile, as it can be useful and can assist the CPU keep its value higher.

The 7950X3D is handiest $10 greater than the standard 7950X, so it's manifestly the better desire. This narrows our options to the 14900K and the 7950X3D, both priced at $580.

Our advice is pretty straightforward: pick the 7950X3D. It promises similar, if no longer slightly better, productivity performance in our trying out, and the distinction in electricity intake is considerable. For instance, going for walks Cinebench, the 14900K device ate up 533 watts, which changed into ninety two% extra than the 277 watts utilized by the 7950X3D. Clearly, for productiveness tasks, the 14900K isn't the sensible desire.

In terms of gaming, the 7950X3D also performs better. While the difference is typically small, the Ryzen CPU's decrease electricity consumption makes it the plain preference.

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