When building a perfect gaming rig, the focus usually goes to the graphics card, since the positive gaming experience depends largely on its performance and quality. CPU is secondary hardware in this puzzle, but should it really be like that?
Most people don’t use their gaming PCs strictly for gaming, but also for many other tasks, which is where the significance of CPU comes into the picture. This is the main reason why choosing the best CPU for gaming shouldn’t involve just a gaming component, but be observed from a broader perspective.
Maybe your gaming demands only for a Pentium processor, but what if you are also into casual rendering, or content creation, not to mention 4k video streaming or similar? Your CPU will simply be unable to complete all that.
Also, you must take into consideration the fact that the games’ system requirements are constantly rising. Therefore, when purchasing a new CPU, you should always be at least one step ahead and always get yourself something that will allow for decent gaming at least for a couple of years to come, without a need for hardware improvements.
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Last update on 2023-10-08 // The links above are affiliate // Images from Amazon
How to Choose the Best CPU for Gaming
If you are not familiar with the important aspects of a CPU, or just need a quick refresher, here are the most important characteristics of processors you should pay your attention to.
Clock Speed/Operating Frequency
Clock speed is probably the most important CPU characteristic. The higher it is, the quicker your tasks will be finished. Therefore, always go for higher numbers, which includes both high base and boost clock speeds.
Cores
Cores are necessary for multitasking, but more cores don’t guarantee for fast performance. If you have a dual core with a speed of 3.6 GHz and a quad-core processor with a speed of 2 GHz, the dual core will be faster, and it will completely outperform the quad-core.
Don’t be fooled and drawn by the high number of cores, six or eight cores are the maximum you will need, while the majority of the users are perfectly good with just four. Only the heavy users will demand 16 or so cores. For that reason, first of all, look at the processor’s speed and only after that check number of cores that should, as mentioned, be at least four.
Socket
If you are building a brand new rig, you should purchase a CPU with the same socket as your motherboard. Keep that in mind whenever you are building your own PC: all the components need to be compatible and the same socket of your motherboard and the CPU is a necessity.
CPU Cache
More CPU cache means that the CPU will have more space to store the copies of the most frequently used data. In other words, the more CPU cache MBs, the quicker the data access and overall faster computing. Because of that, just as in the case of a clock speed, always go for higher values.
9 Best Gaming CPUs
Intel Core i9-12900K
The Best Gaming Processor There Is
Intel Core i9-12900K is a fast, high-performing Alder Lake CPU, with great characteristics and equally importantly, amazing gaming capabilities. In other words, if you want the best gaming CPU, this one is pretty much it.
The reasons for that are numerous; however, the most prominent ones are its eight P-cores, with a base clock speed of 3.2GHz and boost speed of very nice 5.2GHz. In addition, there are also eight E-cores with base speed of 2.4GHz and boost speed of 3.9GHz, as well as a total of 24 threads (16 on P-cores and eight on E-cores) that make a true difference, especially if used in the workstation PC.
Intel Core i9-12900K comes unlocked and features 30 MB of L3 cache. Also, it has 20 PCIe lanes and supports both PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5. In addition, this CPU offers support for Thunderbolt 4 and Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6/6E and base power of 125W.
More importantly, Intel Core i9-12900K is superior to any Ryzen processor and surpasses them in almost any category, especially if used on the Windows 11 platform that unlocks its Intel Thread Director features.
All in all, if you are into high-end gaming and money isn’t an issue for you, Intel Core i9-12900K is certainly a great choice.
- PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5 memory support
- Great speed
- Excellent single and multi-thread performance
- Good pricing
- Unlocked
- There is no cooler included in the package
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
The New King Has Come
A battle between AMD and Intel is like a Neverending Story and both sides turn in the lead. For a long time, the top spot was reserved for the Intel babies; however, with the arrival of the AMD’s new Zen 3 architecture, things are changing and the new generation of AMD CPUs, with their flagship Ryzen 9 5950X on top, is here to take the throne.
Simply, Ryzen 9 5950X, with its 16 cores and 32 processing threads, along with 3.4 GHz base clock, 4.9 GHz boost clock, and especially L3 cache that is impressive at 72MB, is more than capable of delivering an amazing gaming performance that is neck and neck with the Intel’s leading Core i9 10900K and even surpasses it when it is paired with the PCIe 4.0 compatible GPU that isn’t supported by Intel processors.
Considering the number of cores and threads, it is no wonder that AMD Ryzen 9 5950X’s multi-thread performance and overall multitasking are without real competition. At the same time, its excellent 105W TDP, along with the very good overclocking capabilities, makes this CPU the best AM4 processor available and one of the best gaming processors out there, although a bit costly.
- Good power efficiency
- Excellent overall performance
- Impressive L3 cache
- Easy to overclock
- PCIe 4.0 support
- It comes without a cooler
- Pricey
Intel Core i7-12700K
The Ideal Gaming CPU
If you seek the best ratio between price and performance in the Intels CPU portfolio, Intel Core i7-12700K comes as one of the top picks, thanks to its performance which is close to i9-12900K, and a much smaller price tag. In other words, if you want a high-performing gaming CPU with the best value for the money, this one is pretty much it.
This processor comes with 12 cores (eight P-cores and four E-cores) and features 25MB of L3 cache. Also, it has 20 PCIe lanes and has support for DDR5 memory, Thunderbolt 4, Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6/6E, as well as PCIe Gen 5. The processor itself is unlocked, offering plenty of space for tweaking, while the improved power efficiency presents a nice bonus.
When talking about performance, its P-cores have a base speed of 3.6GHz and can reach up to 5.0GHz in boost mode, while the E-cores come with 2.7GHz base clock and can be boosted up to 3.8GHz. In other words, a flawless performance is guaranteed, or at least the one that outperforms Ryzen rivals.
Intel Core i7-12700K comes with 20 threads (16 on P-cores and four on E-cores) and features great single and multithread performance. In short, this processor has everything needed for an excellent gaming performance. Therefore, if you are after one of these, you may be sure you won’t make a mistake.
- Excellent gaming performance
- Great single and multi-thread performance
- PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 memory
- Good power efficiency
- Unlocked
- Price
- No cooler is included in the package
- A limited number of supported motherboards
Intel Core i5-12600K
The Ultimate Value-for-the-Money CPU
Finding the perfect budget-friendly gaming CPU is never easy; however, there are CPUs, such as the Intel Core i5-12600K, that are exactly that. This is an excellent-performing, yet affordable processor that offers a bit less than the premium i9-12900K, or i7-12700K, yet more than enough for an exceptional gaming performance. In other words, Intel Core i5-12600K is the ideal option, if you want a premium product, at a reasonable price.
This CPU comes with 10 cores (six P-cores and four E-cores) and features 16 threads (12 on P-cores and four on E-cores). Moreover, it has 16MB of L3 cache and offers support for PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5 memory. Furthermore, there is support for Thunderbolt 4, Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6/6E, as well as Intel Thread Director.
Intel Core i5-12600K also comes with built-in Intel UHD Graphics and a total of 20PCIe lanes. It is unlocked and has a base power of 125W. Its P-cores have a base clock of 3.7GHz that can be boosted up to 4.9GHz, while the E-cores offer a 2.8GHz base speed and can reach up to 3.6GHz in the boost mode. In other words, amazing gaming is guaranteed with this CPU.
- Reasonable price
- Very good performance
- PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 memory compatibility
- Excellent single and multi-thread performance
- No bundled cooler
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
An Outstanding CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is a high-performing CPU that offers excellent performance in both single and multi-thread work, which makes it a great overall option for workstations, as well as high-end gaming machines.
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X comes with eight cores and 16 threads, as well as a base clock of 3.8 GHz that can boost to a very respectable 4.7 GHz. More importantly, it is fitted with 36 MB of L3 cache; it offers support for DDR-3200 and comes with a very good power efficiency and TDP of 105W, which makes it a pretty good deal.
What, on the other hand, isn’t that great, is its price, since Intel Core i7 10700K, which is neck and neck with the Ryzen 7 5800X in gaming performance, costs significantly less, which ultimately makes it a better gaming choice. However, if you are multitasking and are looking for productivity as well, Ryzen 7 5800X makes much more sense.
In other words, Ryzen 7 5800X is an excellent processor that offers quite a lot; however, it is a more all-in-one processor that delivers excellent gaming capability, among other things. Therefore, if you are after a processor that will give you a whole package and instead of only a strong gaming performance, AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is an excellent choice.
- PCIe 4.0 support
- Excellent overall performance
- Unlocked multiplier
- Good power efficiency
- It comes without a cooler
- Pricey
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
A Perfect Budget-Friendly Gaming CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is an affordable, yet very efficient gaming processor that is neck and neck even with the flagship processors such as Ryzen 9 5950X and Intel Core i9-10900K according to its performance. This processor offers excellent value for the money and presents a great choice for gamers that want to get top-class performance at more than a reasonable price.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is fitted with six cores and 12 processing threads and offers a respectable boost clock of 4.6 GHz that gives this processor enough firepower to fight the big guys. Moreover, there is also 35MB of L3 cache, support for DDR4-3200 high-performing gaming memory, as well as excellent power efficiency and TDP of 65W.
Also, this processor comes with a quiet and capable Wraith Stealth cooler, an unlocked multiplier that will allow for additional tweaking and even better overall performance.
To make a long story short, if the best budget-friendly gaming CPU is your main target, AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is without a doubt an excellent choice.
- Comes with a cooler
- Excellent gaming performance
- PCIe 4.0 support
- Good value for the money
- Solid overclocking capabilities
- Good power efficiency
- No integrated graphics
Intel Core i3-10100
The Optimal Budget-Friendly Gaming Solution
Intel Core i3-10100 is an affordable, yet very good gaming CPU that won’t blast you with its performance, but it will do more than a fine job. Its four cores and eight threads, along with the maximum boost clock speed of 4.3GHz and Hyper-Threading support, are doing some serious work and if you are after the best cheap gaming processors, this one is a great choice.
There are numerous reasons for such a claim, such as Intel Optane Memory Support, included cooler, as well as integrated graphics that maybe aren’t the decisive factor for gamers, but they still present a decent bonus. Also, there is excellent power efficiency when compared to the more expensive Intel CPUs from the Comet Lake series, Turbo Boost Max 2.0, and Quick Sync video engine, as well as 6MB of L3 cache – not too much, but good enough for a fine gaming performance.
Moreover, Intel Core i3-10100 has a 65W TDP; it supports DDR4-2666 memory and provides up to 40 PCIe lanes. When talking about the competition, the biggest one is the Ryzen 3 3300X that offers slightly more for the price. Nevertheless, if you are in the Intel corner and are looking for an affordable gaming option, Intel Core i3-10100 should certainly be among your top picks.
- It supports Hyper-Threading
- It comes with a heatsink
- Fair price
- Huge performance boost over the Intel Core i3-9100
- Decent gaming performance
- Good power efficiency
- No unlocked multiplier
- No Turbo Boost Max 3.0
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X (Socket TR4)
A Heavy Multitasker that Isn’t that Great When Gaming is on Table
If you want something that will amaze you, you should consider buying the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X. Its staggering 16 cores and 32 threads, 40MB of cache and 64 PCIe Gen3 lanes will do any job with ease. Content creation, 4K streaming, video editing, you name it – it can do it all without breaking a sweat.
This is simply a CPU that is made for extreme loads and multitasking and every other use is just a waste of its resources. Although it can also be used for gaming and its base clock of 4.0 GHz is above i9-9900K’s and i7-9700K’s 3.6 GHz, its boost clock of only 4.2 GHz is significantly below 9900K’s 5.0 GHz or 9700K’s 4.9 GHz, which results in a worse gaming performance.
In other words, if you are into gaming, AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X isn’t that great option. Tests show that this CPU is outperformed by many older and much cheaper processors in GTA V, Civilization 6, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and many other mainstream games.
Therefore, if you are into heavy multitasking, this CPU can be a great option; if, on the other hand, gaming is your priority, better go for some other solution. At the same time, you will get better performance and save money.
- great multithread performance
- excellent PCIe connectivity
- good price per core
- complicated settings
- low-resolution gaming
- power hungry
Intel Core i9-10850K
The King, with a Slightly Lower Price Tag
If you seek top-notch gaming performance and are looking for a processor that will give you that at the best possible price, Intel Core i9-10850K CPU is the device for you.
This processor offers almost the same performance and specification as the flagship Intel Core i9-10900K, at a lower price, as well as better energy efficiency and thermal performance that. Ultimately, these features are delivering a better overall value for the customer.
When talking about the specs themselves, have in mind that Intel Core i9-10850K comes with 10 cores and 20 threads and that it offers a 5.2GHz boost and 3.6GHz base clock speed. Moreover, it provides support for Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0, two-channel DDR4 2933MHz memory, and up to 40 PCIe lanes that are only PCIe 3.0 ones, unfortunately.
Intel Core i9-10850K CPU provides 125W TDP, 20MB of L3 cache, and allows for the Hyper-threading technology. In other words, it supports everything as its bigger brother; nevertheless, it costs significantly less. For that reason, if you are looking for one of the best gaming CPUs, with the optimal performance for the price, Intel Core i9-10850K is a sure thing.
- Excellent single and multithread performance
- Amazing gaming performance
- Similar performance, but lower cost than the flagship i9-10900K
- Unlocked multiplier
- Thermal Velocity Boost
- PCIe 3.0 interface
- Too little space for overclocking
- High power consumption
Conclusion
If this guide has helped you with your CPU purchase, its goal has been fulfilled. On the other hand, if it didn’t, we hope it was at least beneficial enough to equip you with some knowledge and give you a slightly better perspective of what exactly it is that do you need. Good luck with your CPU shopping!
