Greatest gaming CPU 2024

AMD has pulled out all of the stops for its newest X3D chip, which means the very best gaming CPU is the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D proper now. This eight-core CPU isn’t low-cost, nevertheless it takes the profitable formulation of its predecessor, the 7800X3D, and runs with it.

The 9800X3D is sort of merely the quickest gaming CPU we’ve ever examined, and it completely obliterates the present Arrow Lake competitors from Intel. This CPU tops our body price charts in Cyberpunk 2077 and Far Cry 6, and it’s additionally a lot faster than its predecessor in software software program.

The key to this CPU’s success is its use of 2nd-gen AMD 3D V-cache, a big 64MB slice of silicon that sits underneath the CPU cores, reasonably than on prime of them, because it did within the 7800X3D.

This cache massively improves gaming efficiency, and the truth that it’s beneath the CPU cores means your CPU cooler now straight cools these cores, reasonably than cooling the cache first. This not solely means cooler working temperatures than the 7800X3D, nevertheless it’s additionally enabled AMD to up the clock speeds, with a prime increase clock of 5.2GHz.

Add in AMD’s newest Zen 5 structure and you’ve got a formidable gaming CPU, in addition to a chip that may deal with multi-threaded software program with out breaking a sweat. It doesn’t have a great deal of CPU cores, nevertheless it has sufficient for most individuals’s wants, and it’s a improbable chip for gaming.

Learn our AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D evaluation.

Whereas the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D has now been usurped by the superior 9800X3D, there are nonetheless causes to think about shopping for the earlier champion, significantly for those who can’t fairly afford the brand new chip. This perky processor punches effectively above its weight, often costing round $399, and it competes with dearer flagship choices.

The 96MB of L3 cache contained in the 7800X3D does wonders to spice up the ground and ceiling of body charges, making certain that you just’re getting all of the pixel-pushing juice out of your graphics card. Its results are most keenly felt at resolutions like 1080p, making it a great alternative for aggressive players.

It is going to concede floor the place clock speeds are king, however these cases are few and much between in our expertise. Plus, the AM5 motherboard you choose as much as seat the 7800X3D will serve you effectively for a drop-in improve, futureproofing your construct.

Learn our AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D evaluation.

For those who’re seeking to construct a gaming PC on a really tight funds, the Intel Core i5 12400F is a discount CPU. The worth is wonderful for the gaming efficiency on supply. In contrast to newer funds CPUs, such because the Core i3 13100, the Core i5 12400F has six P-Cores underneath its warmth spreader, reasonably than simply 4, giving it loads of uncooked horsepower in video games.

Don’t be fooled by the ‘12’ on this CPU’s mannequin quantity both – the Alder Lake structure utilized by this chip is similar to the Raptor Lake structure utilized in Intel’s newest 14th gen CPUs, and we’ve discovered it greater than succesful in terms of gaming. In contrast to AMD’s AM5 CPUs, you’ll be able to run the Core i5 12400F along with your previous DDR4 reminiscence you probably have some in an current system, and it’ll fortunately run an previous motherboard with a B660 chipset.

With its TDP of simply 65W, this CPU additionally doesn’t want an enormous AIO cooler to maintain it in examine – an honest air cooler will do the job superb. There are a couple of catches. One is that this ‘F’ mannequin has no built-in GPU, however that’s not a problem for those who purchase a separate graphics card for gaming. It additionally doesn’t have any of Intel’s E-Cores, which give a lift in multi-threaded work, however these are largely irrelevant in terms of efficiency in most video games.

The height clock velocity of simply 4.4GHz is also larger, and this isn’t a Okay-series CPU both, so you’ll be able to’t formally overclock it with the multiplier however you’ll be able to’t have every thing at this value. That is the most suitable choice if you’d like an honest gaming CPU for the most cost effective value potential.

Learn our Intel Core i5 12400F evaluation

If you wish to get an honest gaming CPU on a decent funds, but additionally desire a little bit of a lift in multi-threaded work comparable to video encoding and rendering, the Core i5 13400F is a strong candidate. It options six of Intel’s newest Raptor Lake P-Cores and a 4.6GHz increase clock, making it a succesful processor for gaming, nevertheless it additionally has an added bonus over the 12400F.

In contrast to its predecessor, the 13400F additionally has 4 of Intel’s low-power E-Cores underneath its warmth spreader, providing you with a complete of ten cores, which supplies it a lift in multi-threaded software program. It’s a great alternative for anybody who does extra than simply sport with their system however doesn’t have an enormous amount of cash to spend.

Just like the 12400F, this chip doesn’t have a Okay in its mannequin identify, which suggests it may well’t formally be overclocked by altering the multiplier, and the F means it doesn’t have an built-in GPU both. Nevertheless, the latter allows you to avoid wasting cash for those who’re shopping for a devoted graphics card anyway.

You received’t want an enormously highly effective AIO cooler to maintain this CPU in examine both, and for those who purchase the retail model you’ll even get an satisfactory Intel inventory air cooler included within the field.

Learn our Intel Core i5 13400F evaluation.

After we examined the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, we discovered that the Zen 4 processor packs a potent efficiency punch that’s sturdy sufficient to run with probably the most highly effective GPUs of right this moment. This makes it a first-rate candidate for nearly any construct you may consider, no matter dimension or energy.

Regardless of sitting on the decrease finish of the Ryzen 7000 sequence stack, the 7600X handily outperforms earlier era flagships in terms of gaming. Higher nonetheless, you’re not lacking out on many frames in any respect by choosing it versus its dearer siblings.

It’s price taking into consideration, nevertheless, that you just’ll need to pair the 7600X with suitably sturdy cooling because it doesn’t include a inventory cooler. Don’t neglect that you just’ll want a brand new motherboard too, in addition to some sticks of DDR5 RAM.

Learn our AMD Ryzen 5 7600X evaluation.

For these needing a single chip that may deal with CPU and GPU duties, maybe for constructing a small system, or for those who’re simply on a decent funds, look no additional than the Ryzen 5 8600G. With six Zen 4 cores and a Radeon 760M built-in GPU, it’s a perky performer as a processor and stand-in graphics card.

The 8600G shines brightest in much less demanding video games, nevertheless it’s nonetheless able to enjoying the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 at 30fps for those who’re snug with enjoying at 1080p utilizing low settings. It’s suitable with FidelityFX Tremendous Decision too, which may help increase body charges additional by upscaling and body era.

You’ll must pair the 8600G with DDR5 RAM clocked at 6,000MHz or above to get probably the most efficiency out of its built-in graphics. Whereas this does add to the entire price of placing collectively a system, you need to use the identical RAM for those who improve your CPU sooner or later.

For those who plan to pair the 8600G with a devoted graphics card, it solely helps a restricted variety of PCIe 4.0 lanes. That is much less of an issue with present era pixel pushers (Radeon RX 7000 and GeForce RTX 40 sequence), however it’ll restrict the bandwidth of future graphics playing cards that use the PCIe 5.0 interface.

Learn our AMD Ryzen 5 8600G evaluation.

The 13700K is one thing of a champion for streamers and creatives alike, providing an all-in-one resolution that doesn’t carry a very premium price ticket. That includes 16 cores and 24 threads, the chip is greater than able to dealing with real-time 120fps encoding utilizing the ‘x264 Slower’ preset.

That is particularly helpful you probably have a Radeon graphics card however it may well act as an ideal substitute for ‘NVENC’ on GeForce GPUs, ought to the necessity come up. The chip can sustain with top-tier pixel pushers too, sustaining strong most, common, and minimal frames per second.

It’s a lot helpful for exporting and enhancing VODs too, boasting quick export instances and rendering capabilities in Adobe suite purposes comparable to Premiere Professional and After Results.

Learn our Intel Core i7 13700K evaluation.

Sitting on the prime of Intel’s gaming CPU stack is the Core i9 14900K, one of many few chips on the market able to hitting 6GHz clock speeds.

It packs the standard make-up of 24 cores and 32 threads which have outlined each Core i9 for the previous three generations. The one different LGA 1700 processor able to competing is the Core i9 13900KS, however the 14900K is basically an identical to the dearer CPU.

The Core i9 14900K is greatest fitted to techniques that serve each as a gaming rig and workstation, as its strengths are greatest realized in multi-core workloads. Simply ensure you have a succesful energy provide and cooler at hand, because it’ll guzzle electrical energy like no one’s enterprise.

There’s a phrase of warning with this CPU, although, which is that there have been issues with voltage fluctuations, inflicting crashes in video games, and even completely broken CPUs. If you wish to run this CPU, ensure you flash the BIOS in your motherboard so it has the most recent microcode first.

Learn our Intel Core i9 14900K evaluation.

You’ll discover the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X on the prime of Staff Crimson’s newest processor sequence. On this chip lies the perfect that Zen 4 has to supply, with the flagship hiding some stunning methods up its sleeve.

Whereas this chip doesn’t boast the next core or thread rely in comparison with earlier era choices, they’re clocked a lot larger. This not solely interprets into larger frames per second but additionally drastically improves efficiency in nearly each software that may make use of a number of CPU cores.

Its best trick, nevertheless, is its ‘Eco Mode’, which may pressure the processor to attract a most of 65W. Even with such low energy consumption, it may well nonetheless commerce blows with top-tier processors. Naturally, you’ll get probably the most out of the chip whereas working at its commonplace 170W TDP, nevertheless it makes the prospect of a small type issue construct that includes the 7950X extra risk than a dream.

Learn our AMD Ryzen 9 7950X evaluation.