How to Pick the Best Processor For Your Gaming PC

When you’re building a gaming PC, the first thing you’re likely thinking about is picking the best graphics card for the build, but your processor, or CPU, is just as important. For most people, something like the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is going to be the best processor for gaming, thanks to its balance of price and performance.

Choosing the right processor is one of the most consequential decisions in any PC build. Your processor will determine which motherboard you need, along with how fast your RAM can get. Your processor might not determine how your games run too much, but picking the right chip can make everything else run smoothly.

Gaming PCs are in a weird place right nowTL;DR – These Are the Best CPUs for Gaming:As graphics cards have grown more powerful, the amount of weight put on your processor while gaming has decreased drastically. This means for most people, you don’t need to shell out hundreds of dollars for a top-end Core Ultra 9 or Ryzen 9 processor to get the best gaming performance. In fact, many mid-range processors can outperform top-end processors when it comes to pure gaming.

That sounds counterintuitive, but even as game engines have come to embrace multi-core processors over the last decade, they still value stronger individual cores with lower latency between them – which is why the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has become such a behemoth of a gaming processor with its 3D-stacked cache.

Additional contributions by Danielle Abraham

CPU Basics

There’s no way around it, the CPU is one of the most complex components in any gaming PC. There are so many little elements that make up a processor, but luckily you don’t need an engineering degree to have a good idea of what makes a CPU good for gaming.

Your first clue is going to be the name of the processor. Luckily, both Intel and AMD use similar naming conventions when it comes to the different tiers of processors. Team Blue and Team Red both denote each tier of processor with a number – typically 3, 5, 7 or 9 – with the higher number indicating a more powerful processor. So, an Intel Core i9 or Ryzen 9 processor is going to be significantly more powerful than a Core i3 or Ryzen 3 chip. For most people that just want to play PC games, a 5- or 7-series processor is going to be more than enough, especially with recent launches.

The tier classification will also be followed by a model number, but these do differ quite a lot between Intel and AMD. For Intel, a processor like the Core i9-14900K is a great example. The ‘14’ indicates the generation, where the ‘900’ notes where that processor lies in that generation’s lineup. The K just indicates that you can overclock the processor if you want to. There are other letters that Intel will follow its model numbers with, for instance ‘F’ means that processor does not have an integrated GPU.

AMD does things similarly. Take a look at the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X. Just like Intel, the first number indicates its generation, with the 9000 series being the latest-generation. The last three numbers show where it ranks within its own lineup. For the 9950X, it’s just a bit better than the 9900X from the same generation. The ‘X’ just indicates a higher-power version of the processor. AMD will typically launch non-X variants of its Ryzen processors partway through each generation, with lower clock speeds and power budgets than their ‘X’ counterparts. You should also keep an eye out for AMD processors that have a ‘G’ at the end of their model number. These processors have powerful integrated graphics, akin to a low-end dedicated GPU. These are typically referred to as APUs, or accelerated processing units.

The name of the processor alone won’t give you the full picture, though. Some people are just going to have to look at the specs to make sure a processor is right for them. There is a lot of terminology for processors, but when it comes to gaming there are a few that are more important than the rest.

Obviously, the easiest spec to figure out is CPU cores. Ever since the early 2000s most mainstream processors have multiple cores. Typically, having more cores is better, as they allow the CPU to multitask better. However, for gaming, there are diminished returns when you go above eight cores. While there are some PC games that love CPUs with a dozen or more cores, they’re few and far between. Instead, finding an 8-core, 16-thread processor with a high clock speed and a lot of L3 Cache is going to get you further than just adding more CPU cores to the equation.

L3 Cache, and Cache in general, is essentially super-fast memory that’s built into the CPU itself. Think of it like RAM on steroids. Most processors these days will have between 32–96MB of L3 cache, which doesn’t sound like a lot on paper. However, the CPU only needs to store data it needs constant access to in the cache, with less important data being stored temporarily in RAM. With how complex modern games are, having more L3 cache can directly lead to better gaming performance, especially in CPU-heavy games like Total War or World of Warcraft.

Clock speed is simply a measurement of how many cycles – essentially pulses of electricity – each CPU core can carry out each second. Modern processors can carry out thousands of instructions each second, with each generation improving IPC, or instructions per clock, performance. You can compare clock speed in processors in the same generation, and get a good idea of how fast each chip is in single-core workloads. However, that comparison muddies a bit when you look at two processors from separate generations. If an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and an AMD Ryzen 9 3950X were both configured to run at 5.0GHz, the Ryzen 9 9950X would still be much faster.

Finally, it’s worth looking at a processor’s TDP to get a good estimate of power consumption and temperature. TDP stands for Thermal Design Power, and is an indicator of how much power it will consume on average, which will help you decide on a CPU cooler to pair with it. Keep in mind that most processors will consume more power than their TDP rating, especially during heavy workloads. For Intel processors, this is measured by “Maximum Turbo Power”. The recently-released Intel Core Ultra 9 285K has a TDP of 125W, but it reached 250W in my review. Likewise, AMD gives each of its processors a ‘PPT’ rating, or Package Power Tracking, which is essentially the same thing. In my review of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, which has a TDP of 170W, it would reach 200W in heavily threaded workloads. It’s important to keep in mind how much power your processor will need, especially if you’re pairing it with a power-hungry graphics card like the AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX or Nvidia RTX 4080 Super.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D – Photos1. AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Best CPU for Gaming3D V-Cache allows for incredible gaming performance

Future-forward socket with AM5

It can fall behind in some creative workloads

While any modern processor is able to power a gaming PC, I recently reviewed the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and found it to be way better at gaming than pretty much anything else on the market. That’s thanks primarily to the 3D V-cache the processor gets its name from. Basically, L3 cache is usually printed next to the CPU cores, with 3D V-cache, however, it’s printed below the CPU cores. That doesn’t sound like much of a difference, but it means the physical distance between the CPU cores and the cache is drastically reduced, cutting down on latency. This cache design also allows AMD to add more cache, with the 9800X3D having 96MB of L3 cache, compared to 32MB on the Ryzen 7 9700X – a 3x improvement.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D – BenchmarksThis is especially important for PC games, which have a lot of data your CPU can store in cache. Games like Cyberpunk 2077 have the most to gain, thanks to the large amount of data that’s constantly being streamed between the CPU and graphics card. In my testing, then, I found the Ryzen 7 9800X3D would get a whopping 240 fps in Cyberpunk at ultra settings, compared to 174 fps with the Ryzen 7 9700X – a 72% improvement.

To be clear most games won’t see this drastic of a performance jump, with a lot of games instead getting a more stable framerate, rather than a higher average frame rate. Outside of games, though, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D does lose some of its appeal. In apps like Adobe Premiere, the 9800X3D still falls behind more creative-oriented processors like the recently-released Intel Core Ultra 9 285K.

Still, if you’re building a gaming PC primarily for gaming and you don’t care about much else, it’s hard to argue that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best processor for the job.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X – Photos2. AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Best High-Performance CPU for Gaming

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

16-core, 32-thread beast of a processor ready to take on just about anything.

Graphics

AMD Radeon Graphics

Excellent multi-threaded performance

Great for creative professionals

When it comes to the best processors, there’s always the chunk of silicon that pushes performance numbers so high that it’s overkill for the vast majority of people. Right now, that’s the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X.

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X & 9950X – Benchmarks

This is a 16-core, 32-thread beast of a processor that can push as high as 5.7GHz out of the box. In my full review of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, I found that the 9950X is the best processor on the market for creative professionals that need a chip to power Adobe Premiere or Blender as quickly and efficiently as possible. In those creative workloads, the vast amount of threads on offer directly results in faster encoding and rendering times. And because time is money, that means the Ryzen 9 9950X will pay for itself in time.

Of course, you can get the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X as a gaming CPU if you want, it’s more than capable of handling any PC game on the market. However, while this beast of a CPU offers performance above and beyond its competitors in most workloads, it doesn’t rise above the pack when it comes to pure gaming performance. Instead, if you want a great CPU for gaming, you should go for something like the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D or Intel Core i7-14700K. Though, if your gaming PC pulls double duty as a creative workstation, the Ryzen 9 9950X floats to the top of the pile again.

3. AMD Ryzen 7 5700G

Best Budget CPU for Gaming

AMD Ryzen 7 5700G

Grab this budget CPU that’s power efficient, has solid integrated graphics, and features AMD’s Zen 3 architecture, so it’s ready for basic gaming.

Graphics

AMD Radeon Graphics

Integrated graphics that don’t suck

For those working on a budget PC build, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G is a great processor ready to take on all your tasks. This chip uses the slightly older but still highly capable Zen 3 architecture with eight cores and 16 threads. It excels in basic gaming and is an all-around workhorse. The integrated graphics are also top-notch and ready to play in 1080p.

Since the Ryzen 7 5700G has less performance prowess compared to some of AMD’s newer and pricier Zen 4 chips, it’s super power-efficient, keeping under a 65W TDP. Thermals are equally great, so even with more modest cooling, it still maintains peak performance. And did we mention it comes bundled with a AMD Wraith Stealth cooler?

The Ryzen Ryzen 7 5700G uses an AM4 socket and doesn’t support the PCIe 5.0 or 4.0 interfaces. You’ll also rely on DDR4 RAM versus the higher frequency DRR5 RAM. But even if you lose out on speed, you can save some money, which is what this budget pick is all about.

4. Intel Core i5-13400

Best Budget Intel CPU for Gaming

Intel Core i5-13400

A more affordable choice, this 13th Gen CPU is compatible with Intel 600 and 700 series motherboards and reaches speeds of up to 4.6GHz.

Base Clock

2.5GHz (P-core), 1.8GHz (E-core)

Graphics

Intel UHD Graphics 730

Solid single-core performance

May struggle with some high-end AAA games

The Intel Core i5-13400 proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a highly capable gaming CPU. Costing around $200, this mid-range chip has no problem running games at 1080p – or even up to 1440p and 4K. If you’re on a tight budget, the integrated graphics can handle some action while you save up for a solid GPU, and it even comes with a cooler to keep your extra costs down. However, it draws more power than the last-gen model.

You aren’t making many sacrifices when going for this budget-minded processor, as you still get some of the latest technology, including DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 interface. It has the same hybrid architecture seen in higher-end models with six performance cores and four efficient cores alongside 16 threads. Those P-Cores can hit 4.6GHz right out of the box and offer hyperthreading for snappy performance and plenty of oomph to handle any mainstream PC build.

5. Intel Core i9-14900K

Fastest CPU for Gaming

Intel Core i9-14900K

Enjoy speeds up to 6.0 GHz, 24 cores, and 32 threads, with the fastest CPU around that’s ready for streaming, gaming, and creative work.

Base Clock

3.2GHz (P-core), 2.4 (E-core)

Graphics

Intel UHD Graphics 770

Best performance in a mainstream processor

Excellent single core performance

For unbeatable speeds and insane overclocking, I’ve found there’s nothing better than the Intel Core i9-14900K based on my review, but be prepared for it to put a good dent in your wallet. This beastly chip boasts a heavily threaded hybrid architecture with eight P-cores and peaks at a wild 6.0 GHz. Its 16 E-cores are no slouch either, taking some burden off the P-cores and ensuring your game’s action or creative endeavors are never interrupted.

If you’re big into streaming, the Intel Core i9-14900K is an absolute must. You’ll also be hard-pressed to find a game or program that the Intel Core i9-14900K can’t handle; it actually might be overkill for some. However, this is a power-hungry, hot-running processor, so be sure you’ve got proper cooling.

Similar to the Intel Core i5, the Intel Core i9-14900K makes only minor upgrades from the 13th gen model, like slightly higher clock speeds and Wi-Fi 7 compatibility. So, if you find the Intel Core i9-13900K significantly cheaper, you may want to grab that instead.

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X – Photos

6. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X

Best Non-X3D Ryzen CPU for Gaming

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X

Grab this great mid-range chip with strong single-core performance

Graphics

AMD Radeon Graphics

Excellent performance for the money

Nice balance of cores and clock speeds

Not much of an improvement over the 7600X

While it’s tempting to pick up the most expensive and powerful processor on the market, it’s often better to go for a mid-range chip like the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X for gaming. You’re not likely going to need the extreme multi-threaded peformance of something like the Ryzen 9 7950X, and the strong single-core performance will back up pretty much any graphics card you pair with it.

AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X – Review Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X might not be that much faster than its predecessor, but it delivers similar performance without temperatures that’ll make you panic. In testing for my review, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X simply won’t go above 75C using stock settings, meanwhile both the Ryzen 5 7600X and Intel Core i5-14600K will shoot straight up to 95C and stay there in heavy workloads. The processor is unlocked, so you can overclock it, using AMD’s PBO (precision boost overdrive) settings to reach higher performance, but if you just want a CPU to put into your gaming rig and forget about, the Ryzen 5 9600X is a great choice.

Plus, this processor isn’t very demanding on your power supply. Out of the box, the 9600X is limited to 88W of power, which makes it a perfect fit for any gaming rig using a less power-hungry power supply.

How Many CPU Cores Do I Need?

Back in the day, having one CPU core for your game, and another to run Windows in the background, would be enough for most games – but those days have passed. Most games these days will use between two and six cores by themselves, spreading out the workload to boost efficiency. For most people looking to play PC games, this means having a 6-core or 8-core processor will give you more than enough performance to handle even the most demanding games.

It does get a little bit more complicated if you’re getting an Intel processor from the last few years, however. You see, starting with 12th-generation processors in 2021, Intel started implementing a big.LITTLE design philosophy. Essentially, these chips have ‘big’ performance cores to handle heavy workloads like gaming, and ‘LITTLE’ cores that handle background tasks. This means Intel processors technically have more cores than their AMD equivalents, but not every core in the CPU is created equally. If you’re looking at an Intel CPU, you should aim for about 6 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores. That’ll get you about the same level of gaming performance as an AMD CPU with 6 cores and 12 threads, like the Ryzen 5 9600X.

There are plenty of processors with more than 8 cores, but those will be overkill for most people. While the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has a staggering 16 cores and 32 threads, the only people who will really put that hardware to work are creative professionals doing CAD work.

AMD or Intel?

If you’re purely looking for the best gaming performance across the widest sample of PC games, you’re probably going to want to go with an AMD Ryzen processor. Specifically, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still one of the strongest gaming processors ever, and is still outperforming Ryzen 9 and Intel Core i9 chips when playing games. And its successor is right around the corner.

However, while you will get better performance with an AMD X3D chip, it’s far from your only option. Basically any modern mainstream processor is going to be enough for even the most demanding PC games, especially when paired with a decent graphics card. When I reviewed the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, it fell behind in gaming workloads, but it was still delivering more than 100 fps in both Cyberpunk 2077 and Total War: Warhammer 3.

The AMD vs. Intel choice is also deeper than just the CPU itself. After all, the processor you choose determines the motherboard you can pair with it. Again, if you just want to play PC games, the choice doesn’t matter that much from a pure performance perspective – at most you’ll get around a 4-5% performance difference between brands – but certain platforms are a bit easier to use in the long-term. For instance, AMD has committed to supporting its current AM5 socket until at least 2027, whereas Intel has just introduced an entirely new socket with its Core Ultra 200S processors that just came out. That generally represents each company’s approach to CPU sockets and chipsets: AMD usually supports its sockets for much longer than Intel. So, if you want to have room to upgrade again in a few years, Team Red is usually a safer bet. However, Intel does tend to have newer technology built into its chipsets with each generation, even if it comes at the cost of a new motherboard every time you upgrade.

Where to Get the best CPU for Gaming in the UK

AMD Ryzen 5 3600X

AMD Ryzen 3 3200G

Best Budget CPU for Gaming

Intel Core i9-10900X

Best High-End CPU for Gaming

Intel Core i5-10600K

Best Midrange CPU for Gaming

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Best CPU for Gaming Video Editing

Intel Pentium Gold G6400

Best Super Cheap CPU for Gaming

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Best High-End Desktop Processor for Gaming

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Best Streaming Gaming Processor

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra

Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.

Originally posted:

Nov 8, 2024 9:30 pm