We rated, reviewed, & compared 15 of the best CPUs for gaming across various budgets. These top processors are perfect for gamers or anyone else looking for a solid desktop CPU.
The processor is at the center of everything on your computer. It is the “brains” of the operation. And, in order to build a solid gaming computer in 2020 and beyond, you’re going to need a quality CPU. While some games (like first-person shooters) are heavily dependent on your graphics card, other games (like RTS’ and MMORPGs) have many more calculations that need to be carried out and therefore utilize your processor more. This should factor into your decision when looking for the best gaming CPU for your build.
Another thing you’ll need to take into account is the total budget you’ve set for your build. You obviously don’t want to spend $300 on a processor if you’re building a $500 gaming PC because you wouldn’t have very much money left over for other parts. And, likewise, putting a $100 processor in a high-end $1,000 gaming PC probably isn’t a good use of your budget as well.
In this post, we will take a look at the best processors for gaming in 2020. I’ve broken down the categories into three different price ranges: the best processors under $500, the best processors under $200, and the best processors under $100. For each price range, there are multiple CPUs listed and each one has a brief overview of the processor as well as a list of specifications.
*NOTE: We have left out Intel and AMD’s extreme CPUs as they are not viable options for the majority of users.
Table of Contents
1. Our Top Picks for the Best CPUs for Gaming
2. High-End CPUs from $200-$500
Our Top Picks for the Best Gaming Processors
For a quick look at our top choices for the best processor at a variety of different budgets, we’ve provided the table below. The table shows our top pick for pure gaming, our favorite option for multithreaded activities, our choice for a value-packed overclockable CPU, the best budget processor, and the best ultra-cheap entry-level CPU.
| NAME | SPECS | RATING | |||
GAMING |  | Intel Core i9-9900K |
| /10 | |
MULTITASK |  | AMD Ryzen 9 3900X |
| /10 | |
VALUE |  | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| /10 | |
BUDGET |  | AMD Ryzen 5 2600 |
| /10 | |
ENTRY |  | Intel Core i3-9100F |
| /10 |
*To read our full overviews on our top CPU choices, just click the “Read Review »” button. You can also keep scrolling down to find more options based on your specific budget.
The Best High-End Processors Under $500
The CPUs listed in this price range are split with two AMD CPUs and three Intel CPUs. As of right now, the consensus among most benchmarks shows that Intel’s Coffee Lake processors outperform AMD’s Ryzen processors in purely gaming-specific scenarios.
However, AMD’s offerings in this price range are no slouches either. While they don’t quite stack up to Intel’s processors in terms of single-core performance (which is what gives Intel’s CPUs the advantage in most games), they do offer more cores and threads.
And, those more cores and threads help AMD’s new processors stand out in multi-threaded applications like video editing, game streaming, multitasking, etc.
So, there really aren’t any wrong choices in this price range as all of the processors listed below will give you more than enough power to play today’s top games (as long as they are paired with a high-end graphics card.)
Comparison of the Top CPUs Under $500
| Intel Core i9-9900K |
| /10 |
Recommendation
The Intel Core i9-9900K is currently the best option for users who want a high-end processor solely for gaming, but who don’t want to spend over $500 to get it. It will give you all the performance you could ever want out of your CPU—and then some.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Coffee Lake |
| CLOCK SPEED | 3.6GHz(5.0GHz) |
| CORES/THREADS | 8(16) |
| TDP | 95W |
| PROCESS | 14nm |
| SOCKET | LGA 1151 |
Intel Core i9-9900K Overview
Intel’s 9th Generation Core i9-9900K sports 8-cores and 16-threads, a 3.6GHz base clock, and a 5.0GHz boost clock. It is easily one of the most impressive consumer-level processors that Intel has ever released. And, with a price tag of just under $500, it will actually be within reach of gamers who are working with a larger budget.
However, with that nearly-$500 price tag, if you are working with a more moderate budget, the i9-9900K might not be the best option for you. Options like the i7-9700K, the Ryzen 7 3800X, and the Ryzen 7 3700X will also provide excellent performance in games and come in at well under $400.
So, while the 9900K will give you workstation-like performance, if your main goal is to build a high-end gaming PC, you could save a little money by opting for one of the options listed below.
If you do have the budget to get the 9900K, though, there is an argument to be made for choosing the Ryzen 9 3900X over it. While the 9900K brings better single-core performance to the table, the 3900X has even more cores and threads and will outperform the 9900K in most multi-threaded tasks.
And, so, if you’re looking for a CPU that can give you more performance in applications that can utilize extra cores and threads, the 3900X would be worth considering over the 9900K.
|  |  |
| AMD Ryzen 9 3900X |
| /10 |
Recommendation
AMD’s Ryzen 9 3900X has been getting rave reviews for its incredible performance in both multi-threaded applications and in gaming scenarios. And, while it won’t quite match the Intel Core i9-9900K in pure gaming performance, it won’t lag far behind it, all while bring more cores and threads to the table.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Ryzen |
| CLOCK SPEED | 3.8GHz(4.6GHz) |
| CORES/THREADS | 12(24) |
| TDP | 105W |
| PROCESS | 7nm |
| SOCKET | AM4 |
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X Overview
As we mentioned above, the Ryzen 9 3900X is a nice option for gamers who have a huge budget and have the need for a processor that can handle multi-threaded applications as well.
The 3900X comes with a whopping 12-cores and 24-threads, a 3.8GHz base clock, and a 4.6GHz boost clock.
Of course, the i9-9900K is no slouch in multi-threaded applications as well. And, really, both of these processors will serve well for gaming and CPU-heavy tasks.
So, really, while there are small performance differences between these two options in gaming and multi-threaded performance, if you have the budget, you can’t go wrong with either option.
Just like with the i9-9900K, though, there are cheaper options listed below that will also offer enough performance to meet the demands of most users. So, unless you have an unlimited budget, one of the options listed below will allow you to save some money without sacrificing too much performance.
|  |  |
 | AMD Ryzen 7 3800X |
| /10 |
Recommendation
The Ryzen 7 3800X is kind of like the poor man’s Ryzen 9 3900X—except, nobody feels sorry for the Ryzen 7 3800X, because its pretty damn powerful, too. The bottom line, though, is that if you need a lot of multi-thread performance and you don’t quite have $500 to spend on the 3900X, the 3800X is an excellent alternative.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Ryzen |
| CLOCK SPEED | 3.9GHz(4.5GHz) |
| CORES/THREADS | 8(16) |
| TDP | 105W |
| PROCESS | 7nm |
| SOCKET | AM4 |
AMD Ryzen 7 3800X Overview
If you don’t have $500 to spend on the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, but you want a processor that will not only deliver solid gaming performance, but also excellent multi-threaded performance as well, then the Ryzen 7 3800X is worth considering.
It comes with 8-cores and 16-threads, and comes with a 3.9GHz base clock and a 4.5GHz boost clock. It also comes in at a little over $100 less than the Ryzen 9 3900X. So, even if you can fit the 3900X into your budget, you could put that extra $100 into other components in your build (like your graphics card) and that may end up giving you a better balance in performance overall.
Of course, if gaming is your primary goal, the Intel Core i7-9700K listed below is probably the better bet for you. It doesn’t have as many threads as the 3800X, but it does offer more single-core performance which makes it better suited for purely gaming scenarios.
|  |  |
 | Intel Core i7-9700K |
| /10 |
Recommendation
The Intel Core i7-9700K did release to a little bit of disappointment for not providing that big of a performance bump over the previous generation i7-8700K. However, as far a gaming CPUs go, the i7-9700K is one of the better high-end options out there right now in terms of price-to-performance. And, if you have a big budget, it’s a worthy option to consider.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Coffee Lake |
| CLOCK SPEED | 3.6GHz(4.9GHz) |
| CORES/THREADS | 8(8) |
| TDP | 95W |
| PROCESS | 14nm |
| SOCKET | LGA 1151 |
Intel Core i7-9700K Overview
While AMD’s Ryzen 9 3900X has really moved the bar in terms of what a high-end consumer-level processor can bring to the table, the truth is that, for gamers, the much cheaper Intel Core i7-9700K is probably the better option.
Since the i7-9700K offers better single core performance, it actually benchmarks better in most games than the beefier Ryzen 9 3900X. Of course, the 3900X offers superior multi-threaded performance and so if you’re someone who will be doing more than just gaming, there is a case to be made to go with and AMD CPU instead.
But, if you’re looking for a powerful processor that will offer incredible in-game performance (assuming you pair it with a high-end graphics card) and will also serve pretty well in multi-threaded applications, then the i7-9700K might be what you’re looking for.
Just make sure, though, that if you are planning on getting the i7-9700K and you want to keep it cool that you pair it with a high-end air cooler or AIO cooler.
 |  |  |
 | AMD Ryzen 7 3700X |
| /10 |
Recommendation
If you like the Ryzen 7 3800X, but you’d prefer a slightly cheaper option that can provide similar performance, then the Ryzen 7 3700X is the processor for you.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Ryzen |
| CLOCK SPEED | 3.6GHz(4.4GHz) |
| CORES/THREADS | 8(16) |
| TDP | 65W |
| PROCESS | 7nm |
| SOCKET | AM4 |
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Overview
At just a little under $330, the Ryzen 7 3700X comes in at nearly ~$50 less than the Ryzen 7 3800X. And, while the 3800X offers more headroom for overclocking and higher stock clock rates, the 3700X performs well out-of-the box as is and comes with the same 8-cores and 16-threads.
So, the scenario where the Ryzen 7 3700X makes the most sense is for users who A) have a moderate-to-higher budget, B) want a solid gaming processor that will also offer great multi-threaded performance, and C) could use the extra $50 difference over the 3800X on an upgrade somewhere else.
Because, if you could use that $50 difference between the Ryzen 7 3700X and the 3800X to bump up to the next highest graphics card, that might be worth it.
|  |  |
 | Intel Core i5-9600K |
| /10 |
Recommendation
The Intel Core i5-9600K is another solid option in the under $300 category. To make it simple, the i5-9600K is a better option than the Ryzen 5 3600X if your sole purpose is gaming performance. However, if you plan on doing any CPU-heavy tasks along with gaming, the better multi-core performance of the 3600X might be what you’re looking for.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Coffee Lake |
| CLOCK SPEED | 3.7GHz(4.6GHz) |
| CORES/THREADS | 6(6) |
| TDP | 95W |
| PROCESS | 14nm |
| SOCKET | LGA 1151 |
Intel Core i5-9600K Overview
I’m a little torn on the i5-9600K. Intel’s unlocked Core i5 processor has always typically been their sweet spot for mid-range to high-end gaming builds. And, really, the 9600K is an excellent chip, especially when you consider Coffee Lake i5’s have bumped up to six-core CPUs.
However, with much cheaper options like the Ryzen 5 3600 (and even the slightly older Ryzen 5 2600), by choosing the i5-9600K, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table that could have gone towards a GPU upgrade.
With the much cheaper Ryzen 5 2600, you can pair it with a sub-$70 motherboard and keep the stock cooler and still be able to hit mild overclocks. And, the total cost to build a system with a Ryzen 5 2600 setup (CPU, motherboard, and stock cooler), is going to be at least $200 lower than it will to build a system with an i5-9600K setup (CPU, motherboard, and aftermarket cooler).
There’s also the newer Ryzen 5 3600 that will offer great in-game performance and come with more threads, all while coming in at ~$40 cheaper.
The other option is Intel’s Core i5-9400f, which, while it can’t be overclocked, it does come in at almost $80 lower than the i5-9600K and you won’t have to buy a third party cooler to go with it or spend as much on a motherboard.
So, the main problem with Intel’s new i5-9600K is that it, A) has more competition, and B) has increased in price to a level that alienates a lot of the people who would normally buy it. The bottom line, though, is that if you’re looking for the best processor for gaming in the under $300 price category, the excellent single-core performance of the 9600K makes it the best option for you.
 |  |  |
 | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X |
| /10 |
Recommendation
In my opinon, AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X is priced at a point to where it doesn’t make much sense. If you want better in-game performance, you could just get the i5-9600K or i5-9400f for the same price orless. And, if you want the multi-thread performance the 3600X offers, you could still save money by opting for the Ryzen 5 3600 (non-X) version instead.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Ryzen |
| CLOCK SPEED | 3.8GHz(4.4GHz) |
| CORES/THREADS | 6(12) |
| TDP | 95W |
| PROCESS | 7nm |
| SOCKET | AM4 |
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X Overview
There’s nothing wrong with the performance of the Ryzen 5 3600X. However, its ~$230 price tag hurts it in relation to its direct competitors. On the one hand, the Intel Core i5-9600K (which is currently priced a little cheaper) will offer better single-core performance (and, thus, better gaming performance). And, on the other hand, the Ryzen 5 3600—which costs quite a bit less—won’t trail too far behind the 3600X in terms of performance.
So, why spend more money on the 3600X just to get higher stock clocks when that extra money could go to an upgraded GPU, more storage, or extra memory?
For that reason, we recommend avoiding the 3600X for the moment. If the price comes down closer-to, or even under $200, it might make more sense.
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The Best Mid-Range Processors Under $200
For gamers who have a lower budget, the CPUs in the under $200 price range are excellent options.
In fact, in most gaming scenarios, they offer enough power to not be a hindrance to your video card.
Therefore, if you have less to spend on your gaming computer, you can choose one of these CPUs to help you allocate more to your video card–which will ultimately give you better in-game performance.
All-in-all, these CPUs aren’t the top processors on the market, but they are affordable, powerful for the price, and will get the job done for anyone looking to build a mid-range (or even better) gaming computer.
Comparison of the Top CPUs Under $200
 | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| /10 |
Recommendation
The Ryzen 5 3600 is a great processor. It’s just that, its slightly older and slower brother (Ryzen 5 2600) comes in at over $80 less. And, when you consider what that extra $80 can do for a budget gaming PC build, it definitely makes you think long and hard about choosing the newer 3600 over the older 2600.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Ryzen |
| CLOCK SPEED | 3.6GHz(4.2GHz) |
| CORES/THREADS | 6(12) |
| TDP | 65W |
| PROCESS | 7nm |
| SOCKET | AM4 |
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Overview
AMD and Intel release new processors on a regular basis. And, when a new lineup of processors is released, there is a time period in which we have to debate the value of going with the now-discounted older generation processor over the newer and slightly faster generation processors.
That is currently the case for the Ryzen 5 3600. As of right now, the 3600 currently comes in at just under $200. However, the older Ryzen 5 2600 comes in at just under $120.
And, when you consider the types of builds that these processors are made for (budget-friendly systems that can handle 1080P gaming well), that difference in price could mean the difference in getting something like a GTX 1660 Ti over something like an RX 580. That is a significant performance jump in graphics processing power. And, you don’t have to sacrifice too much CPU performance in order to get it.
So, while the Ryzen 5 3600 is a great CPU, as long as there are still Ryzen 5 2600s in circulation and as long as they are as heavily discounted as they are now, it seems like a no-brainer to choose the 2600 over the 3600.
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 | Intel Core i5-9400f |
| /10 |
Recommendation
The Intel Core i5-9400f is one of the beter value chips currently available if you have no plans to build a system that can be overclocked and you don’t need integrated graphics. If you are looking to have the ability to overclock your processor, you’ll either want to look at the more expensive Intel Core i5-9600K or switch to the similarly-priced Ryzen 5 2600 or the more expensive Ryzen 5 3600.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Coffee Lake |
| CLOCK SPEED | 2.9GHz(4.0GHz) |
| CORES/THREADS | 6(6) |
| TDP | 65W |
| PROCESS | 14nm |
| SOCKET | LGA 1151 |
Intel Core i5-9400f Overview
In my opinion, if you look at just the CPU, the Intel Core i5-9400f is one of the better value options right now for anyone looking to build a mid-range gaming PC. The problem, though, is it cannot be overclocked, whereas the less expensive Ryzen 5 2600 can. The other thing to note on the i5-9400f is that it doesn’t come with integrated graphics, so it will have to be paired with a dedicated graphics card.
But, with six-cores and extremely good single-core performance, the i5-9400f is a solid option if your sole purpose is gaming. And, with a budget-friendly H-series motherboard, the 9400f offers a really affordable platform to build off of.
Ultimately, if you don’t have any plans to overclock or use integrated graphics and you’re looking to build a powerful budget gaming computer, then the i5-9400f offers a nice price-to-performance office to center your build around.
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| AMD Ryzen 5 2600 |
| /10 |
Recommendation
Six-cores, 12 threads, a stock cooler that is feasible for overclocking, affordable motherboards, low TDP, and a reasonable price… that’s what you get with the AMD Ryzen 5 2600. All-in-all, it might just be the best AMD processof for gaming (let alone the best value CPU) currently on the market when you bring price into the equation.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Ryzen |
| CLOCK SPEED | 3.4GHz(3.9GHz) |
| CORES/THREADS | 6(12) |
| TDP | 65W |
| PROCESS | 14nm |
| SOCKET | AM4 |
AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Overview
Right now, there are three extremely attractive budget-friendly/mid-range CPUs available. And, those are the Intel Core i5-9400f, the Ryzen 5 2600, and the Intel Core i3-9100f.
Each of those processors is affordable and will provide ideal in-game performance in just about any scenario, and, in the case of the Ryzen 5 2600, it can be overclocked and it has a stock cooler that is actually suited for mild overclocks.
Of those three, if you’re looking for the most all-around performance, then the Ryzen 5 2600 is probably your best bet. It has six cores and 12 threads and it comes in at under $120.
Ultimately, if you’re looking to build a new mid-range gaming computer, you have a little over $100 to spend on your processor, and you want as many cores and threads as possible, then the Ryzen 5 2600 and a solid AM4 motherboard is the route to go.
 |  |  |
 | AMD Ryzen 5 3400G |
| /10 |
Recommendation
While the Ryzen 5 APUs have typically offered solid entry-level performance, they always seem to be priced just high enough to where it would still make sense to choose a budget CPU/GPU combo over them. And, for me, that is still true with the latest Ryzen 5 3400G.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Ryzen |
| CLOCK SPEED | 3.7GHz(4.2GHz) |
| CORES/THREADS | 4(8) |
| TDP | 65W |
| PROCESS | 12nm |
| SOCKET | AM4 |
AMD Ryzen 5 3400G Overview
In the APU vs CPU battle, I’ve long rallied against APUs in general. In my opinion, past generations of AMD’s APUs have come with a couple of issues that have kept them from being relevant for building gaming PCs with.
Those problems were that, A) there was no upgrade path from the old FM2 socket to a high-end desktop processor, and B) the prices were too high and thus couldn’t compete with other budget CPU/dedicated GPU combos.
However, with AMD’s new APUs being built on the AM4 socket, there is now a real upgrade path for APU owners. And, with the state of the graphics card market, AMD’s Ryzen APUs actually make sense for certain budgets.
The 3400G comes with four cores, eight threads, the ability to overclock, and integrated Vega 11 graphics. It also has a base clock of 3.7GHz and a boost clock of 4.2GHz.
In my opinion, though, right now you could pair a budget CPU with a budget GPU and get better overall performance than the 3400G offers. We do recommend the older Ryzen 3 2200G in our $300 gaming PC build, but in our $400 build we were able to fit in an Intel Core i3-9100f and an AMD RX 560 graphcis card—a combination that will outperform the 3400G on its own.
So, unless you’re willing to sacrifice some performance now, or the 3400G were to drop a bit more in price, you’d probably be better off avoiding it at the moment.
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The Best Budget Processors Under $100
If you have an extremely tight budget, then you will want to consider take a look at these sub-$100 CPUs.
You’re not going to find the best processor for gaming in this price range, but if you’re just looking to build a system that will at least play most games on lower settings, then they will easily accomplish that.
As mentioned above, the video card you choose will play a bigger role in determining your in-game performance.
So, by choosing one of these more affordable CPUs you can allocate more money towards a better video card and you’ll be able to build a solid entry-level gaming PC.
Comparison of the Top CPUs Under $100
 | Intel Core i3-9100f |
| /10 |
Recommendation
Intel’s Core i3-9100f brings an incredible value at its price and will work perfectly fine in a budget-friendly 1080P gaming computer. It can’t be overclocked, though, and so if that’s something you want to do, then the Ryzen 5 2600 might be the better option for you to consider.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Coffee Lake |
| CLOCK SPEED | 3.6GHz |
| CORES/THREADS | 4(4) |
| TDP | 65W |
| PROCESS | 14nm |
| SOCKET | LGA 1151 |
Intel Core i3-9100f Overview
With Intel’s budget-friendly H-series and B-series motherboards for Coffee Lake chips and with the price of the Intel Core i3-9100f coming in at under ~$90, the 9100f really is one of the better budget-friendly-to-mid-range processor options currently available.
It’s a quad-core processor that has a base clock speed of 3.6GHz. While it doesn’t have as many cores as the other options listed above it, quad-core processors are still enough for the majority of games currently out there.
The 9100f doesn’t come with integrated graphics, though, but if you’re looking to build an affordable gaming PC with a budget-friendly graphics card, the 9100f should work fine for you.
So, if you’re looking to put together a solid gaming computer on the cheap, you don’t care about overclocking, and you’d rather spend more on your graphics card than on your processor, then the i3-9100f will give you a nice affordable option to build around.
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 | AMD Ryzen 3 3200G |
| /10 |
Recommendation
The Ryzen 3 3200G kind of sits in the same boat as the Ryzen 5 3600. It’s newer and faster than its older brother (the Ryzen 3 2200G), but its priced in such a way to where the older and cheaper brother still feels like it holds more value.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Ryzen |
| CLOCK SPEED | 3.6GHz(4.0GHz) |
| CORES/THREADS | 4(4) |
| TDP | 65W |
| PROCESS | 12nm |
| SOCKET | AM4 |
AMD Ryzen 3 3200G Overview
While the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G does outperform the older Ryzen 3 2200G, the 2200G comes in at ~$25 less and the performance difference between the two APUs is fairly small.
So, if you have a super tight budget and you’re looking to build an ultra affordable gaming PC that can handle games like League of Legends, Fortnite, Dota 2, Rocket League, etc., you could give yourself a little breathing room by opting for the Ryzen 3 2200G instead.
Ultimately, though, eventually the 2200G will be taken out of circulation and the Ryzen 3 3200G will drop in price and become the new go-to ultra budget-friendly APU to buy. But, for now, the Ryzen 3 2200G still feels like the better buy.
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 | AMD Ryzen 3 2200G |
| /10 |
Recommendation
At right about $80, AMD’s Ryzen 3 2200G is a very good CPU for gamers who are working with a budget that is too low for them to be able to afford a dedicated graphics card. While the 2200G isn’t going to be turning heads with its performance, it will allow gamers to build an entry-level gaming PC that can play their favorite games on lower settings.
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TECH SPECS
| ARCHITECTURE | Ryzen |
| CLOCK SPEED | 3.5GHz(3.7GHz) |
| CORES/THREADS | 4(4) |
| TDP | 65W |
| PROCESS | 14nm |
| SOCKET | AM4 |
AMD Ryzen 3 2200G Overview
In the past, I typically avoided recommending APUs. However, with the release of AMD’s last couple of Ryzen APUs, these new APUs seem to finally have a legitimate price point in which they make sense for budget gamers.
The Ryzen 3 2200G is a quad-core chip that has four threads. It comes packed with integrated AMD Vega 8 graphics.
The integrated graphics on the 2200G are actually powerful enough for the APU to handle most non-demanding PC games. So, games like League of Legends, Dota 2, Minecraft, etc.
The chip is unlocked as well, so you can also overclock it to get a little bit more performance out of it.
Ultimately, the Ryzen 3 2200G is a solid budget Ryzen CPU for gaming. It works well in gaming computer builds that come in under ~$400 or so and will serve as the perfect entry-point for 1080p gaming.
You could bump up to get the Ryzen 3 3200G, but I feel like if you’re in the budget range to where you have to consider one of these APUs, you might as well save as much money as possible now, because the performance difference isn’t that significant.
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Need Help Choosing A Gaming CPU?
While this list covers my opinions on what the best CPUs for gaming are, it’s inevitable that others will disagree with me. And, that’s fine!
I based this list off of what I believed were the best options in terms of overall performance and value. And, because I mainly looked at price-to-performance, I left some CPUs completely off of the list.
Ultimately, though, if you’re in the market for a new gaming computer and you are planning on buying a new system, or if you are just looking for an upgrade for your current system, and if you have questions about choosing a processor, please post them below.
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Slyh says
I want to install a Red Devil 5700 XT Graphics card but I am only running 4 cores . For a 8 Core processor Its going to cost 450CND plus tax. . On a 3K build you would expect at least 8 cores . The person who built my PC said 4 Cores is all I needed , the gamer boards say 8 core is the min . I kind of feel Like I got ripped off by the tech, if said all I need was 4 cores ( he knew he was building for intense streaming and gamming I am told a 3k build should of got me 8 cores . The MB is a 2019 Gigabyte gamming board very pleased with it in a Dukase deepcool with a liquid cooling pump ) . I Don’t want to spend another 1200CND . A cheaper Graphics card is unacceptable and the one I have is a few years old and is maxing out do I need a 8 core like the boards say and if so can I get a 8 core for 200CND or less ( my GPU is a i3 4 core) ? .. PS sorry for the double post and bad grammar I fast type and hit post button before editing .
Slyh says
Why do cores need to be so expensive , If All I want is to replace a 4 core with a 8 , anything over $100 for a core is price gouging . The only gamming component worth the money is a graphics card . I want to install a Red Devil 5700 XT Graphics card but I am only running 4 cores . For the Red Devil its going to cost 600CND plus tax . For a 8 Core processor Its going to cost 450CND plus tax. . On a 3K build you would expect at least 8 cores . The person who built my PC said 4 Cores is all I needed , the gamer boards say 8 core is the min and to think if my tech put in a 8 core instead of a 4 I would of only cost 200CND more , I kind of feel Like I got ripped off by the tech had of of said I need the 8 cores ( he knew I wanted a build for intense streaming and gamming a 3k build should of got me 8 cores , this dose not include what I spending on the Graphics card ) . What would you suggest , all I need to do is switch out 4 for a 8 is their a cheap alterative ?
dillon says
hey im looking to upgrade my cpu and graphics card ive got the msi amd radeon r9 390 but wanting to get the nvidia gtx 1070, should i upgrade ? ive seen reports that my current graphics card is bad.and for the cpu. i have the i5 6600k at the momment with a GA-Z170MX-gaming 5 motherboard. it was my first gaming pc and i built it a few years ago and then just stopped playing and let it set but now im getting back into it. All i do is play games on my pc and i want a better experience then what im having at the moment
Pavel Hauser says
Hello,
I am want advice – looking for CPU, i dont want to pay more then 225 USD. I just want best outcome possible for games (one screen 60hz). I am thinking a lot about 8400 and mb ASUS H310M-K. I am not going to OC it and i will stay with it for next 5 years +-. My GPU is now 660 GTX 2GB, i would like to upgrade it soon as well- probably 2060 but not sure if its worth it so i am waiting.
Brent Hale says
This list needs to be updated to include a couple of newer processors, but instead of the i5-8400, you could go with the i5-9400f:
https://amzn.to/2UPXsG8
It’s newer and ~$30 less. It doesn’t have integrated graphics, but since you have a dedicated GPU, that shouldn’t matter. It can pair with an H310 motherboard as well.
Hope this helps!
All the Best,
Brent
Garreth J Heidt says
Hi. My son is looking to build a gaming computer. He’s purchased an MSI GeForce GTX1060 and we’re trying to decide on the CPU. He’s looking at the Intel Core i5-9600K Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.6 GHz Turbo Unlocked LGA1151 300 Series 95W but I was wondering if the Intel Core i5-8400 Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.0 GHz LGA 1151 300 Series 65W would work just as well. WE’re trying to get it under $900 for the rest of the parts (he already has a case and the GTX card.
Brent Hale says
Hey Garreth thanks for reading and commenting.
I think if your remaning budget is $900 (after GPU and case), the 9600K should fit in just fine. Although, for gaming, the performance difference between the 9600K and 8400 won’t be too significant in the grand scheme of things (maybe ~5 or so FPS difference, if that?) So, if you’d rather save the ~$60 difference between the two processors and put that towards more memory, a bigger SSD, or a better power supply, that wouldn’t be a bad option as well.
And, in that regards, you could also consider AMD’s Ryzen 5 2600, too, as it is cheaper than the 8400 and will perform similarly in games, as well as offer more cores and allow for overclocking.
Ultimately, the 9600K, 8400, and Ryzen 5 2600 are all viable options. It will just come down to how you want to approach the other components in your system.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
All the Best,
Brent
Eric Dubois says
Hi im looking to upgrade from an old fx-8350 and i recently got a zotac gtx 1070. Knowing this i know i have to change my ram my cpu and my motherboard. So i got my eyes on either the amd ryzen 5 2600x, ryzen 7 2700 or the intel i5 9600k. I mainly game on my pc and don’t multi task a lot. I would like to know what you think i should get between these 3. And i also tend to go for the long run with my cpu like 3-5 years without change.
Thanks.
Brent Hale says
I’d go the Ryzen 7 2700 or 9600K. The 9600K is going to cost more with motherboard and cooler, but it will perform a bit better in games. The 2700 platform will be cheaper, though, and still give ideal performance in games. There’s really not a wrong choice between those two.
Leesa says
Thanks for the research, I am looking to get an all in one even though everyone has suggested that I don’t I still want one, I’m interested in the fastest as far as my work goes it almost all the programs that I work on are web-based, I work typically with 2 or 3 screens up and running with different programs at one time. I only have 2 programs I believe that have to be stored on my computer. Would you say the 27″ Envy would be the best choice for me?