Best Gaming Processors
Prices updated daily from live retailer stock. Ranked by gaming performance per dollar by default. Click any column header or use the sidebar filters to re-sort and narrow the list.
| CPU | Cores | Gaming1080p | TDP | Socket | Perf/$↓Gaming | From | Buy | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Pentium Gold G5400 Intel | 2/4 | 20.0 | — | 58W | LGA1151 | 50.43 | $40 |  |
 | Core i3-14100F Intel | 4/8 | 50.0 | 499 | 58W | LGA1700 | 47.62 | $105 | |
 | Ryzen 5 5500 AMD | 6/12 | 38.7 | 588 | 65W | AM4 | 45.57 | $85 |  |
 | Core i3-10100F Intel | 4/8 | 33.9 | — | 65W | LGA1200 | 42.38 | $80 | |
 | Ryzen 5 4500 AMD | 6/12 | 33.5 | 483 | 65W | AM4 | 41.88 | $80 | |
 | Ryzen 5 9600X AMD | 6/12 | 72.6 | 1,031 | 65W | AM5 | 41.72 | $174 | |
 | Core Ultra 5 225F Intel | 10/10 | 62.5 | 943 | 65W | LGA1851 | 41.67 | $150 | |
 | Ryzen 5 7600X AMD | 6/12 | 67.3 | 846 | 105W | AM5 | 41.29 | $163 | |
 | Core i5-9600KF Intel | 6/6 | 36.7 | — | 95W | LGA1151 | 39.41 | $93 | |
 | Core Ultra 5 245KF Intel | 14/14 | 67.1 | 1,560 | 125W | LGA1851 | 36.76 | $183 | |
 | Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus Intel | 18/18 | 73.3 | — | 125W | LGA1851 | 36.65 | $200 | |
 | Core i3-12100F Intel | 4/8 | 48.0 | 442 | 58W | LGA1700 | 36.09 | $133 | |
 | Core i3-9100F Intel | 4/4 | 28.4 | 245 | 65W | LGA1151 | 35.95 | $79 | |
 | Ryzen 5 8500G AMD | 6/12 | 52.0 | 655 | 65W | AM5 | 35.38 | $147 | |
 | Core Ultra 5 225 Intel | 10/10 | 62.5 | 946 | 65W | LGA1851 | 35.00 | $179 | |
 | Core Ultra 5 245K Intel | 14/14 | 67.1 | 1,518 | 125W | LGA1851 | 34.44 | $195 | |
 | Ryzen 5 8400F AMD | 6/12 | 50.0 | 739 | 65W | AM5 | 33.56 | $149 | |
 | Core i3-14100 Intel | 4/8 | 50.0 | 512 | 60W | LGA1700 | 33.56 | $149 | |
 | Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Intel | 18/18 | 73.3 | 1,853 | 125W | LGA1851 | 33.47 | $219 | |
 | Ryzen 5 5600XT AMD | 6/12 | 53.7 | — | 65W | AM4 | 32.55 | $165 |  |
 | Core i5-12600KF Intel | 10/16 | 60.8 | 951 | 125W | LGA1700 | 32.17 | $189 | |
 | Core i5-12400F Intel | 6/12 | 53.0 | 640 | 65W | LGA1700 | 32.13 | $165 | |
 | Ryzen 5 7500F AMD | 6/12 | 61.0 | 833 | 65W | AM5 | 32.11 | $190 | |
| Ryzen 5 5600 AMD | 6/12 | 52.0 | 618 | 65W | AM4 | 31.71 | $164 | |
 | Core i5-14400F Intel | 10/16 | 58.0 | 927 | 65W | LGA1700 | 31.35 | $185 | |
 | Core i5-11600KF Intel | 6/12 | 46.0 | 603 | 125W | LGA1200 | 31.20 | $147 | |
 | Ryzen 5 8600G AMD | 6/12 | 55.0 | 847 | 65W | AM5 | 31.08 | $177 | |
 | Ryzen 7 5700 AMD | 8/16 | 52.0 | 724 | 65W | AM4 | 30.71 | $169 | |
 | Ryzen 7 7700X AMD | 8/16 | 70.6 | 1,104 | 105W | AM5 | 30.43 | $232 | |
 | Ryzen 3 4100 AMD | 4/8 | 30.5 | 364 | 65W | AM4 | 30.41 | $100 | |
 | Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Intel | 24/24 | 77.5 | 2,482 | 125W | LGA1851 | 30.37 | $255 | |
 | Core i5-14600KF Intel | 14/20 | 72.8 | 1,384 | 125W | LGA1700 | 30.33 | $240 | |
 | Ryzen 5 7600 AMD | 6/12 | 63.4 | 756 | 65W | AM5 | 30.33 | $209 | |
 | Ryzen 5 5600X AMD | 6/12 | 53.7 | 583 | 65W | AM4 | 30.01 | $179 | |
 | Ryzen 5 7500X3D AMD | 6/12 | 79.0 | — | 65W | AM5 | 29.28 | $270 | |
 | Core i3-10320 Intel | 4/8 | 34.2 | — | 65W | LGA1200 | 28.50 | $120 | |
 | Core i5-14600K Intel | 14/20 | 72.8 | 1,273 | 125W | LGA1700 | 28.11 | $259 | |
 | Core i7-14700KF Intel | 20/28 | 76.4 | 1,787 | 125W | LGA1700 | 27.78 | $275 | |
 | Core i5-14400 Intel | 10/16 | 58.0 | 862 | 65W | LGA1700 | 27.75 | $209 | |
 | Ryzen 5 7600X3D AMD | 6/12 | 79.3 | 858 | 65W | AM5 | 26.57 | $298 | |
 | Ryzen 7 5700X AMD | 8/16 | 55.3 | 830 | 65W | AM4 | 26.46 | $209 | |
 | Ryzen 3 3200G AMD | 4/4 | 25.1 | 226 | 65W | AM4 | 26.17 | $96 | |
 | Core i7-9700KF Intel | 8/8 | 41.0 | — | 95W | LGA1151 | 26.09 | $157 | |
 | Ryzen 7 7800X3D AMD | 8/16 | 85.6 | 1,047 | 120W | AM5 | 25.63 | $334 | |
 | Core i5-9400 Intel | 6/6 | 35.5 | — | 65W | LGA1151 | 25.36 | $140 | |
 | Core i7-12700KF Intel | 12/20 | 65.8 | 1,284 | 125W | LGA1700 | 25.31 | $260 | |
 | Core Ultra 7 265 Intel | 20/20 | 70.3 | 1,398 | 65W | LGA1851 | 25.11 | $280 | |
 | Ryzen 7 5800XT AMD | 8/16 | 56.4 | — | 105W | AM4 | 25.07 | $225 | |
 | Core Ultra 7 265KF Intel | 20/20 | 70.3 | 2,067 | 125W | LGA1851 | 24.67 | $285 | |
 | Ryzen 7 7700X3D AMD | 8/16 | 81.0 | — | 120W | AM5 | 24.64 | $329 | |
 | Ryzen 7 5800X AMD | 8/16 | 56.4 | 876 | 105W | AM4 | 24.52 | $230 | |
 | Core i7-14700K Intel | 20/28 | 76.4 | 1,859 | 125W | LGA1700 | 24.49 | $312 | |
 | Core i7-8086k Intel | 6/12 | 35.6 | — | 95W | LGA1151 | 24.31 | $146 | |
 | Core i3-10300 Intel | 4/8 | 34.1 | — | 65W | LGA1200 | 24.31 | $140 | |
 | Core i5-11600 Intel | 6/12 | 45.3 | — | 65W | LGA1200 | 24.07 | $188 | |
 | Ryzen 9 3900X AMD | 12/24 | 42.0 | — | 105W | AM4 | 23.84 | $176 | |
 | Core i5-11400 Intel | 6/12 | 44.3 | 484 | 65W | LGA1200 | 23.75 | $187 | |
 | Ryzen 7 7700 AMD | 8/16 | 68.5 | 1,051 | 65W | AM5 | 23.62 | $290 | |
 | Core i5-8400 Intel | 6/6 | 35.1 | 313 | 65W | LGA1151 | 23.48 | $150 | |
 | Ryzen 7 9800X3D AMD | 8/16 | 97.0 | 1,332 | 120W | AM5 | 23.37 | $415 | |
 | Core i5-13400F Intel | 10/16 | 54.5 | 814 | 65W | LGA1700 | 23.26 | $234 | |
 | Core i7-14700F Intel | 20/28 | 76.4 | 1,609 | 65W | LGA1700 | 23.15 | $330 | |
 | Core i5-11600K Intel | 6/12 | 46.0 | — | 125W | LGA1200 | 23.12 | $199 | |
 | Ryzen 3 2200G AMD | 4/4 | 23.1 | — | 65W | AM4 | 23.10 | $100 | |
 | Ryzen 7 5700G AMD | 8/16 | 44.5 | 755 | 65W | AM4 | 23.06 | $193 | |
 | Core i3-9350K Intel | 4/4 | 30.9 | — | 91W | LGA1151 | 22.53 | $137 | |
 | Ryzen 7 9700X AMD | 8/16 | 73.0 | 1,313 | 65W | AM5 | 22.46 | $325 | |
 | Core i5-11500 Intel | 6/12 | 44.7 | — | 65W | LGA1200 | 22.46 | $199 | |
 | Ryzen 9 7900X AMD | 12/24 | 69.2 | 1,522 | 170W | AM5 | 22.25 | $311 | |
 | Ryzen 9 9900X AMD | 12/24 | 73.9 | 1,810 | 120W | AM5 | 22.07 | $335 | |
 | Ryzen 7 8700G AMD | 8/16 | 58.0 | 995 | 65W | AM5 | 21.89 | $265 | |
 | Ryzen 5 5600GT AMD | 6/12 | 39.4 | — | 65W | AM4 | 21.89 | $180 | |
 | Core i3-9100 Intel | 4/4 | 28.4 | — | 65W | LGA1151 | 21.85 | $130 | |
 | Core i5-11400F Intel | 6/12 | 44.3 | — | 65W | LGA1200 | 21.81 | $203 | |
 | Core i7-12700F Intel | 12/20 | 65.8 | 1,105 | 65W | LGA1700 | 21.66 | $304 | |
 | Core i5-12400 Intel | 6/12 | 53.0 | 598 | 65W | LGA1700 | 21.49 | $247 | |
 | Core Ultra 7 265F Intel | 20/20 | 70.3 | 1,502 | 65W | LGA1851 | 21.30 | $330 | |
 | Ryzen 5 5600G AMD | 6/12 | 39.4 | — | 65W | AM4 | 21.30 | $185 | |
 | Core i7-8700K Intel | 6/12 | 37.5 | 504 | 95W | LGA1151 | 21.07 | $178 | |
 | Core i5-13600K Intel | 14/20 | 70.9 | 1,289 | 125W | LGA1700 | 20.91 | $339 | |
 | Core i5-10400 Intel | 6/12 | 37.5 | 338 | 65W | LGA1200 | 20.84 | $180 | |
 | Core i5-10600K Intel | 6/12 | 41.3 | 561 | 125W | LGA1200 | 20.75 | $199 | |
 | Ryzen 7 9850X3D AMD | 8/16 | 100.0 | 1,398 | 120W | AM5 | 20.66 | $484 | |
 | Core i9-12900KF Intel | 16/24 | 67.4 | 1,463 | 125W | LGA1700 | 20.24 | $333 | |
 | Core i3-12100 Intel | 4/8 | 48.0 | 431 | 60W | LGA1700 | 20.17 | $238 | |
 | Core i7-12700K Intel | 12/20 | 65.8 | 1,203 | 125W | LGA1700 | 20.04 | $328 | |
 | Core Ultra 5 235 Intel | 14/14 | 59.8 | 1,228 | 65W | LGA1851 | 20.00 | $299 | |
 | Ryzen 9 5900XT AMD | 16/32 | 57.0 | — | 105W | AM4 | 18.69 | $305 | |
 | Ryzen 7 5800X3D AMD | 8/16 | 67.6 | 828 | 105W | AM4 | 18.52 | $365 | |
| Core i5-9400F Intel | 6/6 | 35.5 | 356 | 65W | LGA1151 | 18.30 | $194 | |
 | Core i9-14900KF Intel | 24/32 | 78.2 | 2,071 | 125W | LGA1700 | 17.77 | $440 | |
 | Core i7-14700 Intel | 20/28 | 72.3 | — | 65W | LGA1700 | 17.73 | $408 | |
 | Ryzen 9 9900X3D AMD | 12/24 | 86.9 | 1,923 | 120W | AM5 | 17.04 | $510 | |
 | Core i7-12700 Intel | 12/20 | 65.8 | 1,069 | 65W | LGA1700 | 16.87 | $390 | |
 | Ryzen 5 4600G AMD | 6/12 | 33.5 | — | 65W | AM4 | 16.83 | $199 | |
 | Ryzen 9 9950X3D AMD | 16/32 | 95.7 | 2,456 | 170W | AM5 | 16.82 | $569 | |
 | Core i7-10700KF Intel | 8/16 | 46.9 | — | 125W | LGA1200 | 16.76 | $280 | |
 | Ryzen 7 3800XT AMD | 8/16 | 41.7 | — | 105W | AM4 | 16.75 | $249 | |
 | Core i9-13900F Intel | 24/32 | 76.8 | 1,601 | 65W | LGA1700 | 16.70 | $460 | |
 | Ryzen 9 7900 AMD | 12/24 | 67.4 | 1,657 | 65W | AM5 | 16.44 | $410 | |
 | Core i7-9700F Intel | 8/8 | 40.0 | — | 65W | LGA1151 | 16.17 | $247 | |
 | Core i7-13700K Intel | 16/24 | 72.3 | — | 125W | LGA1700 | 16.07 | $450 | |
 | Core i7-9700K Intel | 8/8 | 41.0 | 537 | 95W | LGA1151 | 15.83 | $259 | |
 | Core i5-10500 Intel | 6/12 | 39.0 | 439 | 65W | LGA1200 | 15.76 | $248 | |
| Ryzen 9 9950X AMD | 16/32 | 76.9 | 2,320 | 170W | AM5 | 15.69 | $490 | |
 | Core i9-12900K Intel | 16/24 | 67.4 | 1,526 | 125W | LGA1700 | 15.68 | $430 | |
 | Core i7-13700 Intel | 16/24 | 70.6 | — | 65W | LGA1700 | 15.60 | $453 | |
 | Core i5-14500 Intel | 14/20 | 59.0 | 1,145 | 65W | LGA1700 | 15.53 | $380 | |
 | Core i5-13400 Intel | 10/16 | 54.5 | 737 | 65W | LGA1700 | 15.44 | $353 | |
 | Core i7-11700F Intel | 8/16 | 48.5 | 736 | 65W | LGA1200 | 15.20 | $319 | |
 | Core i7-9700 Intel | 8/8 | 40.0 | 421 | 65W | LGA1151 | 14.81 | $270 | |
 | Core Ultra 9 285K Intel | 24/24 | 71.8 | 2,359 | 125W | LGA1851 | 14.51 | $495 | |
 | Core i9-12900KS Intel | 16/24 | 67.4 | — | 150W | LGA1700 | 14.34 | $470 | |
 | Ryzen 9 7950X AMD | 16/32 | 71.0 | 2,077 | 170W | AM5 | 14.17 | $501 | |
 | Ryzen 5 1600X AMD | 6/12 | 27.3 | — | 95W | AM4 | 14.00 | $195 | |
 | Core i7-10700K Intel | 8/16 | 46.9 | 716 | 125W | LGA1200 | 13.96 | $336 | |
 | Core i9-13900K Intel | 24/32 | 76.8 | 1,896 | 125W | LGA1700 | 13.94 | $551 | |
 | Core i9-13900 Intel | 24/32 | 76.8 | 2,060 | 65W | LGA1700 | 13.43 | $572 | |
 | Ryzen 7 3700X AMD | 8/16 | 41.5 | 688 | 65W | AM4 | 13.39 | $310 | |
 | Core i9-14900F Intel | 24/32 | 78.2 | 1,506 | 65W | LGA1700 | 13.37 | $585 | |
 | Core i9-12900 Intel | 16/24 | 67.4 | — | 65W | LGA1700 | 13.26 | $508 | |
 | Core i9-14900K Intel | 24/32 | 76.0 | 2,086 | 125W | LGA1700 | 13.22 | $575 | |
 | Core Ultra 9 285 Intel | 24/24 | 71.8 | 1,508 | 125W | LGA1851 | 13.08 | $549 | |
 | Core i7-10700F Intel | 8/16 | 45.5 | 655 | 65W | LGA1200 | 13.00 | $350 | |
 | Core i7-10700 Intel | 8/16 | 45.5 | — | 65W | LGA1200 | 13.00 | $350 | |
 | Core i7-11700KF Intel | 8/16 | 50.2 | 797 | 125W | LGA1200 | 12.58 | $399 | |
 | Core i9-14900 Intel | 24/32 | 78.2 | 2,069 | 65W | LGA1700 | 12.55 | $623 | |
 | Ryzen 9 7950X3D AMD | 16/32 | 85.0 | 2,003 | 120W | AM5 | 12.14 | $700 | |
 | Core i9-11900KF Intel | 8/16 | 53.7 | 867 | 125W | LGA1200 | 11.96 | $449 | |
 | Ryzen 5 2600 AMD | 6/12 | 31.2 | 396 | 65W | AM4 | 11.77 | $265 | |
 | Core i9-14900KS Intel | 24/32 | 78.2 | 2,443 | 150W | LGA1700 | 11.33 | $690 | |
| Core i9-10900KF Intel | 10/20 | 49.4 | — | 125W | LGA1200 | 11.25 | $439 | |
 | Core i7-11700K Intel | 8/16 | 50.2 | 745 | 125W | LGA1200 | 11.18 | $449 | |
 | Ryzen 9 7900X3D AMD | 12/24 | 77.1 | 1,529 | 120W | AM5 | 11.01 | $700 | |
 | Core i9-13900KS Intel | 24/32 | 76.8 | 2,156 | 150W | LGA1700 | 10.86 | $707 | |
 | Core i9-11900K Intel | 8/16 | 53.7 | 819 | 125W | LGA1200 | 10.76 | $499 | |
| Core i9-9900KF Intel | 8/16 | 42.7 | — | 95W | LGA1151 | 10.70 | $399 | |
 | Core i3-9350KF Intel | 4/4 | 30.9 | — | 91W | LGA1151 | 10.30 | $300 | |
 | Core i9-9900K Intel | 8/16 | 42.7 | 706 | 95W | LGA1151 | 9.95 | $429 | |
 | Ryzen 7 2700 AMD | 8/16 | 33.7 | 505 | 65W | AM4 | 7.95 | $424 | |
 | Core i9-10900K Intel | 10/20 | 49.4 | 714 | 125W | LGA1200 | 7.84 | $630 | |
 | Ryzen 5 3600XT AMD | 6/12 | 38.7 | — | 95W | AM4 | 6.45 | $600 | |
 | Core i9-9900 Intel | 8/16 | 42.0 | — | 65W | LGA1151 | 6.01 | $699 | |
 | Ryzen 9 3950X AMD | 16/32 | 42.9 | 1,370 | 105W | AM4 | 6.00 | $715 | |
 | Threadripper 3960X AMD | 24/48 | 42.5 | — | 280W | TRX4 | 4.25 | $1,001 | |
 | Core i9-9900KS Intel | 8/16 | 44.2 | — | 127W | LGA1151 | 3.18 | $1,389 | |
 | Threadripper 3970X AMD | 32/64 | 42.8 | — | 280W | TRX4 | 2.76 | $1,550 | |
 | Threadripper Pro 5975WX AMD | 32/64 | 52.3 | — | 280W | WRX8 | 1.74 | $3,007 | |
| Xeon W-3175X Intel | 28/56 | 45.4 | — | 255W | LGA3647 | 1.57 | $2,899 | |
 | Threadripper Pro 5995WX AMD | 64/128 | 50.7 | — | 280W | WRX8 | 1.24 | $4,090 | |
 | Core i7-7700 Intel | 4/8 | — | 325 | 65W | LGA1151 | — | $185 | |
 | Core i5-9500 Intel | 6/6 | — | 321 | 65W | LGA1151 | — | $133 | |
 | Core i5-7500 Intel | 4/4 | — | 220 | 65W | LGA1151 | — | $74 | |
 | Core i3-8100 Intel | 4/4 | — | 193 | 65W | LGA1151 | — | $95 | |
 | Core i5-8500 Intel | 6/6 | — | — | 65W | LGA1151 | — | $165 | |
 | Core i5-9500F Intel | 6/6 | — | — | 65W | LGA1151 | — | $199 | |
 | Core i5-7400 Intel | 4/4 | — | — | 65W | LGA1151 | — | $180 | |
 | Core i5-7600 Intel | 4/4 | — | — | 65W | LGA1151 | — | $75 | |
 | Core i3-7350K Intel | 2/4 | — | — | 60W | LGA1151 | — | $82 | |
 | Core i3-7100 Intel | 2/4 | — | — | 51W | LGA1151 | — | $50 | |
 | Pentium G4620 Intel | 2/4 | — | — | 51W | LGA1151 | — | $150 | |
 | Pentium G4560 Intel | 2/4 | — | — | 54W | LGA1151 | — | $91 | |
 | Ryzen 3 1200 AMD | 4/4 | — | — | 65W | AM4 | — | $82 | |
 | Core i3-7300 Intel | 2/4 | — | — | 51W | LGA1151 | — | $57 | |
 | Core i7-7800X Intel | 6/12 | — | — | 140W | LGA2066 | — | $453 | |
 | Threadripper 1950X AMD | 16/32 | — | — | 180W | SP3r2 | — | $850 | |
 | Threadripper 1920X AMD | 12/24 | — | — | 180W | SP3r2 | — | $130 | |
 | Core i7-7820X Intel | 8/16 | — | — | 140W | LGA2066 | — | $299 | |
 | Threadripper 2970WX AMD | 24/48 | — | — | 250W | SP3r2 | — | $895 | |
 | Core i9-7960X Intel | 16/32 | — | — | 165W | LGA2066 | — | $1,000 | |
How to Use This Processor Ranking
This CPU comparison ranks every current desktop processor by 1080p gaming score, PassMark, Geekbench and Cinebench productivity benchmarks, price-to-performance, cores, and TDP, a live CPU tier list you can sort and filter instead of a static chart. Prices refresh daily from real retailer stock, so the ranking reflects what each chip actually costs today, not its launch MSRP. Sort any column to re-rank the hierarchy by raw gaming performance, productivity throughput, core count, or value, then use the filter panel to narrow by brand, socket, memory type, budget, minimum cores, L3 cache, a bundled cooler, integrated graphics, or TDP.
Every processor is scored on one normalized scale, so you can compare CPUs across generations and both brands directly: the job a printed CPU hierarchy does, but with prices that stay current. Click any CPU to open its full spec sheet with gaming and productivity benchmarks (PassMark, Geekbench and Cinebench), the current price at every retailer we track, and exactly where it lands in the value ranking.
Best CPU for Gaming
For a pure gaming build, sort by gaming score or gaming Perf/$ and start from the top: that ranking is the shortest route to the best CPU for gaming at your budget.
Because most games become GPU-bound above 1080p, the fastest gaming CPU only pays off with a capable card. Pair your shortlist against the GPU comparison table and let the PC Builder assemble a bottleneck-free system around it. The CPU buying guide covers how much CPU different resolutions and refresh rates actually need in 2026.
AMD vs Intel: Sockets and Platforms
Filter by brand to run AMD vs Intel head-to-head at any budget. Which platform you buy into matters as much as the chip: a CPU is only as upgradeable as its socket, so weigh the cost of the motherboard and memory alongside the chip. Sort by Perf/$ within a socket to find the value leader on a platform you can keep upgrading.
Best Value and Budget CPUs
Set a price ceiling to see only chips inside your budget, then sort by Perf/$ to rank what is left by value. That turns this comparison into a live best-value and best-budget CPU finder.
For the underlying math and a resolution-by-resolution view, see the CPU performance-per-dollar benchmark. If a core-count floor matters for your work, set Min Cores and sort by value to find the cheapest chip that clears it.
Best CPUs for Video Editing, Rendering and Streaming
Sort by any multi-core benchmark, Cinebench, PassMark or Geekbench, to rank processors for heavily-threaded work: the best CPU for video editing, 3D rendering, code compiling, and streaming while you game. Single-core tracks the responsiveness that matters in everyday and lightly-threaded apps.
High-core Ryzen 9 and Core i9 / Ultra 9 chips top the productivity ranking, but the value toggle often surfaces a cheaper CPU that renders nearly as fast per dollar. If your build mixes gaming and creation, sort by both metrics and compare where each chip lands before you buy.
Every CPU Spec, Explained
A processor decides how fast your PC thinks, but past a certain point extra spending buys you nothing a gamer will feel. Below is what each filter and column in the table measures, how much it matters, and where the money is usually better spent elsewhere.
Gaming score (1080p)
A single 0 to 100 number for gaming performance, measured at 1080p with a fast graphics card so the CPU is the limiting factor. Testing this way is deliberate: at 4K the graphics card does almost all the work and nearly every modern chip performs the same, which hides the differences you are trying to compare. Importance: high for high-refresh gaming, low at 4K. Advice: if you play at 4K or 1440p with a mid-range card, a mid-tier CPU will not hold you back. Chase this number only if you run a fast monitor and a strong GPU.
L3 cache
The pool of fast memory built into the chip, in megabytes. Games love it: a large L3 cache keeps the data the cores need closest to hand, which is exactly why AMD’s X3D chips, with their stacked extra cache, sit at the top of the gaming ranking. Importance: high for gaming, low for most other work. Advice: raise the Min L3 cache slider to surface the chips built for frame rates. If you mainly render or encode, core count and clocks matter more than cache.
Productivity benchmarks: PassMark, Geekbench and Cinebench
Standardized scores for heavy, parallel work like video exports, 3D rendering, compiling, and batch photo edits. The swappable benchmark column and the Benchmarks filter cover four suites, each in a multi-core and a single-core version: PassMark, Geekbench 7, Cinebench 2024, and Cinebench R23. Multi-core tracks how fast a chip clears threaded work; single-core tracks the responsiveness you feel in everyday and lightly-threaded apps. Importance: high for creative work, low for gaming. Games rarely use more than a handful of cores well, so a chip can post a huge multi-core score and still lose to a cheaper part in games. Advice: pick the suite your software is quoted in, set a minimum, and sort by it only if you actually render or encode.
Perf/$ and the gaming and productivity toggle
Performance per dollar divides one of those two scores by the current cheapest in-stock price. The toggle above the table decides which: Gaming value uses the 1080p gaming score, Productivity value uses Cinebench multi-core. Importance: high. The two rankings can look completely different, and the flagship chips rarely lead either. Advice: set the toggle to match what you actually do before reading the table. If you both game and create, check where a chip lands on both and take the one that is respectable on each rather than the winner of either.
Cores and threads
Cores are the physical processing units. Threads are the work streams they handle, and most modern chips run two threads per core. The table shows both, as 6/12 for a six-core chip with twelve threads. Importance: medium, with a hard floor. Six cores is the practical minimum for a current gaming build, eight is the comfortable spot, and past twelve you are buying capacity that only rendering and compiling will use. Advice: do not pay for core count you will not load. A faster six or eight-core chip beats a slower sixteen-core one in games.
Socket and platform
The physical connector, and the single hardest compatibility rule in a build: the socket must match your motherboard exactly. AM5 covers current Ryzen, LGA1851 covers Intel Core Ultra, and LGA1700 covers older Intel Core. AM4 is AMD’s previous platform and still worth considering for cheap upgrades. Importance: high. Advice: if you are reusing a motherboard, filter to its socket first and ignore everything else. If you are building fresh, note that AM5 has a longer upgrade runway than LGA1700, which is at the end of its life.
Memory type (DDR4 or DDR5)
Which memory generation the platform runs. DDR5 is the current standard and what a new build should use; DDR4 is older and cheaper, worth it mainly when you are reusing kit or squeezing a tight budget. Some Intel LGA1700 chips support both, so there the choice falls to the motherboard. Importance: medium. Advice: filter to DDR5 for a fresh build, or DDR4 if you already own memory you want to carry over. The memory itself is a separate cost from the chip, so factor it in.
TDP
Rated power draw in watts, which is also a rough proxy for how much cooling the chip needs. A 65W chip runs happily on a modest air cooler; a 170W or 250W part wants a large tower cooler or an AIO, and it will heat the case around it. Importance: medium. Advice: use the Max TDP filter if you are building small, keeping noise down, or reusing a cooler. Otherwise treat it as a reminder to budget for cooling on the higher-wattage chips.
Bundled stock cooler
Whether the chip ships with a cooler in the box. When it does, that is one part you do not have to buy, which can decide a tight budget build. Higher-end and X3D chips usually leave it out and expect you to bring your own. Importance: medium on a budget, low otherwise. Advice: turn on Includes stock cooler to find chips that need nothing extra to run. If you want lower temperatures or quieter operation, plan for an aftermarket cooler anyway.
Integrated graphics
Whether the chip can drive a display without a separate graphics card. Useful as a fallback if a GPU fails, for troubleshooting a new build, and for machines that will not game at all. Importance: low if you are buying a graphics card, high if you are not. Advice: turn the filter on if you want a build that can boot and display without a GPU. Integrated graphics will not deliver serious gaming performance.
AMD or Intel
AMD’s X3D chips hold the lead in gaming thanks to their large cache, and the AM5 platform gives you a longer upgrade path. Intel tends to compete harder on multi-threaded work per dollar and often wins at the budget end once motherboard cost is included. Importance: medium. Advice: decide on price and the two scores at your budget, not on brand. Factor in the motherboard, because a cheap chip on an expensive platform is not a cheap build.
Price and retailer
Prices refresh daily from live retailer stock, and the “From” column shows the cheapest in-stock listing we track across Amazon, Newegg and B&H. Importance: high. CPU pricing moves with launches and sales, and a chip that looked mediocre can become the value pick after a cut. Advice: treat every price here as a snapshot to confirm before buying, and remember the motherboard is part of the real cost.
All Processors (202)
Every CPU we track, grouped by socket and then architecture. Socket is the first thing to match when you already have a motherboard.
32 models are out of stock at every retailer we track right now. Specs and benchmarks still apply, and they rejoin the table above automatically when stock returns.
AM5 (26)
Zen 5 (8)
AM4 (37)
Zen 3 (16)
Zen 2 (11)
LGA1851 (14)
Arrow Lake Refresh (3)
LGA1700 (44)
Raptor Lake (28)
- Core i3-13100 (currently out of stock)
- Core i3-14100
- Core i3-14100F
- Core i5-13400
- Core i5-13400F
- Core i5-13500 (currently out of stock)
- Core i5-13600K
- Core i5-14400
- Core i5-14400F
- Core i5-14500
- Core i5-14600K
- Core i5-14600KF
- Core i7-13700
- Core i7-13700K
- Core i7-14700
- Core i7-14700F
- Core i7-14700K
- Core i7-14700KF
- Core i9-13900
- Core i9-13900F
- Core i9-13900K
- Core i9-13900KF (currently out of stock)
- Core i9-13900KS
- Core i9-14900
- Core i9-14900F
- Core i9-14900K
- Core i9-14900KF
- Core i9-14900KS
Alder Lake (16)
- Core i3-12100
- Core i3-12100F
- Core i5-12400
- Core i5-12400F
- Core i5-12600K (currently out of stock)
- Core i5-12600KF
- Core i7-12700
- Core i7-12700F
- Core i7-12700K
- Core i7-12700KF
- Core i9-12900
- Core i9-12900F (currently out of stock)
- Core i9-12900K
- Core i9-12900KF
- Core i9-12900KS
- Pentium Gold G7400 (currently out of stock)
LGA1200 (28)
Rocket Lake (11)
Comet Lake (17)
- Core i3-10100 (currently out of stock)
- Core i3-10100F
- Core i3-10300
- Core i3-10320
- Core i5-10400
- Core i5-10500
- Core i5-10600 (currently out of stock)
- Core i5-10600K
- Core i5-10600KF (currently out of stock)
- Core i7-10700
- Core i7-10700F
- Core i7-10700K
- Core i7-10700KF
- Core i9-10850K (currently out of stock)
- Core i9-10900 (currently out of stock)
- Core i9-10900K
- Core i9-10900KF
LGA1151 (38)
Coffee Lake (28)
- Core i3-8100
- Core i3-9100
- Core i3-9100F
- Core i3-9300 (currently out of stock)
- Core i3-9350K
- Core i3-9350KF
- Core i5-8400
- Core i5-8500
- Core i5-8600K (currently out of stock)
- Core i5-9400
- Core i5-9400F
- Core i5-9500
- Core i5-9500F
- Core i5-9600 (currently out of stock)
- Core i5-9600K (currently out of stock)
- Core i5-9600KF
- Core i7-8086k
- Core i7-8700 (currently out of stock)
- Core i7-8700K
- Core i7-9700
- Core i7-9700F
- Core i7-9700K
- Core i7-9700KF
- Core i9-9900
- Core i9-9900K
- Core i9-9900KF
- Core i9-9900KS
- Pentium Gold G5400
Workstation & HEDT (15)
SkyLake (7)
Zen+ (1)
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