The Best Budget CPUs for Gaming

The Best Budget CPUs for Gaming

Even if gaming-specific processors continue to be reduced at lower costs, even though studies suggest that the PC industry is continuing to slow down over time, gaming PCs are currently all the rage. Intel's 14th-generation CPUs are expected to debut later this year. This has made it feasible for many gamers and enthusiasts to take advantage of gaming offers that weren't available in terms of price and performance a year ago.

Customers often benefit from lower prices as Intel and AMD continue to compete for the gaming sector. Both chipmakers are pushing promotions and deeper discounts to persuade gamers to upgrade to the newest and greatest in the industry. With the aggressive Starfield package, AMD is promoting its Ryzen 7000 series CPUs and RX 7000 series GPUs in both Standard and Premium versions. This is one of the year's biggest launches.

Similarly, Intel is preparing to offer a two-game deal in the coming week that will bundle Assassin's Creed Mirage and Nightingale with its 12th and 13th-generation Intel CPUs and ARC GPUs. This is an excellent moment to be a gamer searching for a CPU upgrade to replace aged hardware or to create a brand new PC from the ground up. The Game Rant crew has developed an up-to-date list to assist players navigate the (often) convoluted world of gaming CPUs and get the most bang for their buck.

• The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X

 is the best overall budget AMD CPU for gaming, costing $220 on Amazon.

• CPU Intel Core i5-12600K

The Best Overall Budget Intel CPU For Gaming at Amazon is $180.

• CPU AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

The Best AMD CPU for Gaming on a Low Budget

Amazon charges $168 for this item.

• The Intel Core i3-13100 

is the best low-cost Intel CPU for gaming.

Amazon charges $137 for this item.

• Ryzen 7 7800X3D AMD

Amazon has the best premium budget AMD CPU for gaming at $399.

• Intel Core i5 13600KF

The Best Intel Premium Budget CPU For Gaming

Amazon charges $286 for this item.

 

AMD Ryzen 5 7600X processor

The Best AMD CPU for Gaming on a Budget

$220 $300 Save $80

Gamers looking to upgrade to a newer CPU from Team Red will find the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X to be an excellent deal due to its outstanding single-core performance, economical hexacore design, and compatibility with newer technologies like PCI-E 5.0 and DDR5 memory. It also ditches AMD's AM4 architecture in favor of a pin-less processor offering by shifting them to the motherboard.

AMD is a brand.

Model of CPU Ryzen 5 7600X

AMD AM5 Socket CPU

Cores 6

12 Threads

Support for PCIe 4.0 PCI-E 5.0 and below

4.7 GHz is the base clock speed.

5.3 GHz Boost Clock Speed

6MB L2 cache + 32MB L3 cache

RAM DDR5 5000 MHz up to 128 GB

TDP 105W

AMD Radeon Graphics 2-Core iGPU

Pros

• Excellent single-core performance results in greater game performance.
• Significantly more energy-efficient than competitors

It makes use of a new socket AM5-based architecture and includes PCI-E 5.0 and DDR5 memory as part of its offerings.

Cons

• Because of its restrictions as a hexacore CPU, it behind Intel's more core-heavy rivals in several productivity metrics.
• It does not include a stock cooler.

Amazon charges $220 for this item. Newegg charges $240 for this item.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a 6-core 12-thread CPU driven by AMD's latest Zen 4 cores, which promise much superior power efficiency and clock speeds than their predecessors. This allows AMD's product to be more affordable while yet providing much greater gaming performance than its predecessors. In terms of performance, it replaces AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X3D as an upgrade proposal and competes for the title of best overall budget CPU for gaming.

This is due in part to it serving as the entry point for future CPU upgrades such as the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and its successors. Because AMD tends to stay on a socket longer than its competitors, upgrading to AM5 or the 7600X should result in savings on motherboard upgrades for most customers.

Intel Core i5-12600K CPU

The Best Intel CPU For Gaming Overall at a Price Under $180 and $200

The deca-core Intel Core i5-12600K CPU has a base frequency of 3.70 GHz and a maximum boost frequency of 4.9 GHz. This has onboard graphics as part of its 6 performance + 4 efficiency core architecture, unlike its KF counterpart.

It uses Intel 7 lithography and 20MB of L3 cache to outperform its forerunners in terms of performance per watt.

Company Intel

LGA 1700 socket for CPU

6P + 4E Cores (10 Total)

sixteen threads

Yes, PCIe 4.0 support

Alder Lake Intel architecture

Intel Processor 7

3.7 GHz is the base clock speed.

4.9 GHz for Clock Speed Boost

a 20MB L3 cache

iGPU the Intel UHD Graphics 770 is true.

Pros: 

• Provides an unlocked deca-core CPU that is compatible with both 12th and 13th generation Intel motherboards.
• Is more powerful and less expensive than Intel's 13th generation 13400 for gaming.
• The most affordable unlocked 12th/13th generation CPU on the market, with good overclocking capability and great single-core performance.

Cons

• As an unlocked CPU, it does not come with a stock cooling.
• Amazon charges $180 for this item. Newegg charges $185 for this item.
• When it was released, the Intel Core i5 12600K was a favorite among reviewers and fans alike, delivering exceptional value as well as some of the finest gaming performance for a gaming-centric CPU. Since then, it has doubled as one of the finest value CPUs money can buy, due to repeated price reduction since the 13th generation's release and another round of price cuts from retailers as the 14th generation approaches.

The 12600K, for its part, is a terrific CPU in its own right, easily taking on and surpassing the more expensive (and locked) Intel Core i5 13400 in a number of benchmarks. While it does not come with a CPU cooler out of the box, there are other cooling choices to consider.

The Intel Core i5 12600K has the unique benefit of being compatible with both Intel-based 12th and 13th-generation motherboards out of the box. This provides some leeway in matching what is undoubtedly the finest Intel processor deal currently available to gamers at the time of writing.

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU

The Best AMD CPU for Gaming on a Low Budget

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a midrange CPU that is ideal for gaming systems. This is AMD's fastest six-core AM4-based CPU, with 12 processing threads. The CPU, according to the manufacturer, can offer 100-plus frames per second in the world's most popular games. The CPU supports DDR4 memory with a 3600MHz sweet spot.

It comes with 4.6 GHz boost clock rates out of the box, as well as overclocking capabilities and 35 MB of cache. This model has a quiet and powerful AMD Wraith Stealth cooling. 

Brand AMD

CPU Model 5600X

CPU Socket AMD AM4

Cores 6

Threads 12

PCIe 4.0 Support PCI-E 4.0

Base Clock Speed 3.7GHz

Boost Clock Speed 4.6GHz

Cache 3MB L2 + 32MB L3

Graphics N/A

TDP 105W

Pros

Good gameplay performance

One of the greatest deals on AMD's AM4 platform.

Because of the established AM4 platform, there are several motherboard alternatives to pick from.

It ships unlocked and with a good stock cooler.

Cons

Hexacore CPUs have several limitations in multicore productivity applications.

In single-core benchmarks, it is marginally slower than the competitors.

Amazon charges $168 for this item. Newegg charges $168 for this item.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a good mid-range hexacore CPU with 12 threads spread over 6 cores in an unlocked packaging. It has a great thermal solution out of the box, which is unusual for an unlocked CPU usually does not provide proper cooling unless consumers intend to overclock the CPU.

The 5600X will be relevant for AMD's AM4 population for a longer period of time as a middle-of-the-road alternative.

As a middle-of-the-road alternative for AMD's AM4 audience, the 5600X will outlast most CPUs. Even with the 7600X's release and the huge performance increases on offer, this is likely owing to the sheer quantity of AM4-based PCs out there searching for a cost-effective upgrade.

At the same time, the age of AMD's 5600X is apparent when compared to recent Intel CPUs. Single-core performance is rather disappointing in many eSports titles, where Intel's slightly cheaper quad-core options outperform, however the 5600X remains a good overall option for most games.

Intel Core i3-13100

The Best Intel CPU for Gaming on a Low Budget
The Intel Core i3-13100 is a 4-Core, 8-Thread Raptor Lake-based CPU that is suitable for entry-level gaming while still providing access to newer technology and a robust upgrade path due to its origins in Intel's current 13th-generation CPU offerings. Given its constraints as a quad-core CPU comprised exclusively of Rocket Lake P-Cores, it gives adequate single-core and fairly poor multicore performance.

Brand Intel

CPU Model Core i3 13100

CPU Socket LGA 1700

Cores 4 P-Cores

Threads 8 Threads

Architecture Raptor Lake

Process Intel 7 (10Nm)

Base Clock Speed 3.4 GHz

Boost Clock Speed 4.5 GHz

Cache 12MB L3, 5MB L2 Cache

RAM N/A

PCIe PCI-E 4.0 and 5.0 Supported

Graphics Intel UHD Graphics 730

TDP 89 W Turbo, 60 W Base Power

Pros

• Single-core performance is adequate.
• The most budget-friendly Intel CPU option right now
• As part of its products, it includes a stock cooler.

Cons:

• Unlike its AMD equivalent, it has an integrated GPU.
• In some games, a quad-core CPU may be relatively restricted in terms of performance.
• Does not provide a significant performance advantage over the less expensive Intel core i3 12100/12100F.

Amazon charges $137 for this item. Newegg charges $145 for this item.

The Intel Core i3 13100 is a powerful quad-core, 8-thread CPU with an iGPU and good single-core performance as two of its strongest points. As an entry-level Intel CPU, it also provides a good path to future Intel 12th and 13th-generation CPUs. At the same time, as a quad-core CPU, it may not be as future-proof for most gamers as AMD's options in the same price bracket.

It is somewhat less expensive than AMD's options, but it is a locked version, with consumers unable to change the CPU in most circumstances. As it is, it benefits from the ability to work with DDR5 memory, making it a perfect placeholder for gamers seeking to change CPUs when the 14th generation arrives, along with further discounts on 13th generation flagships.

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

The Best AMD CPU for Gaming on a Budget

$399 $449 Save $50

When it comes to gaming CPUs, AMD's latest and finest is the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is here to stay and has a crown to claim owing to its 3D V-Cache-enabled brilliance when it comes to gaming on a PC, with a superb and extremely efficient gaming performance that now leads the rankings.

Brand AMD

CPU Model Ryzen 7 7800X3D

CPU Socket AM5

Cores 8

Threads 16

Architecture Zen 4

Process 5nm

Base Clock Speed 4.2GHz

Boost Clock Speed 5.0GHz

Cache 8MB L2 + 96MB L3

TDP 120W

PCIe 4.0 Support Yes, Supports up to PCI-E 5.0

iGPU Yes, Integrated Radeon 2 Core

Pros

• Is now the quickest gaming CPU available. Is significantly more efficient than Intel's rivals.
• It requires far less cooling than most of its competitors.
• Has an integrated iGPU?

Cons

• A separate CPU cooling solution is required.
• Amazon charges $399 for this item. Newegg charges $399 for this item.

If you're seeking for the fastest gaming CPU on the market, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D delivers at a far cheaper price than Intel's best in class for gaming. It is available for $50 off at both Game Rant-tracked stores, and it comes with a normal copy of Starfield as part of the AMD Rewards package.

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D takes advantage of its stacking '3D v-cache,' which is effectively a significant quantity of L3 cache available to the CPU, to allow it to manage bigger quantities of data without needing to reference memory outside the chip. While there are few, if any, advantages for productivity use cases, it does allow for significantly more efficient and quicker gaming performance when compared to the competition.

This makes the Ryzen 7 7800X3D a good choice for players on a tight budget that want the quickest CPU for their gaming demands. It does, however, require a discrete CPU cooler, which raises the price, as well as a modern AM5-based motherboard in addition to DDR5 memory, whereas Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 throughout its 12th and 13th generation CPUs.

Core i5 13600KF

The Best Intel Premium Budget CPU For Gaming

$286 $297 Save $11

The Intel Core i5 13600KF Processor is a powerhouse. It is unlocked, lacks integrated graphics on its non-F variant, and proceeds to eat the last generation i7 for lunch as it dethrones it to take its place as Intel's most complex and yet simple choice for a gaming processor when it comes to value and in-game performance for pc-builders and gamers going the Intel route.

Brand Intel

CPU Model Core i5 13600KF

CPU Socket LGA 1700

Cores 14

Threads 20

PCIe 4.0 Support PCI-E 5.0 and 4.0 support

Base Clock Speed 3.5GHz

Boost Clock Speed 5.1GHz

Cache 24MB

TDP 181W

iGPU No

Pros

• Outstanding single-core performance
• Unlocked right out of the box
• When overclocked for gaming, it performs similarly to the higher-end Intel Core i7 and Core i9 CPUs.
• Significantly more affordable for gamers than higher-end Intel and AMD CPUs.

Cons

• There is no distinct GPU.
• It requires a standalone thermal solution and does not include a cooler.

Amazon charges $286 for this item. Newegg charges $291 for this item.
The Intel Core i5 13600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread CPU that is also the greatest overall Intel CPU for gaming according to Game Rant's guide to the top Intel CPUs. This is due to its distinct value offer for gamers seeking an Intel CPU for their latest update or brand-new gaming PC.

It has high speeds and can be made to surge much higher when combined with a suitable overclocking motherboard, while customers on the other end of the spectrum may save money by recycling existing DDR4 memory if they like. At less than $300, the 13600KF has no direct competition from Intel or AMD, providing a unique price-versus-performance combination that is difficult to top, even if it does lose its integrated GPU. Gamers would hardly notice because almost all recent games demand a distinct solution.

Users must account for the 13600KF's absence of a thermal solution. This is quite standard for Intel, which does not provide a cooler with its unlocked 'K' series CPUs, although it does raise the price of a new CPU cooler. The 13600KF is likewise more demanding than its previous-generation Intel counterpart, as well as the majority of competitive AMD CPUs. This implies that beefier cooling may be the way to go, especially if overclocking is on the table for gamers trying to get the most out of the Intel mid-range CPU.