It’s not unusual to begin the search for a great gaming processor for a high-end gaming PC after finding the best graphics cards. Its not totally unreasonable to prioritize the GPU, as that component ultimately determines which quality settings and resolution youll be able to run your games at. But, you can’t throw all your time and money into choosing your GPU only to skimp on a CPU. After all, your processor is arguably as important as it dictates how well the rest of your gaming PC runs, and a CPU that’s too weak can bottleneck your system, preventing your GPU from even running at its full capacity.The processor isnt just known as the central processing unit for kicks, its in charge of how quickly your whole computer operates from the system memory to the SSDs holding your games which is why its all so important to pick the best gaming CPU for your rig. Unlike graphics cards youll likely be swapping in every other generation, the best gaming processors can last for years, so be sure youre making the right choice you wont regret in the long term.Although the market for CPUs boils down to Intel and AMD, each company has myriad offerings, and the market is always changing rapidly. The confusing model numbers don’t help much either. To help you figure it all out, here’s our rundown of the best CPUs for every type of PC gamer. If you’re browsing in the UK, click here to find out where you can find the best CPU for gaming.
TL;DR These are the Best CPUs for Gaming
1. AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Best CPU for Gaming
Cores: 6 Threads: 12 Base Clock: 3.8GHz Boost Clock: 4.4GHz L3 Cache: 32MB TDP: 95W
Sure, you can get more powerful processors with more cores and higher clock speeds. But, when it comes to gaming and general use, the Ryzen 5 3600X shines as a high-value champ. Thie processor features six processing cores with multi-threading capabilities that let it offer even more performance in certain workloads. And, with a speedy 3.8GHz clock speed and 4.4GHz boost, it’s no slouch. It almost feels magical in games, where it can often go toe-to-toe with even AMD’s latest Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 processors.When you get a Ryzen 5 3600X, it’s not just that performance capability that you’re getting. This processor also brings support for PCIe 4.0 on compatibility B550 and Z570 motherboards. That’ll let you take advantage of some of the fastest SSDs on the market and could make a big difference in future games, which may use Microsoft’s Direct Storage to transfer data from SSDs directly to a graphics card’s memory. On top of that value, the Ryzen 5 3600X even comes with its own cooler, saving you a little extra cash on your PC build.
2. AMD Ryzen 3 3200G
Best Budget CPU for Gaming
Cores: 4 Threads: 4 Base Clock: 3.6GHz Boost Clock: 4GHz Graphics: Radeon Vega 8 Graphics L3 Cache: 4MB TDP: 65W
The Ryzen 3 3200G is not only a fantastically affordable processor that costs only $99, but it also comes with incredibly powerful integrated Vega graphics that can let you get away with gaming without a discrete graphics card.Call me crazy if you like, this processor really has no problem playing modern games at Full HD and a decent frame rate all on its own. Weve even been able to run Overwatch at 4K resolution and Epic quality settings with a playable 30 fps frame rate. With all that in mind, the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G is the perfect processor to power your home theater PC or an extremely small PC.
3. Intel Core i9-10900X
Best High-End CPU for Gaming
Cores: 10 Threads: 20 Base Clock: 3.7GHz Boost Clock: 4.7GHz Intel Smart Cache: 19.25MB TDP: 165W
Intel’s Core i9-10900X is the base model in its X-Series of processors, but it’s got ten reasons for you to love it. This model has a listed retail around $600, but for the price you’re getting a 10-core powerhouse with hyper-threading. The Core i9-10900X has a base clock of 3.7GHz that can boost up to 4.7GHz on select cores if there’s the thermal headroom, or it can dial up all the cores to a 4.3GHz for tremendous speed in mutli-threaded workloads.At 165W, this chip’s TDP is considerable. It will take some serious cooling, but depending on how cool you keep it, the unlocked nature of this chip means you can try to push it to speeds even higher than stock. Another handy feature of this chip is its support of many PCIe lanes and Intel Optane Memory, which together can let you pile in fast storage for a game library that loads in the blink of an eye.
4. Intel Core i5-10600K
Best Midrange CPU for Gaming
Cores: 6 Threads: 12 Base Clock: 4.1GHz Boost Clock: 4.8GHz Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630 Intel Smart Cache: 12MB TDP: 125W
If you’re looking for a mid-range CPU to meet your gaming needs without pushing you over your budget, you can snag the Intel Core i5-10600K. This chip updates the Intel Core i5-9600K that used to hold this slot in a few notable ways. First, it takes the six processing cores and doubles their threads, bringing hyperthreading back into action.The new chip also has a sizable bump of 400MHz to the base clock and 200MHz to the boost clock, giving the 10600K a 4.1GHz base and 4.8GHz boost clock to really muscle through your games.Those are just the stock speeds, but this is an unlocked model you can try to overclock. This chip does come at a higher TDP than its predecessor, so it will take a bit more robust cooling if you’re coming from the 9600K.
5. AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Best CPU for Gaming Video Editing
Cores: 16 Threads: 32 Base Clock: 3.5GHz Boost Clock: 4.7GHz L3 Cache: 64MB TDP: 105W
I never thought I’d see the day a mainstream processor with a double-digit core count, but then the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X comes along to blow away everything you thought you knew about CPUs. With redonkulous 16-core, 32-thread specs squeezed into a regular consumer chip, the Ryzen 9 3950X delivers unparalleled multi-core performance that’s sure to make short work of any intense workload you throw at it.This processor eats video encodes and image processing batches for breakfast. And just in case you want to do all that and more while you’re gaming, the Ryzen 9 3950X can take that on too. At $750, however, this extremely high-end processor is best left to creative professionals who can make the most of this chips computing power to edit video, stream, and game all at the same time.
6. Intel Pentium Gold G6400
Best Super Cheap CPU for Gaming
Cores: 2 Threads: 4 Base Clock: 4.0GHz Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 610 Intel Smart Cache: 4MB TDP: 58W
There are, in fact, options available in the sub-$100 ballpark that can still hold up in gaming. The Intel Pentium Gold G6400 may not be packing many cores with a simple, dual-core design, but it’ll help you get the most of them with hyperthreading and a 4.0GHz clock speed. It doesn’t hurt that they’re also built on the recent Comet Lake architecture. The low TDP of this chip makes it a reasonable pick to put into a small gaming PC that might not have as much room for a large CPU cooler.It might not be the best for streaming, but this chip has enough horsepower to help you run most games well when paired with a mid-range graphics processor. Just don’t go trying to pair this with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti or you’ll quickly discover what a CPU bottleneck looks like in games.
7. AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Best High-End Desktop Processor for Gaming
Cores: 24 Threads: 48 Base Clock: 3.8GHz Boost Clock: 4.5GHz L3 Cache: 32MB TDP: 280W
Have you ever thought that eight CPU cores or 64GB of RAM just wasnt enough? Well, then a High-End Desktop (HEDT) processor might be just what youre looking for. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is a prime HEDT processor that comes with triple the number of cores found on even what most would call high-end CPUs.Whats more, it also offers quad-channel memory support for a total of eight sticks of RAM (including ECC) and access to an incredible 88 PCIe 4.0 lanes, which you can use to install multi-GPU setups and the fastest NVMe SSDs ever made. It also runs games nearly as well as a traditional, mainstream processor and its one of the cheaper chips in the HEDT space.
8. AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Best Streaming Gaming Processor
Cores: 64 Threads: 128 Base Clock: 2.9GHz Boost Clock: 4.3GHz L3 Cache: 256MB TDP: 280W
While most modern processors have between six and eight cores and call it a day, AMD threw everything at the wall to make the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X a 64-core CPU meant for consumers.Its incredibly high core count and astronomic 128-thread count make this processor a rendering juggernaut for video production. This CPU wont miss a step even if you suddenly decide you want to start streaming or rendering a video in the middle of playing a game.
Where to Get the Best CPU for Gaming in the UK
What to Look in for a CPU for Gaming
Below we’ve broken down the two types of processors youll find online or on store shelves, and some of the key specs you should look for in a gaming processor.When looking for a gaming CPU, youll probably come across two types of processors: mainstream and High-End Desktop (HEDT). Mainstream processors are what youll primarily find on store shelves and online catalogs, and these typically include Intels Core i3, i5, i7 and, more recently, i9 products as well as AMD Ryzen 3, 5, and 7-series chips.
HEDT processors are less prevalent and are easy enough to spot. All Intel HEDT CPUs come with an X or XE suffix at the end of their model names, meanwhile, AMD HEDT chips all fall under the Ryzen Threadripper brand.
\Whats the difference between a mainstream processor and HEDT chip? Mainstream processors typically only support dual-channel memory for a maximum of four DIMMs up to 64GB and, thus far, a maximum of 24 PCIe lanes, which enable high-speed connections to graphics cards, NVMe solid-state drives, and Thunderbolt 3 ports. HEDT processors, on the other hand, are physically larger to make room for more cores, while bringing memory support up to quad-channel up to eight sticks for a total of 128GB of RAM and a maximum of 64 PCIe lanes.
So, if you have the money and the desire to build the ultimate gaming PC, HEDT is the way to go. But thatll probably be overkill for most users, so a mainstream processor should be what most users need.
Most users should aim for at least a quad-core processor
The next thing you should be mindful of is how many cores a processor has. Cores are essentially the part of the CPU that receives instructions to perform calculations or actions, so the more cores you have the more you can do. Most entry-level processors should have two to four cores, four to six cores on mid-range chips, and at least six or eight cores on the highest-end CPUs.How many cores do you need for gaming? Most users should aim for at least a quad-core processor like the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G or the hexa-core Intel Core i5-8400. Most modern games should run well, but if youre playing anything with a high character count or an abundance of in-game physicsi.e. anything from the real-time strategy genreyou might see frame rates improve with a hexa- or octa-core processor.
Processor threads are far less important for gaming, but they help with multi-tasking and multi-threaded workloads. Youll often see a number of threads right next to cores on the spec sheet of a CPU. Usually, the number of threads will be twice as high as the core count and they basically act as schedulers, telling the CPU core what to do next so that theres no downtime in between tasks.
This process is known as Hyper-threading on Intels platform and multi-threading on AMD-powered systems. Despite the different names, they achieve the same goal, whether that be making sure your next song streams in the background or your video renders as quickly as possible.
And thats everything you need to know about processors for now, but well be updating this list again soon enough. 2019 has already been a plenty interesting as AMD has finally introduced the worlds first 7nm Ryzen 3rd Generation processorswith a 16-core mainstream processor still on the waymeanwhile, Intel is poised to introduce 10nm Ice Lake CPUs by the end of the year as well.
Kevin Lee is IGN’s Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
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