A week ago we shared with you a guide dedicated to the best graphics cards for price-performance ratio, and for you to make the most of Black Friday today I have prepared for you a guide focused on the best processors for gaming, an article where we keep the value price performance as the main selection criterion.
Please note that this gaming processor guide is going to take into account. deals that will only be available during Black Friday.so it will offer its greatest utility during these dates. Once these are gone most of the chosen processors will still be a good choice, but some may no longer rank as well in performance per euro invested, so keep that in mind.
Before getting into the subject I want to remind you that when we talk about processors for gaming we must start from a series of. basic keysalthough very important:
- We need at least 4 cores and 8 threads, although having 6 cores and 12 threads is the ideal level.
- IPC is more important than the maximum cores and threads once we have reached the ideal level. This is determined by the processor architecture and its generation so that a Ryzen 7000 has higher IPC than a Ryzen 5000, and a Core Gen13 also has higher IPC than a Core Gen12. We should not go below the IPC level of Skylake (maintained up to Core Gen10) in Intel and Zen 2 in AMD), although the ideal is to reach the level of Cypress Cove (Core Gen11) or Zen 3 (Ryzen 5000).
- Clock frequency is not as important as the previous two keys. A processor at higher frequency can perform much less in games than another at lower frequency. if it has a lower IPC.
- Working temperatures are important, because in the end. force us to invest more money in a cooling kit.with all that that entails.
I wanted to explain these four keys in a simple way so that you can all understand them, and so that you can apply them in your future purchases. All in all, if you still have any questions about this topic, you can leave them in the comments and I will be happy to help you solve it.
Best gaming processors for less than 100 euros.
In this category we will find processors for gaming that are very economical and that, despite their low price, are very competent. Obviously they do not reach the recommended level either in number of cores and threads or in IPC, but they are ideal for low-cost gaming rigs and can run any current title without problems.
Intel Core i3-10100F
Remains one of the best low-end processors for gaming. even despite the price increase it has recently experienced. This chip has a good IPC, has 4 cores and 8 threads, and achieves reasonably good working frequencies. It is also very cool, and comes with a fan included, so we won’t have to spend more money. Its price is €82.99.
Specifications
- Comet Lake-S architecture on 14 nm++ process.
- 4 cores and 8 threads at 3.6 GHz-4.3 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
- Without integrated GPU.
- 6 MB of L3 cache.
- 65 watts TDP. Includes fan.
- Socket LGA1200 (chipset 400).
- Does not support overclock.
Best gaming processors for less than 150 euros.
Raising our budget to a maximum of 150 euros already greatly expands our range of options, and that is why in this category. we have chosen three different models which are the best for gaming from that price-performance perspective. Choosing one or another will depend on the platform you want to build, and the money you want to invest in other components, such as RAM, as one of them gives the best with DDR5.
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
It is a processor that has greatly improved its value after the significant price drop it has received. It has a lower IPC than the Ryzen 5 5600 because it has half the L3 cache compared to the Ryzen 5 5600, but it offers very good performance in games, adds 6 cores and 12 threads and is available at a knockdown price. By 106.89 €. en the best processor in its price range, And it comes with a quite capable fan.
Specifications
- Zen 3 architecture in 7 nm.
- 6 cores and 12 threads at 3.6 GHz-4.2 GHz.
- Without integrated GPU.
- 16 MB of L3 cache.
- 65 watts TDP. Includes fan.
- Socket AM4 (chipset 300 or higher).
- Overclock support.
Intel Core i3-12100F
Although it only has 4 cores and 8 threads. its IPC is so high that it offers incredibly good gaming performance. This is made possible by its Golden Cove architecture, which is the second most advanced Intel has in the mainstream consumer market. It also has the advantage of being integrated into a next-generation platform. DDR5 compatiblewhich means that we can use it to upgrade a computer with a small investment and we will be able to expand it later. Very good option, although it has gone up in price and is around the 127.99 euros. Includes fan.
Specifications
- Golden Cove architecture in 10 nm second-generation SuperFin.
- 4 cores and 8 threads at 3.3 GHz-4.3 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
- Without integrated GPU.
- 12 MB of L3 cache.
- 65 watts TDP. Includes fan.
- Socket LGA1700 (chipset 600).
- Does not support overclock.
Intel Core i5-11400F
This is one of the best 6-core, 12-thread processors we can buy right now for less than €150. Positions it above the Ryzen 5 5500. in performance, and it integrates into a platform that has come down quite a bit in price, so it is one of the best options for assembling a powerful gaming PC while meeting ideal core-threading and IPC levels, but without making a major investment. We can buy it for €149.89, and it comes with a fan which is more than enough.
Specifications
- Cypress Cove architecture in 14 nm+++ process.
- 6 cores and 12 threads at 2.6 GHz-4.4 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
- Without integrated GPU.
- 12 MB of L3 cache.
- 65 watts TDP. Includes fan.
- Socket LGA1200 (H470, Z490 and 500 chipset).
- Does not support overclock.
Best gaming processors for under 200 euros.
In this price range we are already moving in ideal CPI and core levels. always, which means that we can build a very powerful PC without having to spend more than 200 euros on a processor, and without falling short in any aspect. Clearly, a more expensive and powerful processor can make a difference with top-of-the-line graphics cards at low resolutions, especially at 1080p, but the performance per euro invested ratio decreases significantly above 200 euros, so keep that in mind.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600
It is the best processor that we can find today under 160 euros. It has the IPC of Zen 3since it retains the 32 MB of L3 cache (unlike the Ryzen 5 5500 which only has 16 MB), runs above 4 GHz with all cores active, has 6 cores and 12 threads and comes with a fan that manages to keep temperatures at acceptable levels. Excellent choice for gaming with all the guarantees especially now that it costs 159.89 euros.
Specifications
- Zen 3 architecture in 7 nm.
- 6 cores and 12 threads at 3.5 GHz-4.4 GHz.
- Without integrated GPU.
- 32 MB of L3 cache.
- 65 watts TDP. Includes fan.
- Socket AM4 (chipset 300 or higher).
- Overclock support.
Best gaming processors for under 260 euros.
We go up another step and enter fully into the mid-range area known as “sweet spot” or sweet spot, because it is one of the levels where we can find the best price-performance ratio. At this level we have two great options that should be the focus of our attention, which I will detail below.
Intel Core i5-12400F
It is a processor with a very high IPC and a fairly balanced consumption, which is maintained in very good temperature values, which makes the heatsink that comes standard can meet without problems, especially considering that in games will never reach 100% use. Its high IPC and its 6 cores and 12 threads will allow us to play optimally.It is a good buy for 204.98 euros.
Specifications
- Golden Cove architecture in 10 nm second-generation SuperFin.
- 6 cores and 12 threads at 2.5 GHz-4.4 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
- Without integrated GPU.
- 18 MB of L3 cache.
- 65 watts TDP. Includes fan.
- Socket LGA1700 (chipset 600).
- Does not support overclock.
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
An interesting option because it has come down a lot in price and because it offers excellent gaming performance. It has 8 cores and 16 threadswhich means that we exceed the optimal level of 6 cores and 12 threads, which can make a slight difference in certain games that scale a little better on processors with such a high number of cores and threads. These are exceptions, but this coupled with its high IPC make it a good value overall, and an option to consider also because of its longer service life. We can get it for €259.19. Please note, however, that does not include fan.
Specifications
- Zen 3 architecture in 7 nm.
- 8 cores and 16 threads at 3.4 GHz-4.6 GHz.
- Without integrated GPU.
- 32 MB of L3 cache.
- 65 watts TDP. No fan included.
- Socket AM4 (chipset 300 or higher).
- Overclock support.
Best gaming processors for under 350 euros.
This is it, on a personal basis, the “roof” category if we are looking for a processor only for gaming. By this I mean that it is not worth going beyond this price range if we are only going to use the processor for gaming, since the cost-performance ratio drops a lot. However, I understand that there are people with large budgets who simply want to the best of the best, the most powerful, and in those cases as of today the decision is very clear, the Intel Core i9-13900K is the most powerful chip for gaming, as the Ryzen 9 7950X is a bit below.
Intel Core i5-12600KF
It is still one of the best processors for gaming, although it is especially recommended for those who in addition to gaming want to do streaming. Its configuration of 6 high-performance cores and 4 high-efficiency cores. give it an advantage in certain scenarios, and with certain titles, and its high IPC coupled with its high working frequencies make it perform great with any current game. It also has overclocking headroom with a simple click using the Intel XTU application, and supports DDR5. Very good value for money, €318.16.
- Golden Cove architecture on P-cores and Gracemont on E-cores.
- Fabricated on second-generation 10 nm SuperFin node.
- 6 high-performance P-cores at 3.7 GHz-4.9 GHz, normal and turbo mode, and 4 high-efficiency E-cores at 2.8 GHz-3.6 GHz.
- 10 cores and 16 threads.
- Without integrated GPU.
- 20 MB of L3 cache.
- 125 watts TDP. No fan included.
- Socket LGA1700 (chipset 600).
- Overclock support.
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
Thanks to the price drop it received during Black Friday the Ryzen 5 7600X has become one of the best options available in its category. It is more expensive than the 8-core, 16-thread processors of the previous generation, but It performs better in games thanks to its very high IPC and high operating frequencies.. With 6 cores and 12 threads, and support for DDR5, we can easily run a high-power graphics card such as the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti, GeForce RTX 4080 and even the GeForce RTX 4090. We can buy it for €319.90.
Specifications
- Zen 4 architecture in 5 nm.
- 6 cores and 12 threads at 4.7 GHz-5.3 GHz.
- Without integrated GPU.
- 32 MB of L3 cache.
- 105 watts TDP. No fan included.
- Socket AM5 (chipset 600 or higher).
- Overclock support.
And if I want a top processor which option is the best?
As I have already said, the performance difference we are going to get when investing in a 400€ or more processor is going to be minimal as long as we talk about gaming, and in some cases it can end up being practically null. For this reason, it is not worth spending so much money on a CPU if our main goal is going to be gaming.
All in all, there is a processor that does maintain a price-performance value attractive enough to take into account when assembling a gaming PC, especially if we are going to accompany it with a really powerful graphics card, such as the GeForce RTX 4080 or GeForce RTX 4090, the Intel Core i5-13600K.
This chip uses the Raptor Cove on its 6 high-performance cores and features 8 high-efficiency Gracemont cores, which represents a considerable performance improvement and allows it to place even above the Intel Core i9-12900K in games. It also reaches very high operating frequencies in turbo mode (5.1 GHz), and thanks to automatic overclocking it can effortlessly reach 5.3 GHz.
For those who want the best gaming processor in terms of raw power the Intel Core i5-13600K is undoubtedly the best choice, and. the “ceiling” that I wouldn’t go past. in any case if I am only going to use the CPU for gaming. Its price is 390 euros.
Note: This selection contains some links from our affiliates, but none of the products included have been proposed or recommended by them or their manufacturers, but chosen at our own discretion.
