The five best processors for upgrading or building a PC

Black Friday is still on, and this time we are going to share with you a guide where we have compiled the ones that are, right now, the five best processors for upgrading or building a new PC by taking advantage of the offers available today. Please note that the availability of the offers may change in the short term, especially those that are very limited in terms of units.

We are talking about processors in general, but it is important to keep in mind that. some come with a fully functional integrated GPU, and therefore may be viable for two-phase upgrades or assemblies, i.e., a first upgrade or assembly phase without a dedicated GPU and a future expansion to add the GPU. This can be a good option if your budget is limited.

So that you can all find at least one interesting option regardless of your budget I have opted for a very clear model, choosing these five best processors among different models with different price ranges. In this way both you who have a budget of little more than a hundred euros and that other reader who can spend more than 300 euros will find interesting options, recommended and at a good price.

best processors

1.-Under 100 euros: AMD Ryzen 5500

best processors

One of the best economic processors that we can find today, and after its recent price drop on Black Friday is the best we can buy for less than 100 euros. This processor is based on the Zen 3 architecturealthough it has the design of a PAU, which means it comes with 16 MB of L3 cache instead of 32 MB. Its iGPU is disabled.

Its IPC is good, and thanks to its configuration of 6 cores and 12 threads is capable of running current games without any problems. It also offers good performance even with relatively demanding multithreaded applications, and is ideal for upgrading relatively old computers, and also to accompany mid-range and budget mid-range graphics cards.

Specifications

  • Zen 3 architecture in 7 nm.
  • 6 cores and 12 threads at 3.6 GHz-4.2 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
  • 16 MB of L3 cache.
  • TDP of 65 watts.
  • Includes Wraith Stealth heatsink.
  • Compatible with AM4 socket.
  • Price: €88.90.

2.-Under 200 euros: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X

best processors

This processor also uses the Zen 3 architecturebut it does not have an APU-type design, but is based on the chiplet model, which means that it features 32 MB of L3 cache. Its IPC is much higher than that of the Ryzen 5 5500, and it also has the advantage of having. 8 cores and 16 threads, which allows it to move even professional applications with a higher level of demand. It is, in general, a lower frequency version of the Ryzen 7 5800X.

At the performance level this processor still shines brightly, especially now that it has come down in price, and has a long life ahead of it. With it we can assemble a very powerful PC capable of moving current games optimally, and we will not have to worry about the generational transition, as it far exceeds the processors that mount PS5 and Xbox X Series. Ideal to accompany it with mid-range and high-end graphics cards.

Specifications

  • Zen 3 architecture in 7 nm.
  • 8 cores and 16 threads at 3.4 GHz-4.6 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
  • 32 MB of L3 cache.
  • TDP of 65 watts.
  • Heatsink not included.
  • Compatible with AM4 socket.
  • Price: 179.90 euros.

3.-Under 300 euros: Intel Core i5-13600KF

best processors

In this range we are starting to move to a level where performance is fantastic, so much so that bottlenecks disappear with top of the range graphics cards, such as the GeForce RTX 4090for example. The Intel Core i5-13600KF is a version of the Intel Core i5-13600K with iGPU disabled, and it emerges as the best option in this category because it it offers outstanding single- and multithreaded performance.and because it has come down in price so much that it has become almost unbeatable.

With it we will also enjoy a state-of-the-art platform with DDR5 and PCIe Gen5 memory support, and we will have all the performance needed to meet virtually any challenge. It stands out especially for its IPC, which is very high, and for its excellent single-threaded performance. In multithreading it also performs at a good level thanks to a configuration of 6 + 8 cores.

Specifications

  • Raptor Cove and Gracemont architecture on Intel node 7.
  • Six high-performance cores and twelve threads at 3.5 GHz-5.1 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
  • Eight high-efficiency cores at 2.6 GHz-3.9 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
  • 14 cores and 20 threads.
  • 24 MB of L3 cache.
  • 20 MB of L2 cache.
  • Base TDP of 125 watts.
  • Heatsink not included.
  • Compatible with LGA 1700 socket and 600 series and 700 series chipsets.
  • Price: €289.90.

4.-Under 400 euros: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

best processors

Undoubtedly the best processor for gaming available today, so much so that it is the ideal choice to accompany graphics cards such as the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, GeForce RTX 4080 and GeForce RTX 4090. This model uses the Zen 4 architecture, which means it has a state-of-the-art IPC, and comes equipped with an additional block of 3D stacked L3 cache.

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D adds up to a total of. 96 MB of L3 cache, and this is what allows it to offer such good performance in games even though its operating frequencies are not as high as those of its direct rivals. It also has 8 cores and 16 threads, which gives it a good balance and allows it to hold its own even in demanding multithreaded tasks. It is also integrated into a latest-generation platform that supports DDR5 and PCIe Gen5.

Specifications

  • Zen 4 architecture in 5 nm.
  • 8 cores and 16 threads at 4.2 GHz-5 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
  • 8 MB L2 cache.
  • 96 MB of L3 cache.
  • Heatsink not included.
  • Integrated GPU.
  • TDP of 120 watts.
  • Compatible with AM5 socket.
  • Price: €388.90.

5.-Under 500 euros: Intel Core i7-14700KF

best processors

One of the best processors in the Intel Core Gen14 series within its price range, and also the only one that has really made a mark. an important evolution compared to the previous generationThis was made possible by increasing the number of E-cores from 8 to 12, which considerably improves multithreading performance.

The Intel Core i7 14700KF has a very high IPC and offers outstanding performance in both single and multithreading. It is capable of running games optimally, and it also delivers in demanding professional applications, making it a very interesting option for those who want to gaming with all the guarantees and at the same time they are going to make a professional use of their PC. As it could not be of another form it is integrated in a platform of last generation.

Specifications

  • Raptor Cove and Gracemont architecture on Intel node 7.
  • Eight high-performance cores and sixteen threads at 3.4 GHz-5.6 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
  • Twelve high-efficiency cores at 2.5 GHz-4.3 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
  • 20 cores and 28 threads.
  • 33 MB of L3 cache.
  • 28 MB of L2 cache.
  • Base TDP of 125 watts.
  • Heatsink not included.
  • Compatible with LGA 1700 socket and 600 series and 700 series chipsets.
  • Price: €449.90.

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.

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