Buying Guide
The Best Budget CPUs
Seven low-cost processors compared on cores, cache, platform and included coolers, across AM5, AM4 and Intel LGA1700 and LGA1851.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
13 min read7 products evaluated
A budget CPU only saves money if the board and memory around it are cheap too. An AM4 chip keeps DDR4 useful, AM5 opens a path to newer CPUs, and Intel's LGA1700 supports both memory types.
We compared seven processors on cores, cache, platform and whether a cooler is included, using manufacturer specifications.
Quick Picks
Which of the 7 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best Budget AM4 Pick
AMD Ryzen 5 5600Six cores with a cooler in the box on a DDR4 platform.
Best for: Builders reusing DDR4 or an AM4 board.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget AM5 Pick
AMD Ryzen 5 7600A bundled cooler on a platform with future CPU upgrades.
Best for: New builds that want an upgrade path.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget Intel Pick
Intel Core i5-14400FTen cores on LGA1700 with DDR4 support.
Best for: Intel builds with a graphics card.
Check price for Intel Core i5-14400F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Well-Rounded Choice
Intel Core i5-12400FThe Core i5-12400F is a six-core LGA1700 chip at a low price.
Best for: Buyers who want six performance cores.
Check price for Intel Core i5-12400F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Solid Alternative
Intel Core Ultra 5 225FThe Core Ultra 5 225F is a locked ten-core LGA1851 chip.
Best for: Buyers who want 6 performance and 4 efficient cores.
Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 225F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Without a Graphics Card
AMD Ryzen 5 8600GRadeon 760M integrated graphics.
Best for: Builds that will add a graphics card later.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 8600G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)Cheapest Six-Core
AMD Ryzen 5 5500The lowest price here for six cores.
Best for: The tightest budgets.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Budget AM4 Pick1 of 7
AMD Ryzen 5 5600
The Ryzen 5 5600 is the lower-clocked, cheaper sibling of the 5600X with a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Best for
- Builders reusing DDR4 or an AM4 board.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
It is a common drop-in upgrade for AM4 owners. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 7600 at 32MB. On boost clock it ties with the Core i5-12400F at 4.4GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 7600, the Core i5-12400F, the Ryzen 5 8600G and the Ryzen 5 5500 on core count (6 cores). It shares an AM4 socket with the Ryzen 5 5500; the Core Ultra 5 225F goes with an LGA1851 socket. It also offers DDR4 support that keeps an AM4 upgrade cheap.
It drops into an AM4 board with DDR4 memory; older B450 and X470 boards need a BIOS that supports this chip, so check the support list before swapping. On price it sat third of 7, between the cheaper Core Ultra 5 225F and the pricier Core i5-12400F, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 32MB
- Max boost
- 4.4GHz
- Cores / threads
- 6 cores
- Rated power
- 65W
- Threads
- 12
- Socket
- AM4
- Memory
- DDR4
- Cooler in box
- Yes
- Integrated graphics
- No
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- DDR4 support that keeps an AM4 upgrade cheap
- L3 cache of 32MB, ahead of the Core i5-14400F
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
The catch
The main gap: no integrated graphics, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.
Best Budget AM5 Pick2 of 7
AMD Ryzen 5 7600
The Ryzen 5 7600 is the six-core AM5 chip with a Wraith Stealth cooler included.
Best for
- New builds that want an upgrade path.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
The cooler saves money on a first AM5 build. It matches the Ryzen 5 5600 on L3 cache (32MB). Its 5.1GHz boost clock is the highest here; the Ryzen 5 8600G comes next at 5GHz.
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 5 5600, the Core i5-12400F, the Ryzen 5 8600G and the Ryzen 5 5500 at 6 cores. Like the Ryzen 5 8600G, it has an AM5 socket, while the Core i5-14400F uses an LGA1700 socket. Like the Core Ultra 5 225F and Ryzen 5 8600G, it has DDR5 memory, while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses DDR4 memory.
It also comes with the Zen 4 architecture, a 5nm process and PCIe 5.0 support on AM5. Only the Ryzen 5 8600G came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 7 picks.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 32MB
- Max boost
- 5.1GHz
- Cores / threads
- 6 cores
- Rated power
- 65W
- Threads
- 12
- Socket
- AM5
- Memory
- DDR5
- Cooler in box
- Yes
- Integrated graphics
- Yes
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- The Zen 4 architecture
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 5500 at the time of writing
Best Budget Intel Pick3 of 7
Intel Core i5-14400F
The Core i5-14400F is a locked ten-core LGA1700 chip with no integrated graphics.
Best for
- Intel builds with a graphics card.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It pairs well with a B660 or B760 board and DDR4. It matches the Core Ultra 5 225F on L3 cache (20MB). Its 4.7GHz boost clock ranks fourth of 7 here, behind the Ryzen 5 7600 (5.1GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 (4.2GHz).
On core count it ties with the Core Ultra 5 225F at 10 cores. Like the Core i5-12400F, it has an LGA1700 socket, while the Ryzen 5 8600G uses an AM5 socket. Like the Core i5-12400F, it has DDR4 or DDR5 memory, while the Ryzen 5 5500 uses DDR4 memory.
It also comes with 6 performance and 4 efficient cores, DDR4 and DDR5 support and PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 support. When we checked, only the Core i5-12400F and cheaper picks cost less, and the Ryzen 5 8600G cost more.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 20MB
- Max boost
- 4.7GHz
- Cores / threads
- 10 cores
- Rated power
- 125W
- Threads
- 16
- Socket
- LGA1700
- Memory
- DDR4 or DDR5
- Cooler in box
- No
- Integrated graphics
- No
Pros
- 6 performance and 4 efficient cores
- DDR4 and DDR5 support
- PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 support
- L3 cache of 20MB, ahead of the Core i5-12400F
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 5500 at the time of writing
The catch
What it gives up: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 5600; by contrast, the Ryzen 5 5600 has it.
Well-Rounded Choice4 of 7
Intel Core i5-12400F
The Core i5-12400F is a six-core LGA1700 chip at a low price.
Best for
- Buyers who want six performance cores.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
This is the OEM pack, so budget for a cooler; it suits a low-cost gaming build with DDR4. On L3 cache it sits mid-pack at 18MB: the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 32MB, and the Ryzen 5 5500 comes in at 16MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 5 5600 at 4.4GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 5600, the Ryzen 5 7600, the Ryzen 5 8600G and the Ryzen 5 5500 on core count (6 cores). It matches the Core i5-14400F and the Core Ultra 5 225F on rated power (125W). It shares an LGA1700 socket with the Core i5-14400F; the Ryzen 5 5500 goes with an AM4 socket.
It also comes with six performance cores, DDR4 and DDR5 support and 600- and 700-series chipset support. On price it sat fourth of 7, between the cheaper Ryzen 5 5600 and the pricier Core i5-14400F, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 18MB
- Max boost
- 4.4GHz
- Cores / threads
- 6 cores
- Rated power
- 125W
- Threads
- 12
- Socket
- LGA1700
- Memory
- DDR4 or DDR5
- Cooler in box
- No
- Integrated graphics
- No
Pros
- Six performance cores
- DDR4 and DDR5 support
- 600- and 700-series chipset support
- L3 cache of 18MB, ahead of the Ryzen 5 8600G
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
The catch
The main gap: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 5600. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 5600 has it.
Solid Alternative5 of 7
Intel Core Ultra 5 225F
The Core Ultra 5 225F is a locked ten-core LGA1851 chip.
Best for
- Buyers who want 6 performance and 4 efficient cores.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It suits a budget Intel build that will pair with a B860 board. It matches the Core i5-14400F on L3 cache (20MB). Its 4.9GHz boost clock ranks third of 7 here, behind the Ryzen 5 7600 (5.1GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 (4.2GHz).
On core count it ties with the Core i5-14400F at 10 cores. No other pick in this guide offers an LGA1851 socket; compare the Ryzen 5 5600, which has an AM4 socket. Like the Ryzen 5 7600 and Ryzen 5 8600G, it has DDR5 memory, while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses DDR4 memory.
You also get 6 performance and 4 efficient cores, PCIe 5.0 support and Intel 800-series chipset support. It needs an LGA1851 board (Intel 800-series chipset) and DDR5 memory; LGA1700 boards and coolers without an LGA1851 mounting kit will not fit. It was priced above the Ryzen 5 5500 and below the Ryzen 5 5600 at the time of writing.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 20MB
- Max boost
- 4.9GHz
- Cores / threads
- 10 cores
- Rated power
- 125W
- Threads
- 10
- Socket
- LGA1851
- Memory
- DDR5
- Cooler in box
- No
- Integrated graphics
- No
Pros
- 6 performance and 4 efficient cores
- PCIe 5.0 support
- Intel 800-series chipset support
- L3 cache of 20MB, ahead of the Core i5-12400F
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- Rated power trails the Ryzen 5 5600 (65W)
The catch
It gives ground on rated power, where the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 65W.
Best Without a Graphics Card6 of 7
AMD Ryzen 5 8600G
The Ryzen 5 8600G pairs six cores with Radeon 760M graphics.
Best for
- Builds that will add a graphics card later.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
It can run a PC without a graphics card until you buy one. It matches the Ryzen 5 5500 on L3 cache (16MB). Its 5GHz boost clock ranks second of 7 here, behind the Ryzen 5 7600 (5.1GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 (4.2GHz).
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 5 5600, the Ryzen 5 7600, the Core i5-12400F and the Ryzen 5 5500 at 6 cores. Like the Ryzen 5 7600, it has an AM5 socket, while the Core i5-12400F uses an LGA1700 socket. Like the Ryzen 5 7600 and Core Ultra 5 225F, it has DDR5 memory, while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses DDR4 memory.
It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; check the board's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version. It was priced above the Core i5-14400F and below the Ryzen 5 7600 at the time of writing.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 16MB
- Max boost
- 5GHz
- Cores / threads
- 6 cores
- Rated power
- 65W
- Threads
- 12
- Socket
- AM5
- Memory
- DDR5
- Cooler in box
- Yes
- Integrated graphics
- Yes
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- Radeon 760M integrated graphics
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 5500 at the time of writing
Cheapest Six-Core7 of 7
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
The Ryzen 5 5500 is the cheapest six-core chip here.
Best for
- The tightest budgets.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games is a problem.
Why we like it
It has a smaller 16MB L3 cache and runs PCIe 3.0, which matters little for a budget graphics card. It matches the Ryzen 5 8600G on L3 cache (16MB). Its 4.2GHz boost clock is the lowest in this group; the Ryzen 5 7600 leads at 5.1GHz.
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 5 5600, the Ryzen 5 7600, the Core i5-12400F and the Ryzen 5 8600G at 6 cores. Like the Ryzen 5 5600, it has an AM4 socket, while the Core Ultra 5 225F uses an LGA1851 socket. It also offers a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
It drops into an AM4 board with DDR4 memory; older B450 and X470 boards need a BIOS that supports this chip, so check the support list before swapping. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Core Ultra 5 225F was closest.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 16MB
- Max boost
- 4.2GHz
- Cores / threads
- 6 cores
- Rated power
- 65W
- Threads
- 12
- Socket
- AM4
- Memory
- DDR4
- Cooler in box
- Yes
- Integrated graphics
- No
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- One of the cheapest six-core desktop chips
- The lowest price here for six cores
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
The catch
L3 cache is its weakest area, and the Ryzen 5 5600 covers it better at 32MB.
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- What we compared
- We lined up seven processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power as the makers state them. These are research figures, not bench results, and every compared field is stated for all 7 picks.
- What every pick has in common
- All 7, from the Ryzen 5 5600 to the Ryzen 5 5500, state L3 cache, boost clock and core count.
- Who each pick suits
- The Ryzen 5 5600 for six cores with a cooler in the box on a DDR4 platform; the Ryzen 5 7600 for a bundled cooler on a platform with future CPU upgrades; the Core i5-14400F for ten cores on LGA1700 with DDR4 support.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Ryzen 5 5500 ($50 to $100) to the Ryzen 5 7600 ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a Budget CPUs
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much L3 cache you need
Across these 7 picks L3 cache spans 16MB (the Ryzen 5 5500) to 32MB (the Ryzen 5 5600). The Ryzen 5 5600 is the pick for L3 cache.
Boost clock
The Ryzen 5 7600 tops boost clock at 5.1GHz and the Ryzen 5 5500 sits lowest at 4.2GHz. For less, the Ryzen 5 8600G is the runner-up at 5GHz.
An Intel stock cooler mounted over the CPU socket inside a PC Core count
Here core count runs from 6 cores on the Ryzen 5 5500 to 10 cores on the Core i5-14400F, a 67% spread. The Core Ultra 5 225F comes second at 10 cores, in the $100 to $150 tier against $150 to $250 for the Core i5-14400F.
Memory
The Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 5 5500 list DDR4; the Ryzen 5 7600, the Core Ultra 5 225F and the Ryzen 5 8600G list DDR5; the Core i5-14400F and the Core i5-12400F list DDR4 or DDR5.
Cooler in box
The Ryzen 5 5600, the Ryzen 5 7600, the Ryzen 5 8600G and the Ryzen 5 5500 have it; the Core i5-14400F, the Core i5-12400F and the Core Ultra 5 225F go without.
How to Choose a Budget CPUs
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Builders reusing DDR4 or an AM4 board | Ryzen 5 5600 | Six cores with a cooler in the box on a DDR4 platform |
| New builds that want an upgrade path | Ryzen 5 7600 | A bundled cooler on a platform with future CPU upgrades |
| Intel builds with a graphics card | Core i5-14400F | Ten cores on LGA1700 with DDR4 support |
| Builds that will add a graphics card later | Ryzen 5 8600G | Radeon 760M integrated graphics |
| The tightest budgets | Ryzen 5 5500 | The lowest price here for six cores |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 5 5600 leads on L3 cache at 32MB, ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600 at 32MB.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 5600 | 32MB | 4.4GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 7600 | 32MB | 5.1GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Core i5-14400F | 20MB | 4.7GHz | 10 cores | 125W |
| Core i5-12400F | 18MB | 4.4GHz | 6 cores | 125W |
| Core Ultra 5 225F | 20MB | 4.9GHz | 10 cores | 125W |
| Ryzen 5 8600G | 16MB | 5GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 5500 | 16MB | 4.2GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Ryzen 5 5500 was the lowest-priced pick ($50 to $100) and the Ryzen 5 7600 the highest ($150 to $250) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | Ryzen 5 5500 |
| About $100 to $150 | Core Ultra 5 225F |
| About $150 to $250 | Ryzen 5 5600, Core i5-12400F, Core i5-14400F, Ryzen 5 8600G, Ryzen 5 7600 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Ryzen 5 8600G compare with the Ryzen 5 7600 on boost clock?
Between the top two, it is 5.1GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600 against 5GHz on the Ryzen 5 8600G, a 2% difference. The Ryzen 5 5500 is at the other end of this group with 4.2GHz.
What does the Ryzen 5 7600 add over the Ryzen 5 5500?
What it brings is L3 cache (32MB against 16MB) and boost clock (5.1GHz against 4.2GHz). On our last price check the Ryzen 5 5500 was in the $50 to $100 tier and the Ryzen 5 7600 in the $150 to $250 tier, with 5 other picks between them; pay the difference only if L3 cache and boost clock decide your purchase.
Why is the Ryzen 5 8600G our Best Without a Graphics Card pick?
It earns the label for radeon 760M integrated graphics. The Ryzen 5 5500, the cheapest pick, sat in the $50 to $100 tier against $150 to $250 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at builds that will add a graphics card later.
Do the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 5 7600 differ on socket?
The Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 5 5500 use AM4; the Ryzen 5 7600 and the Ryzen 5 8600G use AM5; the Core i5-14400F and the Core i5-12400F use LGA1700; the Core Ultra 5 225F uses LGA1851.
What extras do the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 5 7600 include?
The Ryzen 5 5600: a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. The Ryzen 5 7600: the Zen 4 architecture. The Core i5-14400F: 6 performance and 4 efficient cores.
Bottom Line
Pick the Ryzen 5 7600 for a new AM5 build with a cooler included, or the Ryzen 5 5600 if you already own DDR4. The Core i5-14400F is the Intel choice, and the Ryzen 5 8600G covers a PC that starts without a graphics card.
Related Guides
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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