The Best CPUs

AMD moved the cache below the cores on this generation, which lets it clock higher than the 7800X3D. Its 96MB L3 cache ranks second of 7 here, behind the Ryzen 9 9950X3D (128MB) and ahead of the Core Ultra 7 265K (30MB). Its 5.2GHz boost clock ranks sixth of 7 here, behind the Ryzen 9 9950X3D (5.7GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600 (5.1GHz).

On core count it ties with the Ryzen 7 9700X at 8 cores. On rated power it sits mid-pack at 120W: the Ryzen 7 9700X offers 65W, and the Ryzen 9 9950X comes in at 170W. It also comes with an unlocked multiplier, a first for AMD's X3D chips.

It was priced above the Core Ultra 7 265K and below the Ryzen 9 9950X at the time of writing. What it gives up: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600; by contrast, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.

It is the chip for players who also render, compile or encode on the same machine. Nothing else here matches its 128MB L3 cache; the Ryzen 7 9800X3D comes closest at 96MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 9 9950X and the Core Ultra 9 285K at 5.7GHz.

It matches the Ryzen 9 9950X on core count (16 cores). It matches the Ryzen 9 9950X on rated power (170W). It also comes with 3D V-Cache on one of its two core dies and a design aimed at both games and content creation.

It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Core Ultra 9 285K. The main gap: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.

It needs only a modest cooler and has room to grow with AMD's power boost setting. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 7600 at 32MB. On boost clock it ties with the Core Ultra 7 265K at 5.5GHz.

It matches the Ryzen 7 9800X3D on core count (8 cores). It matches the Ryzen 5 7600 on rated power (65W). You also get the Zen 5 architecture.

It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; a 600-series board may need a BIOS update first, so check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum version. On price it sat second of 7, between the cheaper Ryzen 5 7600 and the pricier Core Ultra 7 265K, at the time of writing. The main gap: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.

The cooler saves money on a first AM5 build. It matches the Ryzen 7 9700X on L3 cache (32MB). Its 5.1GHz boost clock is the lowest in this group; the Ryzen 9 9950X3D leads at 5.7GHz.

On core count it trails the group at 6 cores, while the Core Ultra 9 285K offers 24 cores. On rated power it ties with the Ryzen 7 9700X at 65W. It also comes with the Zen 4 architecture, a 5nm process and PCIe 5.0 support on AM5.

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 cost the least of the 7 picks at the time of writing, with the Ryzen 7 9700X the next step up.

It aims at rendering, compiling and encoding more than frame rates. On L3 cache it sits mid-pack at 64MB: the Ryzen 9 9950X3D offers 128MB, and the Core Ultra 7 265K comes in at 30MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Core Ultra 9 285K at 5.7GHz.

It matches the Ryzen 9 9950X3D on core count (16 cores). It also offers AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler. It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; a 600-series board may need a BIOS update first, so check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum version.

Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included. Its price falls between the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and the Core Ultra 9 285K, based on our last check. If rated power is your priority, the Ryzen 7 9700X (65W) is the stronger choice.

It is strong in multi-threaded work and supports only DDR5. Its 30MB L3 cache is the smallest in this group; the Ryzen 9 9950X3D leads at 128MB. It matches the Ryzen 7 9700X on boost clock (5.5GHz).

On core count it sits mid-pack at 20 cores: the Core Ultra 9 285K offers 24 cores, and the Ryzen 5 7600 comes in at 6 cores. On rated power it ties with the Core Ultra 9 285K at 125W. Like the Core Ultra 9 285K, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Ryzen 9 9950X3D uses an AM5 socket.

It also comes with 8 performance and 12 efficient cores and a built-in NPU for AI features. 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 7 9700X and below the Ryzen 7 9800X3D at the time of writing.

It targets heavy creative work more than frame rates alone. Its 36MB L3 cache ranks fourth of 7 here, behind the Ryzen 9 9950X3D (128MB) and ahead of the Core Ultra 7 265K (30MB). It matches the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Ryzen 9 9950X on boost clock (5.7GHz).

Nothing else here matches its 24 cores core count; the Core Ultra 7 265K comes closest at 20 cores. On rated power it ties with the Core Ultra 7 265K at 125W. Like the Core Ultra 7 265K, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Ryzen 5 7600 uses an AM5 socket.

It also offers 8 performance and 16 efficient cores and a built-in NPU for AI features. It was priced above the Ryzen 9 9950X and below the Ryzen 9 9950X3D at the time of writing. What it gives up: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 7600; by contrast, the Ryzen 5 7600 has it.