Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for Graphic Design
We weighed five processors on L3 cache and boost clock; the Core i5-14600K has the highest core count, and the Ryzen 5 9600X costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Photoshop, Illustrator and Figma are mostly lightly threaded, so boost clock matters more than core count. Every pick has integrated graphics, a boost of 5GHz or more and cost $350 or less at the time of writing.
Rankings weigh L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads as the makers state them; we did not test these processors ourselves, and any figure a maker omits is noted as missing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Also Consider
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
The Zen 4 architecture.
Best for: Buyers who want Zen 4 architecture.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with the Zen 5 architecture.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9900X (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
The cheapest way into this group, below the Core i5-14600K.
Best for: Getting Zen 5 architecture for the least money.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
AMD Ryzen 9 7900
A Wraith Prism cooler in the box.
Best for: Buyers who want Wraith Prism cooler in the box.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (opens in a new tab)
Highest Core Count
Intel Core i5-14600K
The highest core count here (14 cores).
Best for: Buyers who put core count first.
Our take Check price for Intel Core i5-14600K (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Zen 4 architecture. | Buyers who want Zen 4 architecture. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with the Zen 5 architecture. | Buyers who want the most complete package. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9900X (opens in a new tab) |
| The cheapest way into this group, below the Core i5-14600K. | Getting Zen 5 architecture for the least money. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (opens in a new tab) |
| A Wraith Prism cooler in the box. | Buyers who want Wraith Prism cooler in the box. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest core count here (14 cores). | Buyers who put core count first. | Check price for Intel Core i5-14600K (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Also Consider1 of 5
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 7900X has 12 Zen 4 cores on AM5.
Best for
- Buyers who want Zen 4 architecture.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO.
Why we like it
It is a cheaper way to the same thread count as the 9900X, at a higher power rating. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 9 9900X and the Ryzen 9 7900 at 64MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 9 9900X at 5.6GHz.
Its 170W rated power is the highest in this group; the Ryzen 5 9600X leads at 65W. You also get 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.
Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included. Its price falls between the Ryzen 9 7900 and the Ryzen 9 9900X, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 64MB
- Max boost: 5.6GHz
- Cores / threads: 12 cores
- Rated power: 170W
- Threads: 24
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 64MB of L3 cache
- 5.6GHz maximum boost
- 12 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
Cons
- 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO
- No cooler in the box
- Rated power trails the Ryzen 5 9600X (65W)
Premium Pick2 of 5
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 9900X steps down to 12 cores on Zen 5.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It leaves plenty of threads for an encoder alongside a game, with a lower power rating than the 16-core chips. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 9 7900X and the Ryzen 9 7900 at 64MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 9 7900X at 5.6GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 9 7900X and the Ryzen 9 7900 on core count (12 cores). 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. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Ryzen 9 7900X. The main gap: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 9 7900. If that matters, the Ryzen 9 7900 has it.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 64MB
- Max boost: 5.6GHz
- Cores / threads: 12 cores
- Rated power: 120W
- Threads: 24
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 64MB of L3 cache
- 5.6GHz maximum boost
- 12 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 9600X at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here3 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 9600X brings six Zen 5 cores to AM5 at a 65W rating, which keeps cooling simple.
Best for
- Getting Zen 5 architecture for the least money.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside game rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It suits a budget build now that can take an X3D chip later without changing boards. Its 32MB L3 cache ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the Ryzen 9 7900X (64MB) and ahead of the Core i5-14600K (24MB). It matches the Ryzen 9 7900 on boost clock (5.4GHz).
On core count it trails the group at 6 cores, while the Core i5-14600K offers 14 cores. On rated power it ties with the Ryzen 9 7900 at 65W. 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.
No cooler is included; a single-tower air cooler is enough at its rating. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Core i5-14600K was closest.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 5.4GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 12
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- The Zen 5 architecture
- L3 cache of 32MB, ahead of the Core i5-14600K
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No cooler in the box
- Core count trails the Core i5-14600K (14 cores)
Strong Alternative4 of 5
AMD Ryzen 9 7900 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 7900 is the 65W twelve-core AM5 chip with a Wraith Prism cooler included.
Best for
- Buyers who want Wraith Prism cooler in the box.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Ryzen 5 9600X cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It trades a little boost clock for lower heat. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 9 7900X and the Ryzen 9 9900X at 64MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 5 9600X at 5.4GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 9 7900X and the Ryzen 9 9900X on core count (12 cores). It matches the Ryzen 5 9600X on rated power (65W). You also get 12 cores at a 65W rating.
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. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper Core i5-14600K and the pricier Ryzen 9 7900X, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 64MB
- Max boost: 5.4GHz
- Cores / threads: 12 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 24
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: Yes
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 64MB of L3 cache
- 12 cores for encoding and background work
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
Cons
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 9600X at the time of writing
Highest Core Count5 of 5
Intel Core i5-14600K on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core i5-14600K runs on LGA1700, so it works with DDR4 or DDR5 boards and suits upgraders already on that socket.
Best for
- Buyers who put core count first.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
Its 14 cores give good headroom for a mid-range gaming build. It boosts to 5.3GHz, and the unlocked multiplier allows overclocking on a Z-series board. Its 24MB L3 cache is the smallest in this group; the Ryzen 9 7900X leads at 64MB.
Its 5.3GHz boost clock is the lowest in this group; the Ryzen 9 7900X leads at 5.6GHz. On core count it leads this guide at 14 cores, ahead of the Ryzen 9 7900X (12 cores). On rated power it sits mid-pack at 125W: the Ryzen 5 9600X offers 65W, and the Ryzen 9 7900X comes in at 170W.
It is the only pick here with an LGA1700 socket; the Ryzen 9 7900X has an AM5 socket instead. No other pick in this guide offers DDR4 or DDR5 memory; compare the Ryzen 5 9600X, which has DDR5 memory. It also comes with 6 performance and 8 efficient cores.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 24MB
- Max boost: 5.3GHz
- Cores / threads: 14 cores
- Rated power: 125W
- Threads: 20
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory: DDR4 or DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 14 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- 6 performance and 8 efficient cores
- Support for both DDR4 and DDR5 boards
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- L3 cache trails the Ryzen 9 7900X (64MB)
- Boost clock trails the Ryzen 9 7900X (5.6GHz)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Game-relevant specs
- We compared L3 cache, boost clocks and core counts from AMD's and Intel's product pages.
- Upgrade path
- We considered how long each socket is likely to receive new CPUs.
- Platform cost
- We noted socket, memory type and whether a cooler is included, since they change the real price.
- Power and cooling
- We recorded each chip's rated power and what cooler class it needs.
What to Look for in a CPUs for Graphic Design
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Where these picks differ: L3 cache
Among these picks, L3 cache runs from 24MB on the Core i5-14600K to 64MB on the Ryzen 9 7900X. Match this to what you will actually do with it, then let price decide between the picks that qualify.
Cache helps games more than clocks
AMD's X3D chips add a large stacked L3 cache that keeps more game data close to the cores. In CPU-limited games that often helps more than a higher boost clock.
The gain shrinks when the graphics card is the limit.
Budget for the cooler
Most unlocked chips ship without a cooler. A 65W part runs well on a basic single tower, while 120W to 170W parts need a dual tower or an AIO to hold their boost clocks.
Add the cooler to the CPU price when comparing.
Check BIOS support before buying
Newer CPUs on older boards may need a BIOS update before the system will start. Check the board's CPU support list for the version you need and whether the board can flash without a CPU installed.
Cores matter for streaming and creation
Six and eight cores cover gaming. Streaming with CPU encoding, video editing and compiling benefit from twelve or sixteen.
If you encode on the graphics card instead, core count matters less.
How to Choose a CPUs for Graphic Design
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want Zen 4 architecture | Ryzen 9 7900X | The Zen 4 architecture |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | Ryzen 9 9900X | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with the Zen 5 architecture |
| Getting Zen 5 architecture for the least money | Ryzen 5 9600X | The cheapest way into this group, below the Core i5-14600K |
| Buyers who want Wraith Prism cooler in the box | Ryzen 9 7900 | A Wraith Prism cooler in the box |
| Buyers who put core count first | Core i5-14600K | The highest core count here (14 cores) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 7900X | 64MB | 5.6GHz | 12 cores | 170W |
| Ryzen 9 9900X | 64MB | 5.6GHz | 12 cores | 120W |
| Ryzen 5 9600X | 32MB | 5.4GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 9 7900 | 64MB | 5.4GHz | 12 cores | 65W |
| Core i5-14600K | 24MB | 5.3GHz | 14 cores | 125W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | Ryzen 5 9600X, Core i5-14600K |
| About $250 to $500 | Ryzen 9 7900, Ryzen 9 7900X, Ryzen 9 9900X |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which pick leads on rated power?
The Ryzen 5 9600X, at 65W. The Ryzen 9 7900 follows at 65W, while the Ryzen 9 7900X has 170W.
Which pick costs the least here?
That was the Ryzen 5 9600X at our last check; if you can stretch, the Core i5-14600K is the next step up and the Ryzen 9 9900X the priciest.
What memory should I pair with it?
AM5 and LGA1851 use DDR5; AM4 uses DDR4. For AM5, a 32GB DDR5-6000 kit is a common pairing; check the board's memory support list.
Should I choose Intel or AMD for gaming?
At the high end, AMD's X3D chips lead in many CPU-limited games. Intel's Core Ultra chips offer more cores for work at similar prices. Choose by workload and platform cost.
Will a new CPU work in my current motherboard?
Only if the socket matches and the board's BIOS supports it. Check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Ryzen 9 7900X, chosen for the Zen 4 architecture. Look at the Ryzen 9 9900X for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with the Zen 5 architecture, the Ryzen 5 9600X for the cheapest way into this group, below the Core i5-14600K and the Ryzen 9 7900 for a Wraith Prism cooler in the box if those matter more to you.
A colour-accurate monitor improves design work more than the jump to a higher-tier CPU.