Buying Guide
The Best CPUs Under $300
Seven processors priced under $300 at the time of writing, compared on cores, L3 cache, rated power and bundled coolers.
By The PC Journal editorial team
13 min read7 products evaluated
Around $300 you can buy a cache-heavy gaming chip, an eight-core all-rounder or a twelve-core chip for work.
We compared seven processors on cores, cache, rated power and bundled coolers, using manufacturer specifications.
Quick Picks
Our 7 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Largest Game Cache
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D
The largest L3 cache here (96MB).
Best for: Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D (opens in a new tab)
Best Eight-Core Value
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
Eight cores at a 5.4GHz boost.
Best for: Gaming plus streaming.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700X (opens in a new tab)
Best With a Cooler
AMD Ryzen 7 7700
Eight cores with a Wraith Prism included.
Best for: Builds without a cooler budget.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (opens in a new tab)
Best Intel Pick
Intel Core i5-14600KF
Fourteen cores with DDR4 support.
Best for: Intel builds reusing memory.
Our take Check price for Intel Core i5-14600KF (opens in a new tab)
Solid Alternative
Intel Core i5-14600K
The Core i5-14600K is an unlocked fourteen-core LGA1700 chip.
Best for: Buyers who want 14 cores for encoding and background work.
Our take Check price for Intel Core i5-14600K (opens in a new tab)
Worth Considering
AMD Ryzen 5 7600
The Ryzen 5 7600 is the six-core AM5 chip with a Wraith Stealth cooler included.
Best for: Buyers who want 65w rating suits a modest air cooler.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600 (opens in a new tab)
Best for Work
AMD Ryzen 9 7900
Twelve cores at 65W with a cooler.
Best for: Editing and rendering on a budget.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Largest Game Cache1 of 7
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 7600X3D brings 96MB of L3 cache to a six-core AM5 chip at a 65W rating.
Best for
- Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
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 is the cheapest way into AMD's cache-heavy gaming line on AM5. Nothing else here matches its 96MB L3 cache; the Ryzen 9 7900 comes closest at 64MB. Its 4.7GHz boost clock is the lowest in this group; the Ryzen 7 7700X leads at 5.4GHz.
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 5 7600 at 6 cores. On rated power it ties with the Ryzen 7 7700, the Ryzen 5 7600 and the Ryzen 9 7900 at 65W. 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.
No cooler is included; a single-tower air cooler is enough at its rating. When we checked, only the Core i5-14600KF and cheaper picks cost less, and the Core i5-14600K cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 96MB
- Max boost: 4.7GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 12
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 96MB of L3 cache from 3D V-Cache
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- 96MB of L3 cache on a six-core chip
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No cooler in the box
- Boost clock trails the Ryzen 7 7700X (5.4GHz)
Best Eight-Core Value2 of 7
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 7700X offers eight Zen 4 cores at a 105W rating and a 5.4GHz boost clock.
Best for
- Gaming plus streaming.
Skip if
- Pass on it if no cooler in the bo rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
Its price has fallen well below its launch level. It matches the Ryzen 7 7700 and the Ryzen 5 7600 on L3 cache (32MB). On core count it ties with the Ryzen 7 7700 at 8 cores.
On rated power it sits mid-pack at 105W: the Ryzen 5 7600X3D offers 65W, and the Core i5-14600K comes in at 125W. It also offers 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.
No cooler is included; a single-tower air cooler is enough at its rating. When we checked, only the Ryzen 7 7700 and cheaper picks cost less, and the Core i5-14600KF cost more. What it gives up: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 7 7700; by contrast, the Ryzen 7 7700 has it.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 5.4GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 105W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- The Zen 4 architecture
- 5nm process
- PCIe 5.0 support on AM5
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 7600 at the time of writing
Best With a Cooler3 of 7
AMD Ryzen 7 7700 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 7700 is the 65W version of the 7700X and ships with a Wraith Prism cooler.
Best for
- Builds without a cooler budget.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Ryzen 5 7600 cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It gives eight AM5 cores without buying a cooler. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 7 7700X and the Ryzen 5 7600 at 32MB. On boost clock it ties with the Core i5-14600KF and the Core i5-14600K at 5.3GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 7 7700X on core count (8 cores). It matches the Ryzen 5 7600X3D, the Ryzen 5 7600 and the Ryzen 9 7900 on rated power (65W). 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 second of 7, between the cheaper Ryzen 5 7600 and the pricier Ryzen 7 7700X, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 5.3GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 16
- 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
- L3 cache of 32MB, ahead of the Core i5-14600KF
Cons
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 7600 at the time of writing
Best Intel Pick4 of 7
Intel Core i5-14600KF on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core i5-14600KF is the 14600K without integrated graphics.
Best for
- Intel builds reusing memory.
Skip if
- Pass on it if no cooler in the bo rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It costs less and needs a graphics card for display output. On L3 cache it ties with the Core i5-14600K at 24MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 7 7700 and the Core i5-14600K at 5.3GHz.
It matches the Core i5-14600K on core count (14 cores). It matches the Core i5-14600K on rated power (125W). It shares an LGA1700 socket with the Core i5-14600K; the Ryzen 7 7700X goes with an AM5 socket.
You also get 6 performance and 8 efficient cores and an unlocked multiplier. It fits LGA1700 boards (600 and 700 series) with either DDR4 or DDR5, depending on the board; 600-series boards may need a BIOS update for 14th-gen chips. On price it sat fourth of 7, between the cheaper Ryzen 7 7700X and the pricier Ryzen 5 7600X3D, at the time of writing. The main gap: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 7 7700. If that matters, the Ryzen 7 7700 has it.
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: No
Pros
- 14 cores for encoding and background work
- 6 performance and 8 efficient cores
- Unlocked multiplier
- Boost clock of 5.3GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 7600 at the time of writing
Solid Alternative5 of 7
Intel Core i5-14600K on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core i5-14600K is an unlocked fourteen-core LGA1700 chip.
Best for
- Buyers who want 14 cores for encoding and background work.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It works with DDR4 or DDR5 boards, which keeps older memory useful. It boosts to 5.3GHz, and the unlocked multiplier allows overclocking on a Z-series board. On L3 cache it ties with the Core i5-14600KF at 24MB.
On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 7 7700 and the Core i5-14600KF at 5.3GHz. It matches the Core i5-14600KF on core count (14 cores). It matches the Core i5-14600KF on rated power (125W).
It shares an LGA1700 socket with the Core i5-14600KF; the Ryzen 7 7700X goes with an AM5 socket. It shares DDR4 or DDR5 memory with the Core i5-14600KF; the Ryzen 9 7900 goes with DDR5 memory. It also offers 6 performance and 8 efficient cores.
Its price falls between the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and the Ryzen 9 7900, based on our last check. If L3 cache is your priority, the Ryzen 5 7600X3D (96MB) is the stronger choice.
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 5 7600X3D (96MB)
- Rated power trails the Ryzen 5 7600X3D (65W)
Worth Considering6 of 7
AMD Ryzen 5 7600 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 7600 is the six-core AM5 chip with a Wraith Stealth cooler included.
Best for
- Buyers who want 65w rating suits a modest air cooler.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside game is a problem.
Why we like it
The cooler saves money on a first AM5 build. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 7 7700X and the Ryzen 7 7700 at 32MB. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 5.1GHz: the Ryzen 7 7700X offers 5.4GHz, and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D comes in at 4.7GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 7600X3D on core count (6 cores). It matches the Ryzen 5 7600X3D, the Ryzen 7 7700 and the Ryzen 9 7900 on rated power (65W). It also offers 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 was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Ryzen 7 7700 was the next step up. If core count is your priority, the Core i5-14600KF (14 cores) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & 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
- Core count trails the Core i5-14600KF (14 cores)
Best for Work7 of 7
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
- Editing and rendering on a budget.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Ryzen 5 7600 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It trades a little boost clock for lower heat. Its 64MB L3 cache ranks second of 7 here, behind the Ryzen 5 7600X3D (96MB) and ahead of the Core i5-14600K (24MB). It matches the Ryzen 7 7700X on boost clock (5.4GHz).
On core count it sits mid-pack at 12 cores: the Core i5-14600KF offers 14 cores, and the Ryzen 5 7600 comes in at 6 cores. It also comes with 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. Only the Core i5-14600K came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 7 picks.
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 7600 at the time of writing
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.
- Power and cooling
- We recorded each chip's rated power and what cooler class it needs.
- 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.
What to Look for in a CPUs Under $300
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
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.
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.
The socket decides your upgrade path
The socket fixes which motherboards and future CPUs you can use. AM5 has had several CPU generations; AM4 has no newer chips coming.
If you plan to upgrade later, a current platform is worth a small premium.
Integrated graphics are a useful backup
Chips with integrated graphics can drive a display without a graphics card, which helps when troubleshooting or between upgrades. Intel's F and KF models and most AM4 Ryzen chips have none.
Match the CPU to your graphics card and monitor
At 1440p and 4K the graphics card sets most frame rates, so a mid-range CPU is often enough. At 1080p with a high-refresh monitor, the CPU matters much more.
Spend on the part that limits your games, not on the bigger number.
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.
How to Choose a CPUs Under $300
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles | Ryzen 5 7600X3D | The largest L3 cache here (96MB) |
| Gaming plus streaming | Ryzen 7 7700X | Eight cores at a 5.4GHz boost |
| Builds without a cooler budget | Ryzen 7 7700 | Eight cores with a Wraith Prism included |
| Intel builds reusing memory | Core i5-14600KF | Fourteen cores with DDR4 support |
| Editing and rendering on a budget | Ryzen 9 7900 | Twelve cores at 65W with a cooler |
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 5 7600X3D | 96MB | 4.7GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 7 7700X | 32MB | 5.4GHz | 8 cores | 105W |
| Ryzen 7 7700 | 32MB | 5.3GHz | 8 cores | 65W |
| Core i5-14600KF | 24MB | 5.3GHz | 14 cores | 125W |
| Core i5-14600K | 24MB | 5.3GHz | 14 cores | 125W |
| Ryzen 5 7600 | 32MB | 5.1GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 9 7900 | 64MB | 5.4GHz | 12 cores | 65W |
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 7600, Ryzen 7 7700, Ryzen 7 7700X, Core i5-14600KF, Ryzen 5 7600X3D, Core i5-14600K |
| About $250 to $500 | Ryzen 9 7900 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does X3D mean on a Ryzen CPU?
It marks AMD's 3D V-Cache chips, which stack extra L3 cache on the processor. Games that are limited by the CPU tend to run faster on them.
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.
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.
Do I need to buy a separate cooler?
Usually yes. Only some chips, such as the Ryzen 5 7600 and 5600X, include a basic cooler; unlocked high-end models do not.
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.
What does the rated power figure mean?
It is AMD's default TDP or Intel's base power. Chips can draw more under boost, so size the cooler for sustained loads, not the label alone.
Bottom Line
The Ryzen 5 7600X3D is the gaming pick under $300. The 7700X and 7700 are eight-core all-rounders, the i5-14600KF is the Intel option, and the Ryzen 9 7900 is the choice for work.