The Best CPUs Under $350

It suits a gaming PC that already has a graphics card. Its 33MB L3 cache ranks second of 3 here, behind the Ryzen 9 7900X (64MB) and ahead of the Core i5-13600K (24MB). It matches the Ryzen 9 7900X on boost clock (5.6GHz).

On core count it leads this guide at 20 cores, ahead of the Core i5-13600K (14 cores). On rated power it ties with the Core i5-13600K at 125W. Like the Core i5-13600K, it has an LGA1700 socket, while the Ryzen 9 7900X uses an AM5 socket.

Like the Core i5-13600K, it has DDR4 or DDR5 memory, while the Ryzen 7 5800X uses DDR4 memory. It also comes with 8 performance and 12 efficient cores and an unlocked multiplier. It was priced above the Ryzen 7 5800X and below the Ryzen 9 7900X at the time of writing. What it gives up: no integrated graphics, unlike the Ryzen 9 7900X; by contrast, the Ryzen 9 7900X has it.

It is a cheaper way to the same thread count as the 9900X, at a higher power rating. Its 64MB L3 cache is the largest here; the Core i7-14700KF comes next at 33MB. On boost clock it ties with the Core i7-14700KF at 5.6GHz.

Its 12 cores core count ranks third of 5 here, behind the Core i7-14700KF (20 cores) and ahead of the Ryzen 7 5800X (8 cores). Its 170W rated power is the highest in this group; the Core i7-9700 leads at 65W. You get an AM5 socket here, which sets it apart from the Ryzen 7 5800X and its an AM4 socket.

DDR5 memory is unique to it among these picks, while the Core i5-13600K uses DDR4 or DDR5 memory. It also comes with the Zen 4 architecture, a 5nm process and PCIe 5.0 support on AM5. Its price falls between the Core i7-14700KF and the Core i5-13600K, based on our last check.

It fits the same boards as the 14600K. On L3 cache it trails the group at 24MB, while the Ryzen 9 7900X offers 64MB. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 5.1GHz: the Core i7-14700KF offers 5.6GHz, and the Ryzen 7 5800X comes in at 4.7GHz.

Its 14 cores core count ranks second of 5 here, behind the Core i7-14700KF (20 cores) and ahead of the Ryzen 7 5800X (8 cores). It matches the Core i7-14700KF on rated power (125W). It shares an LGA1700 socket with the Core i7-14700KF; the Core i7-9700 goes with an LGA1151 socket.

It shares DDR4 or DDR5 memory with the Core i7-14700KF; the Core i7-9700 goes with DDR4 memory. It also comes with 6 performance and 8 efficient cores and an unlocked multiplier. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Ryzen 9 7900X and the rest.

It suits B365 and H370 boards that cannot overclock anyway, and the maker notes that some boards need a BIOS update first. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 7 5800X at 4.7GHz. It matches the Ryzen 7 5800X on core count (8 cores).

On rated power it leads this guide at 65W, ahead of the Core i7-14700KF (125W). An LGA1151 socket is unique to it among these picks, while the Ryzen 9 7900X uses an AM5 socket. It shares DDR4 memory with the Ryzen 7 5800X; the Core i5-13600K goes with DDR4 or DDR5 memory.

You also get 8 cores at a 65W rating. It undercut the Ryzen 7 5800X and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its L3 cache; if that figure matters, the Ryzen 9 7900X offers 64MB.

It also offers a 4.7GHz boost clock and offers an 8 cores core count. You get an AM4 socket here, which sets it apart from the Core i7-9700 and its an LGA1151 socket. It shares DDR4 memory with the Core i7-9700; the Core i5-13600K goes with DDR4 or DDR5 memory.

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 cooler is included; a single-tower air cooler is enough at its rating. Its price falls between the Core i7-9700 and the Core i7-14700KF, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed L3 cache should compare it with the Ryzen 9 7900X, which offers 64MB.