Buying Guide
Good CPUs for a Gaming PC: Four Mid-Range Picks
Four mid-range processors that are good enough for most gaming PCs without flagship prices.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
Most gaming PCs pair a mid-range card with a mid-range processor. The chips here have enough cache or cores to keep such cards busy.
We compared cores, boost clock, L3 cache, rated power and platform from manufacturer specifications. Gaming results depend on the graphics card, resolution and game, so we make no frame-rate claims.
Quick Picks
Our 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Mid-Range Gaming CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D
96MB of L3 on a six-core AM5 chip.
Best for: New mid-range builds.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D (opens in a new tab)
Best AM4 Upgrade
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
96MB of L3 that fits many AM4 boards after a BIOS update.
Best for: Upgrading an AM4 PC.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (opens in a new tab)
Best With a Cooler
AMD Ryzen 7 7700
Eight cores with a Wraith Prism in the box.
Best for: Skipping a cooler purchase.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (opens in a new tab)
Best Intel Mid-Range
Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF
Fourteen cores on LGA1851.
Best for: New Intel builds.
Our take Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96MB of L3 on a six-core AM5 chip. | New mid-range builds. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D (opens in a new tab) |
| 96MB of L3 that fits many AM4 boards after a BIOS update. | Upgrading an AM4 PC. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (opens in a new tab) |
| Eight cores with a Wraith Prism in the box. | Skipping a cooler purchase. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (opens in a new tab) |
| Fourteen cores on LGA1851. | New Intel builds. | Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best Mid-Range Gaming CPU1 of 4
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
- New mid-range builds.
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. Its 4.7GHz boost clock ranks third of 4 here, behind the Ryzen 7 7700 (5.3GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D (4.5GHz). On core count it trails the group at 6 cores, while the Core Ultra 5 245KF offers 14 cores.
On rated power it ties with the Ryzen 7 7700 at 65W. Like the Ryzen 7 7700 and Core Ultra 5 245KF, it has DDR5 memory, while the Ryzen 7 5800X3D 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.
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 Ryzen 7 5800X3D 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
- Core count trails the Core Ultra 5 245KF (14 cores)
Best AM4 Upgrade2 of 4
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the last X3D chip for AM4.
Best for
- Upgrading an AM4 PC.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when aM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs comin is a problem.
Why we like it
It lets an existing AM4 board take a cache upgrade without a new platform or DDR5. It matches the Ryzen 5 7600X3D on L3 cache (96MB). Its 4.5GHz boost clock is the lowest in this group; the Ryzen 7 7700 leads at 5.3GHz.
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 Ultra 5 245KF comes in at 125W. No other pick in this guide offers an AM4 socket; compare the Ryzen 7 7700, which has an AM5 socket.
It is the only pick here with DDR4 memory; the Ryzen 5 7600X3D has DDR5 memory instead. It also offers a drop-in upgrade for many existing AM4 boards after a BIOS update. Only the Ryzen 5 7600X3D came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 4 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 96MB
- Max boost: 4.5GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 105W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM4
- Memory: DDR4
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: No
Pros
- 96MB of L3 cache from 3D V-Cache
- 3D V-Cache on the AM4 platform
- Drop-in upgrade for many existing AM4 boards after a BIOS update
- Core count of 8 cores, ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600X3D
Cons
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
Best With a Cooler3 of 4
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
- Skipping a cooler purchase.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Core Ultra 5 245KF was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It gives eight AM5 cores without buying a cooler. On L3 cache it sits mid-pack at 32MB: the Ryzen 5 7600X3D offers 96MB, and the Core Ultra 5 245KF comes in at 24MB. Nothing else here matches its 5.3GHz boost clock; the Core Ultra 5 245KF comes closest at 5.2GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 7 5800X3D on core count (8 cores). It matches the Ryzen 5 7600X3D on rated power (65W). It shares DDR5 memory with the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and Core Ultra 5 245KF; the Ryzen 7 5800X3D goes with 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. On price it sat second of 4, between the cheaper Core Ultra 5 245KF and the pricier Ryzen 5 7600X3D, 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 Ultra 5 245KF
Cons
- Costs more than the Core Ultra 5 245KF at the time of writing
Best Intel Mid-Range4 of 4
Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core Ultra 5 245KF is the entry to LGA1851, with 14 cores and no integrated graphics.
Best for
- New Intel builds.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It needs a graphics card to show a picture, which every gaming build has anyway. On L3 cache it trails the group at 24MB, while the Ryzen 5 7600X3D offers 96MB. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 5.2GHz: the Ryzen 7 7700 offers 5.3GHz, and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D comes in at 4.5GHz.
Nothing else here matches its 14 cores core count; the Ryzen 7 5800X3D comes closest at 8 cores. Its 125W rated power is the highest in this group; the Ryzen 5 7600X3D leads at 65W. An LGA1851 socket is unique to it among these picks, while the Ryzen 7 5800X3D uses an AM4 socket.
It shares DDR5 memory with the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and Ryzen 7 7700; the Ryzen 7 5800X3D goes with DDR4 memory. It undercut the Ryzen 7 7700 and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 24MB
- Max boost: 5.2GHz
- Cores / threads: 14 cores
- Rated power: 125W
- Threads: 14
- Socket: LGA1851
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: No
Pros
- 14 cores for encoding and background work
- 6 performance and 8 efficient cores
- Intel 800-series chipset support
- PCIe 5.0 support
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- L3 cache trails the Ryzen 5 7600X3D (96MB)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How to Choose
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New mid-range builds | Ryzen 5 7600X3D | 96MB of L3 on a six-core AM5 chip |
| Upgrading an AM4 PC | Ryzen 7 5800X3D | 96MB of L3 that fits many AM4 boards after a BIOS update |
| Skipping a cooler purchase | Ryzen 7 7700 | Eight cores with a Wraith Prism in the box |
| New Intel builds | Core Ultra 5 245KF | Fourteen cores on LGA1851 |
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 5800X3D | 96MB | 4.5GHz | 8 cores | 105W |
| Ryzen 7 7700 | 32MB | 5.3GHz | 8 cores | 65W |
| Core Ultra 5 245KF | 24MB | 5.2GHz | 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 | Core Ultra 5 245KF, Ryzen 7 7700, Ryzen 5 7600X3D |
| About $250 to $500 | Ryzen 7 5800X3D |
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
Is AM4 still worth buying into?
For an upgrade to an existing AM4 system, yes. For a new build, AM5 or LGA1851 gives a longer upgrade path.
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.
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.
Bottom Line
The Ryzen 5 7600X3D is the good all-round pick for a new AM5 build. The 5800X3D upgrades an AM4 PC, the Ryzen 7 7700 includes a cooler, and the Core Ultra 5 245KF covers Intel.