Buying Guide
The Best Intel CPUs
Seven Intel processors across LGA1851 and LGA1700, from a six-core Core i5-12400F to the 24-core Core Ultra 9 285K.
By The PC Journal editorial team
13 min read7 products evaluated
Intel sells two desktop platforms. LGA1851 Core Ultra chips need DDR5 and a new board, while LGA1700 chips fit 600- and 700-series boards and can use DDR4.
We compared cores, cache, boost clock and memory support from Intel's specifications; we did not benchmark these processors.
Quick Picks
Our 7 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Intel CPU
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
20 cores and 30MB of L3 on LGA1851.
Best for: Most new Intel builds.
Our take Check price for Intel Core Ultra 7 265K (opens in a new tab)
Largest Game Cache
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
The largest L3 cache here (36MB).
Best for: Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates.
Our take Check price for Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (opens in a new tab)
Best LGA1700 High-End
Intel Core i7-14700K
20 cores and 28 threads with DDR4 or DDR5 support.
Best for: Z690 and Z790 boards.
Our take Check price for Intel Core i7-14700K (opens in a new tab)
Best LGA1700 Mid-Range
Intel Core i5-14600K
14 cores at a 5.3GHz boost.
Best for: Gaming on an existing Intel board.
Our take Check price for Intel Core i5-14600K (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget LGA1851
Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF
14 cores without integrated graphics.
Best for: New Intel gaming builds on a budget.
Our take Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget LGA1700
Intel Core i5-14400F
Ten cores at a lower price.
Best for: Budget gaming PCs.
Our take Check price for Intel Core i5-14400F (opens in a new tab)
Lowest-Cost Intel Pick
Intel Core i5-12400F
Six cores with DDR4 or DDR5 support.
Best for: The tightest budgets.
Our take Check price for Intel Core i5-12400F (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Intel CPU1 of 7
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core Ultra 7 265K is Intel's strongest all-rounder here, with 20 cores for games plus background work, on the LGA1851 socket.
Best for
- Most new Intel builds.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It suits a builder who wants an Intel platform and a lot of multi-threaded headroom. Its 30MB L3 cache ranks third of 7 here, behind the Core Ultra 9 285K (36MB) and ahead of the Core i5-12400F (18MB). Like the Core Ultra 9 285K and Core Ultra 5 245KF, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Core i5-14400F uses an LGA1700 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. Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included. It was priced above the Core i5-14600K and below the Core i7-14700K at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 30MB
- Max boost: 5.5GHz
- Cores / threads: 20 cores
- Rated power: 125W
- Threads: 20
- Socket: LGA1851
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 5.5GHz maximum boost
- 20 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- 8 performance and 12 efficient cores
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Core i5-12400F at the time of writing
Largest Game Cache2 of 7
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core Ultra 9 285K is Intel's flagship on LGA1851, with 24 cores and high single-threaded clocks.
Best for
- Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when no cooler in the bo is a problem.
Why we like it
It suits competitive players who also stream from the same machine. Nothing else here matches its 36MB L3 cache; the Core i7-14700K comes closest at 33MB. Its 5.7GHz boost clock is the highest here; the Core i7-14700K comes next at 5.6GHz.
On core count it leads this guide at 24 cores, ahead of the Core Ultra 7 265K (20 cores). Like the Core Ultra 7 265K and Core Ultra 5 245KF, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Core i5-14400F uses an LGA1700 socket. It also comes with 8 performance and 16 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. Only the Core i7-14700K came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 7 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 36MB
- Max boost: 5.7GHz
- Cores / threads: 24 cores
- Rated power: 125W
- Threads: 24
- Socket: LGA1851
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 5.7GHz maximum boost
- 24 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- 8 performance and 16 efficient cores
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Core i5-12400F at the time of writing
Best LGA1700 High-End3 of 7
Intel Core i7-14700K on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core i7-14700K runs on LGA1700 with high clocks and 20 cores.
Best for
- Z690 and Z790 boards.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It is a strong high-refresh option for Intel owners with a compatible board and a capable cooler. Its 33MB L3 cache ranks second of 7 here, behind the Core Ultra 9 285K (36MB) and ahead of the Core i5-12400F (18MB). On core count it ties with the Core Ultra 7 265K at 20 cores.
It also offers 8 performance and 12 efficient cores and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 boards. 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. Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included. It was priced above the Core Ultra 7 265K and below the Core Ultra 9 285K at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 33MB
- Max boost: 5.6GHz
- Cores / threads: 20 cores
- Rated power: 125W
- Threads: 28
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory: DDR4 or DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 5.6GHz maximum boost
- 20 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- 8 performance and 12 efficient cores
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Core i5-12400F at the time of writing
Best LGA1700 Mid-Range4 of 7
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
- Gaming on an existing Intel board.
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. It matches the Core Ultra 5 245KF on L3 cache (24MB).
Its 5.3GHz boost clock ranks fourth of 7 here, behind the Core Ultra 9 285K (5.7GHz) and ahead of the Core i5-12400F (4.4GHz). On core count it ties with the Core Ultra 5 245KF at 14 cores. It also offers 6 performance and 8 efficient cores.
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. Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included. It was priced above the Core i5-14400F and below the Core Ultra 7 265K at the time of writing.
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
- Costs more than the Core i5-12400F at the time of writing
Best Budget LGA18515 of 7
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 gaming builds on a budget.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It needs a graphics card to show a picture, which every gaming build has anyway. It matches the Core i5-14600K on L3 cache (24MB). Its 5.2GHz boost clock ranks fifth of 7 here, behind the Core Ultra 9 285K (5.7GHz) and ahead of the Core i5-12400F (4.4GHz).
Like the Core Ultra 7 265K and Core Ultra 9 285K, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Core i7-14700K uses an LGA1700 socket. Like the Core Ultra 7 265K and Core Ultra 9 285K, it has DDR5 memory, while the Core i5-14400F uses DDR4 or DDR5 memory. It also offers 6 performance and 8 efficient cores, Intel 800-series chipset support and PCIe 5.0 support.
When we checked, only the Core i5-12400F cost less, and the Core i5-14400F cost more. What it gives up: no integrated graphics, unlike the Core Ultra 7 265K; by contrast, the Core Ultra 7 265K has it.
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
- Costs more than the Core i5-12400F at the time of writing
Best Budget LGA17006 of 7
Intel Core i5-14400F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core i5-14400F is a locked ten-core LGA1700 chip with no integrated graphics.
Best for
- Budget gaming PCs.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It pairs well with a B660 or B760 board and DDR4. Its 20MB L3 cache ranks sixth of 7 here, behind the Core Ultra 9 285K (36MB) and ahead of the Core i5-12400F (18MB). On core count it sits mid-pack at 10 cores: the Core Ultra 9 285K offers 24 cores, and the Core i5-12400F comes in at 6 cores.
It also comes with 6 performance and 4 efficient cores, DDR4 and DDR5 support and PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 support. 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. When we checked, only the Core Ultra 5 245KF and cheaper picks cost less, and the Core i5-14600K cost more. What it gives up: no integrated graphics, unlike the Core Ultra 7 265K; by contrast, the Core Ultra 7 265K has it.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 20MB
- Max boost: 4.7GHz
- Cores / threads: 10 cores
- Rated power: 125W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory: DDR4 or DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: No
Pros
- 6 performance and 4 efficient cores
- DDR4 and DDR5 support
- PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 support
- L3 cache of 20MB, ahead of the Core i5-12400F
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- Costs more than the Core i5-12400F at the time of writing
Lowest-Cost Intel Pick7 of 7
Intel Core i5-12400F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core i5-12400F is a six-core LGA1700 chip at a low price.
Best for
- The tightest budgets.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
This is the OEM pack, so budget for a cooler; it suits a low-cost gaming build with DDR4. On L3 cache it trails the group at 18MB, while the Core Ultra 9 285K offers 36MB. On boost clock it trails the group at 4.4GHz, while the Core Ultra 9 285K offers 5.7GHz.
Its 6 cores core count is the lowest in this group; the Core Ultra 9 285K leads at 24 cores. You also get six performance cores, DDR4 and DDR5 support and 600- and 700-series chipset support. 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.
Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included. It undercut the Core Ultra 5 245KF and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 18MB
- Max boost: 4.4GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Rated power: 125W
- Threads: 12
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory: DDR4 or DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: No
Pros
- Six performance cores
- DDR4 and DDR5 support
- 600- and 700-series chipset support
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
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 an Intel CPUs
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
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.
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.
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.
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 an Intel CPUs
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most new Intel builds | Core Ultra 7 265K | 20 cores and 30MB of L3 on LGA1851 |
| Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates | Core Ultra 9 285K | The largest L3 cache here (36MB) |
| Z690 and Z790 boards | Core i7-14700K | 20 cores and 28 threads with DDR4 or DDR5 support |
| Gaming on an existing Intel board | Core i5-14600K | 14 cores at a 5.3GHz boost |
| New Intel gaming builds on a budget | Core Ultra 5 245KF | 14 cores without integrated graphics |
| Budget gaming PCs | Core i5-14400F | Ten cores at a lower price |
| The tightest budgets | Core i5-12400F | Six cores with DDR4 or DDR5 support |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 7 265K | 30MB | 5.5GHz | 20 cores | 125W |
| Core Ultra 9 285K | 36MB | 5.7GHz | 24 cores | 125W |
| Core i7-14700K | 33MB | 5.6GHz | 20 cores | 125W |
| Core i5-14600K | 24MB | 5.3GHz | 14 cores | 125W |
| Core Ultra 5 245KF | 24MB | 5.2GHz | 14 cores | 125W |
| Core i5-14400F | 20MB | 4.7GHz | 10 cores | 125W |
| Core i5-12400F | 18MB | 4.4GHz | 6 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 i5-12400F, Core Ultra 5 245KF, Core i5-14400F, Core i5-14600K |
| About $250 to $500 | Core Ultra 7 265K, Core i7-14700K |
| About $500 to $1000 | Core Ultra 9 285K |
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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
The Core Ultra 7 265K is the best Intel CPU for most new builds, and the Ultra 9 285K suits heavy workloads. The i7-14700K and i5-14600K upgrade LGA1700 boards, the Ultra 5 245KF is the budget LGA1851 chip, and the i5-14400F and i5-12400F cover tight budgets.