Buying Guide
The Best Processors for a Gaming PC
Six processors for a gaming PC between about $175 and $350 at the time of writing, where most builds spend.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read6 products evaluated
Most gaming PCs spend between about $175 and $350 on the processor at the time of writing. In that range, AMD's X3D chips offer the most cache, while Intel offers more cores.
We compared cache, cores and boost clock from AMD and Intel specifications; we did not benchmark these processors.
Quick Picks
Our 6 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Gaming PC Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
96MB of L3 cache on eight cores.
Best for: Most gaming PCs.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (opens in a new tab)
Best Six-Core for Gaming
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D
96MB of L3 on six cores.
Best for: Saving for a better graphics card.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D (opens in a new tab)
Best All-Rounder
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
Eight Zen 5 cores at a 5.5GHz boost.
Best for: Gaming and light editing.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 9700X (opens in a new tab)
Best Intel Gaming Pick
Intel Core i5-14600KF
14 cores and 20 threads on LGA1700.
Best for: Intel gaming PCs.
Our take Check price for Intel Core i5-14600KF (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget LGA1851 Chip
Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF
14 cores on Intel's newer socket.
Best for: New Intel builds on a budget.
Our take Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (opens in a new tab)
Best With Included Cooler
AMD Ryzen 7 7700
Eight cores with a boxed cooler.
Best for: Builds that skip an aftermarket cooler.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96MB of L3 cache on eight cores. | Most gaming PCs. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (opens in a new tab) |
| 96MB of L3 on six cores. | Saving for a better graphics card. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D (opens in a new tab) |
| Eight Zen 5 cores at a 5.5GHz boost. | Gaming and light editing. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 9700X (opens in a new tab) |
| 14 cores and 20 threads on LGA1700. | Intel gaming PCs. | Check price for Intel Core i5-14600KF (opens in a new tab) |
| 14 cores on Intel's newer socket. | New Intel builds on a budget. | Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (opens in a new tab) |
| Eight cores with a boxed cooler. | Builds that skip an aftermarket cooler. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best Gaming PC Processor1 of 6
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D has the same 96MB of L3 cache as its successor with an older core design and lower clocks.
Best for
- Most gaming PCs.
Skip if
- Pass on it if no cooler in the bo rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
On the same AM5 socket, it is the way into X3D gaming for less. Its 5GHz boost clock ranks fifth of 6 here, behind the Ryzen 7 9700X (5.5GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600X3D (4.7GHz). On core count it ties with the Ryzen 7 9700X and the Ryzen 7 7700 at 8 cores.
On rated power it sits mid-pack at 120W: the Ryzen 5 7600X3D offers 65W, and the Core Ultra 5 245KF comes in at 125W. It also offers first-generation AM5 3D V-Cache and the Zen 4 architecture. Only the Ryzen 7 9700X came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 6 picks. 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: 96MB
- Max boost: 5GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 120W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 96MB of L3 cache from 3D V-Cache
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- First-generation AM5 3D V-Cache
- The Zen 4 architecture
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Core Ultra 5 245KF at the time of writing
Best Six-Core for Gaming2 of 6
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
- Saving for a better graphics card.
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 is the lowest in this group; the Ryzen 7 9700X leads at 5.5GHz. On core count it trails the group at 6 cores, while the Core i5-14600KF offers 14 cores.
On rated power it ties with the Ryzen 7 9700X and the Ryzen 7 7700 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. It was priced above the Core i5-14600KF and below the Ryzen 7 9700X at the time of writing.
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 9700X (5.5GHz)
Best All-Rounder3 of 6
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 9700X gives eight Zen 5 cores at a 65W rating without the X3D cache.
Best for
- Gaming and light editing.
Skip if
- Pass on it if no cooler in the bo rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It is the quieter, cooler-running choice when a build balances games with everyday work. It matches the Ryzen 7 7700 on L3 cache (32MB). On boost clock it leads this guide at 5.5GHz, ahead of the Core i5-14600KF (5.3GHz).
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the Ryzen 7 7700 at 8 cores. You also get the Zen 5 architecture. 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. It was priced above the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and below the Ryzen 7 7800X3D at the time of writing. 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: 5.5GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 5.5GHz maximum boost
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- The Zen 5 architecture
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Core Ultra 5 245KF at the time of writing
Best Intel Gaming Pick4 of 6
Intel Core i5-14600KF on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core i5-14600KF is the 14600K without integrated graphics.
Best for
- Intel gaming PCs.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It costs less and needs a graphics card for display output. On L3 cache it ties with the Core Ultra 5 245KF at 24MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 7 7700 at 5.3GHz.
It matches the Core Ultra 5 245KF on core count (14 cores). You get an LGA1700 socket here, which sets it apart from the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and its an AM5 socket. DDR4 or DDR5 memory is unique to it among these picks, while the Ryzen 7 7700 uses DDR5 memory.
It also comes with 6 performance and 8 efficient cores and an unlocked multiplier. Its price falls between the Ryzen 7 7700 and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D, based on our last check. 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 Core Ultra 5 245KF
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- Costs more than the Core Ultra 5 245KF at the time of writing
Best Budget LGA1851 Chip5 of 6
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 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. On L3 cache it ties with the Core i5-14600KF at 24MB. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 5.2GHz: the Ryzen 7 9700X offers 5.5GHz, and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D comes in at 4.7GHz.
It matches the Core i5-14600KF on rated power (125W). You get an LGA1851 socket here, which sets it apart from the Ryzen 7 9700X and its an AM5 socket. It also offers 6 performance and 8 efficient cores, Intel 800-series chipset support and PCIe 5.0 support.
It needs an LGA1851 board (Intel 800-series chipset) and DDR5 memory; LGA1700 boards and coolers without an LGA1851 mounting kit will not fit. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Ryzen 7 7700 was the next step up. If L3 cache is your priority, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D (96MB) is the stronger choice.
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 7 7800X3D (96MB)
Best With Included Cooler6 of 6
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 that skip an aftermarket cooler.
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 ties with the Ryzen 7 9700X at 32MB. On boost clock it ties with the Core i5-14600KF at 5.3GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the Ryzen 7 9700X on core count (8 cores). It matches the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and the Ryzen 7 9700X 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. Its price falls between the Core Ultra 5 245KF and the Core i5-14600KF, based on our last check.
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 Core Ultra 5 245KF at the time of writing
How We Chose These Gaming PC Processors
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Platform cost
- We noted socket, memory type and whether a cooler is included, since they change the real price.
- Upgrade path
- We considered how long each socket is likely to receive new CPUs.
- Power and cooling
- We recorded each chip's rated power and what cooler class it needs.
- Game-relevant specs
- We compared L3 cache, boost clocks and core counts from AMD's and Intel's product pages.
What to Look for in a Gaming PC Processor
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.
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.
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.
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.
How to Choose a Gaming PC Processor
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most gaming PCs | Ryzen 7 7800X3D | 96MB of L3 cache on eight cores |
| Saving for a better graphics card | Ryzen 5 7600X3D | 96MB of L3 on six cores |
| Gaming and light editing | Ryzen 7 9700X | Eight Zen 5 cores at a 5.5GHz boost |
| Intel gaming PCs | Core i5-14600KF | 14 cores and 20 threads on LGA1700 |
| New Intel builds on a budget | Core Ultra 5 245KF | 14 cores on Intel's newer socket |
| Builds that skip an aftermarket cooler | Ryzen 7 7700 | Eight cores with a boxed 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 7 7800X3D | 96MB | 5GHz | 8 cores | 120W |
| Ryzen 5 7600X3D | 96MB | 4.7GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 7 9700X | 32MB | 5.5GHz | 8 cores | 65W |
| Core i5-14600KF | 24MB | 5.3GHz | 14 cores | 125W |
| Core Ultra 5 245KF | 24MB | 5.2GHz | 14 cores | 125W |
| Ryzen 7 7700 | 32MB | 5.3GHz | 8 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 | Core Ultra 5 245KF, Ryzen 7 7700, Core i5-14600KF, Ryzen 5 7600X3D |
| About $250 to $500 | Ryzen 7 9700X, Ryzen 7 7800X3D |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bottom Line
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the best processor for most gaming PCs, and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D brings the same cache for less. The 9700X is the all-rounder, the i5-14600KF and Core Ultra 5 245KF cover Intel, and the Ryzen 7 7700 includes a cooler.