The best CPU deals for October 2022
(Image credit: Windows Central)
The central processing unit, the CPU, is one of the most important pieces of any computer build. It is the brain of your PC, and it is often one of the more expensive pieces as well. You could pay several hundred for an advanced one, and if you’re a gamer or you’re building a PC for creative uses then you can expect to fork over quite a chunk of change there. That’s okay because I think most people would agree the investment is worth it if it means a better overall performance. However, there’s no reason to go broke for the sake of your computer.
We cover a lot of information on CPUs here. We’ve even got details on the best CPUs based on the graphics card you’re using like the best CPU for the Nvidia RTX 3070 or the best cooler for the CPU you have. Once you’ve found the deal price for the CPU you want in this roundup, be sure to check out the best ways to use your new component. While you’re at it, find a GPU on sale that fits your build.
Best Intel CPU deals:
Intel Core i3-10100 $115 $109.99 at Amazon
The difference between the 10100 and the 10100F is that this version has integrated graphics, so you don’t necessarily need the separate purchase of a standalone GPU. (Although I wouldn’t expect much for gaming.) The price is the best we’ve seen, but the sale disappears when the Intel Gamer Days ends.
Intel Core i5-11600K $224 $179.99 at B&H
This is an 11th-generation CPU that has a 3.9GHz base speed and can boost to 4.9GHz with Maximum Turbo Frequency. The price is fantastic, but the quantity is limited so grab one while you can.
Intel Core i5-12600KF $311 $279.99 at Amazon
This deal is part of Intel Gamer Days, so it might not last long after that event ends on Sept.
4. This CPU was selling for as much as $311 in March and has been selling more steadily around $265 for the last couple months. Either way, today’s price is a new low.
Intel Core i9-11900K $380 $329.95 at Amazon
If you were looking to buy this CPU back in February it would’ve been worth more than $460 at the time, and as recently as early July it was going for $380. This price is an all-time low that hopefully sticks around as the 13th-gen CPUs are right around the corner.
Intel Core i9-11900K CPU + MSI Z590 motherboard $550 $439.99 at Amazon
A great bundle from Micro Center on Amazon that includes the Core i9-11900K processor and the MSI MPG Z590 Gaming Force ATX motherboard. These would normally cost $550 if bought individually, even with the i9-11900K currently on sale. If you need more than just a CPU, this bundle is a great place to start.
Intel Core i9-12900KS $780 $654.86 at Amazon
This is definitely a high-end CPU that is part of Intel’s latest generation. It’s down to a super low price, but this deal is only around as part of Intel’s Gamer Days sale. Expect the price to go back up pretty soon.
Best AMD CPU deals:
AMD Ryzen 5 5600 $180 $159.99 at Amazon
This processor was going for as much as $200 just a couple of months ago and has been more regularly selling for around $180 since summer started. This price matches the lowest we have seen, and it’s a price we have only seen once before.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X $230 $193.89 at Newegg
This is a great processor on a budget, and it was selling for as much as $300 at one point this year.
You’ll find it going for around $230 most of the time and at most retailers. Keep an eye out for a coupon code that could bring it down by another $10 as we’ve seen that before.
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G $359 $205.99 at eBay
This deal comes from respected eBay seller antonline. These Ryzen 7 CPUs are dropping in price a lot recently and just about every variation is on sale. You can really save big here, and this price is lower than anywhere else at the moment.
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X $300 $239 at Amazon
The Ryzen 7 was selling for around $300 in May and was still above $280 in mid-July. This drop in price is its lowest ever and one that is holding steady for the moment. But that could change!
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X $450 $269 at Amazon
This is a limited time sale from Newegg, and if it has expired you can still find a decent deal on this same CPU at Best Buy where it’s going for $329.
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D $450 $374.99 at eBay
The 3D lineup of AMD processors can be really, really good if you’re into the type of games that rely a lot on RAM or need extra processing power like Microsoft Flight Simulator, RTS or strategy games, basically anything Paradox makes, etc. It’s worth the jump from the standard 5800X in that case.
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X $450 $398.99 at Amazon
If you’re just now seeing this price, unfortunately it was as low as $360 recently so this isn’t the best price around. However, considering the CPU was going for as much as $450 just a couple months ago and $530 at the beginning of the year, this is still a good deal.
J.D. Levite has been in the deals game since 2012. He has posted daily deals at Gizmodo, The Wirecutter, The Sweethome, and now covers deals for Android Central, iMore, and Windows Central.
He was there for the first Prime Day and has braved the full force of Black Friday. If you cut him, he bleeds savings. But don’t try it for real. That’s a metaphor.
Top 5 Best CPUs | TechSpot
The world of CPUs has been taken by storm since the arrival of AMD Ryzen processors, with each new generation bringing important performance enhancements, while Intel was somewhat stuck and trying to react from a sitting position. That situation finally changed with the release of Intel’s 12th-gen Core CPUs based on the Alder Lake architecture, some of which have grabbed our top picks.
With readers constantly inquiring about which CPU they should buy, and after all the extensive testing you’re familiar with, the TechSpot CPU buying guide narrows things down to a handful of recommendations you can trust.
Due to pricing and availability, Intel is largely dominating the picks in this buying guide update, and the release of Alder Lake has helped them secure a foothold at the high-end.
Meanwhile, there’s been very little happening over at AMD’s side, with the exception of some Zen 3-based APUs, though those have failed to impress in terms of value.
- Best All-Round Value
Intel Core i5-12400
Price: $185
- Best Gaming CPU
Intel Core i7-12700KF
Price: $377
- Best Value Productivity CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Price: $549
- Best Extreme CPU
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Price: $8,251
- Best Budget CPU
Intel Core i3-10100
Price: $98
Intel hands down claims 3 out of 5 picks, with a fourth spot being contested as you could happily go either way. Just as we’ve picked the best processors before, it really is all about pricing and value, and that’s what kept AMD so competitive with the first few iterations of Ryzen since they couldn’t always compete in terms of raw performance.
This is a situation that AMD will want to remedy soon after fighting tooth and nail to claw back market share for the past half a decade.
It’s true the company is heavily supply constrained at the moment, but even so, this could have been an excellent opportunity to pump out cheap Zen+ parts and drive more people to invest in their AM4 platform, which supports all their recent CPU generations.
Best Value CPU
In numbers
Price:
$185 on Amazon
TechSpot Metascore:
User Reviews:
After dominating the best value all-rounder desktop CPU for years with the Ryzen 5 2600 and 3600, Intel is able to beat AMD handily in this product category. Stepping in with multiple options, right now you can choose from previous-gen CPUs like the Core i5-10400 for just $155, while the newer i5-11400 is $185.
Add to that the truly excellent Alder Lake-based Core i5-12400 (or the graphics-less variant the 12400F), which are already on sale for $220 and $180, respectively. Although B660 motherboard options are limited for now, we’re expecting some pretty great boards to become available at around $160.
If you’ve got a sub-$200 CPU budget, these are nearly impossible to beat.
There’s also plenty of great value LGA1200 motherboards. The Gigabyte Z590 UD AC can be had for $180, but if you care about value the B560 series is the way to go and the MSI B560M Pro-VDH WiFi for $120 is a great value board. Throw the 10400 or 11400 on that and you have a killer combo for the price of a 5600X. Then if you want to play around with overclocking, the Core i5-10600KF can be had for $210 and the 11600KF is $230. Beyond that, we’re getting up towards $300 and at this point you’re entering high-end gaming CPU territory.
All in all, the i5-12400F is our latest go-to budget CPU and we hope to see some nice budget B660 boards available soon!
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Best High-End Gaming CPU
In numbers
Price:
$377 on Amazon
User Reviews:
For the best high-end gaming CPU, we’re less concerned about price to focus on what offers the best performance without going beyond the point of diminishing returns.
In such a case, the Ryzen 9 5950X and Core i9-12900K are out, for example. But there are loads of CPUs to choose from here and most of them are from Intel.
If you’re value oriented, the Core i7-10700F is hard to go past at $285, or the 11700F at $310, both are cracking good deals and will provide you with plenty of headroom in games for years to come. We don’t feel the 10900KF is worth the $440 asking price, as that makes it around 55% more expensive than the Core i7 equivalent for 25% more cores, which you’re not going to need for gaming, though the extra L3 cache can be beneficial right now.
From AMD you have the Ryzen 5 5600X, Ryzen 7 5800X, and if you want to go completely overkill, the Ryzen 9 5900X. The problem for AMD is that the Intel alternatives are either more affordable or just as powerful.
For example, the Ryzen 7 5800X is a great CPU for $400. The only issue is that for the same price the Core i7-12700KF is a much better CPU overall in our opinion, often offering vastly superior productivity performance, marginally better gaming performance, and in terms of cooling it’s no more difficult to deal with.
Simply put, the Core i7 reigns supreme high-end gaming right now, whether that be the 10700, 11700 or the 12700, they all seem to have their place.
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Best Extreme Desktop CPU
In numbers
Price:
$8,251 on Amazon
TechSpot Metascore:
User Reviews:
If 16-cores won’t cut it for you, then your next option is to dig deep and cough up some first car money for a 3rd-gen Threadripper CPU. With AMD yet to announce the Threadripper 5000 series, you’re limited to the Zen 2 processors which include the 64-core 3990X, 32-core 3970X and 24-core 3960X, all of which are beasts in their own right.
The least expensive of the three, the Threadripper 3960X will set you back an eye watering $1,650 and it’ll buy you 24 Zen 2 cores in a single package. The 3970X can be had for $2,400 for 32 cores, and if that sounds like about half the cores you’ll actually need, then may I introduce you to the 3990X for $4,970, it sports 64 cores and 128 threads.
In short, if you’re after the most extreme desktop CPU money will buy, it’s clearly going to be a Threadripper, at least until the next generation arrives.
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Best Value for Productivity
In numbers
Price:
$549 on Amazon
TechSpot Metascore:
User Reviews:
When it comes to productivity and core-heavy workloads, the best mainstream desktop processors are either Core i9 or Ryzen 9 tiers. From AMD, the $500 5900X and $700 5950X are best, and from Intel, the Core i9-12900K for $620.
If you’re erring more on the side of value, then the Ryzen 9 5900X is very appealing. It’s a tad cheaper than the 12900K, though it is $90 more than the 12700K and does trade blows with the i7 for productivity workloads. However, Z690 motherboards start at ~$200 for a decent board whereas a decent B550 like the MSI B550M Pro-VDH WiFi costs just $120.
In other words, the 5900X and 12700K cost roughly the same once you factor in a decent motherboard, so it’s a tough choice and frankly there’s no wrong option here. If I was forced to choose, I’d probably go with Intel as the Z690 board offers better features than the budget B550 and is overall a better product.
The choice between the Ryzen 9 5950X for $700 or the Core i9 12900K for $620 is just as difficult and assuming you want a solid motherboard when spending well over $500 on your CPU, the associated costs are about the same. For the Core i9-12900K to win the majority of our productivity tests, it does require DDR5 memory and right now that’s not a viable option.
In that scenario, we think the 5950X is the better choice. The Ryzen 9 is also significantly easier to cool and consumes considerably less power, so overall it’s the better choice.
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Best Entry-Level CPU
In numbers
Price:
$98 on Amazon
User Reviews:
Entry-level CPUs have been AMD’s bread and butter for many years, but that was until Zen 3 arrived in November 2020.
Since then, the cheapest CPU they’re offering using the Zen 3 architecture is the Ryzen 5 5600G at $290, or the 5600X at $300, both of which are underwhelming at their respective price points. It’s still possible to find the odd 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation Ryzen processor at discounted prices, but for the most part they’re simply not worth it.
That’s because Intel is offering the Core i3-10100F for just $90 and the standard i3-10100 for $125. This is much better than anything on offer from AMD. Conversely, for the price of a 5600G, you can snap up a Core i7-10700F, an 8-core / 16-thread desktop CPU.
Essentially, if you only want to spend ~$100 on your CPU, you have the choice of the 10100F or the Athlon 3000G, a dual-core CPU with a 4MB L3 cache, it’s an embarrassing comparison for AMD.
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Masthead credit: Aleksandr Grechanyuk
These are the best CPUs you can buy in 2022
Sometimes choosing the right CPU can be just as hard as picking the other core components of a PC.
But unlike graphics cards, you can easily buy the best CPUs right now. Almost all models from both AMD and Intel are readily available on the market, that too for the MSRP. You may even snag a discount if the timing is right, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should pick up anything on sale.
Choosing the right processor is the most crucial step of the PC building process. Even though it boils down to only two manufacturers — Intel or AMD — you still have to comb through dozens of SKUs. Additionally, there are other factors to consider like the CPU’s overclocking potential, your primary workload, etc. Your options will also vary depending on whether you’re planning a new build or upgrading an existing one.
To make it easier for you to choose, we’ve decided to make a compressive collection of the best CPUs to buy right now.
Editor’s note (September 28, 2022): AMD’s newest generation CPUs, the Ryzen 7000 series, have just launched (and we’re in the process of reviewing them) and the Intel 13th Gen desktop CPUs will be available from October 20, 2022.
The latest generation from both brands will surely feature, so this list will be going through some changes in the coming weeks.
Navigate this article:
- Best CPU overall: Intel Core i5-12600K
- Best for gaming: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Best for creators: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Best enthusiast CPU: Intel Core i9-12900K
- Best budget CPU: Intel Core i5-12400
- Best entry-level CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Best CPU for workstation: AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX
Before we get started with individual items on the list, we’ve managed to put together a list of important things to consider while shopping for the best CPUs. Here, take a look –
- Generation check: Both AMD and Intel upgrade their CPUs with new architecture and advanced computing features every year. It’s important to understand the difference to get the best bang for your buck. The first digit of the four-figure model number denotes the generation.
For example, 12 in Core i7-12700K or 5 in Ryzen 5 5600X. - Understanding workloads: It’s important to match your CPU budget with what you plan to do with your PC. You don’t need a high-performance CPU for basic day-to-day tasks, but you can’t rely on a budget chip to have enough multi-thread muscles to push creative workload applications.
- Overclocking: Overclocking helps the CPUs to achieve significantly higher clock speeds than it is rated for out of the box. However, not all CPUs support overclocking, and not all CPUs need overclocking for the best results. It boils down to your requirements, really. Also, don’t fiddle with CPU overclocking if you don’t know what you’re doing. On Intel CPUs, you need to purchase the K variants to be able to overclock. Ryzen CPUs are all unlocked.
- CPU sockets: Not all CPUs can be used on any available motherboard on the market. You’ll need chipsets and a socket that’s specific to your CPU of choice, so pair it accordingly.
If you already own a motherboard and don’t have money for a new one, then purchase a CPU that matches your board’s socket. AMD has just changed its socket with Ryzen 7000, so if you’re looking for one of those you will definitely need to grab a new motherboard. - Pair with the right components: While CPUs are crucial for your build, there’s no point in pairing a high-performance chip with a weak GPU or a slow storage type. Make sure all your components work well together before making a purchase decision. And always ensure you have sufficiently powerful power supply to drive it all.
- Core speed or core count: Higher clock speeds allow for a snappy performance in simple, day-to-day workloads. However, having more cores will help you get through complex and time-consuming tasks faster. AMD’s CPUs follow a more traditional design, whereas Intel’s 12th and 13th Gen have a hybrid design made of P (performance) and E (efficient) cores.
Best overall: Intel Core i5-12600K
| Specification | Intel Core i5-12600K |
|---|---|
| Architecture: | Alder Lake |
| Socket: | LGA1700 |
| Cores/Threads: | 10 cores – 6 P-Cores | 4 E-Cores 16 Threads |
| Base Frequency: | 3. 70GHz for P-Cores |2.80GHz for E-Cores |
| Peak Frequency: | 4.90GHz for P-Cores | 3.60GHz for E-Cores |
| TDP: | 125W |
| L3 Cache: | 20MB |
| Processor Technology: | 10 nm |
| Overclocking: | Yes |
| MSRP: | $299 |
The new 12th-gen Intel Core i5-12600K has become our pick for the best overall CPU you can buy on the market right now. This particular chip has now replaced the Ryzen 5 5600X to become the best pick, and rightfully so. It costs pretty much the same as the Ryzen 5 and is ahead of the curve when it comes to performance. The Core i5-12600K wins in nearly every single-threaded and multi-threaded benchmark, trading blows with more powerful chips on the Ryzen 5000 series. The Intel Core i5-12600K features a hybrid architecture that enables the chip to work more efficiently.
Similar to the Core i9-12900K, the 12600K features both P-cores and E-cores and the Intel Thread Director takes care of scheduling the tasks automatically between these cores.
The Intel Core i5-12600K offers 6 P-cores and 4 E-cores. With only two P-cores less than the 12900K, it matches the general performance of higher-end CPUs in certain applications. Gaming, for instance, will greatly benefit from this type of cores distribution. You’re looking at a performance improvement of up to 19% in single-threaded applications such as gaming over the 11th-gen counterpart. What’s more impressive about this particular CPU is that it topples the Core i9-11900K in almost every single gaming benchmark.
It’s also worth pointing out that the 12600K supports DDR5 memory too. It further raises the performance ceiling as other competing CPUs on the market still use DDR4 RAM kits. You can also use DDR4 RAM modules with the Core i5-12600K, but you can’t use both modules on the same board. Notably, the Core i5-12600K also plays nicely with the PCIe 5.
0 peripherals. While you can’t really take advantage of this particular feature just yet, we think it’s always great to have a future-proof machine that’s ready for the new graphics cards and other PCIe 5.0 expansion cards.
In terms of performance, the Core i5-12600K outputs solid performance across both single and multi-threaded applications. The single-core performance of 12600K is comparable to that of the 12900K. In multi-core performance, it managed to beat both the 11900K as well as the Ryzen 7 5800X. This is remarkable considering how powerful both of those CPUs really are. The gaming performance of the Core i5-12600K is also on-point, however, you will need a dedicated GPU to take full advantage of it. Also, don’t forget to bring your own CPU cooler since the Core i5-12600K isn’t bundled with one.
The only thing you need to worry about is the additional cost associated with the platform entry for this new CPU. You’ll need a new motherboard with a Z690 chipset as well as new CPU coolers that are compatible with LGA 1700 socket.
You can get away with DDR4 memory but remember that you will have to upgrade your motherboard later when you actually plan on installing new DDR5 modules.
The only real reason to hold off is that the Core i5-12600K will soon be succeeded by the Core i5-13600K which will boast an increased E-core count and promised performance gains. But if you can score a good discount on the 12th Gen Core i5, you’ll still have a great, modern system, potentially with some added value thrown in.
Intel Core i5-12600K processor
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Intel is back into the best CPU race with its 12th gen processors and we think the new Core i5-12600K is the second best overall CPU you can buy right now be it for gaming or other workloads.
- Buy from Amazon
Best for gaming: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|
| Architecture: | Zen 3 |
| Socket: | AM4 |
| Cores/Threads: | 6 cores 12 Threads |
| Base Frequency: | 3. 7GHz |
| Peak Frequency: | Up to 4.6GHz |
| TDP: | 65W |
| L3 Cache: | 32MB |
| Processor Technology: | TSMC 7nm FinFET |
| Overclocking: | Yes |
| MSRP: | $299 |
Intel’s new Core i5-12600K may have taken the lead over AMD in the best CPU race, but there’s no denying the Ryzen 5 5600X is still one of the best CPUs you can buy. It’s still arguably one of the best processors in AMD’s 5000 series based on the Zen 3 architecture. This remarkable CPU offers reliable performance in both gaming as well as other application workloads. As the new Ryzen 5 7600X begins to ship, though, it’s likely that the 5600X will soon be replaced on this list.
Be it day-to-day workloads, gaming, or even creative workload applications, the Ryzen 5 5600X is capable of handling them all with ease.
This is largely due to AMD’s Zen 3 architecture which results in an impressive 19 percent increase in IPC. The Ryzen 5 5600X is the reason why we didn’t add the Ryzen 7 5700X to this collection. It matches the general gaming performance of the 5700X while keeping the price lower.
The Ryzen 5 5600X brings six cores and twelve threads to the mid-range CPU battle. Additionally, the Ryzen 5 5600X brings other improvements to the table including a highly optimized boosting algorithm, improved memory overclocking, revamped cache topology, and more. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X has a base clock of 3.7GHz and a boost clock of 4.6 GHz. Pair it with the right motherboard and a potent cooling solution, and you can expect a higher short-term boost in clock speeds. The 65W TDP allows it to run both cooler and quieter compared to other processors in its class. For reference, the last-gen Ryzen 5 3600X had 95W TDP. Even the competing Intel CPU in its class has a higher TDP.
The 5600X matches the gaming performance of its more expensive siblings in the series.
In fact, it also topples Intel’s (admittedly older) Core i9-10900K in 1080p gaming. So this goes to show how the Ryzen 5 5600X really is when it comes to its pure performance. Even outside of gaming, we think this well-rounded chip packs enough performance for other workloads. It’s also one of the most power-efficient desktop PC processors on the market right now. The bundled CPU cooler is powerful enough to handle the CPU at stock settings, but we recommend getting an aftermarket unit for better results over time. A basic air cooler or even a compact AIO cooler will do the trick.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Processor
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The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X delivers strong performance in both single as well as multi-threaded workloads. It’s also one of the most reliable CPUs for gaming right now.
- Buy from Best Buy
Best for creators: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X |
|---|---|
| Architecture: | Zen 4 |
| Socket: | AM5 LGA 1718 |
| Cores/Threads: | 16-cores 32-Threads |
| Base Frequency: | 4. 5 GHz |
| Peak Frequency: | Up to 5.7 GHz |
| TDP: | 170W |
| L3 Cache: | 64MB |
| Processor Technology: | TSMC 5nm FinFET |
| Overclocking: | Yes |
| MSRP: | $699 |
AMD’s newest, most powerful Ryzen CPU is one that will have the creators out there pricking up their ears. One of Ryzen’s strengths ever since it first hit the market has been incredible multi-thread performance, important for taxing workloads. Intel has gone down a different route with its hybrid designs, but AMD is still keeping it a little more traditional and the Ryzen 9 7950X is 16-cores and 32-threads of raw, immense power.
Gamers can better spend their money since 16-cores is overkill and then some, but where the 7950X comes in is those who want to game and create.
When you consider it in that context it makes much more sense. Want to game and stream? Render high-resolution video? Use software such as Blender or Unreal Engine? In taxing processes like all of these sometimes there’s just no substitute for more. More cores, more threads, more performance.
The Ryzen 9 7950X is one of the first Zen 4, AM5 chips from AMD, the first time we’ve had a new socket in some years. As such you’ll need to upgrade everything in your rig. It only supports DDR5, you’ll need a new motherboard, too. It’s built to support PCIe 5.0, though admittedly there are limited use cases for that right now, but you can transfer over your existing PCIe 4.0 drives.
In our testing the Ryzen 9 7950X is every bit as impressive as you would hope it to be. It outclasses the Intel Core i9-12900K in almost every benchmark, even in single-core performance at times. Temperatures can get a little on the warm side but doesn’t exceed the 95C (203F) that AMD has previously declared.
At idle it’ll sit happily at 40C (104F) under an AIO cooler, and you’d be able to drop that even further with some serious liquid cooling. It’s still a bit toastier than Intel’s competing CPUs though, and we’re yet to see the 13th Gen Core i9 on the test bench.
Ultimately AMD has made a pretty meaningful update to the Ryzen family and its flagship model is going to be popular with creators. The days of needing two PCs to stream with, for example, are increasingly looking like being over thanks to advances such as this one. It’s pricey, yes, but it’s as powerful as you can get right now on a consumer platform. And AM5 is going to be here for many years to come, so you’re as future-proofed as it gets right now.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
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AMD’s latest flagship is a perfect CPU for creators who need a lot of cores for intensive workloads. It’s not too bad for gaming, either.
- See at Amazon
Best enthusiast CPU: Intel Core i9-12900K
| Specification | Intel Core i9-12900K |
|---|---|
| Architecture: | Alder Lake |
| Socket: | LGA1700 |
| Cores/Threads: | 16 cores – 8 P-Cores | 8 E-Cores 24 Threads |
| Base Frequency: | 3. 20GHz for P-Cores |2.40GHz for E-Cores |
| Peak Frequency: | 5.10GHz for P-Cores | 3.90GHz for E-Cores |
| TDP: | 125W |
| L3 Cache: | 30MB |
| Processor Technology: | 10 nm |
| Overclocking: | Yes |
| MSRP: | $599 |
Intel has finally turned the table in the desktop CPU space with its new Alder Lake chips. The Intel Core i9-12900K is currently the best high-performance mainstream CPU you can buy right now. It has managed to beat the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X to take the top spot and become our pick for the best CPU you can right now on the market. The Intel Core i9-12900K leaves no stones unturned to offer the kind of performance we’ve never seen from an Intel chip, really. It takes advantage of the new hybrid architecture to offer a combination of performance and efficiency cores.
The Intel Core i9-12900K features 8 P-Cores as well as 8 E-Cores. These work together to unlock a new level of performance while making the chip more power-efficient than its previous-gen counterpart. That’s right, the Intel Core i9-12900K is more powerful and power-efficient than the Core i9-11900K. 11900K’s high power draw was one of the biggest concerns of the last generation and Intel has addressed that with this new CPU. That being said, it still draws more power than the Ryzen 9 5950X, so do keep that in mind. It’s not really a surprise, though. The Core i9-12900K beats the Ryzen 9 5950X in both single as well as multi-threaded applications. It may not win by a huge margin, but it still trounces the Ryzen CPU.
This particular CPU, just like the Core i5-12600K takes advantage of the Intel Thread Director to schedule the tasks across both core types. During our testing, we were able to get solid benchmark numbers for this particular CPU across both single and multi-core tests.
You can check out our Intel Core i9-12900K review to learn more about our findings. The 12900K also supports both DDR5 RAM kits and the PCIe 5.0 slots. DDR5 memory modules are already available on the market, but they’re still hard to come by and will cost you a lot of money. PCIe 5.0 support, on the other hand, is nice to have, but you can’t really take advantage of it just yet. We’re expecting PCIe 5.0-based SSDs to arrive next year, though.
As is the case with the Core i5-12600K, you’ll have to put up with a high platform entry cost when it comes to the Core i9-12900K. You’ll need a new motherboard with a Z690 chipset and an LGA 1700 socket to run this CPU. Not to mention, you’ll also need an LGA 1700 CPU cooler since it doesn’t come bundled with a cooler. You’re looking at upwards of $1000 just between the CPU, motherboard, and the cooler. Add DDR5 modules to that, you’re looking at a potentially expensive rig.
As with the Core i5-12600K, the Core i9-12900K has its successor on the horizon.
The Core i9-13900K is due to launch on October 20 with 24-cores, 32-threads, and a promise of a much-improved performance per watt ratio. Nevertheless, if you can score a discounted Core i9-12900K you’re still going to have one heck of a PC. And 13th Gen will work with all the other hardware you put around it if you decide to upgrade.
Intel Core i9-12900K processor
-
The Intel Core i9-12900K is currently the best high-performance processor you can buy right now. It topples the Ryzen 9 5950X to become the new performance champ but you’ll have to spend more for the platform entry cost.
- Buy from BestBuy
Best budget CPU: Intel Core i5-12400
| Specification | Intel Core i5-12400 |
|---|---|
| Architecture: | Alder Lake |
| Socket: | LGA 1700 |
| Cores/Threads: | 6 cores (6 P-cores, 0 E-cores) 12 Threads |
| Base Frequency: | 2. 50GHz |
| Peak Frequency: | 4.40GHz |
| TDP: | 65W |
| L3 Cache: | 18MB |
| Processor Technology: | Intel 7 – 10nm |
| Overclocking: | No |
| MSRP: | $192 |
Intel unveiled the complete Alder Lake desktop CPU lineup at CES 2022, introducing as many as 22 new SKUs. In addition to the high-end parts including the 12600K and the 12900K, the Alder Lake family now has some low-powered mainstream CPUs too. Out of the bunch, we think the Intel Core i5-12400 is one of the best CPUs, especially for those who’re looking at budget CPU options. At under $200, the 12400 is certainly not the most affordable processor on the market, but we think it offers incredible value for money. It’s also not going to be replaced by a 13th Gen model, at least, not yet.
The Intel Core i5-12400 comes with six cores, all of them being performance cores. This means the Core i5-12400 lacks the E-cores as we’ve seen with a lot of other high-end Alder Lake chips. The lack of hybrid architecture allows this CPU to work independently of Intel’s new Thread Director. That’s right, the Core i5-12400 doesn’t rely on the Thread Director to schedule tasks on the correct cores. As a result, the 12400 tends to perform just as well on systems running on Windows 10 as it is on those running Windows 11.
The Core i5-12400 is also a stellar gaming chip that easily outperforms a lot of AMD’s competing processors. In fact, this particular chip is proven to be faster than the Ryzen 5 5600X in gaming, which is very impressive. With proper tuning, the Core i5-12400 is also said to outperform the Core i9-11900K from the last generation at gaming. Overall, it’s safe to that the 12400 is an excellent budget chip that also happens to do well in gaming.
One of the best things about this particular CPU is that it comes with its own CPU cooler.
Intel has decided to bundle its mainstream CPUs with the new range of Laminar CPU coolers. The Core i5-12400 is one of the mainstream chips that get the new Laminar Rh2 cooler out of the box. We’re yet to get our hands on this new CPU cooler, but we think it should be enough to handle the CPU at stock settings.
The Core i5-12400, however, demands a new chipset and a new CPU socket. You’ll need one of the new Intel 600-series chipset motherboards with an LGA 1700 socket to run this processor. Luckily, the more affordable B660 and H610 chipset-based motherboards have also started showing up on the market now, so you no longer have to rely on the expensive Z690 motherboards to use Alder Lake chips. The Core i5-12400 also comes with Intel UHD 730 graphics that let you use it without a discrete graphics card. If you already have a discrete GPU, however, then we recommend picking up the Core i5-12400F version that ditches the integrated graphics to save you more money.
Intel Core i5-12400
-
The Intel Core i5-12400 is a fantastic budget CPU in the Alder Lake family that handily topples a lot of other high-end chips on the market.
This CPU also comes with its own cooler inside the box.
- Buy from Best Buy
Best entry-level CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 5600G |
|---|---|
| Architecture: | Zen 3 |
| Socket: | AM4 |
| Cores/Threads: | 6 cores 12 Threads |
| Base Frequency: | 3.9GHz |
| Peak Frequency: | Up to 4.4GHz |
| TDP: | 65W |
| L3 Cache: | 16MB |
| Processor Technology: | TSMC 7nm FinFET |
| Overclocking: | Yes |
| MSRP: | $259 |
AMD’s Ryzen 5 5600G with an integrated GPU is our pick for the best budget CPU on the market right now.
It has entered the market during the worst graphics card shortage in history/ All graphics cards are either out of stock or selling for a premium, so we think it’s a great option for many who’re looking to build a PC right now. The Ryzen 5 5600G’s Vega graphics will serve you well as long as you’re willing to sacrifice visual fidelity up to an extent. But make no mistake, this has some of the best integrated graphics around.
The hexa-core Ryzen 5 5600G comes with a 3.7 GHz base and a 4.4 GHz boost clock. It also features 16MB of L3 cache, and seven Radeon RX Vega CUs operating at 1.9 GHz. It has a configurable TDP (cTDP) of 45W to 65W, although you can expect it to operate at 65W for the most part. It does it without producing too much heat, though. Compared to the more expensive Ryzen 5 5500X, the 5600G gets the Radeon RX Vega graphics engine in exchange for 200 MHz of peak CPU boost clock and half the L3 cache. You also have to make peace with 24 lanes of PCIe 3.0 instead of PCIe 4.
0, but you get support for the DDR4-3200 interface.
The 5600G should be good for 720p gaming across a lot of titles, but your experience will be limited the more demanding the resolution or the title. We’ve noticed this APU struggling to keep even at fairly low settings while working at 1080p resolution. Outside gaming though, it offers solid performance in standard desktop PC applications. The Ryzen 5 5600G gets brownie points for excellent power consumption and efficiency. The 5600G also shaves a lot of overhead costs with its bundled Wraith Stealth cooler and compatibility with AM4 motherboards.
Notably, the AMD Ryzen 5700G APU is also worth checking out if you want something more powerful than a number of other budget CPUs, including AMD’s older ones. It offers 15 percent more graphics performance, for example. And you can get started right now without a graphics card, something you can’t do with most of AMD’s Ryzen CPUs.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G Processor
-
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is a great APU for those who are currently struggling to buy a GPU on the market.
- Buy from BestBuy
| Specification | AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX |
|---|---|
| Architecture: | Zen 2 |
| Socket: | sTRX4 |
| Cores/Threads: | 64 cores 128 Threads |
| Base Frequency: | 2.7GHz |
| Peak Frequency: | Up to 4.2GHz |
| TDP: | 280W |
| L3 Cache: | 256MB |
| Processor Technology: | TSMC 7nm FinFET |
| Overclocking: | No |
| MSRP: | $5,489 |
In addition to a good mix of mainstream CPUs, we’re adding the AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX to the collection as a productivity workhorse. This is currently the best CPU for those looking to build a productivity machine, capable of chewing through multi-threaded workloads in no time.
It’s more powerful than every other mainstream CPU on our list for obvious reasons.
The Threadripper Pro 3995WX was an easy pick for us considering how the Threadripper 3000 processors rule the top end of the HEDT market with Intel’s delay in transitioning to the 10nm node. Intel will most likely make a splash in this category very soon with its new processors, but for now, you’ll find plenty of good workstation CPUs from AMD.
The AMD’s Threadripper 3995WX is an absolute unit with 64 cores and 128 threads. It also supports up to 2TB of memory spread out among eight memory channels, 128 lanes of PCIe 4.0 connectivity, among many other features. According to AMD, the Threadripper 3995WX is “a highly specialized processor that provides incredible performance in a narrow cross-section of workloads, but at an extremely attractive price point given its capabilities.” Despite its expensive price tag, we agree with AMD on the pricing. All things, considered, the Threadripper Pro 3995WX is a reasonably priced CPU.
The company’s decision to pair 64 cores and 128 threads with higher boost frequencies makes it one of the best silicon on the market for creative workloads. The Threadripper Pro 3995WX can deliver more performance than even dual-socket servers, which is quite impressive. The higher boost frequencies of the cores provide snappy performance in everyday tasks too. Gaming is also within the reach of this processor, however, we don’t recommend this CPU just for gaming. That’d be overkill since the current generation games aren’t designed to take advantage of these many cores anyway. The Threadripper 3995WX isn’t necessarily restricted to multi-threaded tasks either, but we’d rather go with other CPUs from the collection to handle mainstream workloads.
The Threadripper 3995WX is priced at $5,489, making it one of the most expensive CPUs on our list. Additionally, the cost of the components to build around the CPU will easily burn a huge hole in your pocket. AMD’s Threaripper Pro processors self-modulate performance based on the available thermal and electrical headroom, so it’ll also need one of the most powerful air or liquid cooling solutions on the market.
If you’re looking for a relatively cheaper workstation CPU, then the 64-Core Threadripper 3990X is also worth checking out. It serves as a great alternative for those looking for a more price-conscious model.
AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX Procecssor
-
The AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX is a workstation workhorse that’s best suited for heavy multi-threaded applications like 3D rending, video editing, etc.
- Buy from Amazon
Final Thoughts
Our collection of the best CPUs on the market reflects the ever-evolving market as we try our best to maintain an updated list of offerings. We’ve also updated this list to include the new 12th-gen Intel Alder Lake CPUs. The Intel Core i5-12600K is now our pick for the best overall CPU you can buy for your next PC build. It’s now followed by the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X as our second-best pick. Intel’s new Core i5-12400 is our pick for those who’re looking for a budget CPU that offers an incredible value for money.
Lastly, we’ve included APUs like the Ryzen 5 5600G in case you’re finding it too difficult to buy a GPU right now or you simply don’t have the budget.
While the AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX remains the best workstation CPU, we think the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X or the Core i9-12900K should be sufficient for enthusiasts and more demanding, creative workloads. They also let you stay within the realm of mainstream chips, as workstation builds demand stringent requirements.
Figuring out what you’re going to do with your PC and allocating a budget for it is a good place to start a PC build. A CPU is not the only core component affecting the performance, so make sure you’re spending just as much time looking for other stuff like the best GPUs, best SSDs, and more. You can also check out our collection of the best monitors, best keyboards, best webcams, etc. if you need help picking the right peripherals. Lastly, we also have some nice case options for you in our best PC case collection to pack everything inside a compatible enclosure without having to compromise on space or airflow.
Ryzen 5 5500 [in 1 benchmark]
AMD
Ryzen 5 5500
- Interface
- Core frequency
- Video memory size
- Memory type
- Memory frequency
- Maximum resolution
Description
AMD started AMD Ryzen 5 5500 sales on April 4, 2022. This is a Cezanne architecture desktop processor primarily aimed at office systems. It has 6 cores and 12 threads and is manufactured using 7nm process technology, the maximum frequency is 4200MHz, the multiplier is unlocked.
In terms of compatibility, this is a socket processor
AMD socket AM4
with a TDP of 65W and a maximum temperature of 95°C. It supports DDR4-3200 memory.
It provides poor benchmark performance at
19.32%
from the leader, which is AMD EPYC 7h22.
Ryzen 5
5500
or
EPYC
7h22
General information
Information about the type (desktop or laptop) and architecture of the Ryzen 5 5500, as well as the time when sales started and the cost at that time.
| Performance ranking | 340 | |
| Value for money |
Value for money
To obtain an index, we compare the characteristics of processors and their cost, taking into account the cost of other processors.
- 0
- 50
- 100
Features
Ryzen 5 5500 quantitative parameters such as number of cores and threads, clock speeds, manufacturing process, cache size and multiplier lock status. They indirectly speak about the performance of the processor, but for an accurate assessment, you need to consider the results of the tests.
Compatible
Information on Ryzen 5 5500 compatibility with other computer components.
Useful, for example, when choosing the configuration of a future computer or to upgrade an existing one.
Please note that the power consumption of some processors can significantly exceed their nominal TDP even without overclocking. Some may even double their claims if the motherboard allows you to adjust the power settings of the processor.
| AES-Ni | + | |
| AVX | + |
9002
Technologies supported by Ryzen 5 5500 that accelerate virtual machines are listed.
| AMD-V | + |
Memory support
Types, maximum size and channels of RAM supported by Ryzen 5 5500. Higher memory frequencies may be supported depending on the motherboard.
| RAM | DDR4-3200 | of 5200 (Ryzen 5 7600x) |
periphery
Ryzen 5 5500 supported peripherals and how to connect them.
| PCI Express revision | 3.0 | of 5 (Core i9-12900K) |
Benchmarks
These are the Ryzen 5 5500 non-gaming benchmark results. The overall score is set from 0 to 100, where 100 corresponds to the fastest processor at the moment.
Overall performance in tests
This is our overall performance rating. We regularly improve our algorithms, but if you find any inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in the comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.
Ryzen 5 5500
19.32
- Passmark
Passmark
Passmark CPU Mark is a widely used benchmark that consists of 8 different tests, including integer and floating point calculations, extended instruction tests, compression, encryption, and game physics calculations. Also includes a separate single-threaded test.
Benchmark coverage: 68%
Ryzen 5 5500
19477
Relative capacity
Overall performance of the Ryzen 5 5500 compared to its closest competitor in desktop processors.
Intel Core i5-11600KF
101.09
Intel Core i9-9900KS
100.41
Intel Core i5-12400
100.1
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
100
Intel Core i9-9820X
99.43
Intel Core i7-10700K
98.5
Intel Core i7-10700KF
97.72
Competitor from Intel
We believe that the nearest equivalent to Ryzen 5 5500 from Intel is Core i5-12400, which is roughly equal in speed and is lower by 2 positions in our rating.
Core i5
12400
Compare
Here are some of Intel’s closest competitors to the Ryzen 5 5500:
Intel Core i5-11600KF
101.09
Intel Core i9-9900KS
100.
41
Intel Core i5-12400
100.1
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
100
Intel Core i9-9820X
99.43
Intel Core i7-10700K
98.5
Intel Core i7-10700KF
97.72
Other processors
Here we recommend several processors that are more or less similar in performance to the reviewed one.
Core i5
12400
Compare
Core i9
9900KS
Compare
Core i5
11600KF
Compare
Core i5
11600K
Compare
Core i7
10700K
Compare
Core i5
12400F
Compare
Recommended graphics cards
According to our statistics, these cards are most often used with Ryzen 5 5500:
GeForce RTX
3060
9.
4%
GeForce RTX
3050 8GB
6.2%
GeForce GTX
1660 Super
6.1%
Radeon RX
6600
5.8%
Radeon RX
6500XT
5.1%
GeForce GTX
1650
4.9%
GeForce GTX
1050 Ti
4.8%
GeForce RTX
2060
4.8%
GeForce GTX
1060 6GB
2.7%
GeForce RTX
3060 Ti
2.6%
User rating
Here you can see the evaluation of the processor by users, as well as put your own rating.
Tips and comments
Here you can ask a question about the Ryzen 5 5500 processor, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report errors or inaccuracies on the site.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
Pentium D 820 [in 1 benchmark]
Intel
Pentium D 820
- Interface
- Core frequency
- Video memory size
- Memory type
- Memory frequency
- Maximum resolution
Description
Intel started Intel Pentium D 820 sales in May 2005. This is Smithfield architecture desktop processor primarily aimed at office systems. It has 2 cores and 2 threads and is manufactured by 90 nm process technology, the maximum frequency is 2800 MHz, the multiplier is locked.
In terms of compatibility, this is a PLGA775 socket processor with a TDP of 95W. It supports DDR1, DDR2, DDR3 memory.
It provides poor benchmark performance at
6.99%
from the leader, which is AMD EPYC 7h22.
Pentium D
820
or
EPYC
7h22
General information
Information about the type (for desktops or laptops) and architecture of the Pentium D 820, as well as when sales started and cost at that time.
| Performance ranking | 963 | |
| Value for money | 130 $ | of 14999 (Xeon Platinum 9282) |
The price-quality ratio
We compare the characteristics of processors and their value, taking into account the cost of other processors.
- 0
- 50
- 100
Features
Pentium D 820 quantitative parameters such as number of cores and threads, clock speeds, manufacturing process, cache size and multiplier lock state.
They indirectly speak about the performance of the processor, but for an accurate assessment, you need to consider the results of the tests.
NEMOLOW0005
| AES-NI | — | |
| Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST) | — | |
| Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST) | + | |
| Turbo Boost Technology | — | |
| Hyper-Threading Technology0060 | ||
| Idle States | + | |
| Thermal Monitoring | — | |
| Demand Based Switching | — | |
| PAE | 32 bit | |
| FSB parity | — | 021
Technologies embedded in the Pentium D 820 that improve system security, such as those designed to protect against hacking.
9002 1 9000.
Support for RAM1 1 1 9000
Tests in benchmarks021
These are the results of Pentium D 820 performance tests in non-gaming benchmarks. The overall score is set from 0 to 100, where 100 corresponds to the fastest processor at the moment. Overall performance in testsThis is our overall performance rating. We regularly improve our algorithms, but if you find any inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in the comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.
Pentium D 820
3DMark06 CPU3DMark06 is an outdated set of benchmarks based on DirectX 9 by Futuremark. Its processor part contains two tests, one of which calculates the pathfinding of game AI, the other emulates game physics using the PhysX package. Benchmark coverage: 19%
Pentium D 820 Relative capacityOverall Pentium D 820 performance compared to its nearest competitor desktop processors.
AMD Athlon Gold 3150G
AMD Athlon Gold PRO 3150GE
AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 3200GE
Intel Pentium D 820
Intel Core i7-4771
Intel Core i7-4770
Intel Core i7-980 Competitor from AMDWe believe that the nearest equivalent to Pentium D 820 from AMD is Athlon Gold PRO 3150GE, which is approximately equal in speed and is 3 positions higher in our rating. Compare Here are some of AMD’s closest Pentium D 820 competitors:
AMD Athlon Gold 3150G
AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 3200GE
AMD Athlon Gold PRO 3150GE
Intel Pentium D 820
AMD Ryzen 3 1300X
AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 3200G
AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B Other processorsHere we recommend several processors that are more or less similar in performance to the reviewed one. Compare Recommended video cardsAccording to our statistics, these video cards are most often used with Pentium D 820: 3.1% 3.1% 2.8% 2.2% 2. 2% 2% 1.9% 1.7% 1.5% User ratingHere you can see the evaluation of the processor by users, as well as put your own rating. Tips and commentsHere you can ask a question about the Pentium D 820 processor, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report errors or inaccuracies on the site. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Best gaming processors 2018 | EtalonGame The central processing unit or CPU is the most important core of a computer. In this article, we will present you with a selection of the best gaming processors of 2018, as well as a quick guide to help you choose the one that best suits your needs! Top 7 Gaming CPUs of 2018Here are the «winning» CPUs that made it to our list. Intel Core i3-8100About the processorThe first processor in this list is also the first 8th generation Intel Core i3 processor in this series. Unlike the previous generation of i3 models, which were all dual-core processors and relied on hyperthreading as a means to match the performance of quad-core processors, the latest i3 processors have 4 physical cores. This is Intel’s answer to the new AMD Ryzen 3 processors, which pushed out the previous generation i3 processors in mid-2017, which is obviously due to the increased number of physical cores. Overall, the Core i3-8100 is a great mid-range gaming product, and we’ll see exactly why. Specifications and Features
Negative moments
Pros
minuses
Intel Core i5-8600k Core i5 models within a long time , as they have remarkably provided the optimum ratio of performance and price. Indeed, the most powerful 8th generation i5 processor, the i5-8600K, continues this tradition. Just like the i3 models, the i5 also received an upgraded number of cores compared to the previous generation. If earlier they had 4, now they have 6 physical cores. Of course, it has been upgraded in almost every way and definitely deserves attention among mid-range and high-end gaming processors. Specifications and Features
Negatives
Pros
minuses
Intel Core i7-8700Kand, finally, we approached powerful i7-8700K, to be accurate. i7 processors are some of the most powerful desktop processors available. Like all other Intel Core series processors, i7 models also received a large number of cores. By and large, i7 processors are designed for demanding users, so they will not disappoint any gamer. Specifications and Features
Negatives
Pros
Cons
AMD Ryzen 3 1200The Ryzen 3 models were released a bit later in July 2017 and are a good budget solution for gaming. It is heavily upgraded from the previous FX series, while retaining the core benefits of those processors. The Ryzen 3 1200 is very affordable, with four physical cores and is fully unlocked, which means it can be overclocked regardless of the model. Specifications and Features
Negatives
Pros
minuses
AMD Ryzen 5 1600xprocessors Ryzen 5 were one of the earliest released released models, and the Ryzen 5 1600X we review here is the most powerful of them all. Its most significant feature is its 6 physical cores and a total of 12 logical cores thanks to AMD’s multi-threading technology. This, combined with a high base clock speed, makes this processor a very promising mid-range gaming proposition.
Negatives
Pros
Cons
AMD Ryzen 7 1800XFinally, a high-end model from AMD, Ry0zenX1. This is one of two Ryzen processors that were first introduced, and their performance was already breathtaking. Even on paper, the Ryzen 7 1800X is impressive. It has 8 physical cores and 16 threads, which is incredibly high for desktop processors. While it can’t beat the latest 8th gen i7 models, it still delivers great value for the price. Specifications and Features
Negative torques
Pros
Cons
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X3 for desktop computers — Ryzen Threadripper 1950X. This solid processor has its own unique TR4 socket, 16 physical cores and 32 threads, making it more of a processor designed for servers than a desktop gaming machine.Threadripper 19The 50X is the all-in-one solution for the hardcore gamer, avid overclocker, and anyone who needs a powerful processor ideal for multitasking. Specifications and Features
|
29
71
2% 
But how important is this for games? 
Keep in mind that the processor and motherboard must support Optane for it to work. 
They have moved to 6 physical and 12 logical cores, as opposed to the previous generation, which has 4 physical and 8 logical cores. In addition, i7 processors are the only 8th Gen Core processors to use Intel’s Hyper-Threading technology. 
All of this makes the Ryzen 3 1200 one of the best budget gaming processors currently on the market. 
Intel Core i5, the Ryzen 7 1800X still slightly outperforms the latest 8th Gen i7 processors when it comes to multitasking. but there is a significant lag in terms of single thread performance. 