Best gaming cpu august 2022: Best CPU for Gaming in 2022 — Top Gaming CPUs for the Money

Intel Core i5 12600K review

Our Verdict

The Core i5 12600K is the best CPU for gaming in 2021. It’s faster than a Core i9 11900K, and brings with it support for the latest tech in DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. For that, I dare say it’s actually a great PC building deal in 2021.

For

The best CPU for gaming in 2021
Faster than the Core i9 11900K
A more efficient Alder Lake chip

Against

Still more power-hungry than Ryzen
Doesn’t play nice with some games

£344

£293

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£298.08

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The Core i5 is the CPU that really matters for most gamers. It’s cheaper than a Core i7 or Core i9, but it still offers the fundamentals of what makes those chips great for gaming. With the Core i5 12600K, the first Core i5 of the Alder Lake generation, that’s no different, although that may be understating its abilities.

That’s because the Core i5 12600K is something even more impressive entirely: the equivalent of the top previous-gen chip in a package that’s almost half the price.

Yes, it only took one generation, and less than 12 months, for Intel to take its Core i9 performance and deliver it inside a Core i5 package. The Core i5 12600K really is shockingly good, and since it’s not pushing to the very limit of what Alder Lake can deliver in a single die, it’s a more power savvy design than the Core i9 12900K , which makes for a more well-rounded processor for mid- to high-end builds.

The deeper you dive into the Core i5 12600K’s performance, the more you start to realise it’s the real star of the 12th Gen show. Or at least until the rest of the Alder Lake desktop chips show up sometime early next year.

But who knows what the Core i5 12400, or any other cheaper Alder Lake chip, may hold for us in the future. The Core i5 12600K is the best way to spend your budget on a gaming CPU today.

Specifications

(Image credit: Future)

What’s inside the Intel Core i5 12600K?

The Intel Core i5 12600K is a CPU in a 6+4 design, and what I mean by that is it has six Performance Cores (P-Cores) and four Efficient Cores (E-Cores). This complimentary design is due to the Alder Lake architecture’s new hybrid approach, which you can read up on in more detail in our Intel Core i9 12900K review , though I’ll lay out the basics here too.

Essentially, there are two different Core architectures powering most 12th Gen processors: Golden Cove and Gracemont.

The Golden Cove architecture aims to be something close to your traditional CPU core as we gamers would know it, built to excel at single-threaded performance and deliver high clock speeds. These are the P-Cores.

Core i5 12600K specs

Cores (P+E): 6+4
Threads: 16
L3 Cache (Smart Cache): 20MB
L2 Cache: 9.5MB
Max P-core Turbo frequency (GHz): 4.9
Max E-core Turbo frequency (GHz): 3.6
P-core base frequency (GHz): 3.7
E-core base frequency (GHz): 2.8
Unlocked: Yes
Graphics: UHD Graphics 770
Memory support (up to): DDR5 4800MT/s, DDR4 3200MT/s
Processor Base Power (W): 125
Maximum Turbo Power (W): 150
Retail price: $280 | £300

The Gracemont architecture is something Alder Lake borrows from Intel’s Atom lineup of low-power chips. These are built to be efficient, and you can fit more of them onto a chip without taking up too much space. These are the E-Cores.

That’s dramatically underselling both architectures’ intricacies, but it helps explain the Core i5 12600K’s slightly obscure specs. This chip comes with six P-Cores and four E-Cores, as I have mentioned, which is actually a slight increase in overall core count over the Core i5 11600K . It’s also technically more physical cores than a Core i9 11900K , which as you’ll see when we get to the benchmarks, turns this Core i5 into an 11th Gen Core i9 killer.

Before we get to those juicy details, let’s cover off the remainder of the Core i5 12600K’s specs.

Both P-Core and E-Core share access to 20MB of Intel Smart Cache (L3), along with the integrated graphics onboard, which is the new UHD Graphics 770.

The Core i5 12600K sits just below the 5GHz mark on its P-Cores at stock frequencies, which means you’ll have to tweak it yourself to push it over that milestone. That shouldn’t be a problem with Intel’s promise of overclocking headroom . Its E-Cores will reach 3.6GHz at their fastest, too. The P-Core base clock is actually higher on this model than the Core i9 12900K, however, at 3.7GHz.

The Processor Base Power (PBP) of the Core i5 12600K is 125W, the same as the entire Alder Lake desktop CPU lineup to date. You might be wondering why it’s PBP and not TDP, and that’s because Intel has done away with TDP altogether for the 12th Gen. Instead, you’ll see PBP reference what used to roughly be the TDP of Intel’s processors, and a new Turbo Boost Power (TBP) mark the maximum draw of these chips during certain workloads. In the Core i5 12600K’s case, that TBP is 150W.

The price of the Core i5 12600K is recommended around $289–$299 on Intel’s own website, although that’s traditionally not been the price you’ll see as a customer on the shelves without discount. Newegg has the Core i5 12600K for sale at $319.99 instead, which is more likely going to be the buying price for this processor for a while.

Something slightly tangential to the specification of this chip, but definitely worth mentioning, is that Intel recommends using Windows 11 with these processors to get the most out of them. That comes down to that hybrid architecture and something Intel calls the Thread Director, which helps the OS schedule posts with greater granularity as to what’s going on. Though it does mean that with this chip you’ll probably be using an OS that we’re not entirely happy to recommend today .

And another thing, since this is a brand new 12th Gen chip with a brand new 12th Gen socket (LGA 1700), you’ll need a new motherboard to plug the Core i5 12600K into. That means a Z690 motherboard today, and could mean you have to spend a little more money on it than you might want for a more mid-range or budget-savvy build. We’re expecting cheaper chipsets next year, though, so if you’re happy to wait, I believe the market will come to you.

In the meantime, one way to save cash would be to grab a DDR4-compatible motherboard and save on your memory kit, instead of purchasing a DDR5-compatible board and buying the latest, greatest DDR5 RAM available. It is quick, though.

Benchmarks

(Image credit: Future)

How does the Intel Core i5 12600K perform?

It’s no secret now that the Intel Core i5 12600K is one helluva gaming chip. The single-threaded performance of the Golden Cove P-Cores means it blasts through most of our benchmarking suite with relative ease, and only just falls behind the Core i9 12900K in a few games.

Most impressively is how it dominates the Core i9 11900K in games (and more, but we’ll get to that). The Core i5 12600K is ahead of the Core i9 11900K in every gaming benchmark we’ve run, and far, far ahead of AMD’s Ryzen 5 5600X , which is its all-important competition at this moment.

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(Image credit: Future)

PC Gamer 12th Gen test rig: Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Hero, Corsair Dominator @ 5,200MHz (effective), Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, 1TB WD Black SN850 PCIe 4. 0, Asus ROG Ryujin II 360, NZXT 850W, DimasTech Mini V2, Windows 11
PC Gamer 11th Gen test rig: MSI MPG Z490 Carbon WiFi, Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB @ 3,600MHz (effective), Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, 1TB WD Black SN850 PCIe 4.0, Asus ROG Ryujin II 360, NZXT 850W, DimasTech Mini V2, Windows 11
PC Gamer AMD test rig: Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master, Thermaltake DDR4 @ 3,600MHz, Zadak Spark AIO, 2TB Sabrent Rocket PCIe 4.0, Corsair 850W, Windows 11

There was one pause for me in the Core i9 12600K’s benchmarking, however, and that’s when it came to Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla. This game simply will not boot on either of our Intel Alder Lake test systems, and it’s an ongoing issue (likely related to the DRM issues Intel has officially confirmed with Alder Lake) that Intel has told me it is looking into, with Ubisoft’s help.

For all the gains the hybrid Alder Lake architecture seems to be handing the Core i5 12600K, then, it’s also causing some launch day trouble.

Onwards from gaming and let’s not forget the productivity and multithreaded performance on offer here, which will help with all your creative application needs.

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(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

The Core i5 12600K crushes the Core i9 11900K in multithreaded testing. The same goes for the Ryzen 5 5600X. Perhaps that’s not that surprising, considering it does have more physical cores than both chips, but I have to say it’s surprising to see those E-Cores really making waves when it comes to multithreaded workloads. The Core i9 11900K actually has as many threads as the Core i5 12600K, but they’re no match for the real deal on die. At least not a 12th Gen die, anyways.

It’s impressive enough beating the Ryzen 5 5600X, which is a chip we’re very fond of here, but it’s another thing altogether for this chip to run circles around the Core i9 11900K. And we’re not done yet, if you look at the Core i5 12600K’s CPU package power, it’s a far less power-hungry processor than the Core i9 11900K, and more efficient by some margin despite crushing its performance.

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(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

It’s still not quite a match for AMD’s Ryzen 5 5600X, and only a little more efficient than the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X, which is saying something about the overall efficiency of Zen 3 and AMD’s Ryzen 5000-series. That’s the same story with the high-end Core i9 12900K, too, Intel just can’t seem to nail down the efficiency that AMD is able to deliver.

Generally, though, the Core i5 12600K is a fantastic gaming chip through and through, and I think it’s a prime example of what Intel can deliver when it’s not chasing AMD’s coat tails. It’s roughly priced the same as AMD’s chip, perhaps a touch pricier in practice, but it offers an entirely different class of performance with reasonable power demands.

Analysis

(Image credit: Future)

What does the Intel Core i5 12600K mean for PC gaming?

AMD has its work cut out following the release of the Core i5 12600K, and that’s great news for PC builders. Intel’s mid-range hasn’t felt at quite such a loss as its high-end chips these past generations, with chips such as the Core i5 11600K being one of our favourites in recent years, but the Core i5 12600K really takes those agreeable Core i5 qualities and turns them up to 11. Or rather, 12.

Also in as much as the Intel Core i5 12600K isn’t only a mighty chip on its own, it’s the keys to a whole next-gen platform. DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 SSDs are all a little more affordable for the Core i5 12600K’s clever balance of price and performance, and that makes the entire 12th Gen platform a little more digestible if you’re not prepared to spend thousands of dollars.

There is still the question of platform costs, which will play into AMD’s favour, at least for a little while. So maybe AMD isn’t quite shaking at the thought of the Core i5 12600K just yet, especially as AMD should have plenty to come back at Intel with in the new year, by the looks of it.

Yet in offering the same performance, if not better, for nearly half the cost of the top processor launched in this same year—Rocket Lake came out in 2021, people—Intel has really won me over with the Core i5 12600K.

Verdict

(Image credit: Future)

Should you buy an Intel Core i5 12600K?

The Core i5 12600K is the best CPU for gaming right now, if you’re in any way a sensible person. I’m not a sensible person and I’d want the Core i9 12900K or Ryzen 9 5950X just because, but if you really boil it down to price to performance, performance per watt, and sense check yourself for just a moment, the Core i5 12600K is the chip on top.

There’s some glimmer of hope that Intel may be able to deliver enough of this chip for its price to stick around, and that means we might finally have a piece of gaming hardware that actually feels like you’re getting a good deal.

With the state of graphics cards right now, even suggesting that feels wrong. But it’s true, the Core i5 12600K is a good deal. With some decently priced Z690 motherboards, it might even be a great deal for a gaming PC build. And that’s a PC that can offer high-end frame rates with the right graphics card—this is a suitably high-end chip masquerading as a mid-range hero, and doing a great job of it.

Perhaps the Core i5 12600KF is my actual pick for the best CPU for gaming today as it’s theoretically going to sit as the cheaper of the two. However, if you do decide to pick up either of the two, presumably whichever you can find for cheaper, you wouldn’t be putting a foot wrong.

Read our review policy

Core i5-12600K

Jacob earned his first byline writing for his own tech blog from his hometown in Wales in 2017. From there, he graduated to professionally breaking things as hardware writer at PCGamesN, where he would later win command of the kit cupboard as hardware editor. Nowadays, as senior hardware editor at PC Gamer, he spends his days reporting on the latest developments in the technology and gaming industry. When he’s not writing about GPUs and CPUs, however, you’ll find him trying to get as far away from the modern world as possible by wild camping.

Best CPU for Gaming 2022

Gaming processors to max out your FPS

By Kevin Lee, Danielle Abraham

Updated: Sep 2, 2022 6:52 am

Posted: Aug 18, 2022 8:38 pm

The hunt for a great gaming processor to pack into a high-end gaming PC may come after finding the best graphics cards. It’s not totally unreasonable to prioritize the GPU, as that component ultimately determines the quality settings and resolution you can run your games at. But beware, you can’t throw all your time and money into choosing your GPU only to skimp on a CPU. After all, your processor is arguably just as important as it dictates how well the rest of your gaming PC runs. A CPU that’s too weak can bottleneck your system, preventing your GPU from even running at its full capacity and doing all the things you purchased it for.

The processor isn’t just known as the ‘central processing unit’ for kicks, it’s in charge of how quickly your whole computer operates from the system memory to the SSDs holding your games – which is why it’s all so important to pick the best gaming CPU for your rig. Unlike graphics cards that you’ll be swapping in every other generation, the best gaming processors can last for years, so be sure you’re making the right choice you won’t regret in the long term.

Although the market for CPUs boils down to just Intel and AMD, each company has myriad offerings, and the market is always changing rapidly. There is an insane range of prices and seemingly constant updates that make it hard to keep up. The confusing model numbers don’t help much either. To help you figure it all out, here’s our rundown of the best CPUs for every type of PC gamer – and click here to find them in the UK.

TL;DR – These are the Best CPUs for Gaming

Intel Core i5-12600K

Intel Core i5-12400

AMD Ryzen 5 5600G

Intel Core i9-12900KS

AMD Ryzen 7 5700G

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

1.

Intel Core i5-12600K
Best CPU for Gaming

Intel Core i5-12600K

Cores: 10 (6P+4E) | Threads: 16 | Base Clock: 3.7GHz (P-core), 2.8 (E-core)| Boost Clock: 4.9GHz (P-core), 3.6GHz (E-core) | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 770 | L3 Cache: 20MB | TDP: 125W

Equal parts fast, affordable, and loaded with the latest technology, the Intel Core i5-12600K is the perfect addition to just about any PC parts list. This is the first i5 chip to include Intel’s hybrid architecture, making it a powerful and efficient CPU worth twice its price. This processor manages to pack in ten cores: six power cores and four efficient cores. These will help to divvy up tasks and keep your gaming worlds running smoothly. And on top of all that, serious hyper-threading adds to its muscle, so it can handle almost any game and run a stream at the same time.

The Intel Core i5-12600K runs at 3. 7GHz but can boost up to 4.9GHz on its P-core, and it boasts a solid 20MB of L3 cache to maintain consistently smooth performance through everyday operation. Plus, it’s future-proofed for DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 interfaces allowing the highest performance possible. For most gamers, this processor has everything you could possibly want to keep you satisfied including a high overclock ceiling. Just be sure you’ve got the latest LGA1700 motherboard to pair with this beauty. Overall, this pick goes far above what you’d expect from a CPU at such a reasonable price point.

2. Intel Core i5-12400

Best Budget CPU for Gaming

Intel Core i5-12400

Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | Base Clock: 2.5GHz | Boost Clock: 4.4GHz | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 730 | Intel Smart Cache: 18MB | TDP: 65W

With all the chip shortages of the past year, it’s great to see Intel’s latest round of CPUs are not only available but priced fairly. You can get the Intel Core i5-12400 for slightly over $200, which is insane considering all that’s packed into this device. It is part of the latest 12th generation lineup from Intel, but it lacks the hybrid efficient cores seen on other models. It’s no slouch though with a solid six cores and 12-threads for gaming. Plus, you’ll get great performance out of it, especially due to the support of the latest DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 interface.

This CPU has enough might to handle any mainstream gaming PC build, but its overclocking ability really puts it above the pack. Even better, this chip stays relatively cool and is not power-hungry even when being pushed to the limit. You’re in for some solid 1080p gaming, but it’ll also hold up in 1440p and 4K. And, if you still haven’t been able to get your hands on a new graphics card, this chip’s onboard graphics will get your computer up and running while you wait for the ideal GPU. Some light gaming can even be done on the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 730.

3. AMD Ryzen 5 5600G

Best Ultra Cheap CPU for Gaming

AMD Ryzen 5 5600G

Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | Base Clock: 3.9GHz | Boost Clock: 4.4GHz | Graphics: Radeon Vega 7 Graphics | L3 Cache: 4MB | TDP: 65W

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is your one-stop shop for affordable PC gaming. This processor comes in at just over $200, yet it’s packing all the processing and graphics power you need to get up and running in all your favorite games. That’s because this is an APU that bundles a CPU and GPU onto the same chip. You’re getting insane value thanks to that integrated graphics card.

You get six cores and twelve threads that run at a 3.9GHz base clock, easily handling most everyday tasks you throw at them. There’s even the possibility of doing some overclocking, and it can hit a boost clock of 4.4GHz. Meanwhile, the seven Radeon Graphics cores can muster some modest 1080p gaming performance. All of that comes in a 65W power budget that’ll be easy to keep cool thanks to the cooler that comes in the box.

4. Intel Core i9-12900KS

Fastest Gaming CPU

Intel Core i9-12900KS

Cores: 16 (8P+8E) | Threads: 24 | Base Clock: 3.4GHz (P-core), 2.5GHz(E-core) | Boost Clock: 5.5GHz (P-Core), 4.0GHz (E-core) | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 770 | L3 Cache: 30MB | TDP: 150W

Intel’s 12th gen CPUs are giving AMD a run for their money. The architecture of these new processors allows for more cores, better bandwidth, and insanely high speeds. The Intel Core i9-12900KS happens to be the best of the bunch, which is reflected in the price tag. There are a total of 16 cores packed into this chip. Two are even capable of 5.5GHz speeds, while you can get up to 5.2 GHz with an all-core boost on the performance cores using Intel’s wildly capable boost technologies. You’ll cruise along in your games and other lightly threaded activities. And, the eight efficient cores boast speeds up to 4 GHz, helping with multi-threading and taking the load off of the P-cores to prevent interruptions while gaming.

Aside from the solid core architecture, the Intel Core i9-12900KS supports the latest DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 interfaces. That means you might be spending a bit more on a new LGA1700 motherboard to use this CPU, but you’ll be ready for future upgrades to your build. You’ll also find that this chip can handle whatever you throw it. Honestly, it’s unlikely you’ll find a game that this CPU can’t handle with ease, even if you’re playing at 4K or 8K to push the processor to its limits while gaming at high frame rates. Just be aware that this is one power-hungry chip with a base power of 150W, and it’s going to need a great cooling option.

5. AMD Ryzen 7 5700G

Best APU for Gaming

AMD Ryzen 7 5700G

Cores: 8 | Threads: 16 | Base Clock: 3. 6GHz | Boost Clock: 4.6GHz | Graphics: Radeon Vega 8 Graphics | L3 Cache: 16MB | TDP: 65W

If you saw our ultra-cheap pick, the Ryzen 5 5600G, and liked the sound of it but wanted something with a bit more power, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G is the APU for you. You are getting a two-for-one deal with both a solid GPU and CPU on board. So, you’ll be saving a whole lot by not purchasing a separate graphics card. This option does stay at the same 65W TDP as its smaller sibling, but AMD has packed in eight cores with multi-threading, and it can hit boost clocks up to 4.6GHz. Plus, it still manages to stay cool even during heavy tasks, in part thanks to the included cooler.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G comes with a little extra oomph in the graphics department thanks to an extra graphics core, bringing the total to eight Radeon Graphics cores. And, where the Rzyen 5 5600G’s graphics cores run at 1900MHz, the Ryzen 7 5700G’s graphics cores run at 2,000MHz. You’ll be hardpressed to find another processor with faster-integrated graphics at such an affordable price.

6. AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

Best CPU for Video Editing

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

See it on Newegg

Cores: 16 | Threads: 32 | Base Clock: 3.4GHz | Boost Clock: 4.9GHz | L3 Cache: 64MB | TDP: 105W

When AMD first introduced its Zen architecture, you would have had to turn to its massive Threadripper processors to get a 16-core/32-thread chip. Now, it’s officially mainstream – or enthusiast anyway. The Ryzen 9 5950X delivers that incredible core count for under $600. Plus, it keeps those cores fed with information thanks to a hefty 64MB L3 cache.

With this many cores, you’ll have no problem recording and streaming your gameplay. And, when it comes to editing, the Ryzen 9 5950X won’t miss a beat. The multithreading ability of this CPU really puts it over the edge for content creators. It also supports PCIe 4.0, and since PCIe 5.0 hasn’t fully taken off, you’ll be able to take advantage of the fastest SSDs on the market to make loading projects and scrubbing through footage quicker than ever. You won’t even need an exotic cooler for this chip, as it only has a 105W TDP.

7. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

Best Ryzen CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

Cores: 8 | Threads: 16 | Base Clock: 3.4GHz | Boost Clock: 4.5GHz | L3 Cache: 96MB | TDP: 105W

If you’re in the AMD camp of CPUs and are looking for the beefiest option to cruise through games with ease, check out the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D. Eight cores with 16 threads are packed into this chip, giving you 3.4 GHz base speeds up to 4.5GHz when boosted. That combined with the 96MB of L3 cache in a 3D V arrangement, means this processor has some major gaming prowess. It also costs significantly less and doesn’t consume as much power as its most comparable Intel option, the Intel Core i9-12900KS. So, you won’t need to spend as much on powerful components, like a cooler or motherboard.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D slots easily into your AM4 socket and uses PCIe 4.0. Unfortunately, it’s Zen 3 architecture doesn’t support DDR5 or PCIe 5.0; you’ll have to turn to Intel’s Alder Lake CPUs for that. But if you’re not looking to upgrade your whole system, especially as Zen 4 releases later in the year, this is a great option to upgrade your current setup with insane gaming performance. It’s important to note that this is definitely a gaming processor, so you’ll want to turn elsewhere if you plan on doing a lot of non-gaming tasks on your PC.

Where to Get the Best CPU for Gaming in the UK

AMD

Ryzen 5 3600X

Best CPU for Gaming

AMD

Ryzen 3 3200G

Best Budget CPU for Gaming

Intel

Core i9-10900X

Best High-End CPU for Gaming

Intel

Core i5-10600K

Best Midrange CPU for Gaming

AMD

Ryzen 9 3950X

Best CPU for Gaming Video Editing

Intel

Pentium Gold G6400

Best Super Cheap CPU for Gaming

AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Best High-End Desktop Processor for Gaming

AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Best Streaming Gaming Processor

What’s Next for Gaming CPUs

AMD has made a huge splash with its Ryzen CPUs, and they’ve just continued to get better with each generation. With the Ryzen 5000 Series, they’re as strong as ever. AMD’s graphics department has also been playing catch up with Nvidia and getting within striking distance. Now, AMD is introducing the latest meeting point of those two product segments with the latest Ryzen 5000 Series APUs, which combine AMD’s processing cores with integrated graphics.

For PC builders on a budget, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G and AMD Ryzen 5 5600G are solid products. Both chips have a TDP of just 65W, making it easy to build a low-power PC around them. And, with their integrated graphics, they can help you get gaming while avoiding the graphics card shortage that we just now seem to be getting out of. For perspective, AMD boasts the Ryzen 7 5700G averaging 78fps at 1080p in Rogue Company with graphics set to High. So, these could be a solid bet for esports fans.

What to Look in for a CPU for Gaming

Below we’ve broken down the two types of processors you’ll find online or on store shelves, and some of the key specs you should look for in a gaming processor.

When looking for a gaming CPU, you’ll probably come across two types of processors: mainstream and High-End Desktop (HEDT). Mainstream processors are what you’ll primarily find on store shelves and online catalogs, and these typically include Intel’s Core i3, i5, i7, and i9 products as well as AMD Ryzen 3, 5, and 7-series chips.

HEDT processors are less prevalent and are easy enough to spot. All Intel HEDT CPUs come with an ‘X’ or ‘XE’ suffix at the end of their model names, meanwhile, AMD HEDT chips all fall under the Ryzen Threadripper brand.

What’s the difference between a mainstream processor and HEDT chip? Mainstream processors typically only support dual-channel memory – for a maximum of four DIMMs up to 64GB – and, thus far, a maximum of 24 PCIe lanes, which enable high-speed connections to graphics cards, NVMe, SSDs, and Thunderbolt 3 ports. HEDT processors, on the other hand, are physically larger to make room for more cores, while bringing memory support up to quad-channel – up to eight sticks for a total of 128GB of RAM – and a maximum of 64 PCIe lanes.

So, if you have the money and the desire to build the ultimate gaming PC, HEDT is the way to go. But that’ll probably be overkill for most users, so a mainstream processor should be what most users need.

Most users should aim for at least a quad-core processor

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The next thing you should be mindful of is how many cores a processor has. Cores are essentially the part of the CPU that receives instructions to perform calculations or actions, so the more cores you have the more you can do. Most entry-level processors should have two to four cores, four to six cores on mid-range chips, and at least six or eight cores on the highest-end CPUs, thought those numbers seem to be jumping up substantially these days.

How many cores do you need for gaming? Most users should aim for at least a hexa-core processor like the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G or Intel Core i5-12400. Most modern games should run well, but if you’re playing anything with a high character count or an abundance of in-game physics—i. e. anything from the real-time strategy genre—you might see frame rates improve with a octa-core processor.

Processor threads are far less important for gaming, but they help with multi-tasking and multi-threaded workloads. You’ll often see a number of threads right next to cores on the spec sheet of a CPU. Usually, the number of threads will be twice as high as the core count and they basically act as schedulers, telling the CPU core what to do next so there’s no downtime in between tasks.

This process is known as Hyper-threading on Intel’s platform and multi-threading on AMD-powered systems. Despite the different names, they achieve the same goal, whether that be making sure your next song streams in the background or your video renders as quickly as possible.

Kevin Lee is IGN’s Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam.

Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.

If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. For more, learn more.

The Best August 2022 Gaming PC Builds of the Month

PC Build Navigation:

$1500 Gaming PC Build for August 2022

$1000 Gaming PC Build for August 2022

$800 Gaming PC Build for August 2022

$500 Gaming PC Build for August 2022

The Gaming PC Build for August 2022 Update: This month everything seems to have stabilized in the PC hardware marketplace in terms of prices. There has been very little in terms of notable new releases and prices are holding strong. This is fantastic news if you have been planning your PC build for a while since it makes it much easier to cost our you build without worry about prices of GPUs and such going all over the place.

Each of the PC builds below for August 2022 are put together by individual budgets, and each budget represents a performance range you can expect to get in terms of PC gaming performance — whether you are expecting to play games at certain screen resolutions or at their highest settings.

Please keep in mind that every PC is and can be unique to its builder, so feel free to swap things like cases if you had your eye set on something more unique to you — and if you have any questions as per compatibility, please feel free to leave a comment.

Which August 2022 PC Build is right for you based on Your Gaming and Budget Needs?
The budgets included below should accommodate most PC gamers out there that play in many gaming settings, maxing games anywhere from 1080p to 1440p and playing really well into 4K.

If you are not sure which pc build is right for you based solely on your budget, then here is a quick breakdown of which build may be a right fit for you (*rough performance guidelines):

$1500 PC Build: For gaming at 2K resolutions into 4K

$1000 PC Build: For gaming MAX settings at 2K resolutions

$800 PC Build: For gaming at MAX settings 1080p resolutions into 2K

$500 PC Build: For being able to game in any game at 1080p.

Good luck building your top-of-the-line August for $500 $800 $1000 and $1500 in 2022. If you have any questions be sure to leave a comment or simply join our new Facebook Group: Gaming PC Builders Facebook Group.

Bookmark our Best Gaming PC Builds for 2022 Page to Keep up to Date With the Monthly Gaming PC Builds, or subscribe here.

The

Best $1500 Gaming PC Build | August 2022
Performance: Game with Extreme settings and High FPS at resolutions of 1920×1080 (1080P) & 2560×1440 (1440p) + good gameplay at 4K

*This Gaming PC Build is powered by the Intel i5 12400 CPU and an RTX 3080 Graphics Card

1. CPU: Intel Core i5-12400
*Newer addition and faster than the previous Ryzen chip in this build.

6 Processor Cores and 12 Threads

4.4 Max GHz, 2.5 base GHz

Compatible with Intel 600 Series Chipset based motherboards

Intel UHD Graphics 730 included

Intel Laminar RM1 Cooler included

Amazon Price: $193. 95

2. Cooler: Intel Laminar RM1 (*Included with CPU)
The Intel i5 12400 comes with the Intel Laminar RM1 Cooler included. This cooler will work just fine, however, if you want to really get the most out of overclocking (should you choose to), then you may want to purchase a better CPU cooler.

3. Motherboard: ASUS Prime B660-PLUS D4 LGA 1700(Intel 12th Gen) ATX Motherboard

Intel LGA 1700 socket: Ready for 12th Gen Intel Core, Pentium Gold and Celeron Processors

Comprehensive cooling: VRM heatsink, M.2 heatsink, PCH heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 2+

ASUS OptiMem: Careful routing of traces and vias to preserve signal integrity for improved memory stability

Amazon Price: $139.99

4. Graphics Card: GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce RTX 3080 Master 12G Graphics Card
The RTX 3080 is a FANTASTIC gaming card and will crush ANY game you throw at it. In fact, it may be too much card for most gamers, but it is a phenomenal graphics card for gaming and will push your gaming performance to be able to play at the highest settings with high FPS into 1440p and plays very well at 4K.

Cost (Amazon): $799.99

5. RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 X 8GB) DDR4 3600 MHz
16GB of RAM is the perfect spot for any high-end gaming pc — included is a 16GB kit of Corsair Vengeance LPX.

Amazon Price: $67.99

6. SSD: Crucial P2 1TB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD Up to 2400MB/s — CT1000P2SSD8

Capacity: 1TB but Up to 2TB with sequential reads/writes up to 2400MB/s/1900MB/s

NVMe PCIe interface, marking the next step in storage innovation

Includes SSD management software for performance optimization, data security, and firmware updates

5-year limited warranty

Amazon Price: $71.99

7. Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 850 Ga, 80 Plus Gold 850W, Fully Modular

80 plus Gold certified, with 90% efficiency or higher under typical loads

Fully modular to reduce clutter and improve airflow

100% Japanese capacitors, LLC resonant circuit design DC-DC converter design to improve 3.3V. 5V. Stability

Double ball Bearing fan and EVGA eco mode for exceptional reliability and quiet operation

Amazon Price: $94.99

8. PC Case: Corsair 4000D

Combining innovative cable management, concentrated airflow, and proven CORSAIR build quality, the 4000D is a fitting choice for an immaculate high-performance PC.

The CORSAIR RapidRoute cable management system makes it simple and fast to route your major cables through a single channel, with a roomy 25mm of space behind the motherboard for all of your cables.

Includes two CORSAIR 120mm AirGuide fans, utilizing anti-vortex vanes to concentrate airflow and enhance cooling.

A spacious interior fits up to 6x 120mm or 4x 140mm cooling fans, along with multiple radiators including 360mm in front and 280mm on the roof (dependent on RAM height).

Put modern connections within easy reach with a front I/O panel including a USB 3.1 Type-C Port, USB 3.0 port, and a combination audio/microphone jack

Amazon Price: $104.99

ESTIMATED PRICE (August 2022): $1473

Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $1500

The best $1500 gaming pc build for August 2022 includes one of the best performing gaming CPUs in the market right now, the Intel i5 12400, hands down. There are better CPUs, but for price per performance it just doesn’t make sense to go all out unless you have other things in mind for your PC. If that’s the case, then you may want to check out the hardware upgrade suggestions in the full $1500 gaming PC build of the month article.

This is paired with another powerfully new piece of hardware, the RTX 3080 graphics card, making this a very powerful gaming pc capable of extreme performance in games at higher resolutions — we’re talking exceptional 4K gaming at well above 60FPS and of course, phenomenal FPS performance at 1440P and 1080p. You just can’t go wrong here as months prior, an RTX 3070 barely fit in this PC budget.

If you are looking for an over-the-top, very fast-performing gaming PC build that you don’t have to worry about tweaking very much in order to max all games out at HD and higher resolutions, then this build is for you. However, unless you are wanting to get into seriously high-end 4K gaming, you shouldn’t need much more.

If you still think you need increased performance, you could upgrade your CPU or GPU if you have the excess funds to do so. If that is the case, you could simply consider upping the graphics card to something like an RTX 3080 Ti. This build also includes a very good gaming pc case, with great cooling, included and more.

$1500 Gaming PC Build of the Month Upgrades

If you have more to spend, then you could check out some hardware alternative suggestions. This could be for either upgrading this build before or after you buy it. To do so, visit the full $1500 gaming pc builds overview here:

To read the full overview and for a list of hardware alternatives, please visit the FULL Best $1500 Gaming PC Build Page

The

Best $1000 Gaming PC Build | August 2022
Capability: Game with Extreme settings at 1920X1080 (HD) resolutions up to Higher Settings at 2560×1440 (2K)

Powered by the Intel i5 12400 CPU and the RX 6600 XT Graphics Card

1. CPU: Intel Core i5-12400
The Intel Core i5 12400 replaces the previous Ryzen 5600X in this spot and is on average better overall in both single-core and multi-core performance and in gaming.

Amazon Price: $193.95

2. Cooler: Intel Laminar RM1 Cooler (Included)
This is the stock cooler for the Intel Core i5 12400. It would be recommended that if you want to overclock upgrade this to an after-market CPU cooler (see hardware alternatives for options).

Price: *Included

3. Motherboard: GIGABYTE B660M DS3H DDR4
This is a great budget B650 motherboard with the following specifications:

Intel LGA 1700 Socket: Supports 12th Gen Intel Core Series Processors

DDR4 Compatible: Dual Channel DDR4, 4 DIMMs

Sturdy Power Design: 6+2+1 Phases Hybrid Power Design, Premium Choke and Capacitors, 8-pin Solid Pin CPU Power Connector

Comprehensive Thermal Design: M. 2 Thermal Guard

Next Gen Connectivity: PCIe 4.0, Dual NVME PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2, USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, HDMI 2.0,

Fast Networking: 2.5GbE LAN

Dynamic Audio: High-End Audio Capacitors, Audio Noise Guard

Fine Tuning Features: RGB FUSION 2.0, Supports Addressable LED & RGB LED Strips, Smart Fan 6, Q-Flash Plus Update BIOS without installing, CPU, Memory, and GPU

Amazon Price: $109.99

4. Graphics Card: XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 6600 XT
The 6600XT is a great graphics card for most standard gaming and is faster than previous cards in this bracket.

Price: $379.99

5. RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 X 8GB) DDR4 3600
Included is a total of 16GB in the best $1000 gaming pc build, which will be plenty of memory for this rig.

Amazon Price: $67.99

6. SSD: Crucial P2 1TB 3D NAND NVMe

Capacity: 1TB with sequential reads/writes up to 2400MB/s/1900MB/s

NVMe PCIe interface, marking the next step in storage innovation

Includes SSD management software for performance optimization, data security, and firmware updates

5-year limited warranty

Amazon Price: $71. 99

7. Power Supply: EVGA 220-G5-0650-X1 Super Nova 650 G5, 80 Plus Gold 650W
The sweet spot for this build is 650W of juice, and the EVGA 650 Ga 80 Plus Gold does the trick.

80 plus Gold certified, with 91% efficiency or higher under typical loads

Fully modular to reduce clutter and improve airflow. Input Voltage:100 — 240 VAC

100% Japanese capacitors, active clamp +DC-DC converter design to improve 3.3V./ 5V. Stability

Fluid dynamic bearing fan and EVGA eco mode for ultra-quiet operation and increased lifespan

Amazon Price: $64.99

8. PC Case: NZXT H510 — CA-H510B-W1 — Compact ATX Mid-Tower PC Gaming Case (White or Black)

Front I/O USB Type-C Port and Tempered glass side panel with single screw installation

Enhanced cable management: Our patented cable routing kit with pre-installed channels and straps makes wiring easy and intuitive

STREAMLINED COOLING: 2 Aer F120mm fans are included for optimal internal airflow and the front panel and PSU intakes include removable filters, a removable bracket designed for radiators up to 240mm — simplifies the installation of either closed-loop or custom-loop water cooling

Motherboard support: Mini-ITX, MicroATX, and ATX

Amazon Price: $89. 99

Estimated Cost (August 2022): $979

Overview | $1000 Best Gaming PC Build 2022

The August $1000 PC build includes an Intel i5 12400 CPU (same as the above $1500 pc build) and includes a stock cooler. You don’t have to spend any money upfront for a cooler, however, if you want more superior cooling should you be overclocking, you could consider a better cooler (check out the Best 2022 $1000 gaming pc build page for upgrade alternatives).

The real performance driver behind this build is the RX 6600 XT, which at the moment of posting this article is in stock and has improved significantly in cost this month.

This $1000 pc build will play games smoothly at a high refresh rate of 1080p gameplay and really well into 1400p (2K) resolution gameplay at high FPS.

$1000 Gaming PC Build of the Month Upgrades

To read the full overview and for a list of hardware alternatives, please visit the FULL Best $1000 Gaming PC Build Page

If you visit the full overview for the best $1000 build you’ll also find hardware alternatives and upgrades. This can be upgraded hardware including a better graphics card, more memory, or even more storage space should you need it.

The

Best $800 Gaming PC Build | August 2022
Capability: Game Smoothly with High settings and FPS at 1920X1080 resolutions in most games with the best $800 Gaming PC Build.

Powered by the Intel Core i5-11400 CPU and an RTX 6600 Graphics Card

1. CPU: Intel Core i3 (12th Gen) i3-12100

Intel® Core® i3 3.30 GHz processor uses less power and the hyper-threading architecture delivers high performance for demanding applications at an affordable price

12 MB of L3 cache rapidly retrieves the most used data available to improve system performance

Built-in Intel UHD Graphics 730 controller for improved graphics and visual quality. Supports up to 4 monitors.

Amazon Price: $129.98

2. Cooler: Intel PCG 2020C Laminar Cooler (Included)
Price: *Included

3. Motherboard: GIGABYTE B660M DS3H DDR4 Motherboard

Intel LGA 1700 Socket: Supports 12th Gen Intel Core Series Processors

DDR4 Compatible: Dual Channel DDR4, 4 DIMMs

Sturdy Power Design: 6 plus2 plus1 Phases Hybrid Power Design, Premium Choke and Capacitors, 8-pin Solid Pin CPU Power Connector

Comprehensive Thermal Design: M.2 Thermal Guard

Next Gen Connectivity: PCIe 4.0, Dual NVME PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2, USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, HDMI 2.0,

Fast Networking: 2.5GbE LAN

Dynamic Audio: High-End Audio Capacitors, Audio Noise Guard

Fine Tuning Features: RGB FUSION 2.0, Supports Addressable LED & RGB LED Strips, Smart Fan 6, Q-Flash Plus Update BIOS without installing, CPU, Memory, and GPU

Amazon Price: $109.99

4. Graphics Card: XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600
The $800 gaming PC build is featuring the RX 6600, which offers top-of-the-line $800 gaming PC performance, blasting through the previous card offerings in this spot — providing very high 1080p FPS gameplay.

Price: $299.99

5. RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 X 8GB) DDR4 3600
16GB of RAM is the sweet spot for any gaming pc out there and should be all you need — however there is always room to upgrade!

Amazon Price: $67.99

6. SSD: Crucial P2 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD

Capacity: 500GB with sequential reads or writes up to 2400MB/s/1900MB/s

NVMe PCIe interface, marking the next step in storage innovation

Includes SSD management software for performance optimization, data security, and firmware updates

Backed by a limited 5-year warranty or up to the max endurance rating of 150 TBW

Amazon Price: $39.99
*On Sale

7. Power Supply Unit: Apevia ATX-PR600W Prestige 600W 80+ Gold Certified, RoHS Compliance, Active PFC ATX Gaming Power Supply

Supports Dual/Quad/multi-core CPUs. Supports single 12V output for higher power usage

Dc to DC converter design, provides superior dynamic response, greater system stability and maximizes the 12V DC rail output

Multi-gpu technologies supported; 6 pin and 8 pin PCI-E connectors support all GPU platforms. Built in 1 x auto-thermally controlled black 135mm fan

Connectors: 1 x 20/24pin main power, 1 x 4/8pin 12V, 2 x PCI 6+2pin, 4 x SATA, 4 x peripheral. All protections

Apevia ATX-PR600W Prestige 600W 80+ Gold Certified, RoHS Compliance, Active PFC ATX Gaming Power Supply, 3 Year Warranty

Amazon Price: $51.99

8. PC Case: Zalman S3 ATX Mid Tower Computer PC Case

Luxurious Hairline Front Panel Design & Dual Intake Design with Metal Finish

Full Acrylic windowed side-panel applied

Dual line front ventilation with metallic Decoration

Top & Bottom Dust Filter (smooth Air Circulation & Protect the case from dust)

Zalman’s Optimized Cooling Solution (up to 8 fans can be installed)

Convenient Interface (USB 3. 0, 2.0, Reset Button)

Front Radiator Max 120mm (VGA Card Max 330mm)

Amazon Price: $54.99

Estimated Price (August 2022): $755

Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $800

The $800 gaming PC builds of the month for August 2022 is for those who just want to build a solid pc capable of over 100FPS gaming at standard HD 1080P resolutions and well over 60FPS at 1440P (this is new for August as the graphics card had a significant upgrade). This is truly the ‘every person’ type build for those that just want to get gaming on a PC and do it at fairly decent performance settings.

The CPU included this month is a huge upgrade with the Intel i3 12100 CPU, which is a very capable CPU, which also has decent integrated graphics and is currently at a fantastic cost. So what this means is that if you want to wait for a better deal on the graphics card, this CPU will get you up and running without one in the meantime, and would enable some lower-end gaming.

The graphics card included is a Radeon RX 6600 graphics card, which will push games to max settings under a 1080p resolution at higher FPS and even does well at 1440P than before with this budget. This build is probably most of what any very typical “I just want to game” gamers out there as it does max games out easily at 1080p standard HD monitor resolutions.

$800 Gaming PC Build of the Month Upgrades

To read the full overview and for a list of hardware alternatives, please visit the FULL Best $800 Gaming PC Build Page

The best $800 gaming pc build can be further upgraded — visit the full overview page for a full overview of this build including suggestions for hardware upgrades including a higher-performing CPU, a high-performing graphics card for those more intense games, or even a better pc case.

The

Best $500 Gaming PC Build | August 2022
Capability: Game at 720p to 1080p resolutions in most games.

Powered by the Ryzen 5 5600G CPU with integrated Radeon RX Graphics

1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G

(*You don’t need a graphics card with this CPU as it comes with Integrated Radeon Graphics for smooth 1080p gaming)

Features best-in-class graphics performance in a desktop processor for smooth 1080p gaming, no graphics card required

6 Cores and 12 processing threads, bundled with the AMD Wraith Stealth cooler

4.4 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 19 MB cache, DDR4-3200 support

For the advanced Socket AM4 platform

Amazon Price: $147.10
*On sale

2. Cooler: AMD Wraith Stealth Cooler (Included)
This cooler is included with the AMD Ryzen 5600G CPU

3. Motherboard: GIGABYTE B550M DS3H Motherboard
This motherboard is a quality budget Micro ATX sized board, that features everything you’d need in a $500 PC, including:

Supports 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Processors

Dual Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs

5 plus 3 Phases Pure Digital VRM Solution with Low RDS(on) MOSFETs

Ultra Durable PCIe 4. 0 Ready x16 Slot

Dual Ultra-Fast NVMe PCIe 4. 0/3. 0 M. 2 Connectors

High Quality Audio Capacitors and Audio Noise Guard for Ultimate Audio Quality

GIGABYTE Exclusive 8118 Gaming GbE LAN with Bandwidth Management

Rear HDMI and DVI Support

RGB FUSION 2. 0 with Multi-Zone Addressable LED Light Show Design

Supports Addressable LED and RGB LED Strips

Amazon Price: $108.99

4. Graphics Card: *Integrated Radeon RX Graphics Included
The Ryzen 5 5600G comes with integrated Radeon Graphics at a graphics frequency of 1900 MHz and a graphics core count of 7.

*Alternative discrete graphics cards if you want future upgrades or better performance:

GTX 1650 Super (~$450)

5. RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 X 8GB) DDR4 3600 MHz
16GB is an upgrade to the $500 gaming PC build, and might even be more than you actually need. However, at the moment 16GB kits are close in cost to 8GB ones at the moment anyhow — so it only makes sense.

Amazon Price: $67.99

6. SSD: Crucial P2 250GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe

Capacity: Up to 2TB with sequential reads or writes up to 2400MB/s/1900MB/s

NVMe PCIe interface, marking the next step in storage innovation

Includes SSD management software for performance optimization, data security, and firmware updates

Backed by a limited 5-year warranty or up to the max endurance rating of 150 TBW

Amazon Price: $39.89

7. Power Supply Unit: Thermaltake Smart 500W 80+ White Certified PSU, Continuous Power with 120mm Ultra Quiet Cooling Fan
500W is plenty for this pc build and the Thermaltake Smart 500W RGB does the trick perfectly.

Delivers 500 Watt Continuous output at plus 40 degree. Compliance with Intel ATX 12 Volt 2.31 & EPS 12V 2. 92 standards

80 PLUS Certified, 80 percentage efficiency under typical load

Supports (2) PCI E 6+2pin Connectors. Active (PFC) Power Factor Correction, MTBF: 100,000 hours

Industry Grade Protections: (OPP) Over Power Protection, (OVP) Over Voltage Protection, (SCP) Short Circuit Protection

High Quality Components

Equipped with a powerful plus 12 Volt rail, superior performance under all types of system loading

5 Year Warranty

Amazon Price: $34.99

8. PC Case: Zalman S3 ATX Mid Tower Computer PC Case

Luxurious Hairline Front Panel Design & Dual Intake Design with Metal Finish

Full Acrylic windowed side-panel applied

Dual line front ventilation with metallic Decoration

Top & Bottom Dust Filter (smooth Air Circulation & Protect the case from dust)

Zalman’s Optimized Cooling Solution (up to 8 fans can be installed)

Convenient Interface (USB 3. 0, 2.0, Reset Button)

Front Radiator Max 120mm (VGA Card Max 330mm)

Amazon Price: $54.99

Estimated Price (August 2022): $453.95
(*Using integrated graphics)

Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $500

For the $500 gaming PC build of the month for August 2022, you will get you up and play at standard HD 1080P resolutions with game settings scaled back for optimal FPS gameplay and it uses integrated graphics, which makes this the most accessible pc to game on out of all of the gaming pc builds of the month.

The $500 gaming pc build is currently powered by the Ryzen 5 5600G CPU with integrated Radeon RX graphics. This means you do not need a graphics card to get up and start gaming, which is a plus since cards are really inflated with regard to cost at the moment. This also gives you the option to also add a better graphics card for increased performance in the $500 gaming pc build of the month.

This gaming PC build is a back-to-the-basics type build that focuses solely on getting as much performance as possible from each dollar spent. That means no bells and whistles, only pure performance and concentration on the necessities of our build.

This could be considered the gateway PC for those breaking free of the gaming console and jumping into PC gaming – or for those who want an affordable gaming pc that can play any game out there with scaled settings.

$500 Gaming PC Build of the Month Upgrades

As with all of the gaming pc builds of the month, there are plenty of upgrades that you could consider if you had just a bit more to spend. You can check these out here:

To read the full overview and for a list of hardware alternatives, please visit the FULL Best $500 Gaming PC Build Page

The best $500 gaming pc build can be further upgraded — visit the full overview page for a full overview of this build including suggestions for hardware upgrades including a higher-performing CPU, or a high-performing graphics card.

Operating Systems for Your Gaming PC

Do keep in mind that you will also need an operating system, however, it’s not too difficult to find keys for windows 11 online, you will need to install it using something like a USB key or external drive.

OS Link Price Image

Windows 10 or 11
Make a Windows 11 Installation Media
Download and install Windows on a USB (Need another PC)

Ubuntu (Linux OS) Ubuntu – Desktop Free (open source)

SteamOS SteamOS – “Build your own Steam Machine” Free

August 2022 Gaming PC Builds of the Month Overview Video

*Coming soon

A Step by Step on How to Build a Gaming PC this 2022

Looking for a step-by-step on how to build your pc? Then check out our article for 2022: A Step by Step on How to Build a Gaming PC this 2022 or simply leave a comment below with any questions!

Best of luck building the best possible gaming pc build for your budget! Questions? Leave them below.

The 5 best gaming CPUs of 2022

Gaming today sure is not what it used to be.

Every day, systems are evolving, and new games are launching, offering an endless buffet of entertainment for your daily needs. However, not all PCs may be up to the task for that brand-new, power-hungry game with upgraded graphics.

Before you buy a new CPU, it is important to consider which model is the right fit for your needs and the type of gaming you enjoy. This list is a great place to start with the best CPU gaming systems of 2022.

pros

Decent cache

Fair pricing

Excellent overclock ceiling

cons

CPU cooler not included

Lower speeds

Not compatible with all games

Tech specs: Launched: 2021 | Product collection: 12th Generation | CPU type: Desktop | Total cores: 10 | Total threads: 16 | Performance-core max turbo frequency: 4. 90 GHz | Efficient-core max turbo frequency: 3.60 GHz | Performance-core bass frequency: 3.70 GHz | Efficient-core base frequency: 2.80 GHz | Cache: 20 MB Intel Smart Cache | Total L2 Cache: 9.5 MB | Processor base power: 125 W | Maximum turbo power: 150 W | Maximum memory size: 128 GB | Processor graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Warranty: Intel offers a three-year limited warranty with the Core i5-12600K

The 12th Generation Intel Core i5-12600K is a fantastic mid-range option. At around $300, it is an affordable option with decent speeds at around 3.70 GHz, although it is the slowest CPU on our list. The 10-core processor combines solid speeds with fast processing using six performance cores and four efficient cores. It is a three-speed system that uses an LGA 1700 socket. Its design incorporates hyper-threading architecture, which means you can count on this system to still perform well despite demanding, power-hungry programs. It also features a signature turbo boost with new, revamped Intel UHD graphics. The L3 cache is capable of holding up to 16 MB of data for improved performance with exclusive Intel 7 Architecture and incorporated microarchitecture for power efficiency.

View now at AmazonView now at Best Buy

pros

High-performing

Most threads

Solid cache

cons

Requires a lot of power

Finicky with Windows 10

Expensive

Tech specs: Launched: 2021 | Product collection: 12th Generation | CPU type: Desktop | Total cores: 16 | Total threads: 24 | Max turbo frequency: 5. 20 GHz | Efficient-core max turbo frequency: 3.90 GHz | Performance-core bass frequency: 5.10 GHz | Performance-core base frequency: 3.90 GHz | Efficient-core base frequency: 3.90 GHz | Cache: 30 MB Intel Smart Cache | Total L2 Cache: 14 MB | Processor base power: 125 W | Maximum turbo power: 241 W | Maximum memory size: 128 GB | Processor graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 770

The Intel Core i9-12900K uses an LGA 1700 socket, allowing for PCB installation. The L3 cache includes 30 MG of memory, which is about average for the models on our list of 2022’s best gaming CPUs. This model features a 12th Generation Intel Core i9-12900K desktop processor and a maximum clock speed(1) of up to 5. 2 GHz. Experience improved 10 nm performance per watt with the benefit of added power efficiency, thanks to integrated micro-architecture. The Intel Thread Director is able to sort and coordinate multiple workloads so your system does not get bogged down from internal minutiae. There are a whopping 16 performance cores and eight efficient cores for a total of 24 threads. Plus, the Intel Smart Cache enables 30 MB of storage with 600 series(3) motherboard capacity and a 1700 socket. This comes both unlocked and overclockable.

View now at AmazonView now at Best Buy

pros

Good cache

Fantastic multi-tasking capability

Power-efficient

cons

More expensive than previous models

Limited 6-core processor

Minimal threads

Tech specs: System Memory Type: DDR4 | Launched: 2021 | Product collection: 12th Generation | CPU type: Desktop | Total cores: 10 | Total threads: 16 | Performance-core max turbo frequency: 4. 90 GHz | Efficient-core max turbo frequency: 3.60 GHz | Performance-core bass frequency: 3.70 GHz | Efficient-core base frequency: 2.80 GHz | Cache: 20 MB Intel Smart Cache | Total L2 Cache: 9.5 MB | Processor base power: 125 W | Maximum turbo power: 150 W | Maximum memory size: 128 GB | Processor graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Warranty: Your purchase of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X includes a limited warranty period of three years for both parts and labor.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X features a 6 core processor, a limited processor compared to others on our list, but it is AMD’s fastest offering with an affordable price tag to match. There are only 12 processing threads for average graphics, but the Max Boost 4. 6 GHz processing speeds help make for it. Enjoy faster speeds than the Intel Core i5-12600K with maximum speeds of 4.6 GHz and a generous cache of 35 MB. This system works with all of your favorite games, providing 100+ FPS performance, and unlike most other CPUs, you also receive the AMD Wraith Stealth cooler to help save you some money on your total purchase. The system comes unlocked for overclocking with DDR-3200 support. With an impressive Socket AM4 platform, this CPU can also support PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards.

View now at Amazon

pros

Cheapest on our list

Great graphics

Radeon-compatible

cons

Restricted speed

Small cache

Low connectivity

Tech specs: Launched: 2020 | Product collection: AMD Ryzen Processors | CPU type: Desktop | CPU socket: AM4 | Total cores: 6 | Total threads: 12 | Maximum boost clock: 4. 6 GHz | Base clock: 3.7 GHz | Default TDP: 65 W | Processor CPU Technology: TSMC 7nm FinFET | Total L2 Cache: 3 MB | Total L3 Cache: 32 B | Warranty: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G includes a warranty for parts that lasts three years

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is our pick for the best cheap CPU for gaming. Because of the lower price, you will get slower speeds with 4.4 GHz and only a 6 core processor using a 7nm «Zen 3» core. There are 12 threads for 1080P graphics, plus 19 MB of cache storage with a CPU Socket AM4. Like the Ryzen 5 5600X, it also comes unlocked for clocking with Precious Boost Overdrive to offer faster clock speed and power limits. DDR4-3200 is supported. The AMD Ryzen Master is a nifty addition that allows you to personalize CPU performance for a fully customized experience, but in every aspect, this CPU fails to offer the power, speed, and memory of other models. However, it is a great option when you do not have a lot of money to spend.

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pros

Large processor

Huge cache

Faster speeds

cons

Most expensive on our list

Stock cooler not included

Requires a lot of power

Tech specs: Launched: 2020 | Product collection: AMD Ryzen Processors | CPU type: Desktop | CPU socket: AM4 | Total cores: 16 | Total threads: 32 | Maximum boost clock: 4.9 GHz | Base clock: 3.4 GHz | Default TDP: 105 W | Processor CPU Technology: TSMC 7nm FinFET | Total L2 Cache: 8 MB | Total L3 Cache: 64 MB | Warranty: A three-year warranty is included with the purchase of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is the most expensive on our list with a super-fast 16 core processor. The CPU speed operates with 4.9 GHz Max Boost with a Socket AM4. Because of this, it works with PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards. 16 cores support it with 32 processing threads, the most by far of our picks, delivering AMD’s elite 100+ FPS performance for today’s top games. The CPU is unlocked for overclocking with 72 MB of cache and DDR-3200 support. However, the cooler is not included, so an additional purchase is required. It is a pricey inconvenience since this CPU is already expensive.

View now at Amazon

Once you find the right CPU for you, we can help you build a gaming PC or even how to build a cheap PC that may require a slightly different setup. Regardless of which CPU you choose, we’ll help get you on your way with a kid-friendly PC gaming build that is fun for the whole family!

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The Best CPU for Gaming 2022- Our Top 6 AMD & Intel Processor Picks

A closer look at the market’s leading processors, comparing each for gaming performance, price, and overall value for money

Updated: Jul 25, 2022 4:07 pm

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i9-12900K Top pick benchmark

Latest CPU news

Intel Core i9-12900K

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

Watch Our Video Rundown

How We Test & Choose

How does a CPU work?

Things To Consider

Terms To Know

Cores And Threads

Clock Speed

Cores And Clock Speed Combined

IPC and core speed

Socket Types

Chipsets

Generation

Hardcore Gaming Builds

Casual Gaming

Streaming

Content Creation

Overclocking

K, KF, KS: Which Is Best For You?

Ryzen Or Intel: which Is Better For Gaming?

Ryzen Or Intel: which is more efficient?

LITTLE.big technology

In-depth Reviews

Intel Core i9-12900K

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

Intel Core i5-12600KF

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

FAQs

What type of CPU is best for gaming?

Does CPU really matter for gaming?

How much CPU do I need for gaming?

Should I upgrade CPU or GPU first?

Is RAM or CPU more important for gaming?

Final Word

The CPU, or central processing unit, is one of the most important hardware components in your gaming PC, maybe more so than the graphics card. Most people prioritize it as the second most essential hardware consideration, with only the GPU having more of an impact on your overall gaming experience. This makes sense as the GPU manages the quality, resolution, and frame rates of your PC games. However, contrary to many people’s beliefs, the CPU plays an intricate role in how well your PC runs games, making it worth finding the best CPU for gaming.

Having said that, picking the best gaming CPU for your needs can be a little strenuous, especially if you aren’t up-to-speed with the latest offerings. Annoyingly, the CPU market is forever changing with new, more powerful options altering prices all too often. How are you meant to know which CPU is best?

If you happen to choose team red ad your CPU of choice, you might want to check out our best AMD motherboards article.

Well, that’s where we come into the picture. Our team of PC enthusiasts spends countless hours researching and benchmarking hardware to make sure you guys are up-to-date with what’s best. Whether it’s the Intel i9-12900K or one of Ryzen’s hugely popular APUs, the team makes sure no stone is left unturned when putting every processor through its paces.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at what we’ve chosen for the best gaming CPUs currently available. Furthermore, let’s finally answer that age-old question; who’s better, AMD or Intel?

i9-12900K Top pick benchmark

Latest CPU news

Here we have posted the latest relevant CPU news.
DigiTimes reports that AMD Zen 4 CPUs could be released as early as September 2022, this will most likely be following an announcement at Computex 2022.

AMD Zen 4 CPUs may release in September 2022.

AMD reveals Zen 4 55W mobile CPUs for high-end gaming laptops

Zen 4 CPUs will only support DDR5 at launch

AMD Zen 4 Ryzen 7000 series have entered pre-production

01

Editor’s chioce

02

Runner up

03

Great value

Watch Our Video Rundown

How We Test & Choose

When choosing our recommendations, whether it’s an ultrawide monitor or a budget gaming mouse, we do extensive research first. Being gamers, we only want to bring the best products to your attention, accompanied by accurate information based on real-world testings. This involves several steps to ensure the highest performance standards are met.

Even though the team is already well versed in the latest hardware offerings, the first thing the team does is make sure nothing new is due for release. We want to keep you up-to-date with the latest hardware offerings, especially when it comes to high-end products.

Next, comes benchmarking. We usually do all of our benchmarking in-house; however, if we can’t get our hands on a particular processor, we’ll scour online sources for gaming CPU benchmarks. With benchmarking, we see what CPUs are doing best in each field and how they stack up against each other. This helps ensure that the processors we suggest are rated highly in the gaming category.

It is important to note that we have purchased all the recommended CPUs (plus a few others) for benchmarking, testing, and a bit of gaming, which enables us to create a clearer picture of what truly is the best CPU for gaming.

Check Out The Best CPU Temperature Monitoring Software Here

How does a CPU work?

First off, before running through our best CPU picks, it is important to understand what a CPU is and how it works. This information should help you wrap your head around how a CPU operates, and what you’ll need your new CPU to do in terms of use case, as some are better at certain things than others.

A CPU carries out instructions set by programs. These programs are loaded temporarily into RAM. The information is then moved to cache if it’s important enough. The CPU then makes calculations using its transistors, which are capable of only an on or off output. Using this, the CPU determines a string of ones and zeros – you now have some binary code. This process is broken down into three simple steps: fetch, decode and execute. This is called a cycle and this happens billions of times per second, depending on the clock speed of the processor and the size of the transistors in the CPU.

Here’s the kicker, the process we’ve just run through happens in every CPU, or more notably, every CPU core. Billions of cycles per second are happening at the same time in 64 processing cores if you’re using a Threadripper 3990X, for example.
With that basic understanding out of the way, it’s time to expand on some of the more talked about features of a CPU, such as core count, thread count and clock speed.

Things To Consider

The first thing to consider when choosing your gaming CPU is what you intend to use it for. Just because a CPU is “the best” in one category doesn’t mean it’s the best CPU for you.

But what are you looking for in a CPU? How do you know it’s the one for you? Should it have more cores or faster speeds? Let’s look at a few key factors that may help you decide:

Casual/ hardcore gaming

Streaming

Content creation

Overclocking

Terms To Know

Choosing a CPU can be daunting for first-time buyers, and there are a few things you should consider before buying one. You wouldn’t want to buy one of AMD’s latest Ryzen chips and find out it isn’t compatible with the rest of your system!

There are a lot of terms that get thrown around in regard to CPUs, so let’s go over some of the most common phrases before breaking down what the best gaming CPU is.

Cores And Threads

A processor is made up of cores and threads. Nowadays, CPUs have multiple cores which allows them to do multiple tasks, think of it as the literal embodiment of the old saying; two heads are better than one.

The computer treats threads as virtual CPUs. The amount of threads is the number of tasks each core can handle. Threads can only do one thing at a time, but they can switch extremely fast. As such, threads serve as an efficient way for your CPU to effectively switch between handling multiple tasks.

Clock Speed

Clock speed, sometimes known as cycle speed, refers to how many cycles a core will perform every second. This is measured in megahertz. So 4MHz would be four million cycles per second.

Processors that are “unlocked” can be overclocked to reach a higher clock speed than their stock speed. However, overclocking has to be done right. If done incorrectly, you might find yourself with a costly paperweight at the end of the day. Nevertheless, it’s a rule of thumb to ask: “Is overclocking worth it?” before doing so.

If you’re unsure which processor you should get, read our article on which CPU do you really need? Or you can check our CPU hierarchy to see a detailed list of CPUs and which category they belong to.

Cores And Clock Speed Combined

Together these will give you a general idea about how well the processor in question will perform, but let’s delve a little deeper. For instance, IPC (instructions per cycle) tells us how many actions can be taken every cycle and is often much harder to find. Moreover, specific tasks utilize fewer cores, like gaming, which means you’ll want strong single-core performance (it’s still good to have at least four cores for gaming, though). On the other hand, tasks such as video rendering utilize a lot of resources, meaning you’ll want extra cores (at least eight +) for a smooth experience.

Ultimately, this is why we always benchmark the CPUs and test processors performing different types of tasks.

IPC and core speed

Core speed is defined by how many cycles per second a CPU can perform. A full CPU cycle is referred to as the instruction cycle, which follows three actions. The actions of the instruction cycle run in the order of fetch, decode and execute – these three actions comprise the instruction cycle.
Not surprisingly, a higher clock speed is superior. However, not all clock speeds are created equal. We will now attempt to simply explain what we mean by this. And, while we leave many components out of the explanation, it serves as a simple enough baseline

Many factors can affect the metrics of clock speed. One of these is the nm process a CPU is built on, which refers to the size of the transistors that make up the logical components of a CPU. There are billions of these microscopic transistors all capable of very simple yes/no outputs, which together equate to more complex logical executions.
7nm transistors are much smaller than 12nm transistors, for example. And this is what we mean when we said not all clock speed is created equal.

Clock speed refers to how many cycles a CPU can perform per second, not how many instructions can be executed per second. This is another measurement known as IPC (instructions per clock).
IPC and clock speed are somewhat intertwined. People are easily fooled into thinking that a CPU with a better clock speed, no matter how old, will always be faster than a new CPU with a lower clock speed. And this simply isn’t true.

Socket Types

The socket is the physical mount on your motherboard that holds the processor in place. As such, the first thing you’re going to want to check is that the socket on your motherboard matches your processor (or vice versa!).

Each brand and (sometimes) line of processors have its own socket type and won’t fit in an alternative one. For example, an AMD Ryzen 7 uses the AM4 socket type and won’t fit into Intel’s LGA 1151 socket.

If you’re purchasing a new CPU and a new motherboard together, check the specs to make sure they’re both the same socket type (I suggest deciding on your processor first, then finding a matching motherboard).

If you’re upgrading one or the other, check the specs online and make sure the new piece of the hardware matches up accordingly.

Chipsets

Each processor will have a set of chipsets that it’s compatible with. These chipsets are important when choosing your motherboard, as they determine whether or not some features will be disabled.

The more advanced the chipset, the more features that will be unlocked (More PCIe lanes, more USB 3.1 ports, SATA ports, etc.). As with the socket types, check your hardware specs to see what chipsets are compatible, and what each one will unlock on your board.

For example:

Generation

CPUs come in all shapes and sizes, and one important detail to pay special attention to is their generation. Both AMD and Intel CPU advancements are separated by a generation, for example, the intel i7-11700k is one generation behind the intel i7-12700K.

Why does generation matter? Generation tells you essentially how good a CPU is. Tech-wise, the newest thing on the market is better than the older one, 99% of the time.
Understanding what advancements these generational jumps bring may take a bit of research but are important and a beneficial chunk of information to bring to the table when deciding on a new CPU.

Hardcore Gaming Builds

Sometimes, you want to build a powerful gaming rig. You don’t care about streaming or content creation. Your bottom line is getting those high FPS numbers.

When it comes to a pure gaming build, speed is your friend. Unlike highly taxing programs and tasks, games aren’t as dependant on CPU cores and threads. Anything quad-core or higher is sufficient for gaming.

Most games will run on a dual-core processor, but more and more games are starting to require a quad-core or higher to install and run. That being said, most modern-day CPUs come equipped with at least 4-cores.

For a hardcore gaming build, I would suggest looking for processors that have at least the following speeds:

Pairing a fast processor with a good SSD, a powerful graphics card, and some quality RAM will really increase your FPS overall.

Casual Gaming

Maybe you don’t care about high FPS figures or saving your content for the world to see. Perhaps you’re more the casual type, the type who just likes to game now and then in your free time. AAA games titles aren’t really your thing, and you don’t require all that processing power.

If all you’re looking for is a gaming build that will run some low-intensive steam games and esports titles, then a casual gamer setup might be more suited to your needs. Typically, a casual gaming build doesn’t need the latest hardware offerings. It’s also much more affordable than a hardcore gaming build.

When looking for a casual gaming CPU, you should look for one that is at least a quad-core if your budget allows it. It also doesn’t need to be extremely fast.

Let’s see what you should be looking for:

Streaming

A growing trend over the last five years has been to stream and share gaming content. Platforms like YouTube and Twitch are hugely popular amongst the gaming community at the moment, and more people seem to be jumping on the stream build bandwagon. This, however, can be somewhat taxing on your processor if you don’t have a sufficient amount of power.

This means you’re going to need a processor with more cores and threads than your typical hardcore gaming build. Here’s what you should look for if you’re thinking about building a computer for gaming and streaming:

Having a higher core and thread count will help your computer multitask, allowing it to record your game as well as process and everything else that’s going on in the background without the lag.

Content Creation

Let’s say you’ve already got a following on your YouTube channel/ Steam account, and you’re ready to kick production up to the next level and start creating better videos.

You’ve decided to build a PC that can do it all. It needs to be capable of gaming, streaming and pumping out good quality videos. This is going to require more computing power.

You’re going to need a high core and thread count with fast speeds so that you can render your content as quickly as possible. Here’s what to look for if you want your gaming computer to be an all-round beast:

Overclocking

Technically, all Ryzen CPUs come with overclocking support out of the box but some are better than others – these are the ‘X’ models. You can look at these as the beefed-up versions of the base models and they are all more equipped to handle stronger overclocks.

Ryzen CPUs and the profiles they ship with are incredibly well optimized already, but there is still some performance to be gained out of your Ryzen X in the form of faster RAM.
Without getting too technical, CPU core communication speed in AMD Ryzen processors is directly tied to RAM speed. Pairing your Ryzen processor with a kit of at least 3600Mhz RAM can majorly improve effective overclocks, and even base performance.

This is different for Intel CPUs. Core communication speed in Intel CPUs isn’t directly tied to RAM speed and is the reason Intel processors are not as heavily impacted by slower RAM than Ryzen processors are.

K, KF, KS: Which Is Best For You?

One of the big questions we get asked when referencing Intel CPUs is, what is the difference between K, KF, and KS SKUs? Luckily, the differences between the three are only small, and, nine times out of ten, probably won’t sway your purchasing decision.

Intel’s K CPUs are possibly the most common in this list. The K SKUs simply refer to CPUs that can be overclocked and come with integrated graphics.

KF SKUs are very similar to the K, only KF does not come with any form of integrated graphics. They still have the exact same amount of overclocking potential.

Lastly, we have KS. KS is slightly different, referencing specially selected (binned) CPUs that have much higher overclocking headspace. KS are usually more expensive than the previous SKUs as they house the potential for much greater performance.

Ryzen Or Intel: which Is Better For Gaming?

With AMD making waves in the CPU and GPU industry over the last few years, we often get the question, what’s better for gaming? AMD or Intel? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t as clear cut as it used to be.
If you asked us six years ago when AMD was still rocking the FX series of CPUs, the answer would have been clearly in favour of intel. AMD has since closed the gap and now there’s a large debate among gamers as to what is in fact the best gaming CPU.
Intel definitely has single-core performance won, while AMD takes the win in multicore performance.

Ryzen Or Intel: which is more efficient?

Intel has recently made strides towards CPU efficiency, managing to produce a generation of CPUs more powerful than ever before without containing a full set of performance cores.
When Intel launched the new 12th generation CPUs, it integrated a version of ARM’s LITTLE.big technology into the CPUs. The 12th generation CPUs mark the first desktop processor to include this kind of technology.

LITTLE.big technology works to improve CPU power efficiency, but how does it work exactly?

LITTLE.big technology

Intel’s 12th generation CPUs differ internally from the modern-day desktop CPU you’re used to. The way normal CPUs work is they have any number of identical cores that will take on processing loads indiscriminately. However, LITTLE.big processors have two different kinds of core – P-cores and E-cores.

P-cores represent performance cores, these are the cores clocked at higher speeds that handle all the heavy lifting. E-cores mark efficiency cores and these cores have a lower base clock to be more power-efficient – they’re the cores that handle light usage tasks.

That’s all well and good but how does the CPU know which core to use? Good question. The task of choosing which instruction gets assigned to which core, falls to the Windows kernel scheduler.
The instructions are pre-screened by the scheduler to determine how much processing power they’re going to require, then depending on that the instructions are sent to either a performance or efficiency core.

In-depth Reviews

Here we will take an in-depth look at our best gaming CPUs of 2022.

Boost clock speed (single core)

5.3 GHz

Total Cores / Threads

16/24

P-cores

8

E-cores

8

Socket

LGA 1700

Overclockable

Yes

4.9

/5

Editor’s Rating

Pros

Cons

The 12th gen 12900K is the successor to the 11th gen Intel i9-11900K, utilizing the new ‘Alder Lake’ architecture as opposed to the ‘Rocket Lake’ of the older CPU. Unlike the release of Intel’s 11900K, the 12900K has been a huge hit amongst reviewers – despite the more expensive price tag.

The 12900K comes with a 125W TDP which, yes is higher than the AMD counterpart – meaning it does get a little toasty under the hood. The 12900K is only compatible with the new FCLGA1700 socket, meaning a complete upgrade will be necessary if you plan on purchasing this CPU. The new 12900k comes to shelves boasting a core count of 16 and 24 threads, making it a great all-rounder for both multi-tasking and gaming. Intel has put its efforts into architectural improvements with the new Alder Lake lineup, improving on almost every area.

With all these improvements, we finally see Intel regain the top spot as far as gaming is concerned. More impressive, however, is the fact that in workstation and multitasking scenarios, the Intel 12900K is almost as good as the Ryzen 5900X. Pair that with crazy overclocking potential and great single-core performance and you have one tasty processor.

Speed

3.7GHz/ 4.8GHz

Core (Threads)

12/24

Socket

AM4

TDP

105W

4.6

/5

Editor’s Rating

Pros

Cons

It took AMD a while, but finally, they’re at the top of the CPU hierarchy with their extremely impressive Ryzen 9 5900X. This CPU pretty much does it all – gaming performance, overclocking, productivity work, the lot. If you’re looking for the best all-around CPU on the market, look no further – team red has you covered.

The flagship CPU from AMD offers up uncontested gaming performance and fantastic multi-tasking productivity work – all of which are great for gaming, streaming, rendering, and video editing. When you pair that alongside its current price tag, you’d have to say that the 5900X also shows some of the best value in today’s market too.

The 5900X is a 12 core 24 thread part, offering up a 3.7GHz base frequency right out of the box. Furthermore, with PBO, the 5900X can be boosted to 4.8GHz when it needs the additional power most – think gaming or productivity type workflows. AMD, like always, have unlocked the Ryzen 9 5900X for excellent overclocking capabilities, with many users hitting 5.0GHz respectively. This all translates to very good performance in gaming – with single-core performance having the ability to push 100FPS + in the most demanding of modern titles.

The flagship offering also brings excellent future-proofing to your new build, supporting PCIe 4.0 for the next generation of hardware that’s just around the corner. You’ll be able to slot the 5900X into newer 500-series boards alongside older 400-series alternatives, making it not only powerful but versatile too. The only downside is the lack of a cooler – something that AMD’s more budget-oriented alternatives don’ have to worry about.

Cores

8

Threads

16

Max boost speed

4.5GHz

L3 Cache

96MB (64MB 3D V-cache)

TDP

105W

4.8

/5

Editor’s Rating

Pros

Cons

The Ryzen 7 5800X3D is a marvel in CPU engineering, the 5800X3D has technically claimed the top ‘best gaming CPU’ from Intel and their core i9 12900K but there are a couple of reasons it’s not top of our list today. The 5800X3D is an excellent choice for gaming, rocking a cool eight multithreaded CPU cores and a whopping 96MB of brand new AMD 3D V-cache, It seriously gains an edge in some games.

3D V-Cache is where this CPU differed from literally every CPU in the world right now, as it’s the only one to make use of it. 3D cache is not stacked laterally like a normal 2D cache but vertically (thanks to new 3D printing technology) – hence the term 3D cache. This drastically increases the number of chiplets you can cram into an area of any given size, thus resulting in larger cache capacities without sacrificing access speeds. The vertical stacking allows AMD to achieve the massive 96MB L3 cache with a total access speed of 2TB/s in its 5800X3D CPUs.

The 5800X3D has lower core speeds of 3.4GHz base and 4.5GHz max, these speeds are even lower than its brothers the 5800X, the reason for this is the 3D V-cache is unstable at higher core speeds. Thanks to the 5800X3Ds low max core speeds and lack of overclocking support, it’s not very good at single-core workloads or workstation tasks. if ever there was a fully-fledged gaming CPU it would be the 5800X3D.

This new caching technology gives the CPU major advantages in some gaming workloads, but not all. And with the lower core speeds and lack of overclocking support means the 5800X3D is regularly outperformed by cheaper and worse CPUs in scenarios where the cache is not utilised, even in gaming.

For these main reasons, is why the 5800X3D is not higher on our list. You can read the full product review on the Ryzen 7 5800X3D right here.

Boost clock speed (single core)

4.9 GHz

Total Cores / Threads

10/16

P-cores

6

E-cores

4

Socket

LGA 1700

Overclockable

Yes

4.5

/5

Editor’s Rating

Pros

Cons

Another of Intel’s latest arrivals comes in the shape of their i5-12600K – their latest mid-range offering. This CPU comes equipped with a much more affordable price tag, but don’t let that fool you, it comes jam-packed with performance, including plenty of overclocking to boot.

The i5-12600K offers up 10 cores and 16 threads, the same as its predecessor the 11900K, but improvements to the architecture bring significant improvements in performance, with up to a 30% increase in FPS on some titles. Although AMD’s 5600X still beats the card in multi-core tests, making it the better CPU in this price range for workstation uses. On top of this, the 12600K typically (though not in all cases) beats the 5600X in single-core and gaming scenarios.

This performance is thanks to the impressive 3.7Hz base clock speed of the 12600K, with a tasty max single-core boost frequency of 4.9GHz. If you’re into overclocking, there’s also a ton of potential to be had by doing so with this chip. Pushing it up to 5.3GHz is not out of the question, putting it right up there with the likes of the 10900K, but be aware you will need a pricey cooling rig to do so. Even pre-overclocking the 12600K runs hot, which is the only real drawback of this chip, and this does necessitate slightly more being spent on cooling, eating into the savings somewhat.

Nevertheless, assuming you have an FCLGA1700 socket motherboard (the chipset is not backwards compatible) you won’t go far wrong picking this processor for your gaming rig. Overall, as far as gaming is concerned, at this price range, you’ll struggle to find anything that can match the 12600K’s performance. A fantastic CPU from Intel.

Speed

3.7GHz/ 4.6GHz

Core (Threads)

6/12

Socket

AM4

TDP

65W

4.5

/5

Editor’s Rating

Pros

Cons

The 5600X was one of the most anticipated CPUs to be released when Ryzen announced their 5000 series CPU lineup – mainly thanks to some impressive benchmarking rumours. It came to the table offering a shocking mix of Intel-beating value and performance in both gaming and workflow scenarios. If you’re looking for a well-priced CPU that can smash out AAA game titles at over 100fps and has excellent multi-tasking abilities, the 5600X should be high on your list of recommendations. It’s the very reason why it finds itself in our list of best CPUs for gaming.

Price/performance, this chip is one of the best we’ve seen in a long time. It has a base clock speed of 4.1GHz alongside a 4.8GHz boost clock frequency – putting it next to some of the top performers in this guide. Furthermore, with a 19% increase in IPC, this thing really does leave the last generation of 3000 series CPUs in the dust. It comes with its own CPU cooling fan which AMD says is newly designed with excellent efficiency and almost no noise output – a feature the premium CPU options in AMD’s 5000 series lineup can’t boast.

Overall, whilst the 11600K offers better single-core performance at a cheaper RRP, the 5600X is still one of the best CPUs you can get at this respective price point.

Speed

3.4GHz/ 4.9GHz

Core (Threads)

16/32

Socket

AM4

TDP

105W

4.7

/5

Editor’s Rating

Pros

Cons

From a gaming standpoint, the Ryzen 9 5950X isn’t quite as good as the 5900x or 10900K. That being said, it still offers very good performance and actually outperforms them both when it comes to multi-tasking type workflows.

The 5950X is another step in the HEDT direction for desktop CPUs – offering up 16 cores and 32 threads for truly unparalleled workstation performance in this guide. Unlike HEDT though, you won’t have to purchase a custom board to run this bad boy, it’ll slot right into your AM4 motherboard without a hitch.

In terms of raw gaming performance, the 5950X does show a decent account of itself in this guide. Whilst it’s not as good as the 10900K or 5950X, it still offers very stable FPS figures when playing modern AAA titles. With a base clock frequency of 3.4GHz and a boost up to 4.9GHz, you’ll have more than enough juice to drive the most intense rendering and multi-tasking workflows.

All being said, this is an excellent all-around CPU – but mainly tailored towards the individual that really needs that extra productivity performance. Gamers will be better suited toward fewer cores and higher single-core performance.

FAQs

What type of CPU is best for gaming?

When it comes to choosing the best CPU for gaming, our top choice is the AMD Ryzen 9 5900x. Not only are they compatible with AMD GPUs that are some of the best on the market, they provide a great performance too.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X has a total of 12 cores and 24 threads, both of which surpass the amount needed for gaming. Given this, the CPU will be able to multitask well, and run games with no issues.

It is one of AMD’s flagship CPUs, and it is easy to see why. The clock and core speeds are great, and it features all the specifications you will need in order to game well.

When it comes to choosing a CPU, while there are many competitors available to choose from, the two you will want to consider are AMD and Intel. While gamers will have their specific preferences, AMD often provides better options.

Before choosing a CPU, you will need to take into consideration your build. Components such as your motherboard and GPU will have an effect on the type of CPU you can purchase and the compatibility.

Does CPU really matter for gaming?

Yes, when it comes to gaming the CPU does matter. While it may not be the most important factor to consider, it still needs to perform well enough to run games with no issues.

For gaming, you will want a CPU that has a sufficient amount of cores and threads. If you are planning to stream, or listen to music while you are gaming, you will need a CPU with significantly good multitasking.

In general, for gaming, the higher the amount of cores and threads a processor has, the better it will be. If there are not enough present, the CPU will become slow and will struggle to load larger games.

A lot of gamers tend to focus mainly on the performance of their GPU. While this is important, your CPU is important in the running of your computer. You will need to take into consideration aspects such as clock speeds, and cache too.

How much CPU do I need for gaming?

When looking at the specifications of a CPU, there are a few things that you will need to take into consideration. While you should always try and choose the best possible specifications within your price range, there is a set amount of cores and threads that your CPU should have at a minimum.

The minimum amount of cores and threads needed is 4 cores, and 4 threads. However, the optimum amount of cores is 6, and the threads is 12. This is to allow your games to run as best as possible.

When looking at other specifications, you will want the CPU to have clock speeds of around 3.5 GHz, and around 6 MB of cache.

Should I upgrade CPU or GPU first?

When it comes to upgrading your PC, your priority should always be to upgrade your GPU first. As this is the most important component for gaming, it is always worth choosing the best possible GPU within your budget.

The better the GPU is, the better it will be able to run newer, next-gen games. As with all PC components, as the years progress, the parts will begin to become less future proof.

With the constant release of better technology, and games, the GPU is the most important aspect to consider. However, with future proofing, over time, you should consider upgrading your CPU to ensure that it can handle demanding game play.

Is RAM or CPU more important for gaming?

The CPU is far more important for gaming in comparison to RAM. While RAM is important, as long as you have the sufficient amount needed, which is around 8 GB, there is no need for it to be upgraded.

With the CPU, as it is the brain of the PC, it needs to be good enough to run games, and delegate tasks without any issues. Given this, it is far more important as your gameplay will be impacted more if you do not have a good CPU in comparison to RAM.

Final Word

Choosing the best CPU for gaming can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also be a challenge. Now that you’re familiar with the best gaming CPUs of 2020, it should hopefully make an informed decision when it comes to buying a lot easier. Don’t forget to pick the right cooling solution for your CPU to ensure it runs at optimal levels at all times!

Deciding which gaming CPU you’re going to get will come down to what your personal needs are going to be. Using this article should help you decide which one is best for you.

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CLX Scarab review | TechRadar

TechRadar Verdict

The CLX Scarab is a highly-customizable, high-performance gaming machine that has great specs at even its entry level configuration, just be sure you’re prepared to spend a good bit of money if you opt for the very best build you can get.

Pros

+
Excellent customization options

+
Incredible performance

+
Stylish design

+
Great customer service

CLX Scarab two minute review

The CLX Scarab is hands-down one of the best custom-built gaming PCs you’re going to find anywhere, no matter your budget, and we’d even argue that it might be the best gaming PC you can buy right now for that reason.

Starting off with a respectable AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and an Nvidia GTX 1660 Super, your can scale your build as high as the latest Intel Core i9-11900K or AMD Ryzen 9 5900X processor with compatible motherboards, and pair it with the latest AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT or Nvidia RTX 3090 graphics cards with various RAM and SSD configurations and everything in between.

You also have your choice of chassis as well, including builds full of RGB lighting as well as sleek cable management options that come in different colors to better match your style.

Even the entry-level configuration comes with CLX’s custom-built liquid CPU cooling solution, which at this price point is a pretty premium option that you rarely see.

Obviously, there are going to be some issues with custom builds like this, including possible shipping delays depending on the availability of parts. Right now, even our high-end build would ship within two weeks, which definitely isn’t bad for a PC with an RTX 3090 in it, but that isn’t always guaranteed to be the case.

Still, given the incredible variety of options on this PC, there pretty much isn’t any way you can go wrong and you’re bound to find a configuration that matches exactly what you are looking for, even if you have to wait a little while to get it.

Plus, it saves you the trouble of having to build such a high-end system yourself and screwing something up, since all units are thoroughly tested before they ship out to the customer. That doesn’t mean there can’t be issues, obviously, since desktop systems shipped across the country can have all manner of things knocked loose in the journey (which happened without a review unit, initially).

Fortunately, CLX offers excellent warranty options on parts and labor in case anything does go wrong in the process, making the CLX Scarab a desktop PC investment that you can rest assured will work as promised.

Ultimately, the CLX Scarab is the ultimate gaming PC for anyone who wants a rig customized to their liking without the hassle of actually having to build the thing, all for a price that can’t be beat just about anywhere else.

Price and availability

Spec Sheet

Here is the CLX Scarab configuration sent to TechRadar for review:
Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming WiFi
CPU: Intel Core i9-11900K
Cooling: CLX Quench 240 Closed Liquid Cooler
Graphics: Nvidia RTX 3090 with 24GB vRAM
RAM: 32GB DDR4
Storage: 1 x 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD, 1 x SATA SSD
Ports (Front): 1 x USB 3. 2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2 x USB Type-A, 1 x 3.5mm combo jack
Ports (Back): 1 x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4, 1 x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2×2, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 4 x USB Type-A 2.0
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 2.5 Gb Ethernet
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000W G5 — 80 Plus Gold
Size (W x D x H): 8.07 x 15.75 x 14.37 ins (205 x 400 x 365 mm)

The CLX Scarab is available now in the US with a seriously vast array of customization options. The base configuration starts at $1,599 and features an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 with a CLX Quench 120 closed liquid cooling solution, an Nvidia GTX 1660 Super 6GB, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD, and a 750W modular 80Plus Gold PSU, all loaded into a Scarab Evolv ITX SFF Black chassis with an acrylic side panel.

There are way too many component configurations to list, but lets just say that if you’ve got the money, the CLX Scarab will scale up to the most powerful PC you can build. Did we stress the «If you have the money part?» The specs for the CLX Scarab we reviewed, listed at the right, aren’t even the highest we could go, but already pushes north of $5,000, coming in at $5,078.

If you want to max out your build, be prepared to pay top dollar for the privilege. But chances are you know that going in, so there really shouldn’t be any sticker shock here.

Today’s best CLX Scarab deals

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Image 1 of 8

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

Performance

Benchmarks

Here is how the CLX Scarab performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

GeekBench 5 (Single Core): 1,781 | (Multi Core): 10,610
CineBench33 (Single Core): 1,597 | (Multi Core): 14,581
PCMark10 Home: ,1098

3DMark Night Raid: 70,302 | Firestrike: 31,050 | Time Spy: 17,672 | Port Royale: 12,732
Total War: Three Kingdoms (1080p, Ultra Quality): 160 fps | (1080p, Low Quality): 369 fps
Metro: Exodus (1080p, Ultra Quality w/ Ray Tracing): 116 fps | (1080p, Ultra Quality w/o Ray Tracing): 138 fps | (1080p, Low Quality): 229 fps

Blender Fishy Cat: 38 seconds; Classroom: 1 minute 19 seconds
PugetBench for Adobe PhotoShop: 1,154
PugetBench for Adobe Premiere: 921
HandBrake (1080p30 Encode from 4K): 53. 82 fps

As far as performance goes, that really depends on which configuration you go with. Considering that you can get anything from the GTX 1660 Super to the RTX 3090 and everything in between, it doesn’t make much sense talking about FPS or 3DMark benchmark scores.

What we can tell you though is that everything works the way it should, and if it doesn’t, CLX will make sure that anything amiss is fixed free of charge (within the warranty period, obviously).

This might be a bit of a hassle if you’ve just received your system and you find that the CPU cooler is knocked loose in shipping and you need to send it back to be fixed, but this is a risk with any system that gets shipped directly to the customer and even pre-built units that get shipped to a brick-and-mortar retailer like Best Buy.

CLX’s warranty makes this process much less painful, if not less frustrating. If you’re lucky, they’ll even ship your system back to you in a «sarcophagus» shipping crate that makes you feel like you’re getting the Ark of the Covenant delivered to your door.

Software and features

Fortunately, this is a custom-built system as opposed to a prebuilt OEM unit, so you don’t have to worry about any bloatware that you wouldn’t want on there and some of the utilities that you should want to install anyway, like MSI Afterburner, are included out the box.

A lot of the other potential preinstalls will depend on the hardware options you choose, but the good news is you won’t have to deal with McAfee spamming your notifications with big red reminders to sign up for their middling antivirus protection.

Buy it if…

You want a very customized desktop PC
The number of customization options on the CLX Scarab are plentiful, so there’s almost no configuration you can’t come up with.

You want an affordable custom built PC
Custom-built PCs don’t have to be outrageously expensive, and the CLX Scarab’s entry level configurations provide excellent value for the specs.

You want liquid cooling on a budget
Most entry level PC builds aren’t going to come out the box with liquid cooling options, but CLX has you covered with even the lowest-spec configuration.

Don’t buy it if…

You want your PC right now
As a custom-built PC, it’s going to take time to build, and the parts you want might not be available right away, so you might have to wait a few weeks to get your PC.

You want the most stable system possible
Ok, we’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel here, but given that this is a custom-built PC, you’re not likely to find the same level of system stability that you’d get with some OEM systems from Dell or Lenovo since a custom-built might have parts that don’t always play nice. That said, we didn’t experience problems on this front, its just a theoretical possibility, like wormholes or string theory.

John (He/Him) is the US Computing Editor here at TechRadar and he is also a programmer, gamer, activist, and Brooklyn College alum currently living in Brooklyn, NY.

Named by the CTA as a CES 2020 Media Trailblazer for his science and technology reporting, John specializes in all areas of computer science, including industry news, hardware reviews, PC gaming, as well as general science writing and the social impact of the tech industry.

You can find him online on Twitter at @thisdotjohn

Currently playing: The Last Stand: Aftermath, Cartel Tycoon

TOP 10 processors — Rating of the best models in 2022. Blog Brain

The market of actual processors has approached a turning point. At the beginning of 2022, Intel introduced the 12th generation of the CPU and chipset, which supports DDR 5 memory with a PCIe 5.0 interface (which allows you to increase the bandwidth of the building). This has led to the fact that the «old» processor models are less present in the budgetary part of the rating. Putting a gaming chi professional PC on the CPU 2018-2019 is already undervalued financially, the chips of the price on the old generation fell ice-ice.

The market for actual processors is approaching a turning point. At the beginning of 2022, Intel introduced the 12th generation of the CPU and chipset, which supports DDR 5 memory with a PCIe 5.0 interface (which allows you to increase the bandwidth of the building). This has led to the fact that the «old» processor models are less present in the budgetary part of the rating. Putting a gaming chi professional PC on the CPU 2018-2019 is already undervalued financially, the chips of the price on the old generation fell ice-ice.

Traditionally, the rating was divided according to price criteria, however, it turned out that in the middle price segment processors were used, which are best suited for gaming and streaming, and in the top class — more extras for professional billing and storage.

)

Model

Brain price in black 2022

Low cost processors

INTEL CORE I3 10100 (CM80701042

3481

INTEL CORE I3 12100 (BX8071512100)

5137

AMD RYZEN 5 3400G (YD3400C5FHBOX)

~5000

Game processors

AMD RYZEN 5 5650GE PRO (100-000000258)

7879

AMD RYZEN 5 5600X (100-100000604MPK)

8410

INTEL CORE I5 12600 (BX8071512600)

8833

AMD RYZEN 7 5750G PRO (100-100000254MPK)

9790

Top segment for gaming and folding bills

AMD RYZEN 7 5800X (100-100000063WOF)

11450

AMD RYZEN 9 5900X (100-100000061WOF)

15794

INTEL CORE I9 12900KF (BX8071512900KF)

21890

Bags. Processor productivity chart shown

For the lower bar in the budget part of the rating, we took processors with two cores and 8 threads. On the right, in the fact that it’s easy to grow up to the point of navit when working in the OS. All current tasks appear in the CPU of high productivity itself in a rich streaming mode — just look at the status row of the task manager, if you have 12-15 tabs with multimedia content in your browser. In addition, the difference in prices for dual-core processors is not significant.

INTEL CORE I3 10100 (CM80701042

)

Intel processors lead the budget niche for the first time in the last 5 years. Yes, now AMD has almost nothing to offer in this segment, so 10100 confidently opens the economy rating. Motherboards under the s1200 socket have become affordable, having taken the rest of the trump card from a competitor. Before that, on which CPU there is a graphical integration. So, if you need a weak UHD 630 chip, you can also choose to buy a discrete video card in the future.

Prompts for 14nm process 10100 with 4 cores/8 CPU threads up to date for most igor, and is good to go with video cards like 1660 NVIDIA and navit 2060 Super. The frequency of the Boost-mode is up to 4.3 GHz, the multiplier is blocked (impossible to split). So, fold on a similar «stone» to finish a dead end, upgrade to 10400. And yet, you need a platform for robotic light gaming — this processor is a miracle solution. Also, you can guess that it’s not necessary for you to have a cooler colder — you can save it on the purchase of a cooler.

Plusy

Minusi

High frequency in single stream mode without overclocking, performance out of the box

Low upgrade potential on stream socket

You can choose a reasonably inexpensive motherboard and RAM

Low temperature robots

Intel Core i3 12100 (bx8071512100)

Having reached the Trochi for 1000 UAH to Tsіnya, it is possible to rensinate the processor of the remaining praquic ponds of the maternity boards of 1700 slats. Therefore, this processor can become a base for configuration for a further upgrade, as well as for a light gaming or working system.
0 All the same, you can choose on the basis of this PC processor for gaming an average level, adding a new video card to it.

Plusy

Minusi

Possibility to select the configuration for the upcoming upgrade

Dosi high variability of motherboard with support DDR5

Modern technical process, fastening of the fastener OZP

AMD RYZEN 5 3400G (YD3400C5FHBOX)

3400G — hybrid 4-core processor with rich streaming support (8 threads). Winning on the Zen+ architecture, using a 12 nm process technology and reaching a frequency of 4.2 GHz in Boost mode. The heat package of applications is 65 W, but in practice it is much smaller, in addition, the CPU supports the robot in an energy-efficient mode for an hour of downtime.

3400G equipped with an integrated video chip Vega 11. Given a generation of AMD processors in total with the AM4 socket, which allows the selection of a universal configuration, which can be used for any kind of working OT game type WNG. Until then, you can upgrade to a Ryzen 5600x and an advanced gaming PC this year.

Plusy

Minusi

With a sim processor you can select a universal PC for non-buggy games on a built-in video card

An analogue of the Intel type costs only a little more expensive, but still promotes a new generation platform

Upgradable socket

Some of the ratings include processors that are optimal both for gaming and for busy working days. Six and eight-core processors of the Core i5 and Ryzen 5000 series are best suited for playing games in modern environments close to the maximum of 2K (and more). In addition, selections on similar processors can be selected for video editing, design, work with 3D textures.

AMD RYZEN 5 5650GE PRO (100-000000258)

CPU version of 5600 series, with 6 lower thermal outputs (35W, replacement). Vіn tsіkaviy tim, scho on a yoga base you can choose a PC from a compact case and get a low-profile video card.

On the AMD website, if the model is blocked by a multiplier, but it does not work, it can be broken. The processor can be 6 cores / 12 threads and prompts on the Zen 2 architecture with a 7 nm process technology. Equipped with a graphics core Radeon Vega 7 (you can find out about the integration of video cards in games at our blog).

Like and all processors of the PRO series, equipped with additional security protocols that protect against hackers and attempts to gain access to the protection of software services.

Plusy

Minusi

Available from Compact Desktop Case

Compensation for performance for 65W thermal models

Integrated video card

AMD RYZEN 5 5600X (100-100000604MPK)

Reference game processor The new architecture of Zen 3 was introduced to the fate of 2021 and it created a splash. For the first time in AMD’s history, it was possible to increase the productivity per core (one of the most important parameters in games) on par with its counterparts from Intel.

The RYZEN 5 5600X itself is against it. Tse 6 cores / 12 threads, frequencies up to 4. 6 GHz per core in Boost mode and a new triple cache memory. The processor can be broken, the results of overclocker tests seem to be about those that you can run up to 4.9 GHz on one core for a normal cooling. By pairing up to 5600X with an RTX 3080 or RX 6800 video card, we need a gaming PC for 4K gaming.

Another big plus of this processor is the ability to use socket AM4. So if you have a motherboard on that socket, you can upgrade to a 5600X with an older processor (that might need a BIOS update).

Plusy

Minusi

High productivity out of the box. Universal yak for іgrovih, so і for working zavdan

Ryzen

Money from socket AM4, you can save money on buying a motherboard or install it on an old one

No support DDR5

INTEL CORE I5 12600 (BX8071512600)

Processors of the Core i5 line for productivity are known to be competitive with the i5-x i3-i3. 12600 is up to the 12th generation of Intel processors, supports DDR 5 and PCIe 5.0 and prompts for an updated 10nm process technology (which the company calls 7nm, which brings a lot of confusion). The head chip of the CPU is 4 energy-saving cores. Dane decisions were made in processors, which are intended for the mobile segment of technology: laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc.

Availability of energy-saving cores made it possible to reduce the thermal performance of the processor by approximately 40% at that moment, if it starts up non-violently to the frequency of the program. In the rich flow mode, when working in the OS, the power supply is reduced significantly.

Most igor 12600 is delivered to a competitor — 5600X in AMD, excels in cyber disciplines (and for them there are enough processors with lower productivity).

Plusy

Minusi

High frequency per core without overclocking out of the box

Stacked on an expensive chipset

Equipment with energy-efficient cores, which is good to show yourself in work tasks

DDR5 memory, which is supported by the processor, may be twice as expensive as DDR4, but still does not provide a significant increase in productivity

AMD Ryzen 7 5750g Pro (100-100000254mpk)

Tsei processor to finish the specifics, vin of motivation at the Architecture Zen 3 Cezanne I PIDRIMMA-PRIVELS, SCHO PIDIVELSE.

One of these security protocols, Microsoft’s fragmentation, is called «computer from the protected kernel» — it protects the system from vulnerabilities in the installed software, avoiding attacks on the OS and unauthorized remote access to attachments. Tse reach the control of the kind allowed by the protocols of authenticity.

The AMD Memory Guard function encrypts system memory data in real time, which significantly reduces the risk of an evil person stealing or stealing a PC.

Stock CPUs reach up to 4.6 GHz per core. Overclockers have already been installed, which allows you to reach stable work with an indicator of 4.8 GHz per core.

One of the areas where such a processor is used is the choice of a PC for streaming videogor, a system for organizing a whole streaming community. In addition, the RYZEN 7 5750G PRO samples will be relevant for testing and distribution of igor.

Plusy

Minusi

Encryption protocol support for cyber security

Appointments for specific assignments. For amateur gaming, there are three available analogues 5700X

High productivity indicators per core and in rich threading mode

Highest performance (with the current rating at the time of compiling the rating) a video card was installed

All processors in the third part of the rating can win both in top gaming computers, and in applications for applied professional tasks, which have a high computational burden. The use of high-performance rich-core processors is important in design, 3D modeling, work with majestic data arrays, rendering video content in 4-8K in a wide range of buildings

AMD RYZEN 7 5800X (100-100000063WOF)

In the 2021 segment of Intel’s high-performance 8-core processors, AMD’s solutions were seriously followed. Moreover, in the field of gaming, degravity itself, we put up with the old 14-nm process technology for the sake of productivity «per core». The 5000-series Ryzen Vermeer put all the specks over the «i» 5800X compared to the flagship Core i9-10900K (at the time the 5000-series was released).

With the 5800X fans of AMD processors alone will be able to raise the psychological bar at 5 GHz and achieve maximum productivity in resource-intensive games. In addition, the processor should be shown to yourself at professional supervisors. The 5800x Ryzen has a lower TDP — claims to be 105 W, but the real figure is closer to 125-130 W.

Plusy

Minusi

High productivity per core. For spivvіdshennyam price/productivity outperforms competitors

Thermal imaging promotion

For applications that require rich threading, there are no analogs to Intel far behind.

AMD RYZEN 9 5900X (100-100000061wof)

Vishche of the bar productivity PIDNIMAR RYZEN 9 5900X-12 Nuclear I Perekovy PersmoMansk processor VID AMD. Here the maximum frequency per core without overclocking out of the box is 4.8 GHz (5.2-5.3 for overclocking).

The processor is however good as in gaming, as well as in professional tasks, and it allows you to significantly increase the speed of rendering video files in high-rise buildings. For refrigeration of this kind, I will build a better SRO, if I want to add top «rebuild» models.

Plusy

Minusi

High productivity in gaming and professional tasks

Cooling system required

Available price comparable to the nearest competitors

INTEL CORE I9 12900KF (BX8071512900KF)

The new generation of Intel processors is truly amazing. The 16-core 12900KF has everything that is needed for uncompromising gaming or professional work, no matter how complex.

The only minus of the processor itself in the sub-bag configuration. Putting the system on a new chipset with DDR5 support, we will inevitably stick to the fact that the new memory standard is still syria and timings deprive us of the best. As long as the processors of the chips cannot change the blockage, they will not be able to realize the potential of the processors of the new generation again.

Plusy

Minusi

High productivity per core. Reduced heat output

Expensive components of the new generation

Modern architecture, support of interfaces and memory of the new generation

The choice of the processor in the high price segment for the middle of 2022 is foldable like never. On the one hand, Intel has already presented models with DDR 5 support, and on the other side, the technology itself is still «grayish» and may militia, typical for the change of generations.

The editors are aware that Intel processors are more suitable for gaming in the future, and the axis for working tasks is oriented towards AMD.

Best Budget Processors 2022

from:

19-08-2022 14:39

|

section:

Hard / Motherboards, CPU, RAM, video cards

When choosing a processor for your PC, you need to consider what the equipment will be used for. Powerful components are not always required. In many cases, budget processors are suitable. The range of such devices has expanded significantly. However, even inexpensive options provide optimal performance.

AMD Ryzen 5 3600

This processor features improved performance. It is a 6-core chip with 12 threads and a TDP of 36W. The device differs in an optimum ratio of the price and quality. The processor has enough performance to handle many workloads. The base frequency is 3.6 GHz.

Processor comes with 32 MB L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 3600 fits into the AM4 CPU socket on AMD 500-series motherboards.

The presented processor has 2-channel ddr4-3200 memory. It supports overclocking, which improves the performance of memory modules.

AMD Ryzen 3 3100

If you need a budget processor, then you should pay attention to the presented option. This is the best choice for gaming. The processor has 4 cores and 8 threads, a base clock speed of 3.9 GHz, 16 MB L3 cache. The device uses AMD’s 7nm process technology for the Zen2 architecture.

The only thing to note is that the chip does not have an integrated graphics chip. This is a problem when it is difficult to find graphics cards at manufacturer’s recommended retail prices.

Intel Core i3-12100

This is an updated processor that offers many features. In addition, it is sold at a very affordable price. The peculiarity of the processor is to support DDR5 and PCI Gen 5 memory modules. The Intel Core i3-12100 has a 4-core 8-thread design.
Other features:

«Performance» cores;

base frequency 3.3 GHz;

single core speed 4.3GHz;

old DDR4 memory, new DDR

The chip supports up to 128 GB of memory. Intel Core Max Turbo Power 89W, so maintaining this processor at optimal temperatures is not difficult. And this is a plus if you have a small budget, since you do not need to spend money on a CPU cooler.

The processor is also known for the Intel UHD 770 graphics. The device functions much better than the older chips. But if a discrete GPU is present, it is preferable to choose the Intel Core i3-12100F.

Intel Pentium Gold G7400

This is a powerful processor that provides high performance. At the same time, in 2022 it remains one of the affordable ones. Its characteristics include:

2 cores;

4 threads 10nm;

2-core chip;

clock speed up to 3.7 GHz;

6 MB L3 cache.

Although the chip does not have a hybrid combination of P and E cores, the overall performance is suitable for many users. The processor is capable of supporting DDR4-3200 memory and the new DDR5 memory. The chip is more promising compared to other options in this range.

The device is equipped with modern graphics, which allows you to perform many everyday tasks. The processor is powerful, so it can be compared with 4-core AMD chips. The installed cooler easily handles the power at standard settings.
The device is more powerful than many other options. Increase performance will allow expansion beyond the classic settings.

AMD Athlon 3000G

This processor is in demand among budget products. These chips do an excellent job with their functions. The device is equipped with 2 cores, 4 threads with a clock speed of up to 3.5 GHz, 4 MB of L3 cache. Graphics include 3 GPU cores and clock speeds up to 1100 MHz.

CPU runs on Zen 1.0 architecture, compatible with AM4 motherboards. Another feature is the possibility of overclocking. This is an optimal characteristic that is important for gamers. Thanks to the integrated graphics, the presented processor is equipped with a decent chip. With a small budget, this is the best option.
The processor is suitable for gaming because the resolution is 720p. Therefore, when using many entertainments, there are no problems. Athlon 3000G is much better than budget offerings. It also works faster. In addition, the device is widely represented on sale.

Choosing a budget processor, you need to familiarize yourself with all its characteristics. The performance and functionality of the computer depends on these parameters. It is important that the device cope with everyday tasks. Then there will be no problems with the work of the PC.

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from:

19-08-2022 14:39

|

section:

Hard / Motherboards, CPU, RAM, video cards

When choosing a processor for your PC, you need to consider what the equipment will be used for. Powerful components are not always required. In many cases, budget processors are suitable. The range of such devices has expanded significantly. However, even inexpensive options provide optimal performance.

AMD Ryzen 5 3600

This processor features improved performance. It is a 6-core chip with 12 threads and a TDP of 36W. The device differs in an optimum ratio of the price and quality. The processor has enough performance to handle many workloads. The base frequency is 3.6 GHz.

Processor comes with 32 MB L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 3600 fits into the AM4 CPU socket on AMD 500-series motherboards.

The presented processor has 2-channel ddr4-3200 memory. It supports overclocking, which improves the performance of memory modules.

AMD Ryzen 3 3100

If you need a budget processor, then you should pay attention to the presented option. This is the best choice for gaming. The processor has 4 cores and 8 threads, a base clock speed of 3.9 GHz, 16 MB L3 cache. The device uses AMD’s 7nm process technology for the Zen2 architecture.

The only thing to note is that the chip does not have an integrated graphics chip. This is a problem when it is difficult to find graphics cards at manufacturer’s recommended retail prices.

Intel Core i3-12100

This is an updated processor that offers many features. In addition, it is sold at a very affordable price. The peculiarity of the processor is to support DDR5 and PCI Gen 5 memory modules. The Intel Core i3-12100 has a 4-core 8-thread design.
Other features:

«Performance» cores;

base frequency 3.3 GHz;

single core speed 4.3GHz;

old DDR4 memory, new DDR

The chip supports up to 128 GB of memory. Intel Core Max Turbo Power 89W, so maintaining this processor at optimal temperatures is not difficult. And this is a plus if you have a small budget, since you do not need to spend money on a CPU cooler.

The processor is also known for the Intel UHD 770 graphics. The device functions much better than the older chips. But if a discrete GPU is present, it is preferable to choose the Intel Core i3-12100F.

Intel Pentium Gold G7400

This is a powerful processor that provides high performance. At the same time, in 2022 it remains one of the affordable ones. Its characteristics include:

2 cores;

4 threads 10nm;

2-core chip;

clock speed up to 3.7 GHz;

6 MB L3 cache.

Although the chip does not have a hybrid combination of P and E cores, the overall performance is suitable for many users. The processor is capable of supporting DDR4-3200 memory and the new DDR5 memory. The chip is more promising compared to other options in this range.

The device is equipped with modern graphics, which allows you to perform many everyday tasks. The processor is powerful, so it can be compared with 4-core AMD chips. The installed cooler easily handles the power at standard settings.
The device is more powerful than many other options. Increase performance will allow expansion beyond the classic settings.

AMD Athlon 3000G

This processor is in demand among budget products. These chips do an excellent job with their functions. The device is equipped with 2 cores, 4 threads with a clock speed of up to 3.5 GHz, 4 MB of L3 cache. Graphics include 3 GPU cores and clock speeds up to 1100 MHz.

CPU runs on Zen 1.0 architecture, compatible with AM4 motherboards. Another feature is the possibility of overclocking. This is an optimal characteristic that is important for gamers. Thanks to the integrated graphics, the presented processor is equipped with a decent chip. With a small budget, this is the best option.
The processor is suitable for gaming because the resolution is 720p. Therefore, when using many entertainments, there are no problems. Athlon 3000G is much better than budget offerings. It also works faster. In addition, the device is widely represented on sale.

Choosing a budget processor, you need to familiarize yourself with all its characteristics. The performance and functionality of the computer depends on these parameters. It is important that the device cope with everyday tasks. Then there will be no problems with the work of the PC.

Subscribe and read the news from ITquariat before the rest in our Telegram channel!

Share this news with your friends!

Notice an error? Select it with the mouse and press Ctrl+Enter!

More interesting things…

LG G6: big test — review

ASRock Fatal1ty X99X Killer/3.1 gaming motherboard review

ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K6+ gaming motherboard review

ASUS ROG GX70 gaming laptop . Because we can…

MSI B150M Mortar Arctic Gaming Motherboard. Complete kit for a minimal budget

Motherboard ASRock Fatal1ty h270 Performance/Hyper. Skylake can be overclocked again

Motherboard ASUS X99-M WS. Maximalist’s compact dream…

Intel Core i5 1135G7 vs AMD Ryzen 5 5500U:

performance comparison

VS

Intel Core i5 1135G7

AMD Ryzen 5 5500U

Which is better: 4-core Intel Core i5 1135G7 at 0.9-2.4 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 5500U with 6 cores at 2.1 GHz? To find out, read our comparative testing of these notebook processors in popular benchmarks, games and heavy applications.

Overview

Differences

Performance

Features

Comments (1)

Overview

Overview and comparison of the main metrics from NanoReview

Single stream capacity

Rating in tests using one nucleus

Core i5 1135g7

69

Ryzen 5 5500u

60

Multi -flow performance

Tests in benchmars, where all kernels are involved 5 5500U

34

Energy efficiency

Chip energy efficiency

Core i5 1135G7

74

Ryzen 5 5500U

80

NanoReview rating

Final processor score

Core i5 1135G7

54

Ryzen 5 5500U

54

Key differences

What are the main differences between 5500U and 1135G7

Reasons to choose Intel Core i5 1135G7

Supports up to 64 GB DDR4-3200

New PCI Express — 4. 0 standard

19% faster in single core Geekbench v5 — 1313 and 1108 points

5% higher frequency in Turbo Boost (4.2 GHz vs. 4 GHz)

1135G7

Benchmark tests

Compare the results of processor tests in benchmarks

Cinebench R23 (single core)

Core i5 1135G7
+14%

1344

Ryzen 5 5500U

1174

Cinebench R23 (multi -core)

Core i5 1135G7

5073

Ryzen 5 5500u
+41%

7150

Passmark CPU (single core)

Core i5 1135G7
+11%

2750

Ryzen 5 5500U

2476

Passmark CPU (multi-core)

Core i5 1135G7

10189 5Uzen 9005
+30%

13229

Geekbench 5 (single core)

Core i5 1135G7
+19%

1325

Ryzen 5 5500U

1109

Geekbench 5 (multi-core)

Core i5 1135G7

90 5Uzen5 0 05 Uzen5 0 465
+6%

4953

▶️ Add your score to Cinebench R23

Specifications

List of full technical specifications for Intel Core i5 1135G7 and AMD Ryzen 5 5500U

General information

Manufacturer Intel AMD

Release date September 2, 2020 January 12, 2021

Type For laptop For laptop

Instruction set architecture x86-64 x86-64

Codename Tiger Lake UP3 Lucienne

Model number i5-1135G7 —

Socket BGA-1449 FP6

Integrated graphics Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU Radeon RX Vega 7

Performance

Number of cores 4 6

Number of threads 8 12

Frequency 0. 9-2.4GHz 2.1 GHz

Max. frequency in Turbo Boost 4.2 GHz 4 GHz

Bus frequency 100 MHz 100 MHz

Multiplier 9-24x 21x

Bus speed 4 GT/s —

Level 1 cache 96KB (per core) 64KB (per core)

Level 2 cache 1280KB (per core) 512KB (per core)

Level 3 cache 8MB (shared) 8MB (shared)

Unlocked multiplier No No

Power consumption

Process technology 10 nanometers 7 nanometers

Power consumption (TDP) 12-28W 10-25W

Critical temperature 100°C 105°C

Integrated graphics Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU Radeon RX Vega 7

GPU frequency 300 MHz 300 MHz

Boost GPU frequency 1300 MHz 1800 MHz

Shader blocks 640 448

TMUs 40 28

ROPs 20 7

Computer units 80 —

TGP 15 W 10-45W

Igpu Flops

Core i5 1135g7

1. 41 Teraflops

Ryzen 5 5500u

1.108 Teraflops

Memory Support

9000
DDR4-3200, LPDDR4-4267 DDR4-3200, LPDDR4-4266 Max. size 64 GB 32 GB Number of channels 2 2 ECC support No No
Other

website

Official site Site Intel Core i5 1135G7 AMD Ryzen 5 5500U

PCI Express Version 4.0 3.0

Max. PCI Express lanes 16 12

Poll

What processor do you think is the best?

Core i5 1135G7

3161 (21.6%)

Ryzen 5 5500U

11482 (78.4%)

Total votes: 14643

Competitors

1.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600H and Intel Core i5 1135G7

2.
AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and Intel Core i5 1135G7

3.
Intel Pentium Gold 7505 and Intel Core i5 1135G7

4.
Intel Core i5 1235U and Intel Core i5 1135G7

5.
AMD Ryzen 7 5825U and Intel Core i5 1135G7

6.
AMD Ryzen 5 4500U and AMD Ryzen 5 5500U

7.
Intel Core i3 1115G4 and AMD Ryzen 5 5500U

8.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600U and AMD Ryzen 5 5500U

9.
Intel Core i7 1195G7 and AMD Ryzen 5 5500U

10.
Intel Core i5 1240P and AMD Ryzen 5 5500U

What will you choose: AMD Ryzen 5 5500U or Intel Core i5 1135G7?

Name

Message

Ryzen 7000 processors will be available starting September 15 starting at $229

AMD Ryzen 7000 processors and new AM5 motherboards with LGA socket are coming soon. Details have appeared on the Web not only of clock speeds, but also of the estimated price of the six expected CPU models. AM5 processors and motherboards will be available from September 15th.

It seems that the announcement will not be paper, the hardware is almost ready. At least that’s what Moore’s Law Is Dead tweet says. AMD previously mentioned that the new platform will be presented in the fall, but, apparently, everything will happen earlier. In particular, the following dates are known:

Product announcement: August 30, 2022, 03:00 Moscow time

Press embargo lifted: 13 September 16:00 Moscow time

Sales start: September 15, 2022, 16:00 Moscow time

According to WCCFTech, AMD will officially introduce the new AM5 platform and Ryzen 7000 processors on August 30 at 3 am Moscow time. Already on September 13 at 16:00 it will be possible to publish the first tests. Two days later at 16:00 sales start, and this applies to both motherboards and processors.

Four new AMD processors will go on sale September 15th. Namely, the Ryzen 5 7600X with six physical cores and SMT support, the Ryzen 7 7700X with eight cores, and the Ryzen 9 7900X with 12 physical cores. Finally, a 16-core Ryzen 9 processor is planned7950X. Ryzen 5 7600 and Ryzen 7 7800X will be released later.

Model Cores/
Threads Base frequency
/Turbo L3 cache TDP Price

Ryzen 5 7600 6 / 12 ? 32 MB ? Tue 229 USD

Ryzen 5 7600X 6 / 12 4.7 / 5.4 GHz 32 MB 105 W 299 USD

Ryzen 7 7700X 8 / 16 4. 5 / 5.4 GHz 32 MB 105 W 349 USD

Ryzen 7 7800X 8 / 16 ? 32 MB ? Tue 449 USD

Ryzen 9 7900X 12 / 24 4.7 / 5.6 GHz 2x 32 MB 170 W 549 USD

Ryzen 9 7950X 16 / 32 4.5 / 5.7 GHz 2x 32 MB 170 W 799 USD

Benchlife.info reports possible AM5 clock speeds, RedGamingTech video mentions likely prices for Raphael models that seem quite realistic. If the base clock and Turbo rumors are correct, AMD has been able to boost the Zen 4 clocks noticeably. The Ryzen 5 7600X processors will run at a base clock of 4.7GHz and reach 5.3GHz with Boost. The Ryzen 7 7700X has a slightly lower base frequency of 4. 5 GHz, but in Boost it is even faster — up to 5.4 GHz. Both processors run at TDPs of 105W and PPTs up to 142W.

Let’s move on to the two flagships Ryzen 9 7900X and Ryzen 9 7950X. The former offers 12 cores and can run 24 threads, the Ryzen 9 7950X has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Ryzen 9 7900X processor runs at a base frequency of 4.7 GHz for a relatively large number of cores, in Turbo — up to 5.6 GHz. But even for a flagship with 16 cores, a base frequency of 4.5 GHz is declared. In Boost mode, the 16-core processor can run at up to 5.7 GHz. The two older processors have a TDP of 170W, and a PPT of 230W.

Ryzen 7000 from $229

Prices of six Ryzen 7000 processors leaked. According to RedGamingTech, prices will start at $229 for the «younger» Ryzen 5 7600. For the X version, you will have to pay $70 more. The Ryzen 7 7700X processor is listed for $349, while the faster Ryzen 7 7800X will go on sale for $449. If you buy the Ryzen 9 7900X, you will have to add another $100. Finally, the flagship Ryzen 9 7950X with 16 cores will cost $799. In general, the announced prices are pretty close to the Ryzen 5000 processors. It will be interesting to see if AMD will actually offer new AM5 processors at this price level.

Ryzen 5 5600X can be bought today from 15.800 ₽, Ryzen 7 5800X – from 26.900 ₽, Ryzen 9 5900X – from 37.700 ₽, Ryzen 9 5950X – from 45.500 ₽.

AM5 Motherboards Also Coming September 15

AMD has switched to the new LGA AM5 socket with Ryzen 7000 processors, so a motherboard upgrade is indispensable. Moreover, new models support DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. X670(E) and B650 motherboards will be available initially. The first AM5 models have already been shown at Computex, a little later we will talk about the new X670(E) models from ASUS, ASRock, MSI, Gigabyte and Biostar, which were presented at the AMD Meet-The-Experts event.

We also recommend that you read our analysis of the available information about the Ryzen 7000 processors.

Subscribe to the Hardwareluxx VKontakte group and our Telegram channel (@hardwareluxxrussia).

We recommend checking out our guide to picking the best Intel and AMD processor for the current quarter. It will help you choose the best CPU for your money and not get confused in the range of models on the market.

What to play in August 2022: Games release calendar

A game about building your own cult, a remake of the Saints Row series, a remake of the evil alien parody simulator and other titles of August 2022 in our monthly selection.

Major releases

Turbo Golf Racing

Genre: Rocket League clone

Platforms: PC, Xbox

Release date: August 4,

The

Turbo Golf Racing looks a lot like Rocket League at first glance. On the second one, too, although a closer look reveals some differences between the games. For example, the novelty is dedicated not to football, but to golf, which affects the rules of the game, because here you need to roll the ball over obstacles and drive it into a giant hole.

Naturally, other players want to do the same, so you have to act smartly: find secret tunnels, use boosters and rockets, drive opponents into traps, and so on. The game will be released in early access: the developers promise crossplay at the start, 30 levels, 15 power-ups and 150 cosmetic items.

BUY (RS)

Love, Money, Rock’n’Roll

Genre: visual novel

Platforms: RS

Release date: August 4,

Love, Money, Rock’n’Roll is a new game from the creators of Endless Summer, a cult visual novel with the unique atmosphere of a Soviet pioneer camp.

The new title also hits the sense of nostalgia: the events unfold in Japan in the 80s, and the main character will be Nikolai, the son of Soviet emigrants, who gets into a cycle of intrigue, betrayal and dangerous events. Although, of course, it will not do without romance: the protagonist will be able to compete for the attention of several girls, and the decisions made during the game will affect the development of events and lead to one of the many endings.

BUY (RS)

Two Point Campus

Genre: humorous school management sim

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch

Release date: August 9,

Two Point Campus, from the creators of Two Point Hospital, will let players dress up as a school principal. But not the usual, with boring faculties and boring teachers, but eccentric, with such unusual courses as the school of knights, the department of baking giant pies or the class for creating combat robots.

Moreover, the game will not be limited to the learning process alone. Absolutely all aspects of university management will be in your hands, from the design and placement of buildings (you can even build your own Hogwarts), to hiring staff and budgeting. The game will offer a campaign full of challenges and trials, and for those who do not want to overcome difficulties, there is a sandbox mode in which you can create without restrictions.

BUY (RS) BUY (PS) BUY (XB)

Lost in Play

Genre: point&click adventure

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch

Release date: August 10,

Lost in Play tells the story of a brother and sister who got lost in their own imagination. To get out of the trap and return home, the heroes must visit many unique places and solve a lot of puzzles — absurd and funny.

This is a classic point&click quest in which you have to put items in your inventory and use them in the right places, play mini games, and enjoy the visual style and jokes inspired by cartoons such as Gravity Falls, Hilda and «On the other side of the fence.» If the developers do not go too far with the complexity of the puzzles, we will get a hit.

BUY (PC)

Cult of the Lamb

Genre: Cult building roguelike action

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch

Release date: August 11,

Cult of the Lamb is reminiscent of one of the Christmas episodes of «South Park», about the acquaintance of the main characters with the possessed animals that live in the forest. Only in the game you have to take the side of evil and create a cult of forest animals. Starting the adventure as a lamb rescued from death by a mysterious stranger, you pledge to serve him and carry his word to the masses in the name of «saving» the world.

The gameplay is an action game with roguelike and strategy elements where you will explore the remote corners of the forest, collect followers and destroy heretics, clear dungeons, develop the settlement and build altars. All this is done in a cute cartoon style and accompanied by hilarious black jokes.

BUY (RS) BUY (PS) BUY (NS)

Arcade Paradise

Genre: arcade room manager

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch

Release date: August 11,

Arcade Paradise is a retro-style adventure that challenges the player to take charge of an old laundry room and transform it into an arcade. Moreover, the latter can not only be placed around the hall, but also tested personally: the developers promise more than 35 unique games within the title, made in different genres.

In addition to worries about their own business, gamers will also have to listen to the reproaches and moralizing of the father of the main character, who, in fact, left her this institution. He was voiced by Doug Cockle, the voice of Geralt in The Witcher series, so you probably don’t want to interrupt the grouchy old man.

BUY (RS) BUY (NS)

Rollerdrome

Genre: platform/shooter hybrid

Platforms: PC, PlayStation

Release date: August 16,

A quirky third-person action game that combines rollerblading and gunplay as players race at high speed along intricate tracks and perform insane stunts to shoot down opponents with whatever they can get their hands on.

Alas, Rollerdrome is a single-player game, although it would make a great online shooter. However, the single part is also delightful: it has amazing dynamics, a charming retro picture and a stunning soundtrack. Well, you can compete with other players by taking leadership positions in the rating table.

BUY (RS) BUY (PS)

Thymesia

Genre: dark soullike

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

Release date: August 18

Thymesia is a dark action RPG in the spirit of the games in the Dark Souls series. Choosing a dark fantasy setting, the developers will tell the story of a knight who uses the abilities of a plague weapon in a dying kingdom. He has to find the key to the causes of the disaster and destroy the monsters that have flooded the world.

The game looks intriguing, promising to plunge us into an atmosphere of pain and chaos. At the same time, there is a possibility that the developers will lack experience, and behind the attractive wrapper of Thymesia, unprincipled gameplay will be hidden.

BUY (RS)

Way of a Hunter

Genre: hunter simulator

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

Release date: August 16,

Way of the Hunter is an open world hunting simulator that will feature extensive locations across the US and Europe. In the story campaign and in the cooperative mode, players will find many tasks where they can show their skills in tracking prey and marksmanship.

You shouldn’t expect any surprises from this game. This is a typical hunting shooter that will give you exactly what you expect from it. Whether this is good or bad is up to you.

BUY (RS) BUY (XB)

Saints Row

Genre: clone of GTA

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

Release date: August 23,

Saints Row reboot will be less crazy and more grounded, returning to the roots after the completely out of reality Saints Row IV and its spin-off Gat Out of Hell.

The game will send gamers to a new city and introduce new characters, the founders of the «Saints» gang, who will challenge the local criminal gangs. The authors promise an open world, a rich storyline and a lot of secondary activities, but players may not have enough of the very madness that the franchise is so famous for.

BUY (RS) BUY (PS) BUY (XB)

Soul Hackers 2

Genre: Cyberpunk RPG

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

Release date: August 26,

In future Japan, digital intelligence agents are investigating to save humanity from the apocalypse. Cyberpunk, demons and superpowers are mixed here, and all this is seasoned with anime style and insane scenes.

Soul Hackers 2 is a new RPG from Atlus and SEGA. The creators of Catherine and the Persona series just can’t put out a bad product, so we’re sure the new title will be a hit, even though its visual design won’t be to everyone’s taste.

BUY (RS) BUY (PS) BUY (XB)

Tinykin

Genre: puzzle platformer about the adventures of a miniature astronaut

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch

Release date: August 30,

The protagonist Tinykin is an astronaut from the future who ends up on Earth in the 90s. The character is no bigger than a kitten, so he will have to conquer a gigantic world, with the help of tiny creatures that obey his commands and are able to perform various tasks — build bridges, carry objects, activate mechanisms, and so on.

The game combines realistic environments and cartoon characters, full of jokes and constantly challenging the player. Tinykin looks very nice and, judging by the demo, is able to seriously captivate. Although we will make the final verdict according to the release version.

BUY (RS)

Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed

Genre: evil alien simulator

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

Release date: August 30

Released in 2020, a remake of the fun action game Destroy All Humans! starring the alien was warmly received by the press and players, so THQ Nordic took care of creating a remake of the second part of the series.

And it comes out at the end of the summer, offering players to get used to the role of an alien again, who seeks to enslave the Earth. Like the first part, the sequel contains a lot of black humor and satire, and this time gamers are waiting for a trip to the bright 60s, with their drug frenzy, paranoia and «witch hunt». And fans of cooperative entertainment will be able to play the title together on one screen.

BUY (RS) BUY (XB)

Scathe

Genre: bloody first person shooter

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

Release date: August 31,

A co-op shooter with fast-paced DOOM-inspired gameplay, ugly demons and a large arsenal of weapons. Gamers have to travel through a deadly labyrinth full of monsters of different shapes and sizes, destroy all opponents and stay alive.

The fashion for old-school shooters never seems to go away. While some studios are poring over scripts and directing cut scenes in the sweat of their brows, others simply give the player guns and drive as many enemies as possible into the corridors of intricate locations. Both approaches are viable, but if you’re looking to clear your mind and let your adrenaline kick in, you’ll probably go for something like Scathe.

BUY (RS)

Single line

Camp Canyonwood (August 4 — RS) is a cartoonish summer camp simulator.

Retreat To Enen (August 5 — PC, PS5, XSX) is a fantastic open world survival sim.

Tyrant’s Blessing (August 8 — PC, NS) is a tactical strategy about humanity’s last uprising against the undead.

Timothy and the Tower of Mu (August 9 — PC) is a hardcore platform game about conquering an impregnable tower.

Farthest Frontier (August 9 — RS) — an urban strategy about conquering the frontier.

Rumbleverse (August 11 — PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX) is a free battle royale from the makers of Killer Instinct.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered (August 12 — PC) — the release of one of the best Spider-Man games on PC.

Gloomwood (August 16 — PC) — An immersive sim about escaping a gloomy Victorian city.

Midnight Fight Express (August 23 — PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX, NS) — a hurricane beat’em’up using destructible environments in fights.

Fallen Legion Revenants (August 23 — PC, PS4, PS5, NS) — role-playing strategy with turn-based battles and castle management mechanics.

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader (August 23 — PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX, NS) is a quiz game based on the popular TV show.

PAC-MAN WORLD Re-PAC (August 26 — PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX, NS) is a remake of the classic PS One game.

F1 Manager 2022 (August 30 — PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX) is a Formula 1 team management strategy.

IMMORTALITY (August 30 — PC, XSX) — FMV detective from Sam Barlow, creator of Her Story.

Programming Processor 2022 — Top 3

Coding is the process of performing calculations on a computer. This usually involves the development of an executable computer program. In addition to algorithm design, this process also includes problem analysis, algorithm generation, accuracy and resource usage profiling, and implementation.

However, developers need a special processor for programming because it involves a number of tasks. So, you need to choose the best processor according to your coding requirements. If you are into hard software or game development, you need to invest in a powerful processor for your computer.

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing the right processor for encoding. Most consumers are concerned about clock speed, which is not a significant factor. But clock speed is still an important consideration for gaming, and more cores are better for demanding workloads. The fastest processors in a given processor family will have the highest clock speeds.

The Intel Core i3 and i7 series processors are designed for entry-level computers. The i9 processors are designed for high-end gaming and coding. AMD offers the Athlon and Ryzen lines for basic applications. The new processors have more cores, which has increased processing power. They have more powerful memory than their predecessors and are ideal for hard coding.

If you are planning to upgrade your computer for encoding purposes, we can help you. Here are some of the best processors for encoding this year. We’ve built these processors for programming with the perfect balance of performance, speed, and core count.

What are the processor requirements? How to buy a processor for programming?

A good processor is essential for programming. The most popular processor for encoding is the Intel Core i5. This processor provides an unlocked speed of 4.1GHz, ideal for intermediate and beginner programmers. However, you don’t need ultra-fast speed as the Intel i5 can handle your daily tasks and coding needs.

The minimum processor requirement for encoding depends on the type of encoding you are doing. If you want to run simple line codes, a single core i5 processor is enough. However, if you’re into advanced coding and need to run multiple codes at the same time, your best bet is to use a high performance processor like an i7 or i9. Nowadays, most people use the i9 processor for encoding as it provides flawless performance.

Are encoding processors worth it?

A good question to ask is whether processors are worth the money if you plan to use your computer for coding. You must remember that single core processors are suitable for simple code. If you are a software developer, you should consider purchasing a processor with more cores. A processor with more cores will allow you to program faster, but it can be expensive.

A programming processor is essential for any kind of coding, from game development to web development. You can benefit from higher clock speeds and better single-core performance. First, you must decide what kind of work you will be doing with the processor and how much you are willing to spend. A good processor will allow you to create and run high-quality programs with ease.

The processor is needed not only for coding, but for all types of tasks that you perform on your computer. If you buy a decent processor for encoding, it will also improve the overall performance of your computer. You can enjoy high speed and lag-free performance when gaming, editing, and other types of work. So yes, processors for encoding are worth it.
Ideal for coding and gaming

Cons:

Average cost-benefit ratio

The Intel i9-10900K is a processor for enthusiasts and power users. It has ten cores, each pre-overclocked to 4.9GHz. This means you can expect your gaming PC to run at a whopping 5.3GHz. It’s the best processor for gaming, and it’s also good for coding and content creation. If you are looking for a high performance processor for encoding, this is the best option.

The new Intel Core i9-10900K flagship desktop processor boasts ten cores. Overall, this is a solid processor for most applications. Its 5.2GHz single-core frequency is great for gaming. The turbo frequency of the Intel Core i9-10900 K is a significant improvement over its predecessor. This processor is an LGA 1200 socket type.

The Intel Core i9-10900K is a powerful 10th generation desktop processor. Its 10 core design and 20 threads means you can run multiple programs at the same time. Core i9-10900K has an unlocked clock speed up to 5.3GHz. The chip is fully supported by Intel Optane memory and is compatible with Intel 400 series chipset.

Why is it the best processor for 2022 programming?

Intel Core i9-10900K desktop processor for encoding. It has a maximum clock speed of 5.3GHz, which allows it to deliver excellent results in any type of graphic activity. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced programmer, this processor will meet all your needs. It also supports PCIe Gen 4.0 and Intel Optane memory and is rated at 125W. These features are ideal for any coding task.

While processors available on the market are designed to perform well on a wide range of tasks, coding is especially demanding. The Intel Core i9-10900K processor has a base clock speed of 3.9GHz and is also unlocked and capable of going up to 5.3GHz. It supports a maximum of 10 cores and 20 threads. If you run into problems with your new computer, you can contact Intel Customer Support through the Contact and Support section of the official website.

The Intel Core i9 10900K desktop processor delivers a high base clock speed that is 6 percent faster than older turbocharged Intel processors. It also supports a fully unlocked clock multiplier, which means you can tweak it for the fastest possible speed. The processor is also supported by Intel Optane memory, which helps you speed up your graphics cards. Despite its high price, it has been recognized as the best processor for encoding.

In terms of performance, the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT is a powerful chip.