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Best Gaming CPU 2024: Top rated processors for gaming
In This Article
When it comes to building a gaming PC, the graphics card often gets all of the attention, but it’s also very important to find the best gaming CPU for your rig.
Not only can a new CPU offer improved processing power, but it can also raise the performance ceiling for other parts of your PC such as your RAM and SSD.
But with so many options available, and so many complicated specs to understand, what are the very best gaming CPU options? We review multiple processors every year, and so we’ve created this guide of the top rated options. Every processor that features on this list has been fully tested, with benchmarks conducted for general performance, gaming performance, power draw, peak temperature and more.
We’ve also made sure to include a variety of options, including budget-friendly chips to ultra-powerful processors that are future-proofed with the latest technology. As a result, there should be a gaming CPU here for everyone.
And if you’re not looking for a processor that’s specifically aimed at gaming, then take a look at ourbest CPUround-up for a broader view of what’s on the market. With all that said, here are all the best gaming CPUs you can find right now.
Best gaming CPUs at a glance
How we test
We always review multiple CPUs at once to compare data, using consistent components for fair testing where possible.We use a mix of both synthetic and in-game benchmarks to gauge performance, while also considering additional features and pricing.We also measure the likes of power consumption and peak temperature under stress to get an idea of performance efficiency.
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
Pros
Cons
TheAMD Ryzen 5 7600Xis, in our opinion, the best gaming CPU in terms of value right now. In testing, we found that the Zen 4 chip offers fantastic gaming performance, similar to the much more powerful (and expensive)Ryzen 9 7900X.
Our results showed there to only be a handful of frames different in AAA titles such as Horizon Zero Dawn and older games such as Dirt Rally. Intriguingly, the 7600X also managed to best the 7900X in Borderlands 3, even if it was only by a single frame per second. The point stands that for the price, the 7600X is an incredible gaming CPU.
As well as offering an excellent performance, the 7600X is also future-proofed for the foreseeable future, with support for PCIe 5.0 andDDR5, enabling compatibility with cutting-edge RAM and SSDs. Sadly, there’s no support for DDR4 here, so you will be forced to upgrade your RAM when switching up to theRyzen 7000Series.
The only cause for concern here is that the Ryzen 5 isn’t great for multi-core performance. If you fancy editing video or creating animations when taking a break from gaming, we recommend opting for the slightly more expensiveIntel Core i5-14600Kinstead.
Reviewer:Ryan JonesFull review:AMD Ryzen 5 7600X review
Intel Core i9-14900K
Pros
Cons
If you simply want the most powerful gaming CPU available, then our benchmark tests show theIntel Core i9-14900Kto be the frontrunner. More often than not, it trumped both theIntel Core i9-13900KandAMD Ryzen 9 7950X3Din our tests, not only for gaming but for content creation workloads too.
With 24 cores and 32 threads, it is an excellent processor for juggling multiple intensive tasks, making it an extremely versatile chip. It also flaunts support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 to ensure its future-proof for years to come.
We did discover that the performance jump from the Intel Core i9-13900K isn’t as big as we had hoped, with little separating the chips. But since its predecessor still shares the same price point, it still makes sense to opt for the Intel Core i9-14900K.
The absolute best performance does come with a caveat though, as our tests showed it to have an incredibly high power draw and peak temperature. But if you’re happy to invest in a high-end PSU and cooler, then you’ll be rewarded with the best gaming CPU performance that money can buy.
It’s also worth considering theIntel Core i7-14700K, which isn’t quite as strong for multi-workloads, but still packs a powerful performance at a slightly more affordable price.
Reviewer:Zak StoreyFull review:Intel Core i9-14900K review
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Pros
Cons
TheAMD Ryzen 9 7950X3Dis a curious processor. It’s not the most powerful gaming CPU across the board – that accolade goes to the Intel Core i9-14900K – but it does gain a huge performance boost over its rivals whenever a game leverages the power of the 3D V-Cache technology.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to determine which games actually get a boost from the 3D V-Cache. None of the games that we used for benchmarking showed any evidence of a performance boost, although this is a relatively small sample size.
Nevertheless, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is still capable of fantastic gaming performance in general, while seeing a lower power consumption than its key Intel rivals. So if you want a power-efficient chip with an excellent performance and the odd chance of leapfrogging Intel in performance, then the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is an excellent choice.
Alternatively, if you like the idea of a high-powered AMD processor, but aren’t fussed about the 3D V-Cache technology, then the standardAMD Ryzen 9 7950Xchip is a great back-up choice.
Reviewer:Zak StoreyFull review:AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D review
Intel Core i5-14600K
Pros
Cons
TheIntel Core i5-14600Kisn’t quite as cheap as the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, but it does offer a better performance. In our most recent tests, it consistently outpaced its key AMD rivals at similar price points. It also supports all of the latest cutting-edge technology, including both DDR4 and DDR5, including PCIe 5.0.
This excellent mid-range chip admittedly doesn’t offer a big improvement on the preceding Intel Core i5-13600K, but since Intel has kept the price the same, it still represents outstanding value for gamers.
And while the Intel Core i5-14600K excels at gaming, it also offers a superior multi-core performance than many of the latest AMD chips. This makes it a good option for those who want a versatile PC that can both run the latest games and speed through multi-taking workloads and complicated content creation.
So while the Intel Core i5-14600K may not offer a significant performance jump on previous generations, it’s still the best performance you’ll likely find without spending over £300/$300.
Reviewer:Zak StoreyFull review:Intel Core i5-14600K review
Intel Core i5-11600K
Pros
Cons
TheIntel Core i5-11600Kis a number of generations behind now, and so lacks support for future-proofed technology. Instead, it only supports PCIe 4.0 and DDR4.
However, we still think it offers fantastic gaming performance at such a low price. Our tests showed it to have a similar gaming performance compared to its 12th Gen sibling.
If you’re on a tight budget, it makes sense to buy a cheap processor and put more cash towards a more powerful graphics card, as that’s what will make a big difference to gaming performance. Check out ourBest Graphics Cardlist for the current top options.
So if you’re building/upgrading a gaming PC on a budget, and don’t mind sacrificing support for the latest and greatest RAM and SSDs, then the Intel Core i5-11600K is a superb option.
Reviewer:Ryan JonesFull review:Intel Core i5-11600K review
We also considered…
One of the fastest processors money can buy
One of the most powerful processors in the AMD Ryzen 7000 Series
A mid-range processor from AMD
We’ve reviewed
FAQs
PCIe (peripheral component interconnect express) is an interface standard used for connecting high-speed components such as GPUs and SSDs. The PCIe generation will determine the performance handicap for connected components. The latest standard, PCIe 5.0, currently doesn’t have a big impact on GPU performance, but can enable far faster SSD speeds with compatible hardware.
The best thing to look out for when buying a gaming CPU is single-core performance. However, it’s also worth considering other aspects such as supported features, power consumption and temperature.
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Specs compared
Formerly the Staff Writer at Stuff Magazine, Ryan’s been writing about tech since he graduated from Cardiff University. At Trusted Reviews he is focused on everything computer-related, giving him a va…
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Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
