It is crucial to be up-to-date with the GPU and CPU market to get the best PC in your budget. Keeping up with GPUs is easy as there are considerably fewer SKUs than CPUs, and you won’t have to worry about compatibility issues.
Keeping up with CPUs is more complicated, considering how many SKUs are available. Intel’s 12th generation alone has dozens of SKUs. Picking the correct motherboard and RAM is another factor that complicates things even further.
To help you stay up to date with all the new CPUs, we wrote this guide to explain the current market status in detail.
Let’s get right into it!
Updates +
- November 1, 2022: Updated “Upcoming CPUs” and “Newly Released CPUs” segments
- October 26, 2022: Added Intel Core i9-13900K, i7-13700K, and i5-13600K to the list.
- September 30, 2022: Added Ryzen 9 7950X, Ryzen 7 7700X, Ryzen 5 7600X, and prepared for new Intel Core Raptor Lake CPUs.
- September 29, 2022: Fixed some small errors.
- August 16, 2022: Added new upcoming CPUs and a few alternative picks for the i3-12100F.
- June 14, 2022: Added more information in the Upcoming CPUs segment and fixed grammar.
- May 31, 2022: Added up-to-date data for the 5800X3D and i9-12900KS.
- April 12, 2022: Added the Ryzen 7 5800X3D as the fastest gaming CPU.
- April 9, 2022: Added the Ryzen 7 5700 as AMD’s best high-end CPU.
- April 8, 2022: Added the Ryzen 5 5600 as AMD’s best value CPU.
- March 16, 2022: Added AMD’s new SKUs: Ryzen 5800XD, 5700X, 5500, 4600G, 4500, and 4100 in the new “Newly released CPUs” segment.
- February 3, 2022: Minor layout fixes.
- January 25, 2022: Replaced i5-11400 with i5-12400 as the current best value CPU.
- December 16, 2021: Added Alder Lake CPUs and adjusted comparisons accordingly.
- September 13, 2021: Added new information regarding the difference in performance between the 5900X and the 5950X.
Intel Core i9-13900K
Fastest Gaming CPU
About The CPU
Even with AMD’s 3D V-Cache Ryzen 7 5800X3D and 5nm Ryzen 7 7700X, the Intel Core i9-13900K manages to edge out and climb to the top as the fastest gaming CPU.
This next generation i9 is priced at $589, putting it $289 more expensive than the 7700X, but it is also about $110 cheaper than AMD’s flagship Ryzen 9 7950X.
If you are looking to get the best of the best, the i9-13900K is on top in gaming and productivity work too.
Performance
When paired with an RTX 4090, DDR5 RAM at 1080p, the i9-13900K is undoubtedly the fastest gaming CPU in the world. It surpasses all Ryzen 7000 CPUs and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D.
However, do note that the difference in performance is less than 5%. If any of these top 8-10 CPUs are paired with a weaker GPU, the performance difference will be even smaller.
For productivity work, the i9-13900K trades blows with the Ryzen 9 7950X even though AMD’s CPU has 16 “big” cores.
The i9-13900K comes very close to the 7950X even though Blender usually favors Ryzen CPUs.
Considering that the Ryzen is $100+ more expensive, the i9-13900K definitely seems like the better offer here for everyone.
Specifications
| Base Clock | 3.0 GHz |
| Max Boost Clock | 5.8 GHz |
| Cores | 24 |
| Threads | 32 |
| Socket/Chipset | LGA1700 |
| L2 Cache | 32MB |
| L3 Cache | 36MB |
| TDP | 125W |
| Process | 10nm Enhanced SuperFin / Intel 7 |
Ryzen 7 7700X
Fastest Gaming CPU (Alternative)
About The CPU
Even though the Intel i9-13900K is a beast of a CPU, holding the top of the chart, the Ryzen 7 7700X is still the second-best gaming CPU in the world for almost $300 less.
Keep in mind, though, any Ryzen 7000 CPU needs an AM5 motherboard with DDR5 RAM, which is more expensive than DDR4 RAM and motherboards.
Performance
It is still a bit early for review compilation/round-up, but current tests show the Ryzen 7 7700X averaging at the top of the gaming charts.
Here’s Hardware Unboxed’s chart of a 12-game average:
Even though this chart is a bit older (pre-13th-gen) release, it’s still relevant. The Ryzen 7 7700X is faster than the i9-12900K, negligibly faster than the i7-13700K, and about 4% slower than the i9-13900K.
The Ryzen 7 7700X lacks in productivity work though since the i7-13700K, i9-13900K, and even the i5-13600K have more threads.
In this Corona 1.3 benchmark, for example, the i7 stomps the Ryzen 7.
Specifications
| Base Clock | 4.5GHz |
| Max Boost Clock | 5.4GHz |
| Cores | 8 |
| Threads | 16 |
| Socket/Chipset | AM5 |
| L2 Cache | 8MB |
| L3 Cache | 32MB |
| TDP | 105W |
| Process | 5 nm |
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Best Value Gaming CPU (Ryzen Option)
About The CPU
The Ryzen 9 5900X and 5950X were AMD’s fastest CPUs, but once Intel took over the number one gaming CPU spot with the i9-12900K, AMD had to answer.
AMD’s answer was to 3D stack L3 cache onto the 5800X, leading to better performance. This is how we got the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, the fastest gaming CPU, together with the Intel Core i9-12900KS.
At $449, this Ryzen is around $300 cheaper than Intel’s fastest gaming CPU. But, there are some caveats.
Performance
Even though the difference in gaming performance between these high-end processors is relatively small, we understand that some people want to obtain the one at the top of the CPU hierarchy.
This 8-core and 16-thread CPU is almost identical to the Ryzen 7 5800X, with the significant difference being the L3 cache. With 3D stacking technology, the 5800X3D has 96MB of L3 cache, while its predecessor has only 32MB.
Here are a few benchmarks to show the performance gap between Intel’s flagship i9 and AMD’s new CPU king:
Out of the 40 games tested at Hardware Unboxed, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D comes out only 1% faster than the i9-12900K. Also, expect a negligible difference with the 12900KS since it isn’t any quicker either.
If you look at the review roundup we posted above, you’ll see that the Ryzen is only 1% slower than the KS.
So, as you can see, the FPS you get will mostly be the same whether you go for Intel or AMD.
However, if you are looking for a quieter, cooler, and less power-hungry system, the Ryzen 5800X3D is the clear winner because the Intel churns almost 250W.
On the other hand, the Ryzen is pretty weak at productivity work since it has eight cores and is clocked slower than the non-3D 5800X.
Specifications
| Base Clock | 3.4GHz |
| Max Boost Clock | 4.5GHz |
| Cores | 8 |
| Threads | 16 |
| Chipset | AM4 |
| L2 Cache | 4MB |
| L3 Cache | 96MB |
| TDP | 105W |
| Process | 7nm |
Intel Core i7-13700K
Best Value High-End CPU
About The CPU
At $409, the Intel Core i7-13700K is the best value high-end CPU, no doubt. The
At the same price point ($10 more expensive) as the Ryzen 7 7700X, users get 8 more (efficiency) cores. That amounts to 24 threads while the 7700X has just 16.
Additionally, this i7 can be paired with DDR4 motherboards and memory, which leads to a cheaper system than a Ryzen 7 7700X build.
Performance
While the i9-13900K and Ryzen 7 7700X get a “Best Gaming CPU” title, the truth is that all of the top CPUs perform quite similarly.
Intel’s new i7 is about 5% slower than the Ryzen if it is paired with DDR4 memory. When paired with DDR5, the performance gap is almost non-existant.
For productivity tasks, the i7-13700K is an absolute beast thanks to the 16 cores and 24 threads.
In Blender, the i7-13700K is 35% faster than the Ryzen equivalent. So, if you are looking for a CPU to game on, but also do some rendering/editing work, the i7 is the perfect choice.
Specifications
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz |
| Max Boost Clock | 5.4 GHz |
| Cores | 16 |
| Threads | 24 |
| Socket/Chipset | LGA1700 |
| L2 Cache | 24MB |
| L3 Cache | 30MB |
| TDP | 125W |
| Process | 10nm Enhanced SuperFin / Intel 7 |
AMD Ryzen 7 7600X
AMD’s Best Value Gaming CPU
About The CPU
The Ryzen 7 7600X isn’t exactly a high-end CPU, but considering its performance and advantage over other contenders like the i7-12700K, Ryzen 7 5700X, and even Ryzen 7 5800X3D, it definitely deserves a spot on this list.
At $300, this 6-core processor is one of the best gaming CPUs out there while lacking a bit in productivity tasks.
Performance
In this 12-game average, this $300 CPU outperforms the Intel Core i7-12700K and even AMD’s 5800X3D beast of a CPU.
However, we should also note that the i7-12700K is running on one of the fastest RAM kits. When the i7 is paired with a slower DDR5 or even a DDR4 kit, the 7600X creates a 10% lead over the i7.
Productivity-wise, the Ryzen 7 7600X is 12% slower than the i5-12600K. So, not the best choice for rendering, but still good enough considering its just 6 cores.
Specifications
| Base Clock | 4.7GHz |
| Max Boost Clock | 5.3GHz |
| Cores | 6 |
| Threads | 12 |
| Socket/Chipset | AM5 |
| L2 Cache | 6MB |
| L3 Cache | 32MB |
| TDP | 105W |
| Process | 5 nm |
AMD Ryzen 5 5600
AMD’s Best Value CPU
About The CPU
The Ryzen 5 5600X was the best six-core processor for some time, and it was AMD’s best value CPU after being surpassed by Intel’s 12th gen CPU.
Today, AMD’s best value six-core CPU is the Ryzen 5 5600 non-X. It’s $100 cheaper (at MSRP) than the X version, performs almost identically, and draws less power.
For $200, the Ryzen 5 5600 is a great choice; however, it is essential to note that the i5-12400F outperforms it and costs about $20 less.
But, if you are already on the AM4 platform, it’s a great choice.
Performance
As mentioned previously, the top 5 or even 10 CPUs globally have no more than a 10% difference in gaming performance. That means whether you have a flagship i9 or a Ryzen 5, your gaming experience will be very similar.
Here’s a look at a 10-game average benchmark:
We can see that the i7-12700K outputs only about 4% more FPS than the Ryzen 5600. So sure, the i7 is faster, but it is also $100+ more expensive with a far more costly platform.
Currently, getting on an AM4 platform can be very cheap. For example, you can find a good B450 board for less than $80. If you want to go an even more affordable path, there are A520 motherboards available. Just make sure you get a fast DDR4 kit.
The reality is that this CPU can handle any of today’s GPUs, including the RTX 3090 or RX 6900 XT. So there’s no real need to go for $500+ CPUs except for better multi-threading.
Even if you want to perform multi-core tasks such as rendering, encoding, or compression, the 5600 is still fast enough, almost as quick as the previous-gen 8c/16t 3700X. The speed of the cores makes up for the lack of cores.
Like all other Ryzen 5000 Series CPUs, the 5600 has a low power drop and operates at low temperatures. With a Corsair H150i, it stays around 60C.
Specifications
| Base Clock | 3.5GHz |
| Max Boost Clock | 4.4GHz |
| Cores | 6 |
| Threads | 12 |
| Socket/Chipset | AM4 |
| L2 Cache | 3MB |
| L3 Cache | 32MB |
| TDP | 65W |
| Process | 7 nm |
Intel Core i5-13600K
Best All-Round CPU
About The CPU
Intel’s and AMD’s high-end CPUs are definitely appealing options, delivering some insane performance inside and outside of games.
However, realistically, most people are looking to get the most value out of their money when buying a CPU. Intel’s i5-13600K is that best-value CPU.
At $330, it is $30 more expensive than the Ryzen 5 7600X, but when considering the price of RAM and a motherboard, the Intel system can be $100 cheaper (if you go with DDR4.)
Performance
On a 12-game average, at 1080p resolution with NVIDIA’s flagship GPU, the new i5 is only about 3% slower than the Ryzen 5.
Although, if you go with DDR4 memory, the performance gap can increase to about 8% (if you have a very high-end GPU in your system.)
The Ryzen 7 7600X isn’t always so lucky though. This 20-thread CPU demolishes the 6-core Ryzen in Blender by about 25%.
Specifications
| Base Clock | 3.5GHz |
| Max Boost Clock | 5.1GHz |
| Cores | 14 |
| Threads | 20 |
| Socket/Chipset | LGA1700 |
| L2 Cache | 20MB |
| L3 Cache | 24MB |
| TDP | 125W |
| Process | 10nm Enhanced SuperFin / Intel 7 |
Intel Core i5-12400/F
Best Value Processor
About The CPU
Intel’s i5-11400/F was undoubtedly the best value processor for a time. Luckily for Intel, the processor that took over that position was an Alder Lake SKU. The i5-12400 comes at just $209, while the F-edition is around $180.
AMD still hasn’t offered a Zen 3 alternative because the Ryzen 5 3600 is still selling like hotcakes, so Intel now rules the $200 and sub-$200 price range.
Performance
Far Cry 6, Hitman 3, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider place the i5-12400 in a similar performance range as the 5600X. In other, more CPU-reliant titles such as Rainbow Six Siege, CS: GO, and F1 2021, the 5600X is faster.
Overall, the 5600X is about 6% faster than the i5 but is also 50% more expensive (at MSRP). So realistically, the Ryzen has a 25% higher price tag.
In terms of power consumption, it’s pretty similar to the 5600X. For example, an i5-12400 system draws about 430W in Cyberpunk 2077, while a 5600X system draws around 450W.
Regarding heat, the i5 CPU runs much cooler using Corsair’s H150i, hitting an average of 50 degrees Celsius, which is around 10 degrees cooler than the Ryzen counterpart.
Another massive benefit to this i5 is that it is overclockable even though it is a non-K SKU (with the right motherboard). Der8auer’s overclock pushes the 12400 faster than the i9-12900K.
Specifications
| Base Clock | 2.5GHz |
| Max Boost Clock | 4.4GHz |
| Cores | 6 |
| Threads | 12 |
| Socket/Chipset | LGA1700 |
| L2 Cache | 7.5MB |
| L3 Cache | 18MB |
| TDP | 65W |
| Process | 10nm Enhanced SuperFin |
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
Best Productivity Processor
About The CPU
A title previously held by AMD’s Ryzen 9 5950X and now by the latest flagship, Ryzen 9 7950X.
This is another 16-core CPU, now priced at $700 compared to $800 for the predecessor.
The Ryzen 9 7950X is the world’s fastest productivity processor, but there’s a catch! The new Intel i9-13900K sometimes outperforms it, so the Ryzen 9 7950X barely holds on to its title of best productivity processor.
Performance
Our first look will be at productivity work.
In Gamers Nexus’ chart of Blender testing, the Ryzen 9 7950X ends up around 9% faster than the i9-13900K and just about the same increase in performance compared to its predecessor.
In code compiling, the Ryzen 9 is around 13% faster than the i9.
So, the performance gains are pretty obvious here. The 7950X also gets a win in power consumption and efficiency since the i9-13900K draws almost 300W.
Specifications
| Base Clock | 4.5GHz |
| Max Boost Clock | 5.7GHz |
| Cores | 16 |
| Threads | 32 |
| Socket/Chipset | AM5 |
| L2 Cache | 16MB |
| L3 Cache | 64MB |
| TDP | 170W |
| Process | 5nm |
Intel Core i3-12100F
Best Budget CPU
About The CPU
Most of the time, Intel’s i3s are not recommended or regarded as good gaming CPUs. Mostly because they’re extremely limited in core count, but they are definitely affordable, so they are recommended for budget systems.
The i3-12100F has just 4P cores, no E cores, and 8 threads, but it performs considerably better than expected.
Because of the $104 price point and that kind of performance, this CPU is easily the best budget option right now.
Performance
After looking through different reviews, the i3’s performance is comparable to the i5-11400 and sometimes even the i5-11600K.
In Far Cry 6, at 1080p, the 12100F outperforms the i5-11400 and comes near the 10900K, a 10-core i9. In Red Dead Redemption 2, the i3’s FPS is closer (but slower) to the 3700X and 3900X.
CPU-bound games like CS:GO push the i3 right over the Ryzen 3000 series and almost as fast as the 11600K.
Overall, performance is off the charts for such a cheap CPU with a low-core count.
Specifications
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz |
| Max Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz |
| Cores | 4P/0E |
| Threads | 8 |
| Socket/Chipset | LGA 1700 |
| L2 Cache | 5MB |
| L3 Cache | 12MB |
| TDP | 58W |
| Process | 10nm Enhanced SuperFin |
Alternative Pick
If you are looking for an AMD alternative to the i3-12100F, consider checking out the Ryzen 5 5500 or the 3rd gen Ryzen 5 3600.
Here’s an informative video of the Ryzen 5 5500 going against Intel’s i3:
Newly Released CPUs
We looked at some of the most popular, fastest, and overall best processors available on the market right now. However, there might be some new processors that didn’t end up on this list.
If you want to know which CPUs are the newest, here’s a list detailing their specifications and release date.
Note: Some processors on this list might not be available in retail.
Upcoming CPUs
If none of these CPUs have caught your eye and you want a more significant upgrade to your system, consider waiting for the new CPU generations, specifically AMD’s Ryzen 8000 and Intel’s 14th Gen Meteor Lake-S series.
Make sure to come back for the next big CPU series release to see the current best CPUs on the market!