For gamers looking to upgrade your CPU, selecting the right processor for your system can be difficult. This is especially true if you have a limited budget. Whether you’re upgrading your older gaming system or building a new system from scratch, you need a solid CPU to get the best performance. You want the highest quality, fastest CPU you can get within your current spending limit. 

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For a knockout gaming CPU, you need look no further than the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X.

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The Intel Core i5-12600K is one of the finest gaming CPUs you’ll find, and may be the best overall value for a modern gaming processor.

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How To Choose The Best Gaming CPU

 

While there is no one formula for what makes the best CPU for every system, there are some things to keep in mind that can help you find the right one for you and your budget.

 

AMD Vs. Intel

 

One of the first things you need to consider is what kind of processor you need. The reason this is important is it guides every other aspect of your system. If you’re building a new system, you need to know what kind of CPU before you select your compatible motherboard, since motherboards only support AMD or Intel, not both. If you’re upgrading the CPU in your current system, you need to know whether you currently have an AMD or Intel processor on your motherboard so you can buy a CPU that is compatible with your system.

 

Clock Speed

 

Clock speed is very important to gaming performance. The faster a processor, the faster it can accomplish each in-game task. A 2Ghz processor is significantly slower than a 3Ghz processor. 

 

This doesn’t mean it is everything when it comes to performance, though. You want a fast clock speed, but the number of cores and the number of threads also play an important role. 

 

Many times you’ll see a base clock speed and a boost clock speed. If a processor has a boost speed it can surpass its normal clock speed for short periods of time, based on processor temperature. When you require more power, the processor can speed up past its normal clock speed. The processor will only do this for a short time, preventing overheating. 

 

Number Of Cores

 

In the past all CPUs were single-core. They could only do one thing at a time. Now, all major CPUs have at least four cores, with each core able to handle calculations and instructions independently. They almost act as separate processors, letting the system with multiple cores do a lot more than a system with a single-core processor.

 

For budget gaming, you need at least four cores. This depends a lot on what games you play, since some games are programmed to take advantage of more cores. These games can use the multiple cores, and expect to complete multiple processes at one time. Many modern games can run on four cores, but expect six, and some can take advantage of eight or more. 

 

Threads

 

Threads are essentially virtual cores. Typically, a threading processor can handle two processes per core. So a four core processor can act almost as if it is an eight core processor. Keep in mind, it suffers some performance penalty for this switching back and forth, acting almost as if it is at a slower clock speed. Still, this can allow multiple processes to run simultaneously, making up for some of that performance impact. A thread basically grants around half the increase in performance that an additional core would. 

 

Socket

 

Different processors have different pinouts and go into different sockets. You not only have to consider whether your processor is Intel or AMD, you also have to consider the socket. Different lines of chips can use different sockets, even within the same brand. So an Intel processor may use an LGA 1700 socket, an LGA 1200 socket, or an LGA 2066 socket. 

 

Built-in GPU

 

A dedicated graphics card allows for more flexibility and a better path for future upgrades. However, if you’re building a new gaming system on a budget, then buying a processor with a built-in GPU can save some money and still yield terrific gaming performance.

 

Where To Buy A Budget Gaming CPU

 

While there are a number of locations where you can buy a gaming CPU, below are some of the best places to get a deal for a budget CPU. 

 
  • Newegg
  • Amazon
  • Walmart
  • Micro Center
  • Best Buy
 

Alternative To Upgrading Your CPU

 

There are alternatives to upgrading your CPU, at least in the near-term. 

 

Keep Your Current CPU For The Time Being

 

For one, you can just make do with the processor you currently have. While games need solid performance, they don’t always require a top of the line CPU. Many games still work on older processors, even if they require better graphics. If your graphics card is pretty solid, you can get by with an older CPU. This depends a lot on the game, though.

 

Spend Your Upgrade Dollars On A Graphics Card

 

Another option is to direct your upgrade budget toward your graphics card. As previously stated, some games are harder on graphics cards than others. If the games you play are graphics heavy and processor light, you can upgrade the graphics card instead of the processor.

 

Overclock Your CPU

 

Overclocking is when you run your processor at a faster rate than it is designed to operate at. In some cases it is possible to overclock your current CPU to gain a bit more performance. This may require better cooling equipment, which may make it an expensive proposition. It also only works on unlocked processors. But if you are careful with CPU cooling and your processor is overclockable, you can gain a bit of performance this way.

 

Run Your Games At Lower Settings

 

You can also run many games at a lower quality. Turn down the performance settings on the games you’re playing. It may extend your CPU life for a while as you save for a future upgrade.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Do More Cores Equal Better Gaming Performance?

 

For modern gaming, a higher core count will improve performance, at least to a certain extent. While single-core performance is still the most important and best way to understand a processor’s performance for gaming, multiple cores allow the processor to accomplish more than one task at a time. Game programmers take advantage of the multitasking ability that multiple cores allow, offering an increase in game performance with any game made in the past several years. 

 

So how many cores do you need? Most games will make use of at least four cores, and many use six. While some games can make use of more than six cores, six will provide a reasonable performance. To guard against the possibility that newer games may show massive increases for processor requirements, aim for eight or more cores if possible.

 

Does Overclocking Save Money?

 

Typically, buying a new CPU with plans to overclock it won’t save money. An unlocked CPU allows you to overclock, but it costs more money. You’ll then need to make sure you have better cooling than usually necessary, which will add to the price you’ll pay. If buying new, don’t buy with the plan to overclock.

 

Having said that, overclocking can save some money in the right situation. If you have an older CPU that is struggling in a CPU-heavy game, it might help. That is only possible if your CPU is capable of overclocking, and only if you have the cooling capacity to handle the higher heat produced. With a system that is capable, you could see better performance and up to 10% better frame rates. This could extend the time before you need to upgrade your CPU.

 

Does CPU Generation Matter?

 

The generation of your CPU does matter, but not always as much as some would have you think. Typically, there is only a small increase in speed or energy efficiency from one generation to the next. Where you usually see the most improvements are the number of cores a generation offers and the speed and type of RAM it allows you to use. 

 

Every now and then you’ll see a huge jump in performance from one generation to the next, but most of the time it is a small step. Given the choice between a second generation and a sixth generation, you should always choose the newer generation, as it will include several small improvements that add up. This isn’t necessarily true if choosing between a ninth generation and tenth.

 

It is important to note that the generations are different from one manufacturer to the other. AMD’s third generation is not comparable to Intel’s third generation. In fact, the generations within different processor lines by the same company are not always comparable. 

 

Is The CPU Or Graphics Card More Important To Gaming?

 

Whether the CPU or Graphics card is more important to gaming depends on the games you play. While it would be nice to have both a top-of-the-line graphics card and the best CPU available, if choosing just one to upgrade then you need to take a look at the kind of games you generally play. You’ll need to check the requirements for your games, as well. 

 

In general, MMORPG and real-time strategy games make heavy use of the CPU. Games like first-person shooters tend to rely more on the graphics card. This is a general rule, not universal. There are some real-time strategy games that rely more on the graphics card, for example. 

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