We analyzed the processors available on the market. This allowed us to determine the best CPU for computer games. When shopping for the best CPU for gaming, many users want to get a balanced option that fits their budget and performance level. In the following, we'll take a look at different products and find the best option.
Contents:
- Features of the best processors
- The best processor according to the results of gaming tests
- Expert advice
- Rating of the best processors for gaming in 2022
- Where to buy the best processor for gaming in 2022
Features of the best processors
Tests play an important role in choosing the best CPU. The power of each product is tested in different games, which allows you to choose the best option. This article will continue the discussion on which company's microprocessors are better: Intel or AMD. Based on the research results, you will find out which company is better.
Recently, the processor market experienced a huge shortage. Now the line has been crossed, and there is already a large surplus of such devices. It is not difficult for a user to find even the most top-of-the-line devices suitable for gaming. Intel has recently offered consumers interesting processors from the Raptor Lake series:
- i5-13600K;
- i7-13700K;
- i9-13900K.
The proposed devices were able to change the rules of the game. This led AMD to revise its own line of chips and start offering an excellent quality-to-cost ratio.
Intel processors have a great potential for further overclocking. We managed to achieve 5.6 GHz without any difficulties. These results allowed us to achieve increased performance that is higher than the best AMD chips.
We also paid special attention to the price of AMD Ryzen 7000 chips. We expect them to change in the high-end and midrange segment in the near future. This is due to the fact that DDR5 RAM is experiencing higher prices, as well as motherboards that support it. Therefore, users who want to build a computer based on these components may have problems.
Unlike AMD, Intel's platform can operate with DDR4 memory. This provides a lower cost of assembly, although a small percentage of performance is lost. Raptor Lake processors support previous generation 600 series motherboards. They have no performance loss only if the board has the same power as the 700 series model. You also need to make sure that the 600 series board has an up-to-date BIOS that supports the new processor version.
A special feature of AMD was the use of B-series motherboards. Soon, new variants of this model will appear, which can improve the quality-to-cost ratio of products. The AM5 socket is distinguished by the ability to support the next generations of processors. For example, the Intel socket currently in use will not be supported after Raptor Lake.
Our recommendations take into account the following characteristics:
- difference in performance at higher or lower graphic resolution;
- costs;
- game performance.
We will offer the best chips for Intel and AMD for different price categories. This will allow you to choose the most optimal product option.
We conducted tests with the following AMD Ryzen processors:
- 7600Х;
- 7900Х;
- 7950х.
The products showed excellent performance results, but they lose out in terms of the cost of motherboards. This situation complicates our choice.
If you want to buy the best AMD processor for gaming with DDR4 memory, then you can pay attention to Ryzen 7 5800X3D. This chip is characterized by fast performance in computer games and outperforms all other AMD microprocessors. The disadvantage of this CPU is its mediocre performance in 3D V-Cache compared to competitors. Therefore, users should know all the advantages and disadvantages of each chip. Its cost is high for this level, but the processor will be the best option for the AM4 socket and computer games.
If you want to buy a CPU at an affordable price, you can pay attention to the Core i5-12400, which is based on 6 cores and operates in 12-threaded mode. Recently, the price of this processor has been significantly reduced, making it one of the most profitable chips for gaming. Its counterpart in the Raptor Lake series will be available in early 2023.
Another interesting model is Ryzen 5 5600, which costs $175. This chip is a leader in its price category. If you want to replace a system based on the first generation of Ryzen, this choice will be the best option. The 5600 model uses all the best that was in the Zen 3 architecture.
Next, we will consider an overview that systematizes all the information. Below are the best processors designed for computer games. You should not think that they will show the same efficient performance with professional software or when creating high-quality content, which is another topic. Microprocessors will show all their advantages if you use good thermal paste.
The best processor according to the results of gaming tests
We have tested all processors from AMD and Intel. The pictures offer detailed information in the form of diagrams. They also show the results of chip overclocking, which is marked by RBO for AMD microprocessors. The results are given for two Windows 10 and 11 systems.
The results are offered only for chips that have gone through the full cycle of texts. There is also information available there that is taken from past tests of various microprocessors in single-threaded and multi-threaded operation. It is also worth remembering that the cost of processors shown in the charts may change.
Expert advice
When choosing such a product, you should pay attention to the following parameters:
- In a gaming CPU, the clock speed is more important than the number of cores. A higher frequency allows you to achieve excellent performance in games. A large number of cores is needed to handle heavy workloads.
- AMD and Intel are trying to produce powerful processors for gaming.
- Calculate the right budget for building a computer. It is not recommended to combine powerful CPUs with weak memory and a video card.
- Not all gamers use chip overclocking, but we recommend that you familiarize yourself with this process, as you can achieve additional performance gains.
Rating of the best processors for gaming in 2022
Next, we will take a closer look at the chips that are the best option for computer games. You can study all the proposed processors and, depending on additional parameters, choose the best product for yourself.
Intel Core i5-12400
The 12-core i5-12400 will be the best option for gamers. After another price cut, it has become more affordable. When properly configured, it performs better than the i9-11900K and Ryzen 5 5600X, which are much more expensive.
This processor uses 6 P-core processors that can function in multi-threaded mode. The chip supports DDR5-4800 and DDR4-3200 memory. We can also note support for 4 lines of PCie 4.0 and 16 lines for PCie 5.0.
According to the tests, it is clear that the processor is able to show stable performance when working with multi-threaded programs. In single-threaded performance mode, it outperforms the Ryzen 5000 CPU.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600
Among AMD chips, this product ranks first in our rating. The processor has an excellent combination of performance in programs and games, which gives the Zen 3 architecture added value. AMD offers customers a good cost-effective alternative to Alder Lake microprocessors. For new computer builds, it's a win-win situation when upgrading from the first generation of Ryzen.
The 5600X is about 1% faster than the 5600 in multithreaded work and gaming, and has a 4% advantage in single-threaded work. For most users, the difference is imperceptible. The 5600X processor costs $53 more, which is unacceptable given the marginal difference in power.
Intel Core i9-13900K
The processor is the fastest on the planet, ahead of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. In some respects, it is better than the Ryzen 9 7950X in multithreaded work when creating content. This is very important for high-end computer games. In single-threaded performance on the x86 architecture, this is the most powerful option. The processor can work with M2 solid-state drives.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
A powerful 16-core processor operating in 32-threaded mode. The starting price of the CPU was $100 cheaper than the previous generation analog. At the moment, it is the power leader for computers. The microprocessor demonstrates unprecedented performance. The product combines Zen 4 with TSMC's 5nm process technology. Compared to the previous generation, it provides a significant increase in power. In games, this chip is 5% faster than 12900K.
Intel Core i7-13700K
The 13700K is cheaper than the Ryzen 7 7700X, but it shows the best performance results in games. This is a great option for solving heavy tasks. If desired, users can overclock this chip, after which performance like 13900K will be achieved. The 13700K CPU is a versatile device that delivers productive gaming performance.
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Consumers have access to innovative engineering work that can be used to solve a number of tasks. To maximize the processor's performance, a 96 MB L3 cache is used. The 5800X3D is a low-power chip that delivers incredible performance in games. It is one of the fastest processors on the market today.
Intel Core i5-13600K
Based on the test results, it became clear that this $319 processor shows the best performance when comparing products in the same price range. It has increased single-threaded performance. In terms of performance, the processor outperforms all AMD Ryzen 7000 models in 1080p resolution. DDR5 can be used to further increase power.
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
This 12-threaded CPU provides stable performance in games. Compared to Intel products, it is inferior to competitors with the same price. The processor performs in games as well as the 7950X, which is considered the fastest CPU from AMD. At the same time, its price is half as much. Therefore, this chip can be considered exceptional.
Intel Core i3-12100
The CPU costs $122. It has no obvious competitor from AMD, so it is a clear leader in its price category. Tests in games have shown that this powerful device can compete with more expensive products. This is the fastest budget microprocessor that impresses with its multi-threaded performance.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
For its price, the processor has a very powerful built-in graphics chip. It will be enough for light games, which will save you money on buying a video card. In the APU market, this is the best option. If you are willing to sacrifice graphics resolution and accuracy, then you can choose this processor for computer games.
Where to buy the best processor for gaming in 2022
Any of the processors we have reviewed in this article is available in the Artline online store. Users can buy these CPUs at the market price. The online store also offers ready-made personal computers based on gaming processors. The components are optimally selected so that customers can choose the best gaming computer depending on their budget.