Skip to content

Subject To Review

Best CPUs for Gaming 2024

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-core,...
  • AMD's fastest 6 core processor for mainstream desktop, with 12 processing threads
  • Can deliver elite 100 plus FPS performance in the world's most popular games
  • Bundled with the quiet, capable AMD Wraith Stealth cooler. System Memory Type: DDR4

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X ranks first in the gaming PC market with a solid combination of superior performance than Intel in gaming and application workloads. The 12-thread six-core chip comes in at $ 299, a $ 50 price increase over its previous-gen counterpart, but provides more than enough additional game and app performance to justify the premium. The Ryzen 5 5600X even beats the Intel Core i9-10900K in gaming, which is an incredible achievement considering its price. Not to mention, it’s the most energy-efficient desktop processor we’ve ever tested.

AMD’s Zen 3 microarchitecture results in a staggering 19% increase in CPI, which floats all ships in terms of performance in games, single-threaded and multi-threaded applications. In fact, the chip generally matches the gaming performance of its more expensive sibling, the $ 449 Ryzen 7 5800X. This makes the 5600X an incredibly well-rounded chip that can handle any type of gaming, from competitive class performance. with high-refresh-to-stream monitors, while still delivering more than enough performance for everyday application workloads.

The Ryzen 5 5600X has a 3.7 GHz base and a 4.6 GHz boost clock, but with the right cooling and the right motherboard, you can expect higher increases in the short term. The chip also has a 65W TDP rating, which means it runs exceptionally cool and quiet given its capabilities (the previous generation model was 95W). Current AMD owners with a 500 series motherboard will breathe a sigh of relief when the 5600X lands directly on 500 series motherboards. Compatibility with 400 series motherboards will come next year. next, so those users will have to wait for an immediate update by then. If you need a new motherboard to support the chip, the 400 and 500 series motherboards are plentiful and relatively affordable, and the B550 lineup provides the best overall value for this class of chips.

When it comes to gaming, everything good about the 5900X also goes for this more affordable Zen 3 chip. In gaming there is nothing between the Ryzen 5000 chips, which means that you will achieve the same frame rates with this chip, so you will be our first choice. What’s surprising when you think about it: top-tier performance with the most affordable Zen 3 processor? We will say yes to this every day.

This has half the number of cores on this top chip, as it does with 6 cores and 12 threads. That’s really just a problem with these more serious workloads, and for more reasonable things, that’s more than enough. One could argue that the game could go beyond the 12 threads that we have here, but there is no evidence that this is the case so far, despite the fact that next-gen consoles are switching to 8 cores and 16 threads. .

The Ryzen 5 5600X also goes against the Ryzen 5000 family trend by shipping with a Wraith Stealth cooler, so you don’t have to spend extra money on a third-party cooler. It’s not necessary, but if you do, you’ll hit higher clocks for longer and open up the wonderful world of overclocking as well, which could be worth it. It’s a decent little overclocker and while it doesn’t affect the game much it will help in other areas.

Intel Core i5-10600K

Intel Core i5-10600K Desktop...
  • 6 Cores / 12 Threads
  • Socket Type LGA 1200
  • Up to 4. 8 GHz Unlocked

For gamers looking for maximum performance, enthusiasts who like to tweak their processors without expensive supporting components, or those who simply prefer Intel chips, the Core i5-10600K is a solid chip with a good price. The 10600K isn’t as fast as the Ryzen 5 5600X, but it has integrated graphics and is competitive on a price basis, making it a solid alternative. Especially since we’re waiting for the shares and prices of AMD’s Ryzen 5000 to stabilize.

Intel’s Core i5-10600K comes with six cores and twelve threads, a doubling of the number of threads compared to the previous generation Core i5-9600K, but is priced the same at $ 262 for the fully featured model. and $ 237 for graphics, without the KF variant. The higher number of threads, along with significantly higher boost frequencies across the board, equates to much faster gameplay than the previous generation Core i5 and generally matches the previous generation Core i7-9700K. This makes this chip a great choice for gamers who appreciate high refresh rates, especially if they plan to upgrade to newer AMD or Nvidia graphics cards.

The core i5-10600K’s twelve threads also bridge the gap between it and competing AMD processors in highly threaded workloads. Still, AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X and Ryzen 5 3600 are viable alternatives if you’re looking for a chip that comes with a cooler included and a lower price. You will need to get a new LGA1200 motherboard and have a compatible cooling solution to run the Core i5-10600K (it doesn’t come with a cooler included, but LGA1151 coolers work fine). However, the Core i5-10600K offers solid gaming performance in its price range, bringing a previous generation Core i7 gaming performance at the price of the Core i5.

Intel’s Core i5 10600K is a much better value proposition compared to the Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 7 3700X than its predecessor, the Core i5 9600K. The 10600K is a real chip for the price, beating the 3600, 3700X, and often even the 3900X in games.

AMD Ryzen 5 3600X

Sale
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X 6-Core,...
  • The world's most advanced processor in the desktop PC gaming segment
  • Can deliver ultra-fast 100+ FPS performance in the world's most popular games system memory specification...
  • 6 Cores and 12 processing threads bundled with the powerful AMD Wraith Spire cooler

Out of the box, the Ryzen 5 3600X is the best processor in its price range for gaming and productivity, marking a massive shift in the mid-range. In stock configuration, the Ryzen 5 3600X consistently outperforms the more expensive Core i5-9600K in both categories, albeit for low margins in games, reversing the long-standing trend that Ryzen is best for productivity while Intel dominated the game. game.

AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen processors deliver the incremental clock speed improvements that you would expect from a new processor architecture. It also offers significant ancillary benefits – much larger caches and PCI Express 4.0 support – that will appeal to system builders and upgrades looking for a degree of durability. One of the highlights of the new line is the Ryzen 5 3600X ($ 250). Like most AMD chips, it lacks integrated graphics but makes up for it in terms of multithreaded and easy overclocking, two features that some of its Intel competitors lack. It’s a great choice for a mainstream or entry-level gaming PC.

If you’re into overclocking, Intel processors will offer more performance, but you’ll have to supply your own heavy-duty cooler to get there, which will dramatically increase the cost, while AMD packs an attractive and capable cooler in the box. Most enthusiasts looking for a quick-install-and-forget processor that can handle common computing tasks with relative ease will find incredible value in the Ryzen 5 3600X.

Finally, whatever your reason for buying a new processor, it’s hard to argue with the Ryzen 5 3600X’s back motherboard compatibility and compatibility with the cutting-edge PCIe 4.0 standard. Intel’s competition currently lacks the latter feature and, combined with multi-threaded support, tips the balance drastically in favor of the Ryzen 5 3600X, at least in the eyes of future enthusiasts.