When you’re building a new PC, your processor is among your most expensive parts. That makes it critical to know that you’re getting a processor worth having. But how can you pick with so many excellent options available? One issue that many people have is figuring out the different models, numbers, and identifiers among popular brands.
In the CPU industry, AMD and Intel have amassed the majority of the market. As such, we’re going to focus on those brands in this article, as these are the easiest to find and the ones most people are familiar with. If you aren’t a fan of the Red vs. Blue CPU debate, other companies make strong CPUs for yourupcoming build.
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
Better Than Most Will Need
For anyone building a budget to modest PC, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a strong choice. It offers great performance in most fields and is available at a competitive price.
If you’re a fan of the red team, the Ryzen 5 7600X is one of their best options. Released in September 2022, it’s not quite top-of-the-line anymore, making it easy to find this component at a lower price. Given that the price is already competitive, finding this component at a discount may make it one of your cheaper pieces for your new build.
The Ryzen 5 7600X features 6-core processing and focuses on gaming. AMD recommends pairing this with the right motherboard to help improve your performance, both in-game and out.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
Great Performance, Great Price
The Ryzen 5 5600G can help you get your build going with steady and reliable performance. While this isn’t the most powerful CPU on the market, it’s one that isn’t likely to leave you wanting more.
The Ryzen 5 5600G is great if you’re looking for a medium-performance build. This CPU launched in August 2021, so you may need a BIOS flash if you’re going to use it. There’s also a healthy resale market of used CPUs due to their age. Still, AMD continues to sell this CPU, and there aren’t many competitors that challenge it.
With 6 cores and overclocking capabilities, this processor is also one of the best choices for a limited budget. You can regularly find this component on sale at half of its original price or more. It’s not uncommon to see this piece going for less than most PSUs.
Intel Core i5-13400F
Not quite budget, not quite pricey.
Intel’s 10-core processor provides speeds that eclipse many of its direct competitors. If you’re looking for a Blue Team CPU, the i5-13400F can’t be overlooked.
Intel has optionsthat can match anything on the market. If you’re looking for a mid-tier PC, we’d recommend the Intel i5-13400F. The processor was released in early 2023, making it only a year old as of writing this. For a processor, that’s a fine gap, though you may need to flash an update before using this CPU.
With 10 cores and 16 threads, there’s little to complain about with this processor. The cost is just over $200, depending on what retailer you’re buying it from. Despite having a mid-tier price, this processor sees use in high-power rigs, with many reviews praising its performance even when paired with 40-series GPUs.
Intel Core i3-13100F
Blue Team, Budget Team
While AMD is known as the more affordable of the two processor giants, the i3 models challenge this claim. This processor won’t give you the most bang, but you’ll keep most of your bucks.
AMD often has affordable pricing as a point to flaunt over Intel, but that isn’t the case with their i3 series. Our i3 of choice is the Intel i3-13100F, especially if your goal is to make a budget or low-strain PC. This CPU is perfect for a build that you don’t intend to use for any processing-intensive tasks, such as coding, modeling, or load-heavy games.
With 4 cores and 8 threads, this CPU also boasts up to 4.5 GHz speeds. It’s compatible with the Intel 600 and 700 series of chipset-based motherboards and will provide adequate performance for most tasks. If you’re building a PC that you intend to use for intense tasks, we don’t recommend this processor.
Staggering performance with a price to match
If you’re looking for something that’s overkill for most systems, Intel is happy to help you future-proof your system. The Intel i9-13900KF processor is among the most powerful consumer processors you can find on the market. That said, it was also released in September 2022, and there have been several releases since then that may challenge this component’s supremacy.
Despite being more than a year old, this component still runs at a high price. Still, you’ll future-proof the majority of systems with a processor this powerful. It’s also fit for most processing-heavy tasks, especially when compared to other consumer CPUs.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
“Relatively” Budget Option
AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D is among their best performers. While this component is pricier than most Ryzen options, it’ll stop you from needing a new CPU for quite a while.
Some people view AMD as the budget option while Intel is the performance choice. AMD challenges those expectations with their Ryzen 7 7800X3D. While this isn’t the top performance the company offers, it’s among their strongest offerings without doubt.
For that, you’ll be paying more than you normally pay for an AMD processor. You can often find this component on sale, especially around the holidays, so some patience can reward you. For your efforts, you’ll enjoy 8 cores, 16 threads, and speeds up to 5.0 GHz. There are stronger processors, but at this price, AMD makes a strong case for its 7800X3D
FAQ
Are AMD And Intel The Only CPU Manufacturers?
AMD and Intel have managed to situate themselves as the two main titans in the CPU industry, but they aren’t your only options. We’ve chosen them as our focus on this guide because they’re the companies most gamers rely on. Arm, Zhaoxin, and Elbrus are other names that appear, but these have some importing issues. We recommend sticking to the Blue and Red teams.
Should I Pair My CPU With The Same Brand Of Motherboard?
Many processors are made to go with certain motherboards, but the most important factor is whether they’re compatible. Always use resources like PC Parts Picker and your own research to make sure you’re buying components that work together.
Which Is Better Between AMD And Intel?
This is a hot-button debate, and not one that we’re willing to solve for you! AMD is often favored for gaming and pricing, while Intel is often seen as a workhorse that fits any situation. you may generally use either brand for any purpose, so long as you’re using the right CPU.
