Affordable and high-quality CPUs.
Since selecting an affordable processor might be challenging, we have hand-picked the most reliable options to help you select the best budget gaming CPU for your needs. A powerful processor is a must for anyone who wants to play recent games. Most gamers believe it to be the second most important hardware component since only a graphics card might affect your gaming experience to a greater extent.
If you can’t decide between two processors with similar specs, take a closer look at the list below. Nowadays, processors are much cheaper than they used to be. For instance, you can easily buy an AMD’s Ryzen 3000 or any of Athlon’s CPUs, including an Athlon 3000G that costs only $49.
Power Source: 8 | Polar patterns: 16 | Connectivity: 4.0 GHz | Frequency response: 4.4 GHz
The AMD Ryzen 7 3700x is a great piece of technology to own for the PC gaming enthusiast. With a TDP of only 65W, this processor is capable of delivering great raw performance that would ordinarily take other processors much longer to match.
The AMD Ryzen 7 3700x is supported by two standard desktop processors from Intel i7-processor and AMD Athlon II series. These will be complemented by the Threadripper CPU which will also be supported by the aforementioned two processors. All three devices will work flawlessly when they are all installed on the same server. The Threadripper however is built with a socketable design which will enable it to utilise less power than the other two devices, allowing the CPU to be as efficient as possible. It has the highest maximum turbo boost up to 4.4 GHz, enabling it to always remain ahead of the competition when gaming performance is taken into consideration.
Power Source: 8 | Polar patterns: 16 | Connectivity: 3.8 GHz | Frequency response: 5.1 GHz
The Intel Core i7-10700K processor is the latest addition to the reliable and long standing family of high performance processors.This processor is basically four hundred percent faster than the current generation of Intel Pentium processors. It offers six percent more cores than the older model and has an increase in the frequency of cores from two per core to six per core; enabling the processor to run more demanding workloads with improved speed and reliability.
If you're looking for a top of the line gaming PC and don't have a lot of cash to spend, the Intel Core i7-10700K could be the processor for you. It comes with six core processing power and a price tag to match. It's powerful, it's fast, it's awesome; it's the gaming pc you've been waiting for.
Power Source: 6 | Polar patterns: 12 | Connectivity: 4.0 GHz | Frequency response: 4.4 GHz
The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X is the newest processor from the current gaming boom in the PC market. With the newest cores and threads on the block, it is sure to be a big player in the high-end PC market in a few months time. For a budget-friendly gaming PC option, the Ryzen 5 is definitely a good bet.
With the latest features and technology, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X is able to compete with even the highest-end gaming platforms out there. With the latest additions to the core design, the clocks have been increased by a modest but steady amount, thus giving the processor the ability to compete with the gaming platforms of today. One of the great things about this processor is the support for the x turbo boost technology. This feature will not only increase the base clock of the processor by a small but steady amount but will also give it an additional turbo boost when needed.
Power Source: 6 | Polar patterns: 12 | Connectivity: 4.0 GHz | Frequency response: 4.4 GHz
The Intel Core i5-10400 is one of the newest CPU's in the mainstream of processors. It comes with two threads per core and has a maximum operating frequency of 4.4 GHz. In terms of gaming this processor is probably one of the best options available on the market as it is extremely powerful.
This is probably the cheapest CPU that you can get your hands on but does not mean that it is the easiest to deal with. It has two modes, an automatic mode which will increase the base clock and the voltage at boot. It has three overclocking controls which enable you to change the multiplier. There is also a manual mode that has no load levels and thus there are no fluctuating multiplier values. Based on these settings the clock multiplier will be automatically adjusted so that it matches the voltage that is present on the CPU.
Power Source: 4 | Polar patterns: 8 | Connectivity: 4.0 GHz | Frequency response: 4.2 GHz
| IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
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AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Our choice
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CHECK PRICE → | |
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Intel Core i7-10700K
Easy to lock
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CHECK PRICE → | |
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AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Stable
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CHECK PRICE → |
To pick the best option, make sure to learn more about the specifications of various models and their key differences. Even if two processors were released by the same manufacturers, they still can vary in performance. Read on to discover which things you need to take into account when purchasing a CPU.
A processor that has many cores can solve several tasks more quickly. Such CPUs are faster than their single-core counterparts. However, if your processor has 8 cores and you run a program that uses only three cores, the overall speed won’t change much. Before making a purchase, think about what programs you are going to install to avoid shelling out your money on an expensive processor that you don’t need.
The CPU cache is somewhat similar to RAM. It allows a CPU to store temporal files to retrieve them more quickly. Thanks to it, a processor delivers faster performance. If your processor has a big cache, it can store more data.
These brands are known for releasing affordable and reliable chips. Intel chips are better for gaming since they are more powerful. However, they are less energy-efficient than AMD models when you use them with a great GPU. The models from the Raven Ridge series, such as the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G, are known to deliver better performance at average settings and resolutions. Besides, with them, you don’t need to buy a dedicated graphics card.
If your budget is limited to $125, you are unlikely to find an Intel CPU that can be overclocked. However, AMD released several affordable options that allow for overclocking. The best budget gaming CPU should be fitted with a cooling system that can keep the temperatures low.
Nowadays, many motherboards support overclocking so you can easily make your processor run faster even if you are a beginner.
To learn more about the main features that you need to pay attention to, make sure to read my Buyer’s Guide. We will tell you why the number of cores is sometimes more important than clock speeds and how much you should pay for a decent processor. If you want to save your money and purchase a more powerful processor, make sure to learn which CPUs are more suitable for gaming. In this article, you will find a list of the best budget options available today.
