Affordable and high-quality CPU.

CPU is an important element of any PC. It defines the overall performance and creates the virtual environment. If you need a new processor to improve your gaming setup or use it for home or office tasks, but you are not ready to spend a lot, check the best budget Intel CPU models we have picked for you. In the list, you will find fix worthy variants in the $100 - $500 price range.

We have chosen reasonably-priced CPU models to help you to get lost in a huge variety available on the market. Read the review below and get the most decent processor which perfectly corresponds to your requirements.

Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | Base clook: 2.9 GHz | Boost clock: 4.3 GHz

The tested Intel Core i5-10400 performs good results due to the large number of threads. Despite the presence of Hyper-Threading, its temperature indicators are at an acceptable level due to the low frequency at maximum load.

The Core i5-10400 has enough power for high-definition gaming. Combined with B460, it would be a good choice for a good gaming PC with home video editing and 3D capabilities. The mid-budget Core i5-10400 is faster than Intel CPUs of many previous generations. If someone is looking for the optimal gaming processor, then the i5-10400 is a great option.

Cores: 2 | Threads: 4 | Base clook: 4 GHz | Boost clock: None

The 10th Gen Intel Pentium Gold G6400 processor delivers a performance you need in everyday computing; the latest features such as touch and Intel Ready Mode technology to keep your PC “always ready”. Great PC performance allows to seamlessly multitask to chat with friends and family, have fun and work.

The G6400 designed for the Intel LGA 1200 desktop platform, manufactured using the 14nm process technology. The L2 cache is 4 MB. The CPU has a 2-channel memory controller.

Cores: 4 | Threads: 8 | Base clook: 3.6 GHz | Boost clock: 4.3 GHz

The Core i3-10100 processor supports Hyper-Threading technology, DDR4-2666 with a maximum memory capacity of up to 128GB and +100MHz turbo clock speed. Even with the H410 chipset and cheap memory (in dual channel mode), the processor will be able to unleash the potential of the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti.

Overclocking aside, the i3-10100 is great for a budget gaming PC. The Core i3-10100 is a pretty decent 4-core processor. The performance was on the expected level considering the number of cores.

Cores: 8 | Threads: 16 | Base clook: 2.9 GHz | Boost clock: 4.8 GHz

Intel Core i7-10700 is a new 10th Gen processor with Comet Lake microarchitecture. Designed for the Intel LGA 1200 desktop platform. The Intel Core i7-10700 is manufactured using a 14 nm process technology, has 8 cores that operate in 16 threads with a nominal clock frequency of 2.9 GHz, 4.8 GHz in Turbo Boost mode. The L2 cache is 16 MB. The i7-10700 has a 2-channel DDR4 memory controller.

Due to the large core, there is also an effective but reasonable amount of voltage headroom, which means that this chip can be overclocked much easier than some of the other chips on the market. Also, the large core processor inside this processor is able to run at a much lower frequency than the rest of the components inside.

Cores: 10 | Threads: 20 | Base clook: 2.8 GHz | Boost clock: 5.2 GHz

At first glance, it was no longer possible for the Core i9 to use more than eight cores while maintaining high frequencies at the “household” cooling level. But the Intel Core i9-10900 can do it. There are more cores, higher frequencies, better overclocking potential, while power consumption and temperature conditions are quite comparable to the previous model.

The result is: the lag even in video and 3D visualization applications has been reduced to an uncritical state, and the position of the leader in the gaming segment has been strengthened.

As a rule, CPUs designed for gaming are equipped with four or more cores. We consider the quad-core processor to be the best budget Intel CPU, which guarantees decent performance. In general, the more cores the processor has, the better. The number of cores is the number of threads handled by the computer. The technologies are constantly developing, and modern games can use more cores, which means superior speeds.

Clock speed is as important as the number of cores. Higher clock speed leads to better performance during gaming. While more cores guarantee better performance concerning more complex tasks.

For the high-end CPUs, this characteristic is not that important, but as far as we are looking for the best budget Intel CPU, it makes difference. We recommend using integrated graphics only when your budget is strictly limited, as it won’t allow you to play advanced and demanding games. To get decent graphics, you should opt for a dedicated GPU. It can handle the majority of AAA titles.

In the range of Intel processors, you can find cheaper and more expensive options. But even if you select an unlocked Intel CPU, the performance is not always be equal to what you get from a Ryzen CPU. The main part of Intel CPUs is not provided with stock coolers. Some of the models have cooler, but we should admit that they can’t beat the cooler package offered by Ryzen CPUs. Anyway, overclocking is quite simple, and you may find a lot of overclocking tutorials online.

If you often use your PC for video editing and working with audio, you will appreciate it if the best budget Intel CPU can offer extra features, like hyper-threading. Some processors allow you to edit videos, even those featuring 3D methods. Investing in a decent CPU means you won’t have to get one more for more complex tasks. This is important to remember when your computer is used for different types of work.