6 Best Budget Gaming CPUs For Your Gaming PC

While high-end CPUs may take the limelight for being the best gaming CPUs, CPUs that fall in an affordable price range are the ones that generally sell the most. If you look closely at the best-selling CPUs in retail stores like Amazon, the top 10 CPUs consist mostly of budget processors.

This is not just because of budget constraints but also because the price-to-performance ratio doesn't improve drastically when opting for premium chips. CPUs have improved drastically in bringing top-notch specifications, featuring a high core/thread count, higher clock speeds, and superior architecture in recent years without costing an arm and a leg.

One of the best improvements seen in budget CPUs is their capability to handle higher-end GPUs without introducing any bottlenecks. This is the exact reason why choosing an expensive processor isn't necessary for maximizing your PC's potential in modern titles. If you are in search of such a processor, here are our top picks, carefully chosen from the currently best-performing chips from the latest AMD and Intel lineups.

Cores/Threads: 6/12, Socket: AM5, Clock(Base/Boost): 4.7/5.3GHz, L3 Cache: 32MB, TDP: 105W, iGPU: 2 Core RDNA 2-based GPU

It's amazing how architectural improvements can result in superior single and multi-core performance without actually increasing the core/thread count. AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is one of the best examples in today's day and age, proving that you can have flawless gaming and productivity. Not only did the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X conquer the 5600X easily but even the 8-core, 16-thread Ryzen 7 5700X couldn't keep up with this hexacore chip in multi-threaded performance.

The answer lies in its Zen 4 architecture, which brings 13% IPC uplifts over Zen 3 and delivers stable boost clock speeds of nearly 5.3GHz. With some tweaks to the voltages, the processor can run even at 5.4GHz on all cores, provided you use a decent aftermarket cooling solution. Thankfully, the 7600X doesn't run as hot as the higher-end chips but still offers competitive gaming performance while remaining under 50W.

Even in professional workloads, expect it to peak at 100W with PBO enabled, which is an impressive feat especially compared to the Intel counterparts. The Ryzen 7600x was officially launched at $299 but thanks to the fierce CPU competition, the 7600X sits at around $100 off most of the time in various retail stores.

Cores/Threads: 6+4/16, Socket: LGA 1700, Clock(Base/Boost): 1.8, 2.5/3.3, 4.6GHz, L3 Cache: 20MB, TDP: 65W, iGPU: N/A

If you want to save $30 bucks without compromising much on the gaming and productivity performance, the Intel Core i5 13400F is a decent choice even when we already have the 14400F on the shelves. It's not only cheaper but there is no noticeable performance difference between the two. Core i5 13400F belongs to the Raptor Lake family, based on a 10nm process node, and works on the LGA 1700 platform, providing you with the option to choose between DDR4 and DDR5 motherboards.

A lot of users opt for Intel as the Hybrid architecture has enabled the company to increase its core/thread count drastically in the 12th/13th/14th generation lineup. The i5 13400F is the first ever locked Core i5, which received 4 efficient cores apart from 6 performance cores, unlike its predecessor. The increased core count combined with the slight increase in single-core performance due to an improved architecture helps the 13400F remain competitive in the budget segment.

Even though it loses to the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, the lower price compensates for its performance, enhancing the price-to-performance ratio drastically.

Cores/Threads: 8/16, Socket: AM5, Clock(Base/Boost): 3.0/4.1GHz, L3 Cache: 96MB, TDP: 105W, iGPU: N/A

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the 5800X3D aren't the only processors featuring the 3D V-cache technology. AMD also followed up with the Ryzen 5 5600X3D last year and the Ryzen 7 5700X3D earlier this year. Now if you are wondering why the Ryzen 5600X3D isn't on the list, we have a couple of reasons for that. The 5600X3D has poor availability and is Micro-Center exclusive, making it unavailable in most retail stores and places.

Furthermore, the 5700X3D is roughly around the same price tag as the 5600X3D if you are aware of the current pricing trends, offering more cores/threads and improvements over the 5600X3D. The 5700X3D is just a nerfed 5800X3D for a much lower price. As AMD's experiment became successful with the 5800X3D, adding more 3D chips to the already existing Zen 3 lineup was almost inevitable.

Ryzen 7 5700X3D remains 7-10% slower than the 5800X3D in most synthetic benchmarks but closes the performance gap in games, where the difference is merely 2-3%. Being close to the performance and price of the Ryzen 5 7600X, it can be a bit difficult to choose between the two. So, we recommend the 7600X if you are building a brand new gaming PC from scratch to ensure some future-proofing, and the 5700X3D if you already own an AM4 motherboard, and want to save some cash for a better GPU.

Cores/Threads: 4/8, Socket: LGA 1700, Clock(Base/Boost): 3.4/4.5GHz, L3 Cache: 12MB, TDP: 58W, iGPU: N/A

At around $100, there are a couple of processors that look promising for building an ultra-budget gaming system. Currently, the two best chips you can have at this price point are the Intel Core i3 13100F and the Ryzen 5 5600. The performance of both CPUs is nearly identical but the i3 13100F takes a small lead in gaming, making it a fantastic choice to pair with budget GPUs like RX 6650 XT and RTX 4060.

The Core i3 13100F also looks reasonable from an upgrade point of view, which would be limited if you opt for the Ryzen 5600 since the best gaming processor you can upgrade on an AM4 platform is the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. With DDR5 becoming mainstream and higher core/thread Intel chips already released in the 13th/14th gen families, many users like to go with the Intel LGA 1700 platform.

Nonetheless, if we keep the discussion about the budget price point, the i3 13100F can keep up with the modern titles while remaining highly power-efficient. It is already a cheap SKU but due to being locked, it doesn't require you to spend lavishly on the motherboard, resulting in significant cost reductions on the overall PC build.

Cores/Threads: 6/12, Socket: AM5, Clock(Base/Boost): 4.3/5.0GHz, L3 Cache: 16MB, TDP: 65W, iGPU: Radeon 760M

AMD's continuous efforts improved its Zen architecture to the point where it became possible to game without a discrete GPU. Gaming on ultra settings might not be achievable at the moment but you can certainly tweak a few graphical presets to get consistent 40-60 fps at 1080p. One of the best APUs to get is AMD Ryzen 5 8600G which brings a fair balance of price and performance, unlike its bigger sibling, the 8700G, which is priced ridiculously high for a small performance increase.

Ryzen 8600G is based on the same Zen 4 architecture as the Ryzen 7000 desktop CPUs but the major difference is its iGPU, which is based on RDNA 3 architecture instead of RDNA 2 on the 7000 series SKUs. The iGPU, Radeon 760M is the sole reason why despite the inferior CPU specifications of the 8600G, makes it a solid choice for budget PC builders who want to skip on the discrete GPU. Of course it's possible to add a dGPU later on, but the Radeon 760M isn't just another integrated graphics that can only power your monitor.

With 8 GPU cores clocked at a good 2.8GHz, not only does the Radeon 760M support up to 8K resolution at 60Hz, but it also supports up to 4 monitors at the same time. In gaming tests, expect it to deliver 40-60 fps in most titles on medium settings. With Hyper-RX enabled, the result can change drastically, enhancing the performance by up to 20%. This results in almost twice the performance numbers as you would get with the fastest Ryzen APU in the previous generation i.e., the Ryzen 5700G.

Cores/Threads: 12/24, Socket: AM5, Clock(Base/Boost): 3.7/4.8GHz, L3 Cache: 64MB, TDP: 105W, iGPU: N/A

For someone who wants the best of both worlds(gaming and work), the Ryzen 9 5900X looks like an absolute beast for a price lower than the Ryzen 7700X. The 5900X was a monster at the time of launch but even after getting replaced by the 7900X, the 5900X still retains its high value due to the big price cuts it received after the 7000 series launched in the market. At the moment, the Ryzen 5900X is a bit over $250, which is less than half of its initial MSRP of $569.99.

In return, you are getting an amazing configuration of 12 cores and 24 threads that can crunch big numbers in minutes. Even in gaming, the 5900X is pretty close to the current-gen processors, delivering Ryzen 7600X equivalent performance with a mid-range or high-end GPU. Even then, you will be left with a lot of unused cores/threads, which can be used for running some applications in the background if you want to get multiple jobs done in no time.

It does come with some disadvantages though. Having no option other than AM4 can limit your PC's potential due to the limited options you can upgrade to in the future. Still, considering the impressive performance you are getting by paying much less initially, upgrading after a few years won't hurt at all.

Core/Thread Count: First and foremost, always look at the core and thread count of CPUs before making up your mind. Several factors indeed affect gaming performance but a CPU short of enough cores increases the probability of bottlenecking, introducing significant GPU throttling and stuttering. 6 cores is the ideal core count you should settle for if you are on a budget but 4 cores won't hurt if the processor has hyperthreading enabled. Cores more than 6 may or may not affect gaming performance but have a productivity advantage.

Generation: As much as the specifications matter, the generational differences cannot be ignored. One of the best examples of a generational difference is the comparison between Ryzen 7600X and 5700X. Even though the latter has more cores and threads, the 7600X still manages to outperform the latter in almost every area, be it gaming or productivity. It's highly advisable to go with the latest generation to gain generational uplifts through the newer architectures.

Clock Speed:  Simply put, clock speed tells you how many cycles a CPU can execute in a second and is measured in MHz or GHz. Higher clock speeds tend to favor video games, assuming you are comparing two different chips in the same generation. Modern mainstream desktop processors can achieve speed up to or over 6.0GHz but such speeds are generally non-existent in lower-end chips. Budget processors can still reach over 5.0GHz, which is an impressive spec for a CPU to perform well in games.

Overclocking Support: Some processors allow increasing the core clocks higher than the stock frequencies to enhance the performance. These processors are generally carrying a particular naming scheme to indicate if they are overclockable or not. This is true for Intel CPUs but AMD's Ryzen chips are all overclockable in general. Keep in mind that you also need a motherboard with a chipset that also supports overclocking.

Power-Consumption: A budget processor that consumes 200W or higher is going to be a bad choice since the latest SKUs can do the same task for 100W or less. Higher power efficiency not only leads to lower electricity bills but also lower heat generation which ultimately reduces the need for using a premium aftermarket cooling solution. While not the most important factor when choosing a budget CPU, it's recommended to look at how much performance/FPS per watt you can achieve with different processors.

Do I need a discrete GPU with a budget gaming CPU?

In most cases, Yes. Budget CPUs cannot handle complex 3D rendering in games. Surely, some budget APUs can do this job better than regular CPUs, but they still come with various compromises.

Should I buy an aftermarket CPU cooler for a budget CPU?

Installing an aftermarket CPU cooler may be optional in some cases, recommended in others, and necessary in the rest. If your CPU is a locked SKU, meaning you can't overclock it, most likely it comes with a stock cooler, which will be sufficient for cooling. For CPUs that can overclock, it's recommended to get an aftermarket CPU cooler, and compulsory to buy one if it doesn't come with a stock cooler.

Can a budget gaming CPU handle the latest games?

Most modern budget CPUs can easily run the latest games since they offer enough cores/threads along with satisfactory specifications. Games are more GPU-oriented and therefore, the GPU choice will affect the gaming performance most, assuming you already have a decent budget CPU like the ones we have listed above.