Top 7 Best CPUs for Gaming with Benchmarks

Gamers tend to focus on graphics cards and forget that CPUs are often just as important for playing games at high frame rates. Of course, CPUs also affect everything from OS to application performance, so choosing the right CPU for your needs is essential.

Because 4-core/4-thread CPUs are ubiquitous, most games still target them, but we see more and more game developers utilizing 6-core and 8-core designs. In the near future, it’s likely that CPUs with a large number of cores will be the new standard for mainstream PCs, unleashing high-performance parallel processing in games and beyond.

When selecting a new CPU, you need to pay attention to motherboard compatibility and keep in mind Moore’s law, which is the observation that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit doubles about every two years. In other words, even the best CPU on the market today won’t be very impressive just a few years down the road as CPUs, in general, become faster at a very predictable rate.

The good news is that you can get a great CPU for gaming regardless of whether your budget is $100 or $1,000. In this article, we feature the top 7 best CPUs for gaming that you can buy in 2024 to help you make the right purchase decision.

1. Intel Core i3-8100

The Core i3-8100 is a budget processor from Intel that has become a huge hit among gamers because it offers four physical cores for just a little over $100. What’s more, it comes with a reliable stock cooler that can keep it cool even inside budget cases with poor ventilation. Being a budget CPU, the i3-8100 doesn’t benefit from Intel’s Turbo Boost technology, but it’s hard to complain considering its price.

Benchmark result: 8,079

Pros: Very appealing price. Everything you need for esports gaming. Four physical cores. Reliable stock cooler.

Cons: Doesn’t benefit from Turbo Boost.

2. AMD Ryzen 5 2600X

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X is the mainstream gaming CPU all fans of the team red have been waiting for. For around $200, it offers formidable performance and excellent overclocking potential. It comes with a capable cooler, which only increases its already fantastic value. Pair the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X with a capable graphics card, and you won’t know what lag is.

Benchmark result: 14,359

Pros: Unlocked for overclocking. Competitive price that includes a capable cooler. Great for games that leverage multi-threading.

Cons: Its overclocking capabilities are quite limited.

3. Intel Core i9-9900K

Equipped with 8 cores, 16 threads, and the ability to boost up to a maximum 5.0 GHz clock speed, the Intel Core i9-9900K is Intel’s answer to AMD’s multi-core processors. If you don’t just play games but also record and edit them, you’ll appreciate its massive multi-threading performance. But if you’re just a regular gamer looking for a few extra frames per second in AAA games at high settings, there are far more sensible options out there.

Benchmark result: 20,263

Pros: Modest energy consumption. Massive multi-threading performance. Boost up to a maximum 5.0 GHz clock speed.

Cons: Expensive. Most games don’t benefit from its performance.

4. AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

When it comes to sensible CPUs, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX isn’t among them. This monster of a CPU has 32 cores and 64 threads, delivering mind-blowing performance at a steep price. A CPU like this isn’t for everyone, and those who need its incredible multi-threaded processing power already know it.

Benchmark result: 24,338

Pros: 32 cores and 64 threads—that’s all you need to know.

Cons: Extreme power consumption. Only a few applications can utilize its 32 cores.

5. Intel Core i7-9700K

The Intel Core i7-9700K is a great high-end CPU that doesn’t use as much power as i9 processors from Intel but still delivers great performance and offers some overclocking potential. Just keep in mind that it doesn’t come with a cooler, so add at least $50 to its price if you want your system to be stable even under heavy workloads.

Benchmark result: 17,373

Pros: Great performance at a decent price. Doesn’t use as much power as i9 processors from Intel. Some overclocking potential.

Cons: Doesn’t come with a cooler. Similar AMD processors offer better value.

6. AMD Ryzen 3 2200G

Being the least expensive CPU featured in this article, you might expect the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G to be unfit for modern games, but that’s not true at all. While its single-threaded performance is relatively weak, it manages to run games like Fortnite, Overwatch, or League of Legends just fine. What’s more, it has in integrated graphics chip, making it perfect for HTPCs.

Benchmark result: 7,424

Pros: Costs less than $100. Has an integrated graphics chip. Can be overclocked. Perfect for home theater PCs.

Cons: Not great for single-threaded applications and games.

7. Intel Core i5-8400

If there’s one CPU that really stands out from Intel’s 8th Gen Coffee Lake range, it’s the Intel Core i5-8400. With its 6 cores and 6 threats, it offers outstanding value and great multi-core performance, making it one of the most recommendable CPUs we’ve ever tested.

Benchmark result: 11,669

Pros: Excellent value. 6 cores and 6 threads. Great multi-core performance.

Cons: Can’t be overclocked and lacks HyperThreading.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has helped you find the right CPU for your gaming PC. As you can see, it doesn’t really matter what your budget is because great gaming CPUs are available within any budget. If you consider yourself to be a casual gamer, a budget CPU such as the Intel Core i3-8100 or the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G should provide you with all the processing power you need to enjoy smooth frame rates and great application performance. But if gaming is your passion, there are high-end multi-core juggernauts such as the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX to bring even the most demanding virtual experiences to life.