The Best CPUs in 2024

05/05/2024

The advent of Intel’s new 14th-generation CPUs builds on the success of its 13th-generation Raptor Lake-based CPUs with higher clocks and, in some cases, higher core counts in tow. Meanwhile, AMD clings firmly to its X3D CPU-induced wins in gaming, making it quite challenging for players to choose the best CPU for their PC.

When it comes to picking a CPU, there are currently more choices than ever before with both Intel and AMD offering motherboards that have been out for over a year that work with 3 and 2 different CPU generations respectively (assuming the X3D lineup is considered a different CPU generation). This means that one needs to take a better look at what fits their needs, which could range from general-purpose uses to gaming to hardcore productivity-centric tools. The key metrics for identifying and picking a CPU based on performance that works for a given user include but may not be limited to:

Instructions Per Cycle (IPC)
Clock Speeds
Core Counts
Memory & PCI-E Support
Single Core Performance
Efficiency/Power Consumption
Cooling Requirements

Anyone looking for the best of both worlds can benefit from these top-tier CPUs, which include the best overall CPUs for productivity and gaming.

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The Best Gaming CPUs in 2024

The best CPUs for gaming have to stand out in an increasingly competitive space. These are the best you can buy right now.

Game Rant’s Picks for the Best CPUs in 2024

Intel Core i5 14600K 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU

The Best Overall CPU $307 $340 Save $33

TheIntel Core i5 14600K 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU is a powerful mid-range CPU that replaces the last generation Intel Core i5 13600K with higher clocks on both its performance and efficiency cores.

Like all its siblings, it does offer better performance out-of-the-box versus its predecessors but replaces them at the same price points they sold last year.

BrandIntelCPU ModelCore i5 14600KCPU SocketLGA 1700Cores14 (6P + 8E Cores)Threads20ArchitectureRaptor Lake RefreshProcessIntel 7 (10 nm)Base Clock Speed3.5 GHzBoost Clock Speed5.3 GHzCache20MB L2 + 24MB L3RAMUpto 192GB DDR5 RAMPCIePCI-E 4.0/5.0 supportGraphicsIntel UHD 770Power Draw181W (Turbo) Pros

Has an impressive 14 cores that handle up to 20 threads simultaneously
Offers marginal gaming and productivity performance upgrades over its predecessor
Comes equipped with an entry-level iGPU on offer
Offers arguably the best value-for-money 14th-generation Intel CPU for gaming

Cons

Comes with higher power and thermal needs than its predecessor when under load
Does not include a stock cooler as an unlocked CPU

See at Amazon$307 at Newegg$340 at Best Buy

Intel’s 14th generation CPUs are a chip off the old block, refreshing the 13th generation’s offerings with higher clocks across the board, higher efficiency core counts (Core i7 14700K), and access to Intel’s APO scheduler optimizations (14700K and 14900K) in addition to AI tuning for the highest-end Intel CPUs (Core i9 14900K/KF). This, coupled with no releases by AMD in its segment since mid-2023, essentially pits the 14600K versus its predecessor, the Core i5 13600K, in a way that might not flatter most users looking for an upgrade in 2024.

As a standalone product, however, the Intel Core i5 14600K has everything one needs: It comes unlocked out of the box and can be pushed higher easily (with adequate cooling), has respectable gaming performance that exceeds AMD’s offerings at the $300 MSRP mark, and has arguably superior multicore performance, making it a well-rounded mid-range productivity powerhouse.

The best thing going for the Intel Core i5 14600K is that it retains the price point of the now-aging 13600K while offering marginally better performance against competition that has not upped its stakes across the board in 2024, making the 14600K an obvious, albeit slightly unimpressive upgrade for users looking to move from their 12th generation or earlier Intel or AM4-based AMD CPUs to a newer CPU this year.

Users already invested in, or planning to invest in a discrete GPU along with their CPU can opt for the slightly cheaper Intel Core i5 14600KF instead. The KF CPU removes the iGPU from the equation for a minor discount over the 14600K while offering the same performance class, clock speeds, and core counts as the latter as a result.

The Intel Core i5 14600K and the 14600KF are currently part of a set of qualifying Intel 14th-generation CPUs that get a free copy of Star Wars Outlaws at launch as part of an ongoing promotion.

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

The Best CPU for Gaming

Octa Core Gaming Supremacy

$369 $450 Save $81

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is AMD’s latest and greatest CPU when it comes to gaming. With an excellent and highly efficient gaming performance that tops the charts currently, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is here to stay and has a crown to claim thanks to its 3D V-Cache-enabled prowess when it comes to gaming on a PC.

The octa-core CPU currently happens to be the fastest in the business for gaming even as it leads efficiency charts at the top, making it a very sought-after gaming upgrade.

BrandAMDCPU ModelRyzen 7 7800X3DCPU SocketAM5Cores8Threads16PCIe 4.0 SupportYes, Supports up to PCI-E 5.0ArchitectureZen 4Process5nmBase Clock Speed4.2GHzBoost Clock Speed5.0GHzCache8MB L2 + 96MB L3 TDP120WiGPUYes, Integrated Radeon 2 Core Pros

Offers the fastest gaming performance money can buy in 2024
One of the most efficient processors available for gaming, clocking in just under 50W for most titles
Runs cooler than most of its competitors when gaming
Has considerably lower thermal requirements than its nearest competitor
Trades at a significant discount over MSRP currently

Cons

Lackluster productivity performance as an octa-core CPU

See at Amazon$369 at Newegg$369 at Walmart

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 8-Core 16-Thread processor is unapologetically designed to go for the jugular when it comes to gaming. AMD is putting its 3D V-Cache technology to full use to push out a processor that makes the most of it for gaming this year as it aims to dethrone Intel’s recent dominance when it comes to gaming-related benchmarks and real-world performance.

While the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D was launched after its core-heavy 3D V-Cache-enabled siblings, the Ryzen 9 7900X3D and the Ryzen 9 7950X3D it isn’t difficult to see why; it often outperforms its own larger sibling, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D in some gaming benchmarks, retaining its position as the new king of the hill for gaming for nearly a year at the time of writing.

What is not surprising, but still a bit disappointing for some power users, is its lack of productivity-based software gains thanks to the added 3D V-Cache, but that can be reasoned away somewhat as AMD’s last generation X3D processor, the capable 5800X3D also exhibited similar behavior: It was slower than the Ryzen 7 5800X in most productivity-based performance tests.

All in all, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the best CPU for gaming and a solid performer that doesn’t cost as much as its competitors when it comes to gaming while dominating the playing field with some of the best scores in multiple benchmarks that cement it as the best gaming CPU money can buy currently.

It also happens to consistently be on sale at a variety of retailers at discounts that come close to $100 off MSRP. This makes it a direct price competitor to both the 14600K and the 14700K, which it currently sits between, despite being more expensive at launch than either option while pulling ahead in most, if not all gaming benchmarks versus the latter.

Intel Core i9 14900K Vs AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Is The Refresh Enough?

How does Intel’s fastest CPU to date stack up against AMD’s best gaming CPU post-launch?

Intel Core i9 14900KS 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU

The Best CPU for Productivity

The Cherry-Picked Intel Play

TheIntel Core i9 14900KS 24-core, 32-thread CPU is Intel’s special edition CPU take on its flagship 14th generation CPU, the Core i9 14900K.

It is essentially a cherry-picked 14900K SKU that can push higher clocks with up to a minimum of 6.2 GHz on its P-Cores, making it effectively the highest-clocked CPU out of the box to date when it comes to boost clocks from Intel.

It trades at a significant premium as a result and is expected, as a limited-run chip, to be a collectible SKU with high demand from enthusiasts and overclockers in 2024.

BrandIntelCPU ModelCore i9 14900KSCPU SocketLGA 1700Cores24 Cores (8 P-Cores + 16 E-Cores)Threads32 ThreadsArchitectureRaptor Lake RefreshProcessIntel 7Base Clock Speed3.2 GHz (2.4 GHz E-Cores)Boost Clock Speed6.2 GHz (4.5 GHz E-Cores)Cache36 MB L3, 32 MB L2 CacheTDP150 Base TDPPCIePCI-E 4.0 and 5.0 SupportGraphicsIntel UHD Graphics 770PCIe 4.0 SupportYesTransistorsUnstatedPower Draw253 W Pros

Has the highest single-core clocks and perf for a CPU in 2024
Offers a mammoth 32 threads across 24 cores
One of the fastest CPUs for gaming and productivity alike
Works with existing Intel LGA 1700 motherboards
Can leverage Intel’s APO optimizations to offer better performance
Can be AI tweaked/OC’ed using Intel’s XTU utility by users

Cons

Trades at a significant sub $100 premium over the 14900K
Has significant power draw needs to hit its advertised performance
Requires some of the best desktop-class AIOs to work as intended

See at Amazon$664 at Newegg

For users needing the most powerful Intel CPU that money can buy, Intel’s silicon lottery version of the Core i9 14900K seems to be the right tool for the job. The Intel Core i9 14900KS 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU builds on the 14900K’s lead with even higher boost clocks on both, its performance and efficient cores as a cherry-picked version of the latter, almost guaranteed on average to handle the needs of overclockers and tweakers better.

Thanks to the high 6.2GHz single-core boost clocks and impressive core and thread count on offer, as well as Intel offering an AI-assisted overclocking toolkit as part of its XTU platform as well as its APO optimizations in games and applications alike, the 14900KS seems to be one of, if not the best options for power users and gamers.

This makes the 14900KS a potent, but relatively high-maintenance affair in 2024 thanks to its need for significant amounts of power to get the job done in addition to a beefy AIO cooler to keep temperatures in check, especially when the CPU is under load. At the same time, not all users might be thrilled about paying the sub-$100 premium the KS commands over its capable alternative, which could make the Intel Core i9 14900K a significantly better value-centric alternative to Intel’s fastest consumer-grade CPU at the time of writing.

The Intel Core i9 14900KS and the more mainstream 14900K are currently part of a set of qualifying Intel 14th-generation CPUs that get a free copy of Star Wars Outlaws at launch as part of an ongoing promotion.

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 16-Core, 32-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor

Best Alternate CPU for Productivity

16-Core Efficiency Play

$549 $608 Save $59

The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is the flagship processor of AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series. It can boost up to 5.7Ghz and delivers unheard-of efficiency while taking the multi-threading performance crown for a 16-core processor.

SocketAMD AM5BrandAMDTDP170WCores16Threads32iGPUYes, RDNA2L3 Cache64MBBase Clock4.5GhzBoost Clock5.7Ghz Pros

Offers competitive productivity to 14900K at a lower cost
It has excellent overclockability support
Requires considerably less powerful cooling than its competition
Much more efficient than the competition for productivity workloads

Cons

Not one of the best CPUs in the market for gaming
Some of its direct competitors have slightly better multi-core performance for certain tasks

See at Amazon$549 at Newegg$550 at Best Buy

If gaming is not a prospective buyer’s only play when using a processor, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is an excellent choice that outperforms even the more expensive option, i.e., the Ryzen 7950X3D. This is because the latter has limitations when it comes to overclocking and pushing higher boost clock speeds due to the die design, unlike the 7950X which offers significantly higher boost clock speeds and enjoys overclocking support.

It has the highest boost clocks for an AMD processor to date out of the box, which allows it to retain a workload-based performance crown, replacing AMD’s previous 16-core offering in the same space, the Ryzen 9 5950X. It offers more performance on tap while trading at a decent discount over its launch MSRP even as the 7950X3D takes up the top consumer-grade slot, offering slightly better efficiency and significantly better gaming performance.

When all is said and done, the Ryzen 9 7950X is a 16-core, 32-thread processor at its core and a very capable one at that. It can also harness some of the latest advances that come bundled as part of its tech offerings as it embraces the AM5 platform: PCI-Express 5.0 and DDR5 memory support. It is also much more efficient than the competing Intel Core i9 14900K when it comes to multithreaded performance and offers lower power draw even when idle.

It does see renewed competition from a price-adjusted Intel Core i9 14900K and a deeper discount on the Ryzen 9 7950X3D but still manages to hold its own when it comes to efficiency versus the former and better productivity performance versus the latter due to more leeway when it comes to clock speeds, making it a great alternative to both CPUs in 2024.

Intel vs. AMD: Which CPUs are better?

Trying to choose between an Intel or AMD CPU? Here’s our comparison of how they break down against each other!

Intel Core i3-14100F

The Best Entry-Level CPU For Gaming

A Formidable R

Intel Core i3-14100F is a refreshed version of the i3 13100F, now with higher clock speeds that go to as much as 4.7 GHz. Based on Intel’s older Alder Lake architecture rebadged as a Raptor Lake Refresh offering, the CPU brings 4 performance cores and a total of 8 threads to get started with any small or medium-scale application. With its capable single-core performance, it holds its own versus most entry-level processors in gaming and productivity alike.

BrandIntelCPU ModelCore i3 14100FCPU SocketLGA 1700Cores4Threads8ProcessIntel 7Boost Clock Speed4.7GHzCacheL2: 5MB, L3: 12MBTDP58-110WiGPUN/AArchitectureRaptor Lake RefreshBase Clock Speed3.5GHzGraphicsN/A Pros

Works with older LGA 1700 platforms from Intel with a BIOS update
Offers better single-core performance than competing entry-level AMD CPUs
Has an upgrade path to higher-end CPUs on the same socket
Comes with a stock cooler as part of the package.

Cons

A 4-core 8-thread config CPU in 2024 has its limitations
Has no iGPU on offer for budget users

See at Amazon$120 at Newegg$120 at Walmart

The 4-core, 8-thread Intel Core i3-14100F CPU packs a decent punch as it makes use of Intel’s older Alder Lake silicon in a repurposed, but higher-clocked CPU that is, for all intents and purposes, a higher-clocked 12100F or 13100F. This is not to discount the added performance that the 200 MHz and 400 MHz boost clock gains offer, especially in games where single-core performance remains a major factor for most users.

The Core i3 14100F gets rid of the integrated GPU (iGPU) that the Core i3 14100 offers, opting for a more discounted product, so you can use the small savings towards a better discrete GPU (dGPU) when building a PC for gaming. With the latter CPU’s integrated option not being able to handle most if not all modern titles, the savings are both welcome in terms of lower overhead on the die when it comes to cooling and the cost savings passed on to the end user.

The Core i3 14100F comes with a stock Intel cooler which means users can save on a dedicated cooler for the locked CPU, but users might not be too impressed with the performance limitations of a 4-core, 8-thread CPU in 2024. Thankfully, there are plenty of upgrade options available in Alder Lake (12th gen), Rocket Lake (13th gen) and Rocket Lake Refresh (14th gen) to end users looking to make an upgrade in the near future.

AMD Ryzen 5 7600X

The Best Budget CPU for Gaming

Hexacore Value Play

$208 $299 Save $91

Gamers interested in upgrading to a newer CPU from Team Red will find the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X to be of spectacular value thanks to its high single-core performance, efficient hexacore architecture, and compatibility with newer technology such as PCI-E 5.0 and DDR5 memory. It also abandons AMD’s AM4 design, going for a pin-less processor offering by moving them to the motherboard instead.

BrandAMDCPU ModelRyzen 5 7600XCPU SocketAMD AM5Cores6Threads12PCIe 4.0 SupportPCI-E 5.0 and lowerBase Clock Speed4.7 GHzBoost Clock Speed5.3 GHzCache6MB L2 + 32MB L3 CacheRAMUp to 128 GB DDR5 5000 MHzTDP105WUserBenchmark Ranking27thiGPU2-Core AMD Radeon Graphics Pros

Is a true upgrade to the excellent value AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor with support for PCI-E 5.0, DDR, leveraging the new AM5 socket
Offers decent gaming and productivity performance gains over its last-generation sibling
Highly efficient compared to its direct competitors when it comes to power draw

Cons

Does not come with a stock cooler like the older Ryzen 5 5600X or the lower-clocked Ryzen 5 7600

See at Amazon$208 at Newegg$220 at Best Buy

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is an excellent hexacore CPU for gaming that is AMD’s mid-range play for a gaming processor that offers overclockability, decent gaming performance, and superior efficiency in a sub $200 package. It allows users to experience the AM5 platform without having to spend an arm and a leg in the process making it an excellent, well-rounded offering from Team Red for users looking to upgrade on a budget.

While AMD’s offering is somewhat limited in terms of core count thanks to its hexacore offerings, it does offer significantly more leeway in terms of efficiency, even if it comes considerably short of production workloads. Also included with the 7600X is an entry-level 2-core integrated Radeon graphics that allows end-users to use it for productivity without needing a secondary display option like its AM4-based predecessor that required a discrete solution.

All in all, if one is going AMD and is on a budget, the 7600X has them covered when it comes to delivering an efficient, gaming-centric performance that doesn’t break the bank while offering considerable value to the end user.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X sees competition from Intel’s core-heavy core i5 14400 and 14500 CPUs that do deliver better performance for productivity even as the 7600X remains ahead when it comes to gaming by a wide berth. It does, however, deliver on its promise of a very fast hexacore CPU that offers an efficient, gaming-centric AM5-based alternative for gamers looking to go AMD this round.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 continues to oscillate between the $200 to $250 mark but generally can be found closer to the former price point, making it an attractive gaming CPU with an upgrade path that its Intel peers currently lack with the 14th generation expected to be the last set of CPUs to leverage the LGA 1700 platform versus the AM5 which has at least a few years in the tank.

Intel Core i7-12700K CPU

The Best Mid-Range CPU for Productivity

Value Alder Lake Proposition

$265 $290 Save $25

TheIntel Core i7-12700K is the last-generation Intel Core i7 processor from Intel. This CPU is near the top range of options in the Intel Core series of processors. It has a clock speed of 3.6 GHz and offers more cache, including 25 MB of L3 cache, and a hyper-threading feature, which allows it to deliver better performance in demanding apps and games. The graphics performance is provided by the built-in Intel UHD graphics controller. The processor is compatible with both previous and current Socket LGA-1700 motherboards.

BrandIntelCPU ModelCore i7 12700KCPU SocketLGA 1700Cores12 (8P + 4E)Threads20 (16P + 4E)PCIe 4.0 SupportPCI-E 5.0 and 4.0 SupportProcessIntel 7 (10 nm Enhanced SuperFin)Boost Clock Speed5.0 GHzCache12 MB L2, 25MB L3 Smart CacheRAMUp to DDR5 4800 MT/sTDP125 Typical, 190W TurboiGPUYes, Intel UHD 770 Integrated Pros

Offers 8 Performance Cores and 4 efficiency cores
Supports up to 20 threads simultaneously
Considerably better value than certain 13th-generation CPUs due to its aggressive pricing
Works with all Intel LGA 1700 motherboards (12/13/14th gen)
Comes unlocked out of the box

Cons

Requires an adequate motherboard to max out its overclocking potential
Has a slightly inferior memory controller than its 13th-generation alternatives which limits memory overclocking
Has no stock cooler bundled

See at Amazon$265 at Newegg$420 at Best Buy$265 at Walmart

The aging Intel Core i7 12700K CPU still packs a powerful punch and is back in the limelight as one of the best CPUs at a fair price as a result of Intel’s extensive price cuts on Alder Lake. It comes overclocked out of the box, unlike the comparable Core i5 13500 CPU, while also offering 2 more performance (P-cores) cores while offering 4 less efficient (E-cores) cores as a result.

At the same time, the price tag, the better gaming and productivity performance, and the overclocking potential are strong proponents of what was a favorite CPU when Alder Lake launched. The fact that it runs on both Intel’s 12th and 13th generation motherboards, in addition to DDR4 and DDR5 memory depending on the motherboard of choice, makes it an appealing and balanced choice to consider.

With a total of 20 threads in play thanks to its 8 performance plus 6 efficient core config, the i7 12700K is not a slouch in most productivity-centric workloads but does see a strong challenger in the Core i5 13600KF, which offers faster cores and better gaming performance. As a result, Intel offers a significant discount versus the 13600KF which trades at a sub-$250 price tag but offers superior performance in multiple applications and games in general thanks to its higher IPC count, more cache, and slightly higher boost clock speeds in play.

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AMD Ryzen 7 8700G 8-Core, 16-Thread CPU

The Best APU For Gaming And Productivity

Zen 4 Meets Powerful RDNA 3 Graphics

The AMD Ryzen 7 8700G 8-Core, 16-Thread CPU is a powerful APU that delivers modest gaming performance for PCs that do not currently utilize a discrete GPU by using the fastest iGPU solution currently available to end users.

It comes bundled with a stock cooler, an octa-core CPU config, and a rated TDP of 65W, making it a great well-priced alternative to many budget CPU and GPU combos on the market currently.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8700G also happens to be one of AMD’s first desktop CPUs that offers the AMD Ryzen AI engine built into the chip.

BrandAMDCPU ModelRyzen 7 8700GCPU SocketAMD Socket AM5Cores8Threads16PCIe 4.0 SupportYes, 20 lanes (8 useable by GPU)Base Clock Speed4.2 GHzBoost Clock Speed5.1 GHzCacheL2 Cache: 8MB, L3 Cache: 16MBTDP65WiGPUAMD Radeon 780M (12 CU) 2900 MHzArchitectureAMD Zen 4ProcessTSMC 4nm Pros

Offers excellent entry-level gaming performance versus its predecessor
Highly efficient compared to its direct CPU + discrete competition
Comes with a beefy stock cooler as part of the package
Offers excellent current-gen Zen 4 cores in an octa-core configuration
Offers an unlocked CPU and GPU under the hood for overclockers

Cons

The PCI-E x8 limitation for future GPU upgrades might not be considered a great tradeoff by some users
Offers lower CPU boost clocks than other octa-core AMD CPUs

See at Amazon$329 at Best Buy$329 at Newegg

The AMD Ryzen 7 8700G offers newer Zen 4 cores in an 8-core, 16-thread configuration. It squares these off with a 12 CU RDNA 3 GPU that runs at a high 2.9GHz clock speed on-die even as the APU aims to target a 65W TDP that AMD offers to cool off with an included Wraith Spire cooler in the box. It is currently the CPU with the fastest integrated graphics, which makes it a very appealing option for gamers on a budget, SFF builders, and users looking for a capable HTPC without going overboard on their spending.

It leverages the AMD Radeon™ 780M mobile GPU to deliver on its promise to gamers for excellent entry-level FHD gaming performance and allows for upgrades down the line by embracing the AM5 socket, which is expected to have more options down the line. It does require fast DDR5 RAM, ideally clocked at 6400 MHz or higher to unlock its GPU performance even as it packs a dedicated Ryzen AI upgrade under the hood as one of the first desktop-class CPUs with the Ryzen 8000 moniker in play.

Users might not be thrilled to know that it is limited to PCI-E 4.0 speeds and at a reduced x8 bandwidth offering for discrete GPUs that could cripple some higher-end GPU upgrade options in the future. The iGPU’s strong dependence on higher-clocked RAM for better performance and, in some cases, power-limited clocks when running in unison with the CPU firing on all cylinders can be resolved for the most part but does in some cases add a layer of complexity that most tweakers (but not entry-level users) would revel in.

Note: It can be helpful to read Game Rant’s review of the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G APU to get a better idea of why the Ryzen 7 8700G is the most powerful APU money can buy in 2024. For users on a stricter budget, the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G might be a better choice. Game Rant also has a dedicated guide for the recently released value-centric APU for gamers on the fence when it comes to going for an APU this generation.

How Important Is Single-Core CPU Performance For Gaming?

Single-core performance in a CPU is often touted, and rightly so, as an important metric to track when ascertaining a CPU’s performance potential. This is because of how video games generally work, a practice that stems from older video game engines being primarily single-threaded or not handling most of their logic across multiple threads. Most current video games also tend to be exceptionally reliant on a single thread (even those built on modern game engines at times), which also gives credence to this notion.

It is true that faster single-core performance more often than not does translate to significant performance uplifts for most modern titles. This is both due to a speedier single-core somewhat limiting the performance bottleneck that game engines experience where threads ‘wait’ on the primary thread to proceed before they can move to the next frame or render more objects. As a result, faster single-core performance allows for fewer resource ‘locks’ on a processor. At the same time, this is not the complete story.

Modern games attempt to increasingly leverage the extra horsepower that multicore CPUs give us. This is due to a multitude of factors but can be condensed down to a few simple factors;

Considerably more powerful game consoles: Since the last generation consoles from both Sony and Microsoft went for custom AMD x86 chips and the current generation has followed suit, much of the target platform development has been centered around an octa-core processor with the latest generation using custom AMD Zen 2-based APUs. This has allowed modern games to push for better use of limited resources on consoles, which translates to better, more optimal use of multicore CPUs in a bid to eke out more performance for game consoles and PCs alike.
Better, more optimized game engines: Game engines have come a long way and offer powerful optimization techniques and more fine-grained control to developers now than ever before to ensure better gaming performance on multicore CPUs which they previously couldn’t exploit as well as possible relative to potential performance.
Higher core counts in entry-level CPUs: Possibly one of the most important factors that have led to multicore CPUs receiving increasing amounts of optimization is that entry-level CPUs from Intel and AMD offer a minimum of 4 cores, with most offering 6 or more cores, allowing developers to assume a larger thread and core count than they previously could as a minimum specification, making it easier for them to assume a larger core count from the get-go when designing their games.

While it isn’t incorrect to say that multicore performance is a secondary factor to performance, it has increasingly become more relevant since the turn of the century and will continue to grow in terms of relevance as new titles continue to be released. Single-core performance in a way can be seen as the maximum cap of what potential a CPU can exhibit in modern games that otherwise have their multicore requirements met, making it a crucial benchmark for most modern games.

This is also why Intel & AMD focus on single-core performance for gaming-centric CPU offerings with higher clocks offered at the higher, multicore CPU tiers, which are normally reserved for enthusiast-tier gamers and creators such as the Intel Core i9 14900K.

The Bottom Line

More cores and higher clocks do not always equate to more performance and 16-core processors like the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X have a far smaller gap in terms of productivity workloads with the Core i9 14900KS than raw core counts would suggest. At the same time, the current king of the hill for gaming is the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D which decimates all of its competition with ease thanks to its 3D V-Cache implementation allowing it to work with larger amounts of data thanks to the extended L3 cache.

If one wishes to get the best value for money, both Intel’s Core i5 and AMD’s Ryzen 5 are where one needs to look in terms of an excellent price-to-performance ratio. If their plans are more centric on getting the best of the best, AMD’s Ryzen 9 7950X and Intel’s Core i9 14900K are excellent options. At the same time, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D makes its case for the best gaming CPU available despite being an octa-core processor in a segment that has plenty of cores to go around for high-end processors.

FAQ

Q: What is the fastest CPU For gaming?

The Fastest CPU for gaming currently is the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D with an octa-core layout that is backed by AMD’s 3D V-Cache with AMD’s own Ryzen 9 7950X3D and Intel’s Core i9 13900KS coming in a close 2nd and 3rd place respectively.|

Q: What is the Fastest AMD CPU For Productivity?

The fastest consumer-grade AMD CPU for productivity is the 16-core, 32-thread Ryzen 9 7950X which is slightly faster in most productivity benchmarks compared to its more expensive Ryzen 9 7950X3D sibling due to a higher clock speed and TDP rating that help it perform better in non-gaming benchmarks.

Q: What is the Best CPU for Productivity?

As of September 2023, the fastest CPU for work is currently the Intel Core i9-14900KS which can do 6000MHz on single-core clocks while having 24 cores handling 32 threads that allow it to crunch numbers beyond most of its competitors.