Modern CPUs are incredibly powerful, but you don’t need a top-of-the-line flagship to enjoy a great gaming experience. The best budget CPUs can deliver surprising performance, rivaling their more expensive counterparts. Some budget CPUs are even capable of handling video editing tasks, making them a great value for money. However, you want to make sure your investment is future-proof. The budget CPUs we’ve selected offer excellent performance today and have great upgrade potential for the future, ensuring you can continue to benefit from their capabilities as technology advances.
AMD Ryzen 7600X
The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is one of AMD’s budget offerings in their latest Ryzen 7000 generation. While it comes in at $200, making it slightly more expensive than other options on this list, it arguably stands out as the best budget CPU for most users. Equipped with six high-performance Zen 4 cores, each capable of hitting near 5GHz speeds when pushed to the limit, or even higher in gaming scenarios, the 7600X delivers impressive power. All this comes with a modest TDP of just 105W, making it perfect for compact systems. Another bonus: It boasts a built-in GPU, eliminating the need for a dedicated graphics card for basic tasks like office work and web browsing. However, for gaming, a dedicated graphics card is still recommended for optimal performance. The 7600X utilizes AMD’s new AM5 socket, providing excellent upgrade potential. For several generations to come, you’ll be able to upgrade to a newer CPU simply by updating your BIOS and dropping the new chip into your existing motherboard – no need for a new motherboard purchase.
Intel Core i5-13400
Intel’s 13th and 14th generations are often criticized for their high heat output, power consumption, and pricing. But hidden within these generations are some great budget choices, including the Core i5-13400. This processor packs six performance cores and four efficiency cores, delivering excellent performance for productivity tasks. Its high clock speeds also make it a great choice for gaming. With a TDP of just 65W, the 13400 is significantly more efficient than most of its Intel counterparts. It also comes with integrated graphics, allowing you to enjoy casual and indie games without needing a dedicated graphics card. You also have the flexibility of choosing between DDR4 and DDR5 memory, potentially saving you money on memory and motherboards. The upgrade path for the 13400 is decent, with options in the 13th and 14th generations, like the Intel 13600K or 14700KF. However, the top-tier chips in these generations are less appealing. Once Intel’s Arrow Lake generation arrives, you’ll need a new motherboard to upgrade.
Intel Core i3-12100F
While the Intel Core i3-12100F might be a few generations old, it still holds its own in gaming and productivity thanks to its four high-powered Alder Lake cores, high clock speed, and support for hyperthreading, giving it eight threads to work with. It doesn’t have onboard graphics, so you’ll need to pair it with a graphics card – or opt for the slightly more expensive Core i3-12100 – but it’s a great choice for entry-level gaming or everyday office work and homework. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, allowing you to further reduce your build cost if desired. With its low TDP, it’s well-suited for more compact systems where heat and power consumption are significant factors. The upgrade path for this CPU is also quite good, with options available in the 12th, 13th, and 14th Intel generations. You can also upgrade to DDR5 memory for further affordable performance improvements down the line.
AMD Ryzen 5600G
AMD’s last-generation Zen 3 CPUs might be considered a bit dated, but if you’re looking for a budget-friendly, low-power gaming PC, they are still a great choice. The Ryzen 5 5600G boasts six Zen 3 cores and Vega 7 graphics, making it capable of handling lightweight, casual, and indie games without the need for a graphics card. You can even play AAA titles if they are older and you adjust the settings to low – just don’t expect high frame rates. However, the inclusion of the GPU comes at a cost, resulting in slightly lower processing power compared to its generational counterparts, such as the 5500 and 5600. If you choose these options, you’ll need to invest in a separate graphics card. If you can extend your budget, the Ryzen 5 8500G offers significantly faster performance and utilizes newer CPU and GPU designs, but it requires a new motherboard and DDR5 memory, making it less budget-friendly. The upgrade path with the 5600G isn’t ideal if you opt to skip a dedicated GPU. However, if you can acquire a budget graphics card, you can always upgrade to the excellent 5700X3D, which delivers performance almost as good as the 5800X3D – the best gaming processor of its generation.
Intel Core i5-12600KF
The Intel Core i5-12600K was arguably the best gaming processor of its generation, featuring six performance cores and four efficiency cores, making it outstanding for multitasking and productivity tasks. While it is slightly outdated, it still delivers impressive power and is now available at prices well below $200. You can save even more by opting for the 12600KF, which, at around $150, is arguably the best budget processor available. The absence of onboard graphics is a drawback, requiring you to purchase a separate graphics card, adding to the overall expense. However, if you decide to invest in this processor (or the standard 12600K), you’ll be rewarded with exceptional performance. And if you’re comfortable with overclocking, you can unlock even greater potential – especially in gaming scenarios.
If you need assistance choosing the perfect CPU for your needs, check out our CPU buying guide to gain further insights and make an informed decision.
