Best CPUs for 2021

The Central Processing Unit more commonly known as just processor or central processor is the part of a computer that executes instructions

Shopping tip when buying a CPU

You can’t lose with AMD or Intel – AMD makes better CPUs overall these days in our AMD VS Intel. But so long as you’re considering current-generation parts, the performance debate is basically do not matter especially when it comes to gaming.

For gaming, clock speed is more important then core number – Higher CPU Clock translate to snappier performance, tasks such as gaming, while more cores will help you get through time-consuming workloads faster. In the end, the fastest CPUs of any family of processors have the highest clock speeds.

Budget for a full system – Don’t pair a strong CPU with bad storage, ram or graphics card otherwise the storage, ram or graphics card won’t be able to keep up with the CPU

Overclocking i’t for everyone – for most people who just want to game it makes more sense to spend more money and but a higher-end chip rather then spending money on a higher-end cooler and spending lots of time tweaking to get a little more performance

    1. Intel core i5-11600k

    Best Overall




    Reasons to buy

    – competitive price to performance ratio

    – good gaming performance

    – snappy single-threaded performance

    – overclock able

    Reasons avoid



    – no bundled cooler

    – comparatively high power consumption

    Description

    The reality of AMD’s chip shortage has proven to be a pain as you can’t find its $300 Ryzen 5 5600X reliably in stock. That’s where Intel’s Core i5-11600K steps in. At $270, this speedy little chip doesn’t claim outright benchmark supremacy over the Ryzen 5 5600X. Still, you probably won’t notice the slight differences in gaming when you pair the chip with a mid-range GPU or play at heightened settings. Given its friendly price tag, this chip takes our list as the top recommendation for gaming.

    AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

    Best Overall – Alternate Pick




    REASONS TO BUY.

    – Strong gaming performance

    – easy to cool

    – Power efficiency

    REASONS TO AVOID.

    Higher gen-on-gen pricing.

    Description

    The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is one of the best CPUs in the gaming PC market solid blend of performance in both the gaming and application workloads the 6 core and 12 thread chip lands at a price of £259.99. The Ryzen 5 5600X even beats the Intel Core i9-10900K at gaming which is an amazing given its price and it is the most power efficient chip.

    2. AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

    Best High Performance Value


    REASONS TO BUY

    – Class-leading 16 cores & 32 threads

    – Overclockable

    – Higher boost frequencies

    REASONS TO AVOID

    – Requires beefy cooling

    – No bundled cooler

    Description

    High end desktop processors have long offered the ultimate in performance, as long as you were willing to pay the price. And is not just the chip that is expensive but the chips also require expensive accommodations like a high end motherboards and cooling. AMD’s RYZEN 9 5950X expands on its predecessor’s mission of bringing high end desktop like performance to motherboards, lowering the bar for entry. The 5950X has a price tag of £749.99, but this is very affordable compared to the high end desktop that don’t offer the same level of performance.

    AMD Ryzen 7 5800X

    Best High Performance Value – Alternate Pick


    REASONS TO BUY

    – Strong gaming performance

    – Power efficiency

    – Overclockable

    REASONS TO AVOID

    – Price

    – No integrated graphics

    – No bundled cooler

    Description

    The ryzen 7 5800X provides a great blend of both gaming and application performance and offers the same level of gaming performance as the Ryzen 5600X. If gaming is your primary intention, the Ryzen 5600X is much better value and is a top pick for gaming but if you are looking for more of a CPU that gives more of an all rounder performance that offers a more power for applications, this is the chip for you

    3. AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

    Best Overall Value


    REASONS TO BUY

    – Unlocked multiplier

    – Compatible with 500-series motherboards

    – Excellent gaming performance



    REASONS TO AVOID

    No bundled cooler

    Higher gen-on-gen pricing

    No integrated graphics



    Description

    If you’re only concerned about the gaming and basic productivity tasks, you should go with the Ryzen 5 5600X and save some money. But if you’re looking for the uncontested fastest gaming chip on the market, or thinking of getting into game streaming, have some money to splash around, occasionally edit video, or just like the idea of having more threads available when you need them, AMD’s Ryzen 9 5900X is an incredible value. The 5900X offers ultimate in gaming performance, it is the uncontested gaming chip on the market, but it an overkill if all you do is gaming.

    4. Intel Core i5-11400

    Best Mid-Range CPU


    REASONS TO BUY

    – Solid gaming and application performance

    – Bundled cooler

    – Memory overclocking

    REASONS TO AVOID

    – Power consumption

    Description

    The Core i5-11400 is the best budget chip on the market, mostly because AMD’s only competing chip comes in the form of the two-year-old Ryzen 5 3600 that can’t compete with the more modern 11400. The $182 Core i5-11400 retails for $200 or more, In fact, you can pick up the graphics-less Core i5-11400F for $157, which is a steal given this level of gaming performance. The 11400F will perform the same as the non-F model, but you lose QuickSync.

    5. AMD Ryzen 3 3300X

    Budget Pick


    reasons to buy

    Low pricing

    Great gaming performance for price

    Power efficient

    REASONS TO AVOID

    Lackluster bundle cooler

    Description

    The Ryzen 3 3300X unlocks a new level of performance for budget gamers and with four cores and eight threads that can push low- to mid-range graphics cards to their fullest. The 3300X tick at a 3.8 GHz clock rate and boost to 4.3 GHz, providing snappy performance in lightly threaded applications, like games. AMD includes a bundled Wraith Spire cooler with the processor. Still, you might consider budgeting in a better low-end cooler to unlock the full performance, particularly if you are overclocking.

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