Best Gaming Chair Everybody knows that, if you're looking to save money on a gaming PC, the CPU is not where you do it. It doesn't pay off to cut corners on a CPU. However, that doesn't mean you need to waste money on it either; there are some great high-performance CPUs that won't break the bank. Here are some of the best bang for your buck CPU options to check out.
Comparison Chart
Best Bang for Your Buck CPU Reviews
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Processor
The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 was voted the best overall gaming GPU of 2018. It has exceptional multiprocessing performance, along with the stylish Wraith Prism Cooler. User-controlled RGB LED illumination adds a whole new look and feel to air-cooled processors, and the Ryzen 7 delivers accelerated speed and VR capabilities as well.
Review
In a head-to-head comparison, the AMD Ryzen 7 2700x simply outpaces an Intel Core i7-8700K. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.7 GHz, and a max boost clock of 4.3 GHz. It has 20MB combined cache. It uses AMD StoreMI technology to combine the speed of an SSD, with the capacity of a hard disk into a single, fast, easy-to-manage drive. It uses AMD SenseMI technology to leverage machine intelligence to accelerate performance. And the Ryzen Master Utility is a simple, powerful overclocking utility for customizing speed.
The VR-ready AMD Ryzen 7 2700X comes bundled with the new AMD Wraith Prism Cooler, the ultimate cooling solution. It features per-RGB light control, direct-contact heat pipes, and a thin profile for increased RAM and motherboard compatibility.
It is compatible with Windows 10 64-bit edition, RHEL x86 64-bit, and Ubuntu x86 64-bit, and requires a socket AM4 motherboard.
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Intel Core i9-9900K Desktop Processor 8
Intel's 9th generation Intel Core processor is built for speed. It's fully unlocked and overclockable and comes with Intel Turbo Boost technology to give it speeds of up to 5.0GHz. With incredibly efficient heat transfer and the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility, gamers can fine tune their overclock and push their systems to the max.
Review
With 8 cores and 16 threads, the Intel Core i9-9900K Desktop Processor 8 is designed for gaming. With base speeds of 3.6GHz and max turbo frequency of 5.0GHz, a 16MG Smart Cache, and 8GT/s DMI3 bus speeds, this CPU is built for speed. Intel has built all these cores and threads, with up to 400MHz higher clock speeds, into thermal packages of 95 watts, the same as previous Coffee Lake CPUs, making it compatible with existing Z370 motherboards.
The Solder Thermal Interface Material maximizes heat transfer from the CPU dissipates heat more efficiently, to run 10 degrees Celsius cooler than the i7-8700K and the i7-8086K.
Gamers may want to note, however, that in benchmarks against the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, the Intel Core i9-9900K out-performed in tasks like video processing and 3D rendering but did not outperform in gaming. When pushed past 5.0GHz, it quickly overheats. Since the Intel Core i9-9900K is more expensive, requires a cooling system, and doesn't measurably increase game speeds or performance, gamers may want to wait this CPU out.
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AMD Ryzen 3 2200G Processor
The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G Processor is a great bang for your buck CPU. The VR-ready Ryzen 3 offers graphics and computing on a single multi-threaded processor, with 8 graphic cores and Radeon Vega 8 graphics modeling for fast and fluid gaming performance. This fully unlocked processor comes with the AMD Ryzen Master Utility to manage overclocking and gives great performance at the price.
Review
The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G Processor is a steal for gamers who don't want to buy a GPU and want solid performance at 720p. It combines the strengths of AMD's Zen and Vega architectures to deliver a processor that outperforms Pentium chips in its price range. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, along with 8 GPU cores. It has a base clock of 3.5GHz, and a max boost clock of 3.7GHz.
It comes with an AMD Wraith Stealth cooler for efficient temperature control and quiet operation in a compact size. AMD SenseMI technologies use machine intelligence to accelerate performance and provide greater speed. It delivers solid performance on the most popular AAA titles but needs graphics quality reduced and settings massaged to hold up at 1080p.
With a CPU, GPU, and cooler in a single, affordable package that fits in an AM4 socket, the Ryzen 3 2200G is a great way to build a starter gaming machine that is easily upgraded and nearly future-proof.
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Conclusion
As you can see, there are high-performing CPUs in nearly every price range, optimized for almost every need. Sharp competition and constant innovation create an excellent advantage for the consumer, who can get the CPU that is perfect for their performance needs in the price range that works for them. These CPUs are a great value for the cost, and the investment will pay off in enjoyment for years to come.
