Jacob Roach / Digital Developments
Even whereas dealing with downAMD’s Ryzen 7000 processors, Intel affords stiff competitors in productiveness and gaming — it simply wants a bit extra energy to do it. One of the best Intel processor you should purchase proper now could be the Core i5-13600K, however there are newer, quicker choices obtainable should you’re keen to pay for them.
From high-end gaming CPUs to some older Twelfth-generation CPUs which can be underneath $100, Intel has a compelling possibility at nearly each value level. The AMD versus Intel battle rages on, however for followers of Group Blue, these are the very best Intel CPUs you should purchase at this time.
Jacob Roach / Digital Developments
Intel Core i5-13600K
One of the best Intel processor
Execs
- Cheaper than AMD competitors
- Help for 600-series motherboards and DDR4
- Stable multi-core enhancements
- Shocking gen-on-gen enhancements
Cons
- Excessive energy calls for
- Small gaming efficiency positive aspects
Why you can purchase this:Â It is cheap, full of cores, and affords rather more efficiency than its value would counsel.
Who it is for:Â Avid gamers and energy customers who need peak efficiency with out breaking the financial institution.
What we considered the Intel Core i5-13600K:
The dilemma between Core i5 and Core i7 is all the time current with Intel processors, however the Core i5-13600K adjustments that dynamic. It is less expensive than the 14700K whereas providing comparable efficiency in each productiveness duties and gaming. In some circumstances, it even beats down the flagship Core i9-13900K, making it one of many greatest CPUs you should purchase proper now.
For round $250, you are getting a 14-core CPU with clock speeds upward of 5.1GHz, which might have been remarkable even a few years in the past. Not all of these 14 cores are constructed equally, although. Much like Intel’s earlier technology, the Core i5-13600K mixes efficiency (P) cores and environment friendly (E) cores. With the Core i5-13600K, you are getting six P-cores and eight E-cores.
The six P-cores are greater than sufficient for gaming, which is what permits the Core i5-13600K to compete with AMD’s Ryzen 5 7600X at an analogous value. It is the additional E-cores the place Intel shoots forward, although, providing higher multi-core efficiency in demanding duties like video encoding and rendering.
You possibly can overclock it for added efficiency too, serving to it compete extra readily with higher-end choices in gaming and productiveness.
For added financial savings, look out for the 13600KF, as it will probably typically be discovered for just a few {dollars} cheaper. If you wish to stretch your funds a bit additional, the 13700K is not rather more and offers you a few additional cores to play with for elevated efficiency in choose apps and video games.
Intel Core i5-13600K
One of the best Intel processor
Intel
Intel Core i5-12400F
One of the best funds Intel processor
Execs
- Glorious worth
- Six cores on a latest structure
- Improbable gaming efficiency
Cons
- No built-in graphics
- Would not help overclocking
Why you can purchase this:Â It is cheap whereas nonetheless providing extremely aggressive efficiency.
Who it is for:Â PC builders on a decent funds that solely want just a few cores.
What we considered the Intel Core i5-12400F:
Intel all the time follows up its major releases with extra budget-friendly choices as a technology goes on, and sadly, they do not all the time get the limelight they deserve. That could not be extra true than it’s with the Core i5-12400F. For not rather more than $100, you get a significantly highly effective CPU for gaming and the rest apart from.
This one comes from the last-gen Alder Lake vary, however do not let that scare you off. As an alternative of a hybrid structure, the Core i5-12400F opts for six efficiency cores and no environment friendly cores. Which means you are still getting 12 threads, together with a lift clock pace of 4.4GHz.
Gaming is the place the chip shines most, oftentimes solely taking a backseat of 5% to 10% in comparison with the dearer Core i5-12600K. You possibly can push the processor additional by eradicating its energy restrict, too, permitting it to rival even the Core i9-11900K from a few generations again. That is plenty of CPU energy for round $100.
There are a few caveats for this one, although. For starters, it does not help overclocking, however you possibly can nonetheless take away the ability restrict for a efficiency enhance. As well as, it does not embody built-in graphics, so you will have to pair the CPU with one of many greatest graphics playing cards. You possibly can choose up the Core i5-12400, which is similar CPU with built-in graphics, but it surely’s about $25 dearer.
Intel Core i5-12400F
One of the best funds Intel processor
Jacob Roach / Digital Developments
Intel Core i9-14900K
The quickest Intel processor
Execs
- Massive enhancements in gaming efficiency
- Identical pricing as earlier technology
- Works with LGA1700 socket
- AI-assisted overclocking on 14900K
Cons
- Minor productiveness enhancements
- Nonetheless slower than AMD 3D V-Cache chips
- Nonetheless very energy hungry
Why you can purchase this:Â It is essentially the most highly effective Intel CPU you should purchase proper now.
Who it is for:Â Anybody upgrading from Twelfth-gen or older.
What we considered the Intel Core i9-14900K:
Intel’s Core i9-14900K is a refresh, and due to that, it does not convey main efficiency enhancements to the Core i9-13900K, which we’ll get to subsequent. For most individuals, the Core i9-13900K continues to be the CPU to purchase. In the event you’re in search of the very best efficiency, although, the Core i9-14900K affords it.
There are just a few weak areas of Intel’s last-gen chips that the Core i9-14900K improves on. It will get gaming efficiency near AMD’s Ryzen 9 7950X3D, and weak productiveness duties, similar to compression, are higher with the brand new 14th-gen chips. Nevertheless, areas like rendering and transcoding stay largely unchanged in comparison with the earlier technology.
Fortunately, Intel is not charging extra for the Core i9-14900K. In the event you’re coming from Intel’s Twelfth-gen or an older platform, it is an incredible improve path. These already on Thirteenth-gen, nonetheless, have little or no purpose to improve.
Intel Core i9-14900K
The quickest Intel processor
Jacob Roach / Digital Developments
Intel Core i9-13900K
One of the best high-end Intel processor
Execs
- Cheaper than AMD competitors
- Help for 600-series motherboards and DDR4
- Stable multi-core enhancements
- Shocking gen-on-gen enhancements
Cons
- Excessive energy calls for
- Small gaming efficiency positive aspects
Why you can purchase this: It is the very best bang on your buck for high-end worth.
Who’s it for: Excessive-end fans who do not thoughts spending up for the very best of the very best.
What we considered the Intel Core i9-13900K:
One of the best Intel CPU available on the market proper now could be undoubtedly Intel’s Core i9-13900K, and that is stunning as a result of it isn’t even the costliest. At practically $500, it is nonetheless an expensive chip, however the Core i9-13900K manages to undercut AMD’s competing Ryzen 9 7950X whereas providing higher efficiency in lots of circumstances.
No small a part of that efficiency benefit is that the Core i9-13900K comes with 24 cores. You get eight P-cores and 16 E-cores, supplying you with a complete of 32 threads to work with. Much more spectacular, the processor can enhance as much as 5.8GHz out of the field, providing a number of the highest clock speeds obtainable in a desktop CPU proper now.
Regardless of sporting the Thirteenth-gen Raptor Lake structure, you possibly can nonetheless use older 600-series motherboards and DDR4 reminiscence with the Core i9-13900K, too. That makes it a way more compelling (and cheaper) improve path if you have not jumped to DDR5 fairly but.
The one draw back of the Core i9-13900K is that it is too highly effective. It runs scorching and attracts plenty of energy, and in duties like gaming, the cheaper Core i5-13600K affords nearly an identical efficiency. In the event you want peak horsepower, although, nothing beats the Core i9-13900K.
Intel Core i9-13900K
One of the best high-end Intel processor
Jacob Roach / Digital Developments
Intel Core i5-12600K
One of the best Intel processor for avid gamers
Execs
- Cheap now that Raptor Lake is right here
- Glorious gaming efficiency
- Comparatively cool
Cons
- Nonetheless requires a brand new motherboard
- Barely outclassed by the Core i5-13600K
Why you can purchase this:Â It is the very best Intel processor for avid gamers.
Who it is for:Â Avid gamers who want a little bit additional bandwidth.
What we considered the Intel Core i5-12600K:
In the event you’re in search of the very best gaming processor, it is laborious to beat the Intel Core i5-12600K proper now. It comes full of 10 cores for round $175, with six efficiency cores and 4 effectivity cores. The efficiency cores shred via video games, whereas the additional environment friendly cores present some additional bandwidth for extra demanding workloads.
The only-core enhancements with Intel’s Twelfth-gen processors shine with the Core i5-12600K. In video games, it will probably nip on the heels of wonderful gaming chips just like the 5700X3D, a way more costly CPU.
It additionally advantages from the hybrid Twelfth-gen structure. This class of CPU is mostly greatest for pure gaming. For gaming and streaming, we often advocate bumping up a step. That is not the case with the Core i5-12600K. The ten cores present loads of bandwidth for gaming and streaming, which is one thing we not often see on a $170 CPU.
Intel Core i5-12600K
One of the best Intel processor for avid gamers
Intel Core i3-12100F
One of the best Intel processor underneath $100
Execs
- A step-up over the Core i3-10100F
- Appropriate for gentle gaming and every day use
- Good efficiency for the value
Cons
- Requires a discrete graphics card
Why you can purchase this: It is an inexpensive, but respectable current-gen processor that prices round $100.
Who’s it for: Customers on a funds who nonetheless need a versatile CPU.
What we considered the Intel Core i3-12100F:
With the discharge of the current-gen Intel Alder Lake processors, lots of the barely older CPUs on this listing have been dethroned and changed by their Twelfth-generation counterparts. There is no denying that this line of processors has been a superb one for Intel, and this reveals even via wallet-friendly fashions priced at near $100 such because the Core i3-12100F.
Though it is firmly within the entry-level vary, Intel Core i3-12100F affords wonderful worth for the cash and may give you fairly a big scope of issues it is able to doing. It ought to ship a lot better efficiency than the earlier funds king (Intel Core i3-10100F), and whereas sure, it does value a little bit bit extra, the value is fairly negligible contemplating the improve you are getting.
Geared up with 4 cores and eight threads in addition to clock speeds reaching as much as 4.3GHz, this processor is a little bit of an oddity within the Alder Lake lineup, because it does not share the hybrid structure of its dearer siblings and as an alternative serves up solely P-cores. That does not make it unsuitable in any respect, nonetheless, and it’ll carry its personal weight via each gaming and varied every day duties. It is probably not your first selection in order for you one thing really highly effective, however should you’re seeking to hold the prices low, this needs to be your go-to.
Intel Core i3-12100F
One of the best Intel processor underneath $100
Intel
Intel Core i5 11600K
Greatest LGA 1200 Intel CPU
Execs
- Sturdy efficiency from six Rocket Lake cores
- Highly effective onboard graphics
- Aggressive gaming efficiency with high Eleventh-gen chips
Cons
- Older technology
- Lacks effectivity cores
Why you can purchase this: It is inexpensive, however affords robust efficiency on LGA 1200.
Who’s it for: Consumers operating older Intel PCs who nonetheless need a highly effective CPU.
What we considered the Intel Core i5-11600K:
In the event you’re nonetheless operating an older LGA 1200 system and need an inexpensive CPU improve, the Intel Core i5-11600K continues to be an incredible possibility. It affords six cores and 12-thread help, with a 4.9 GHz clock pace, giving this chip wonderful gaming efficiency that may even compete with the highest Intel Core i9 CPU from this technology.
Positive, it lacks some options and efficiency of the newer Twelfth-, Thirteenth-, and 14th-generation Intel CPUs, however should you do not wish to improve to that socket (and also you in all probability should not, since there is a new one coming with Arrow Lake), then you may get your self an honest efficiency uplift with the Core i5 11600K.
Like most recent-generation Intel CPUs, this one nonetheless will get scorching and attracts plenty of energy, however stick a strong cooler on it and you will have an incredible CPU for gaming or work.
Intel Core i5 11600K
Greatest LGA 1200 Intel CPU
Incessantly Requested Questions
What’s the distinction between Okay and F Intel processors?
Intel makes use of a number of suffixes to point completely different options, however “Okay” and “F” are among the many most typical. “Okay” processors are unlocked, so you possibly can overclock them with a suitable motherboard. “F” processors do not include built-in graphics, so you will want a devoted graphics card. Chances are you’ll even discover a “KF” processor, indicating that it is unlocked and requires discrete graphics.
You possibly can often discover variants of Intel’s main i9, i7, and i5 processors with both or each suffixes. In the event you’re planning on constructing a gaming laptop, it can save you just a few {dollars} by buying the “F” variant of a processor. On the opposite aspect, “Okay” processors are barely dearer with their overclocking capabilities. If you’d like a full breakdown on Intel’s naming scheme, be certain to learn our CPU shopping for information.
How good are AMD Ryzen processors in comparison with Intel?
Intel Core and AMD Ryzen each supply wonderful processors at completely different value factors and in numerous types, so one model is not definitively higher than the opposite. In 2024, although, AMD’s X3D CPUs are the very best for gaming, whereas Intel’s lineup tends to supply extra normal efficiency, at the price of a better energy draw. The newer AMD Ryzen processors pack plenty of cores and carry out nicely, in order that they’re nonetheless very succesful CPUs, however they’re a little bit extra particular in what they’re good for.
Within the cell world, Intel used to dominate. Now, you will discover units with AMD Ryzen processors, too, they usually carry out nice. That stated, there may be nonetheless a far higher variety of machines that include Intel processors, they usually stack up nicely towards the AMD competitors.
How have you learnt which processor is greatest on your wants?
To seek out the very best processor on your wants, it’s worthwhile to take into account the functions you wish to run. In the event you’re into gaming, for instance, a processor with robust single-core efficiency is an effective selection as a result of video games often stress solely a handful of cores at a time. However, content material creation functions like Adobe Premiere Professional and DaVinci Resolve can make the most of a higher variety of cores, so a processor with plenty of cores is best for them.
These are good guidelines to comply with. Video games favor a quick processor over one with plenty of cores, and content-creation apps want extra cores over quicker ones.
How will you inform if a PC processor is any good?
The easiest way to inform if a PC processor is nice is to have a look at particular person benchmarks. Specs like core depend and clock pace do not inform the complete story — they solely present what the processor is able to inside its personal vary of merchandise. In the event you’ve settled on a sure model or collection, nonetheless, taking a look at core counts and clock speeds can present you the place the processor sits within the vary.
If you wish to check your personal processor, there are many instruments obtainable. Cinebench is a good benchmarking software that focuses solely on the processor, whereas PCMark 10 gives an summary of efficiency throughout a collection of day-to-day duties.
Be sure you’re shopping for a CPU from a latest technology that has not less than six cores, and you have to be alright.
How does Intel’s CPU naming scheme work?
Intel’s naming scheme can get a little bit complicated generally, however as soon as you understand your method round it, you’ll navigate each processor by coronary heart without having to verify what it does.
Let’s assume the processor you are making an attempt to search for known as “Intel Core i9-14600K.” The primary half, Intel Core, refers back to the model of the processor. Intel has a number of manufacturers that aren’t Intel Core, such because the low-end Intel Pentium or Intel Celeron. It additionally has some newer cell CPUs, branded Core Extremely.
The second half is the model modifier. That is essential and refers to how highly effective a selected CPU is inside its technology. In adition to the funds i3, Intel additionally affords i5, i7, and i9. The i5 and i7 traces are sometimes midrange to high-end, and the i9 is reserved for high-end processors.
Shifting on to the numerical a part of the identify, the primary two digits consult with the technology of the processor. For example, Intel’s 14th-generation processors, Raptor Lake, all begin with a “14.” The ultimate three digits consult with the precise mannequin and in addition go up relying on how good a mannequin is.
The letter on the finish refers to the kind of processor. There are various variants, so verify them out on Intel’s web site in order for you a full listing. The most typical ones embody:
- Okay – Unlocked (overclockable)
- F – No built-in graphics
- S – Particular version
- T – Low energy, decrease efficiency
