Jacob Roach / Digital Traits
Even whereas going through downAMD’s Ryzen 7000 processors, Intel presents stiff competitors in productiveness and gaming — it simply wants a bit extra energy to finish it. One of the best Intel processor you may purchase proper now’s the Core i5-13600K, however there are newer, sooner choices obtainable for those who’re prepared to pay for them.
From high-end gaming CPUs to some older 12th-generation CPUs which are underneath $100, Intel has a compelling choice at nearly each value level. The AMD versus Intel conflict rages on, however for followers of Crew Blue, these are the very best Intel CPUs you may purchase right this moment.
Jacob Roach / Digital Traits
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 features
Why you must purchase this: It is cheap, filled with cores, and presents rather more efficiency than its value would counsel.
Who it is for: 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 probably the greatest CPUs you may purchase proper now.
For round $250, you are getting a 14-core CPU with clock speeds upward of 5.1GHz, which might possess been extraordinary 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 good enough 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 extra financial savings, watch out for the 13600KF, as it may possibly usually be discovered for a number of dollars cheaper. If you desire to stretch your price range a bit additional, the 13700K is not rather more and provides 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 price range Intel processor
Execs
- Wonderful worth
- Six cores on a current structure
- Unbelievable gaming efficiency
Cons
- No built-in graphics
- Would not help overclocking
Why you must purchase this: It is cheap whereas nonetheless providing extremely aggressive efficiency.
Who it is for: PC builders on a good price range that solely want a number of cores.
What we considered the Intel Core i5-12400F:
Intel all the time follows up its principal releases with extra budget-friendly choices as a technology goes on, and sadly, they do not all the time secure the limelight they deserve. That could not be extra exact than it’s with the Core i5-12400F. For not rather more than $100, you secure a critically highly effective CPU for gaming and anything moreover.
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 increase 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 costlier 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 a variety of CPU energy for round $100.
There are a few caveats for this one, although. For starters, it would not help overclocking, however you may nonetheless take away the facility restrict for a efficiency increase. As well as, it would not embrace built-in graphics, so you will need to pair the CPU with probably the greatest graphics playing cards. You possibly can decide up the Core i5-12400, which is similar CPU with built-in graphics, however it’s about $25 costlier.
Intel Core i5-12400F
One of the best price range Intel processor
Jacob Roach / Digital Traits
Intel Core i9-14900K
The quickest Intel processor
Execs
- Stout 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 must purchase this: It is essentially the most highly effective Intel CPU you may purchase proper now.
Who it is for: Anybody upgrading from 12th-gen or older.
What we considered the Intel Core i9-14900K:
Intel’s Core i9-14900K is a refresh, and as a result of of that, it would not deliver main efficiency enhancements to the Core i9-13900K, which we’ll secure to subsequent. For most individuals, the Core i9-13900K remains to be the CPU to purchase. For those who’re in search of the very best efficiency, although, the Core i9-14900K presents it.
There are a number of 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, resembling compression, are higher with the original 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. For those who’re coming from Intel’s 12th-gen or an older platform, it is a terrific improve path. These already on Thirteenth-gen, nonetheless, possess very tiny cause to improve.
Intel Core i9-14900K
The quickest Intel processor
Jacob Roach / Digital Traits
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 features
Why you must purchase this: It is the very best bang in your buck for high-end worth.
Who’s it for: Excessive-end fanatics 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’s undoubtedly Intel’s Core i9-13900K, and that is shocking as a result of it is not even the costliest. At almost $500, it is nonetheless a dear 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 portion of that efficiency benefit is that the Core i9-13900K comes with 24 cores. You secure eight P-cores and 16 E-cores, providing you with a complete of 32 threads to work with. Much more spectacular, the processor can increase as much as 5.8GHz out of the field, providing a few of the highest clock speeds obtainable in a desktop CPU proper now.
Regardless of sporting the Thirteenth-gen Raptor Lake structure, you may nonetheless spend older 600-series motherboards and DDR4 reminiscence with the Core i9-13900K, too. That makes it a rather more compelling (and cheaper) improve path for those who 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 sizzling and attracts a variety of energy, and in duties like gaming, the cheaper Core i5-13600K presents nearly equivalent efficiency. For those who 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 Traits
Intel Core i5-12600K
One of the best Intel processor for avid gamers
Execs
- Cheap now that Raptor Lake is right here
- Wonderful gaming efficiency
- Comparatively wintry
Cons
- Nonetheless requires a original motherboard
- Barely outclassed by the Core i5-13600K
Why you must purchase this: It is the very best Intel processor for avid gamers.
Who it is for: Avid gamers who want a tiny additional bandwidth.
What we considered the Intel Core i5-12600K:
For those who’re in search of the very best gaming processor, it is laborious to beat the Intel Core i5-12600K proper now. It comes filled with 10 cores for round $175, with six efficiency cores and 4 effectivity cores. The efficiency cores shred by video games, whereas the additional environment friendly cores present some additional bandwidth for extra demanding workloads.
The only-core enhancements with Intel’s 12th-gen processors shine with the Core i5-12600K. In video games, it may possibly nip on the heels of fantastic gaming chips just like the 5700X3D, a rather more costly CPU.
It additionally advantages from the hybrid 12th-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 spend
- Ample efficiency for the worth
Cons
- Requires a discrete graphics card
Why you must purchase this: It is an affordable, but respectable current-gen processor that prices round $100.
Who’s it for: Customers on a price range who nonetheless desire a versatile CPU.
What we considered the Intel Core i3-12100F:
With the discharge of the current-gen Intel Alder Lake processors, most of the barely older CPUs on this listing have been dethroned and changed by their 12th-generation counterparts. There is not any denying that this line of processors has been a favorable one for Intel, and this reveals even by wallet-friendly fashions priced at near $100 resembling the Core i3-12100F.
Even though it’s firmly within the entry-level vary, Intel Core i3-12100F presents glorious worth for the cash and may give you fairly a giant scope of issues it is able to doing. It ought to ship a lot better efficiency than the earlier price range king (Intel Core i3-10100F), and whereas sure, it does price a tiny bit extra, the worth is fairly negligible contemplating the improve you are getting.
Outfitted with four cores and eight threads as effectively as clock speeds reaching as much as 4.3GHz, this processor is a little bit of an oddity within the Alder Lake lineup, because it would not share the hybrid structure of its costlier siblings and as a substitute serves up solely P-cores. That does not execute it unsuitable in any respect, nonetheless, and it should carry its personal weight by each gaming and varied every day duties. It might not be your first selection for those who need one thing actually highly effective, however for those who’re trying to preserve the prices low, this ought to be your go-to.
Intel Core i3-12100F
One of the best Intel processor underneath $100
Intel
Intel Core i5 11600K
Finest LGA 1200 Intel CPU
Execs
- Robust efficiency from six Rocket Lake cores
- Highly effective onboard graphics
- Aggressive gaming efficiency with prime 11th-gen chips
Cons
- Older technology
- Lacks effectivity cores
Why you must purchase this: It is inexpensive, however presents robust efficiency on LGA 1200.
Who’s it for: Consumers operating older Intel PCs who nonetheless need a strong CPU.
What we considered the Intel Core i5-11600K:
For those who’re nonetheless operating an older LGA 1200 system and need a reasonable CPU improve, the Intel Core i5-11600K remains to be a terrific choice. It presents six cores and 12-thread help, with a 4.9 GHz clock pace, giving this chip glorious 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 12th-, Thirteenth-, and 14th-generation Intel CPUs, however for those who don’t desire to improve to that socket (and you most likely should not, since there is a original one coming with Arrow Lake), you then can secure your self a respectable efficiency uplift with the Core i5 11600K.
Like most recent-generation Intel CPUs, this one nonetheless will get sizzling and attracts a variety of energy, however stick a strong cooler on it and you will possess a terrific CPU for gaming or work.
Intel Core i5 11600K
Finest LGA 1200 Intel CPU
Steadily Requested Questions
What’s the dissimilarity between Okay and F Intel processors?
Intel makes use of a number of suffixes to point totally different options, however “Okay” and “F” are amongst essentially the most widespread. “Okay” processors are unlocked, so you may overclock them with a appropriate motherboard. “F” processors do not reach with built-in graphics, so you will need a devoted graphics card. You could 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. For those who’re planning on constructing a gaming laptop, you may save a number of dollars by buying the “F” variant of a processor. On the opposite aspect, “Okay” processors are barely costlier with their overclocking capabilities. For those who desire a full breakdown on Intel’s naming scheme, execute certain to learn our CPU shopping for information.
How favorable are AMD Ryzen processors in comparison with Intel?
Intel Core and AMD Ryzen each provide glorious processors at totally different value factors and in totally different kinds, 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 provide extra common efficiency, at the price of a larger energy draw. The newer AMD Ryzen processors pack a variety of cores and carry out effectively, in order that they’re nonetheless very succesful CPUs, however they are a tiny extra particular in what they’re favorable for.
Within the cell world, Intel used to dominate. Now, yow will discover gadgets with AMD Ryzen processors, too, they usually carry out worthy. That mentioned, there remains to be a far higher variety of machines that reach with Intel processors, they usually stack up effectively towards the AMD competitors.
How finish you understand which processor is greatest in your wants?
To search out the very best processor in your wants, it’s good to contemplate the purposes you desire to flee. For those who’re into gaming, for instance, a processor with robust single-core efficiency is a favorable selection as a result of video games often stress solely a handful of cores at a time. However, content material creation purposes like Adobe Premiere Professional and DaVinci Resolve can choose benefit of a higher variety of cores, so a processor with a variety of cores is best for them.
These are favorable guidelines to comply with. Video games favor a speedily processor over one with a variety of cores, and content-creation apps favor extra cores over sooner ones.
How are you going to disclose if a PC processor is any favorable?
One of the best method to disclose if a PC processor is favorable is to watch at particular person benchmarks. Specs like core depend and clock pace do not disclose the complete record — they solely expose what the processor is able to inside its personal vary of merchandise. For those who’ve settled on a sure model or collection, nonetheless, core counts and clock speeds can expose you the place the processor sits within the vary.
If you desire to check your personal processor, there are many instruments obtainable. Cinebench is a terrific benchmarking device that focuses solely on the processor, whereas PCMark 10 offers an summary of efficiency throughout a collection of day-to-day duties.
Acquire certain you are shopping for a CPU from a current technology that has no less than six cores, and try to be alright.
How does Intel’s CPU naming scheme work?
Intel’s naming scheme can secure a tiny complicated generally, however as soon as you understand your method round it, you will give you the chance to navigate each processor by coronary heart without having to ascertain what it does.
Let’s assume the processor you are making an attempt to watch up known as “Intel Core i9-14600K.” The primary portion, Intel Core, refers back to the model of the processor. Intel has a number of manufacturers that are usually not Intel Core, resembling the low-end Intel Pentium or Intel Celeron. It additionally has some newer cell CPUs, branded Core Extremely.
The second portion is the model modifier. That is considerable and refers to how highly effective a selected CPU is inside its technology. In adition to the price range i3, Intel additionally presents i5, i7, and i9. The i5 and i7 strains are usually midrange to high-end, and the i9 is reserved for high-end processors.
Transferring on to the numerical portion of the identify, the primary two digits discuss with the technology of the processor. For example, Intel’s 14th-generation processors, Raptor Lake, all begin with a “14.” The ultimate three digits discuss with the particular mannequin and likewise travel up reckoning on how favorable a mannequin is.
The letter on the finish refers back to the kind of processor. There are various variants, so examine them out on Intel’s web site for those who desire a full listing. Essentially the most widespread ones embrace:
- Okay – Unlocked (overclockable)
- F – No built-in graphics
- S – Particular version
- T – Low energy, decrease efficiency
