The best processors in 2023: AMD and Intel CPUs duke it out

AMD and Intel have fought for supremacy for decades, duking it out to make the best processors you can buy. The competition is fierce, and that’s a great thing for PC enthusiasts. In 2022, the list of the best CPUs is larger than ever and packed with options from Team Red and Team Blue.

Intel’s flagship Core i9-13900K tops our list, but there are great options regardless of your budget or purpose.

Intel Core i9-13900K

The best processor you can buy

Why you should buy this: It tops performance charts in nearly every benchmark, and it’s cheaper than the competition from AMD.

Who it’s for: Enthusiasts who need high core counts and blistering clock speeds to accelerate video editing, compression, and other demanding tasks.

Why we chose the Intel Core i9-13900K:

The dust launch has settled on the latest generations from AMD and Intel, and it was a much closer battle between the two than we anticipated. Intel came out on top with the Core i9-13900K, though. It doesn’t have a dominating lead in every task, but it comes in around $100 cheaper than AMD’s flagship chip.

Similar to last-generation’s Core i9-12900K, the Core i9-13900K combines performance (P) cores and efficient (E) cores. Core counts are up this time around, though. You’re getting eight P-cores designed on the new Raptor Cove microarchitecture, as well as 16 E-cores using the Gracemont architecture from the previous generation.

Those extra cores help accelerate demanding multithreaded tasks, which is why the Core i9-13900K managed an 8% lead over the Ryzen 9 7950X in Cinebench R23. The redesigned P-cores also help the Core i9-13900K outpace AMD’s best by 12% in Cinebench’s single-core test.

Across nearly all benchmarks, the Core i9-13900K tops the charts, aided in no small part by additional L2 cache and boosted clock speeds. It’s the fastest processor you can buy, but more importantly, it comes in cheaper than AMD’s Ryzen 9 7950X.

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X

The best AMD processor

Why you should buy this: It’s insanely fast, and it’s set up to support AMD’s future platforms for many years.

Who it’s for: AMD fans who want the best of the best and don’t mind spending a little extra.

Why we chose the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X:

AMD lost the flagship battle this generation, but only by a thin margin. It’s slightly slower than the Core i9-13900K, and it’s about $100 more expensive. There’s no denying the raw power of the Ryzen 9 7950X, though, which nearly matches the Core i9-13900K in most tests.

The processor delivers on its promises, offering a 31% jump in single-core performance and a 36% improvement in multi-core performance compared to the previous generation. It takes a slight backseat in some tasks compared to the Core i9-13900K, but only by razor-thin margins. And in some games, like Far Cry 6, the Ryzen 9 7950X is actually a bit faster.

Beyond the processor itself, the Ryzen 9 7950X introduces AMD’s new AM5 platform. It used to be much more expensive, but thankfully, new motherboards and falling DDR5 prices make the upgrade a little more affordable. In addition, AMD says it will support AM5 until at least 2025 (and maybe beyond). That means it should be easy to upgrade to future Ryzen generations without buying a new motherboard.

Although the Ryzen 9 7950X isn’t at the peak of performance, it’s just a step behind. And with features like Smart Access Memory and distant platform support on offer, it’s still a very attractive flagship CPU.

Intel Core i5-14600K

The best value Intel processor

Why you should buy this: It’s one of the fastest CPUs you can buy for around $300.

Who it’s for: Builders looking for the best bang for their buck.

Why we chose the Intel Core i5-14600K:

It’s tough beating the Core i5-14600K on pure value. This slot was previously held by Intel’s Core i5-13600K, and if you already have that processor, it’s best to stick with it. If you’re upgrading from anything older, though, the Core i5-14600K is the CPU to buy.

It comes with the same core count as its last-gen counterpart, though with additional optimizations and slight bump to clock speed. The result is slightly better productivity performance and much better gaming performance. On top of that, Intel didn’t raise the price of its Core i5 chip, so you’re getting better performance for around the same price.

At the time of publication, the Core i5-14600K is only around $10 more expensive than the Core i5-13600K. We recommend checking the prices of the last-gen chip, however, because it still offers most of the performance and could offer a better value depending on where prices go.

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

The best gaming processor

Why you should buy this: It’s easily the best gaming processor in terms of value and performance.

Who’s it for: Gamers who want top-notch performance without spending more than necessary.

Why we chose the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D:

With the launch of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, the 5800X3D finally has a worthy successor. This CPU is the fastest gaming CPU out there, beating Intel’s Core i9-13900K by miles. In pure gaming scenarios, it also keeps up with the pricier Ryzen 9 7950X3D.

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D benefits from AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology, and once again, it shows off the power of adding copious amounts of L3 cache on top of the chip. It sports a total of 104MB cache, which marks a drastic upgrade from the Ryzen 7 7700X, which only comes with 40MB.

In terms of core counts, AMD seems to have stuck with what worked well for it before. The processor has eight cores and 16 threads. The boost clock speed is considerably lower than in the Ryzen 7 7700X — the 7800X3D maxes out at 5GHz. However, it still remains far superior in gaming tasks.

This chip is insane for gaming, but it drops off a cliff in productivity tasks when you compare it to the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. However, for pure gamers, this should not be a problem. In our internal testing, the CPU hit almost the same frames per second (fps) as the more expensive part — 239.3 versus 239.5. If you just want a solid processor for gaming, save your money and go with this one.

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

The best budget AMD processor

Why you should buy this: It’s dirt cheap now that next-gen options are here, and it still holds up in many tasks.

Who it’s for: Budget gamers looking for a fantastic processor that will hold up for a few more years.

Why we chose the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X:

The Ryzen 5 7600X is here, so why recommend the Ryzen 5 5600X? Although AMD’s latest processors offer the best performance, they’re fairly expensive, considering the cost of DDR5 memory and a new motherboard. The Ryzen 5 5600X is not only cheaper on the platform side, but it’s also about half the price of the next-gen option.

Right now, the Ryzen 5 5600X is somewhere around $180, which is absolutely insane considering the performance it offers. The newer chip offers better gaming performance, but only by a small margin. And the Ryzen 5 7600X doesn’t come with a core advantage, packing in six cores just like the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Considering the price, the Ryzen 5 5600X is a steal. It’s not the best of the best, but it’s by far the best option around $180. There’s nothing from Intel or AMD itself that can get close to the value the Ryzen 5 5600X is offering right now.

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

The best last-gen processor for gaming

Why you should buy this: It’s still a monster of a gaming CPU, even with current-gen options making the rounds.

Who it’s for: Gamers who don’t need a lot of CPU power for other tasks.

Why we chose the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D:

The Ryzen 7 5800X3D might be the first processor ever specifically built for gaming, and it blows everything else from the same generation out of the water. Why? A curious technology called 3D V-Cache.

For specs, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is slightly worse than the base Ryzen 7 5800X. It comes with the same eight Zen 3 cores, but the clock speed is 200MHz slower, and you can’t overclock the 3D-stacked part. The difference is that the Ryzen 7 5800X3D comes with an additional 64MB of L3 cache stacked on top of the processor.

It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but extra L3 cache makes a big difference in games. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D beats everything while gaming, including the Core i9-12900KS that costs twice as much. It’s also still competitive against newer CPUs from both Intel and AMD.

The Ryzen 7 5800X3D is one of the best gaming CPUs, and it only really takes a backseat to AMD’s 3D V-Cache newcomers, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Keep in mind that this is a pure gaming CPU. If you plan on doing intense video encoding or other productivity tasks, it’s better to go with an AMD or Intel chip with a higher core count.

Intel Core i3-12100

The best processor under $150

Why you should buy this: It’s still a competent quad-core processor that’s very inexpensive.

Who it’s for: PC builders on a tight budget who want a solid processor for gaming and work without overspending.

Why we chose the Intel Core i3-12100F:

It’s tough finding CPUs under $150 in 2022, but the Core i3-12100F is a standout. It’s part of the Alder Lake family, and unfortunately, Intel hasn’t released a 13th-gen Raptor Lake chip to replace it. Even with the new CPUs out, though, the Core i3-12100F is a hell of a bargain.

The Core i3-12100F is a quad-core CPU that ranks among the best Intel processors you can buy. It doesn’t come with a hybrid architecture, instead opting for four performance cores, but that doesn’t hurt performance too much.

Gaming is certainly possible, even if it’s a bit behind the six-core Ryzen 5 5600X, and day-to-day use is excellent. This is an entry-level processor, no doubt, but the Core i3-12100F still punches above what its price would suggest.

As we cover in our CPU buying guide, the F suffix on the Core i3-12100 means it doesn’t come with integrated graphics. That saves you some money, but make sure to pair the CPU with one of the best graphics cards to have a usable machine.

AMD Ryzen 7 5700G

The best processor with integrated graphics

Why you should buy this: It’s one of the few good APUs that you can buy right now, and it’s relatively cheap.

Who it’s for: PC builders on a tight budget who want a solid processor for gaming and work without overspending.

Why we chose the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G:

Gaming without a GPU is possible, but it’s not an ideal experience. The Ryzen 7 5700G is an exception. It’s a clear winner when it comes to integrated graphics on a CPU, allowing you to hit playable frame rates in popular titles at 1080p.

It will likely stay that way, too. Although Ryzen 7000 is here with integrated RDNA 2 graphics, they aren’t powerful enough for gaming. The Ryzen 7 5700G is an APU with a full graphics engine under the hood.

Although you won’t play the latest AAA games with the integrated GPU, you can still get by. Even better, the Ryzen 7 5700G has eight powerful cores and a 4.6GHz boost clock speed, so you can throw one of the best 1080p graphics cards in your PC and have a gaming monster.

AMD Ryzen 5 7600

The best value AMD processor

Why you should buy this: It’s a well-rounded CPU that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Who’s it for: Gamers and other users in search of a good deal.

Why we picked the AMD Ryzen 5 7600:

AMD made sure that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with the Ryzen 5 7600. It’s close to its predecessor in some ways, sporting the exact same core count, but it does offer a number of generational upgrades that make it a good way to future-proof your PC.

The Ryzen 5 7600 comes with six cores and 12 threads. It has a maximum clock speed of 5.2GHz. It’s a pretty well-rounded processor, with solid gaming performance but also plenty of room for productivity. It’s not going to beat some of this generation’s heavyweights, but it’s more than sufficient even for AAA gaming purposes.

The downside of it lies in the extra expense compared to the last-gen chip, and it’s all due to AMD’s new AM5 platform. This means a new motherboard if you’re upgrading, and unfortunately, you have to stick with DDR5 memory due to a lack of DDR4 support.

This is why the previous-gen chip is still a very attractive choice — overall, you’re looking at quite big savings if you stick to the previous generation. On the other hand, switching to AM5 now means plenty of room for upgrades going forward.

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