Here’s everything to consider when buying a CPU in 2024

1 week ago

Buying a caller CPU successful 2024 gives you a batch of breathtaking options. From powerful processors for activity and gaming, fund chips that punch good supra their weight, and immoderate incredibly businesslike options that are cleanable for mini builds. That’s what makes nan modern CPU scenery truthful exciting: You don’t conscionable request to bargain nan best processor you tin afford.

The correct CPU for you is 1 that tin do everything you request correct now, and do it well, while besides providing immoderate future-proofing, and ideally, a clear upgrade path. Here’s really to bargain a CPU successful 2024.

CPU specs, explained

Intel Core i5-13600K installed successful a motherboard.

Aside from nan manufacturer, nan main constituent of information erstwhile you bargain a CPU is going to beryllium nan specifications of nan processor. This intends cores, threads, timepiece speeds, and cache.

As pinch galore things successful nan world of computing, nan wide norm of thumb is “the more, nan better,” but that doesn’t mean you request to walk money connected a high-end CPU if each you’re doing is immoderate ray gaming. You don’t request 1 of nan best CPUs for gaming, if you’re looking to usage your PC exclusively for work.

If you want to summation an knowing of nan measurement processors work, we’ll show you everything you request to cognize below. However, if you’d alternatively conscionable get down to business and perceive astir nan different options that are disposable to you, you tin skip guardant to nan adjacent conception that discusses nan differences betwixt AMD and Intel.

Cores and threads

Intel Raptor Lake spot shown successful a rendered image.

Cores are for illustration individual processors of their own, each packed together connected nan aforesaid chip. Traditionally, they tin execute 1 task each astatine a time, meaning that much cores make a processor amended astatine multitasking. Modern package is acold amended astatine taking advantage of much cores astatine erstwhile to do nan aforesaid job, truthful much cores tin make immoderate package tally faster, too.

Threads are nan number of tasks that a CPU tin behaviour astatine immoderate 1 time. Many modern processors characteristic simultaneous multithreading (called hyperthreading connected older Intel CPUs), which lets processors leverage spare halfway capacity for further tasks. That’s why you’ll often spot a CPU listed pinch 8 cores and 16 threads aliases 12 cores and 24 threads. These further threads aren’t arsenic accelerated arsenic nan cores themselves — arsenic they are efficaciously leveraging parts of nan CPU that are underused — but they do typically amended capacity by a noticeable margin.

It’s noteworthy, then, that Intel’s Arrow Lake Core Ultra 200 processors don’t characteristic SMT astatine all, alternatively relying connected greater per-core capacity to supply akin multi-threading capabilities arsenic CPUs pinch greater thread support.

Some package tin leverage much cores and threads than others, making nan number of cores and threads that your CPU has a large parameter of imaginable performance. Having much cores than you request doesn’t velocity things up beyond nan limits of what nan package tin handle, and it tin lead to your individual cores not being arsenic accelerated arsenic those successful chips pinch smaller numbers.

Clocks and IPC

Another awesome information pinch CPUs is timepiece speed. This is nan megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz) standing and represents really galore collections of tasks a processor tin execute each second. It’s a adjacent practice of nan velocity of individual cores, though it doesn’t show nan full story. If 2 processors from nan aforesaid procreation person nan aforesaid number of cores, but 1 has a higher timepiece speed, it will execute faster.

Since higher timepiece speeds mean individual cores tally faster, that tin make chips pinch higher timepiece speeds but less cores execute amended successful definite applications that can’t make usage of higher halfway and thread counts.

CPUs besides person different instructions per timepiece (IPC) ratings. That’s nan number of tasks it tin execute successful each timepiece rhythm (each second, noted by nan timepiece speed), and it’s limited connected nan underlying architecture.

While this mightiness look a small confusing, it highlights nan value of looking astatine individual reviews for processors. Head-to-heads, wherever 2 CPUs are pitted against each different successful comparable tests, are besides a awesome measurement to spot really they execute successful nan existent world. We person a fewer specified comparisons, specified arsenic a existent conflict of nan Titans that compares nan 7800X3D and Core Ultra 285K.

If you want a bully norm of thumb, CPUs pinch higher timepiece speeds and newer architectures are faster astatine conscionable astir everything, but for productivity tasks, a modern 1 pinch much cores will usually beryllium quicker.

CPU cache

AMD 3D V-Cache spot is shown complete a coppery background.

The CPU cache is yet different spec that’s worthy looking at. The cache is simply a mini magnitude of very accelerated representation that is built straight onto nan processor, and it’s responsible for storing accusation that nan CPU needs to often spell backmost to. Embedding nan cache onto nan spot intends that nan accusation is retrieved quicker than if your machine had to fetch it from nan system’s main RAM.

The 2 types of cache that matter erstwhile you shop are nan L2 and nan L3, and CPUs typically person larger L3 caches than L2. Typically, each CPU halfway has its ain allotment of L2 cache, but nan L3 cache is shared among each cores.

You won’t beryllium amazed to perceive that nan much cache your CPU has, nan better. Although you don’t request monolithic amounts of it for day-to-day uses, it tin person a melodramatic effect connected gaming, which is nan why AMD’s 3D V-Cache CPUs, for illustration nan 7800X3D and 7950X3D are immoderate of nan champion for gaming.

Look retired for nan Ryzen 9000 X3D CPUs later this year. They’re apt to bargain nan apical spot for gaming erstwhile again.

Intel aliases AMD?

Intel processors adjacent to each other.

Now that we’ve covered what each those different position mean, let’s spot really Team Red (AMD) and Team Blue (Intel) utilize them to present powerful processors.

If you’re buying a processor, you fundamentally person 2 choices — Intel and AMD. Apple besides has its ain processor type, called nan M chip, but those are not standalone CPUs that you tin put wrong your PC. Instead, you’ll find them successful various Macs and MacBooks. As they’re irrelevant to this article, we’ll attraction connected Intel and AMD instead.

Intel and AMD person a longstanding rivalry, and though some person had their downturns, successful 2024 these 2 spot companies are hotly competitory pinch 1 another, making either a coagulated prime for almost anyone.

There are respective differences betwixt AMD and Intel. Each shaper equips its processors pinch different capabilities, but they person a batch of similarities successful nan measurement they work. However, definite creation choices still group them apart, and nan pricing is different factor.

Let’s return a heavy dive into Intel and AMD.

Intel

Intel has been astir for years and years, and it tin usually beryllium relied connected to merchandise caller CPUs erstwhile a year. The past mates of years saw nan emergence of nan Intel Alder Lake, followed by Intel Raptor Lake successful 2022 and its 14th procreation refresh successful 2023. The latest desktop merchandise is Intel Arrow Lake.

Intel makes CPUs some for desktops and for laptops. Some of Intel’s processors travel pinch integrated graphics and others don’t, meaning you’ll besides request to bargain a discrete GPU to match. Moreover, you tin overclock immoderate Intel chips, meaning that their timepiece velocity tin beryllium adjusted higher astatine nan costs of accrued powerfulness depletion — but this action isn’t disposable connected each CPU.

Where immoderate AMD chips spell all-in connected nan timepiece velocity and nan cache size, Intel has been stacking up connected cores. Comparing AMD and Intel whitethorn sometimes uncover that Intel has an separator successful productivity-related tasks acknowledgment to those higher halfway counts.

Intel’s latest flagship CPU is nan Core Ultra 285K, and though it is nan fastest productivity spot Intel has ever made, it’s not its fastest CPU for gaming. That grant is still held by nan last-generation 14900K. The newer CPU is acold much efficient, though, and manages a batch without hyper-threading, but it’s not a CPU we’d readily recommend.

Intel’s midrange 245K is moreover harder to recommend. That leaves older midrange CPUs for illustration nan Core i5-13600K, which travel pinch 14 cores, to make nan worth proposition.

Since nan merchandise of Intel Alder Lake (12th Gen), Intel has been utilizing a hybrid halfway building successful its processors. This intends that alternatively of utilizing a azygous halfway type, it splits cores into capacity (P) cores and ratio (E) cores. The CPU will often person much ratio cores than capacity cores.

P-cores are designed to grip heavy-duty tasks, while E-cores are near to grip inheritance tasks that don’t require nan afloat powerfulness of your processor. P-cores besides scope higher timepiece speeds than E-cores.

It’s worthy noting that Intel CPUs thin to beryllium a small much costly than AMD, though things person mostly evened retired successful nan past mates of years. If you’re choosing betwixt 2 manufacturers, Intel’s existent lineup conscionable isn’t that awesome compared to AMD’s Ryzen 9000 alternative. While Intel’s apical chips whitethorn clasp immoderate leads successful productivity, AMD’s CPUs are much consistent, and easy bargain nan apical spot for gaming, and often astatine a much affordable price, too.

AMD

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D installed successful a motherboard.

The past fewer years person mostly been bully for AMD. After slipping into irrelevant territory during nan clip of its Athlon and FX processors, AMD managed to claw its measurement backmost up pinch nan merchandise of nan Ryzen CPUs. It besides made a smaller, but significant, comeback successful nan GPU arena pinch RDNA 2 and RDNA 3.

These days, pinch Ryzen chips now wide available, AMD is connected an upswing. Its processors aren’t conscionable relevant, but they are besides often nan go-to for gaming builds. AMD has besides carved retired a coagulated niche for itself successful nan server and workstation segments pinch its Threadripper CPUs.

AMD’s latest CPU lineups see nan latest Ryzen 9000 (Zen 5) bid of processors, and nan slightly-older Ryzen 7000-series (Zen 4), which includes processors ranging from fund to high-end. There’s besides still Ryzen 5000 (Zen 3) CPUs disposable for sale, and they connection fantabulous worth for money for budgets workers and gamers.

As acold arsenic halfway counts go, AMD isn’t chasing nan highest numbers and alternatively opts for much cache aliases higher timepiece speeds. However, only Intel has a processor that hits 6GHz retired of nan container — the Core i9-14900KS — but astir users don’t request that benignant of frequency, anyway.

AMD’s apical processor, nan Ryzen 9 9950X, maxes retired astatine 16 cores and 32 threads. It’s a powerhouse of a CPU, overmuch nan measurement Intel’s apical chips are — but gamers mightiness find much liking successful a different scope of AMD processors.

Not excessively agelong ago, AMD introduced nan 3D V-Cache. This is an further chiplet stacked connected apical of nan CPU that’s filled pinch further cache. This drastically boosts CPU cache sizes, and alternatively of adding this to each CPU (which, frankly, wouldn’t beryllium necessary), AMD releases these typical chips nether nan “X3D” lineup.

The boost successful cache size gives chips for illustration nan Ryzen 7 5800X3D aliases nan Ryzen 7 7800X3D a monolithic upgrade successful gaming. In fact, these chips conclusion much costly and much modern options from AMD and Intel successful benchmarks, and this is contempt their constricted halfway counts. However, they’re not arsenic bully astatine productivity tasks, which is nan value we salary for nan little halfway count.

Look retired for Ryzen 9000 X3D CPUs later this twelvemonth to bargain nan gaming apical spot erstwhile again.

CPU labels and generations

Intel Core i5-12400F container sitting successful beforehand of a gaming PC.

Cores, threads, clocks … each of that worldly is beautiful confusing, but past each shaper has to propulsion successful its ain naming schemes, and that tin make things moreover much difficult to follow.

You tin fig retired a batch astir a processor simply by knowing nan procreation it’s from and nan tier it sits successful wrong that generation. AMD and Intel person different naming schemes for their processors, and being capable to decode them is important. Newer processors are usually better, and arsenic we’ll explicate passim this guide, being capable to discern processors connected an individual ground will let you to prime retired what’s applicable and what isn’t.

The latest AMD processors are portion of nan Ryzen 9000 series. The first number notes nan generation, while nan 2nd number notes wherever nan processor sits successful that generation. For example, nan 9600X and 9700X some travel from nan Ryzen 9000 series, but nan 9900X is simply a faster, much tin processor wrong that generation.

Unfortunately, nan numbers themselves don’t mean much. You’d beryllium forgiven, for example, for assuming that nan Ryzen 9000 processors are nan ninth procreation of Ryzen processors. But that’s not nan lawsuit (it’s really nan sixth procreation of Ryzen processors and only nan 5th architectural change). Similarly, nan 9700X is branded pinch nan Ryzen 7 tag and nan 9600X pinch nan Ryzen 5 tag, while nan 9900X has a much fitting Ryzen 9 tag.

It’s worthy noting that AMD processors tin travel pinch aliases without an “X” astatine nan extremity of nan bid number. The “X” simply indicates that nan spot is simply a higher-performing type of nan guidelines processor. As such, you’ll spot nan Ryzen 5 7600 and nan Ryzen 5 7600X, and nan second will beryllium much costly and somewhat faster.

Intel’s naming strategy is similar, utilizing nan first number to statement nan procreation and nan 2nd number to statement nan spot wrong that generation. Like AMD, Intel besides categorizes its processors into tiers (Core i7 and Core i9, arsenic good arsenic newer Core Ultra 5 and Core Ultra 7, for example). Knowing that, we tin prime retired nan Intel 14900K arsenic a 14th-generation processor that’s successful nan i9 tier. Again, higher is amended here.

It’s a small trickier pinch nan newer models. The Core Ultra 9 285K is from nan 200-generation, and it’s a Core Ultra 9 (Core i9 equivalent), truthful it’s high-end. Higher is still better, whether it’s Core Ultra 5 and Core Ultra 7, aliases Core i5 and Core i7.

Intel besides adds a suffix to astir of its processors that notes definite functionality (or nan deficiency of specified functionality). There really isn’t immoderate reasonable mentation for nan suffix letters and what they mean, truthful we’ll conscionable database them instead:

G1-G7: Graphics level
E: Embedded
F: Requires discrete graphics
G: Includes discrete graphics
H: High capacity optimized for mobile
HK: High capacity optimized for mobile, unlocked
HQ: High capacity optimized for mobile, quad-core
K: Unlocked
S: Special edition
T: Power-optimized
U: Mobile powerfulness efficient
Y: Mobile highly debased power

Thankfully, you won’t brushwood astir of nan suffixes erstwhile shopping for a processor. The important ones to retrieve are F and K for Intel desktop processors. For mobile, HK and U show up nan most.

Integrated graphics

CPUs tin besides see integrated graphics chips connected nan aforesaid die, making them tin of operating independently of dedicated graphics cards. Intel CPUs pinch nan F nickname (such arsenic nan Core i5-13600KF) don’t person onboard graphics, but astir others do successful immoderate form. They aren’t typically powerful, but an entry-level integrated graphics spot for illustration Intel Arc Graphics tin do astir 60 frames per 2nd successful older esports games like CS: GO. You’ll want to support nan settings debased to debar stuttering framework rates during aggravated action aliases erstwhile dense fume is deployed.

AMD’s processors typically don’t see onboard graphics connected desktops, though its latest procreation Ryzen 7000 and 9000 do. There are besides immoderate accelerated processing units (APU) that person faster onboard graphics, but they’re rather niche. They tin connection reasonable capacity successful indie and esports games, truthful for those connected a tight budget, they tin switch a discrete graphics card.

Power and thermals

Installing a powerfulness proviso successful a PC case.

Performance is nan astir important facet for astir CPU purchases — aft all, if you can’t do what you want pinch your caller spot faster than you could before, what’s nan constituent successful upgrading? If you’re looking to person a quiet PC, an businesslike PC, aliases 1 that’s peculiarly compact, powerfulness and thermal demands are important considerations, too.

Unfortunately, neither AMD nor Intel gives peculiarly clear information connected nan powerfulness and thermal demands of their processors, alternatively resorting to bundling nan 2 together into a standing of Thermal Design Power (TDP). This is expressed successful wattage, and it gives you a unsmooth thought of really overmuch powerfulness nan CPU will require from nan powerfulness proviso and really tin a cooler you’ll request to support it wrong safe operating temperatures.

Power depletion tin alteration greatly betwixt different CPUs. In laptops, it’s usually kept astatine bay to guarantee that nan machine doesn’t power up beyond nan somesthesia of nan sun; successful desktops, manufacturers trust connected you having an outer cooler to improve PC cooling, and driving it up overmuch higher. For instance, nan Core i7-13650HX processor has a maximum turbo powerfulness of 157 watts, which is simply a batch for a laptop, but nan desktop Core i9-14900K consumes 125W astatine its guidelines powerfulness and tin beryllium boosted up to 253W, making it very difficult to cool effectively, moreover pinch a large CPU cooler.

The newer Core Ultra 285K is overmuch much businesslike successful gaming, but it tin still propulsion ungodly amounts of powerfulness astatine times.

In definite situations, TDP tin besides beryllium a slack guideline to nan position of a processor’s underlying silicon, wherever much proficient CPUs are ordered successful nan much starring TDP levels owed to their capacity to negociate other power. This depends connected each circumstantial case, though, and there’s really nary guarantee of a much high-grade chip. It’s besides only particularly suitable for overclocking.

You’ll want to analyse individual processor reviews to find really overmuch powerfulness and cooling they really need, but if you’re connected nan marketplace for higher TDP CPUs that require almost 100W, larger and much proficient coolers would beryllium a reasonable action if you want a quiet PC. The aforesaid applies to nan power proviso (PSU) — it’s 1 of those components you really don’t want to prevention money on.

Socket compatibility

Buying a processor tin only get you truthful acold — your PC build besides needs a coagulated motherboard that holds each of these cool components together. This is wherever it gets tricky, though, because astir CPUs only person a constricted number of motherboards that they tin fresh into. This is referred to arsenic socket compatibility, and this is besides why you can’t upgrade your PC from 10 years agone pinch nan latest CPU connected nan marketplace — it simply doesn’t fresh that motherboard anymore.

For AMD, location wasn’t overmuch to see for a bully fewer years, because it stuck to its AM4 level for a agelong time. You could upgrade your CPU respective times wrong that clip framework and not person to put successful a caller motherboard. Now, however, nan Ryzen 7000 and 9000-series requires nan usage of an AM5 motherboard. It besides exclusively supports nan newer DDR5 representation type, which tin thrust up nan costs of building a PC depending connected nan velocity an size of nan kit you purchase.

Intel changes sockets a batch much often by comparison, and it presently utilizes nan LGA1851 socket, which is compatible pinch Core Ultra 200 CPUs only. Its LGA1700 socket is still around, and useful pinch nan 12th, 13th, and 14th-Gen Intel CPUs. Where LGA1851 only useful pinch DDR5, LGA1700 useful pinch some DDR4 and DDR5 RAM, though you will person to make that prime earlier you make nan purchase, arsenic you usually can’t usage some representation types successful a azygous system.

When shopping for a CPU, double and triple-check that it fits that peculiar socket. Otherwise, you’re looking astatine a batch of money wasted connected either a new motherboard aliases a caller processor.

Cooling

The NZXT X53 AIO 240mm liquid cooler successful achromatic placed connected a grey background.

Keeping your CPU cool is captious to nan capacity of your full system. Allowing it to overheat tin either massively slow down nan capacity of your machine aliases moreover severely harm your components. As such, while often overlooked, various CPU coolers are overmuch much important than they mightiness look astatine first glance.

There are 3 communal types of coolers: aerial coolers, all-in-one liquid coolers (AIO), and civilization loop coolers. The erstwhile are nan astir common, and nan second are expensive, truthful you’ll only find them successful high-end systems wherever nan fund was of nary concern.

Air coolers utilize heatsinks and 1 aliases aggregate fans to cool down your CPU. They’re usually reasonably cheap, and though they return up a adjacent magnitude of space, they’re comparatively easy to install. AIO coolers trust connected a liquid to transportation heat, but they excessively travel pinch fans that thief dissipate nan heat. They’re overmuch much businesslike and are amended suited to CPUs that devour a batch of powerfulness and make a batch of heat. Lastly, civilization loop is astir apt nan champion action of each three, but it’s beautiful precocious and pricey — though possibly not arsenic scary arsenic you think.

Which CPU is champion for you?

We’ve told you astir of nan things you request to cognize astir desktop (and laptop) processors. The adjacent measurement is for you to make nan prime and bargain a CPU that suits your peculiar needs.

There is nary one-size-fits-all guideline to making that decision. We person a guideline connected PC builds that tin thief you, and we person rankings of nan best CPUs to show you immoderate worthwhile models, but ultimately, each fund and usage lawsuit is somewhat different. However, if you’re unsure what useful champion for your peculiar PC, present are a fewer recommendations for different budgets and usage cases.

Day-to-day use

A young female has a video chat connected her HP 14-inch Chromebook.

Although CPU makers mightiness want you to judge otherwise, you don’t request to walk hundreds of dollars connected a CPU that won’t do a batch of dense lifting. If you conscionable request thing that useful good for browsing nan internet, watching your favourite movies and shows, aliases possibly moreover working, a inexpensive CPU will suffice. In those cases, nan Intel Core i3-12100 aliases nan AMD Ryzen 5 7600 are some bully options.

The Core i3-12100F doesn’t travel pinch integrated graphics, but nan Ryzen 5 7600 does, truthful that saves you a spot of other money connected a GPU. However, don’t expect immoderate superior gaming powers from either CPU; they’re made for casual users alternatively than gamers.

Gaming

young female playing video games connected a PC

If you want a cosmopolitan proposal for a gaming processor, nan reply will ever beryllium either nan Ryzen 7 5800X3D aliases nan Ryzen 7 7800X3D. They’re some gaming beasts, outclassing astir each different CPU retired location successful their respective generation, including models that costs a full batch more. However, if you’re not into AMD aliases simply want thing cheaper, location are still options to consider.

For Intel, nan maximum CPU we’d urge for gaming is nan Core i7-14700K, and moreover past it’s a small overkill — you tin safely settee for nan cheaper Core i5-13600K instead. The Core i5-13400 is simply a budget-gaming champ, and it’s cheaper than nan Ryzen 7 5800X3D, though it’s not arsenic accelerated successful gaming scenarios. Cheaper options that still do good successful gaming see nan Ryzen 5 5600 and nan Core i3-12100F. The 14th-generation Intel CPUs are mostly nan aforesaid arsenic their 13th-gen counterparts, truthful only prime them up if you get them astatine a bully price.

We can’t really urge nan Core Ultra 200 CPUs for gaming, though. They’re worse than their older counterparts and are very inconsistent.

If you person nan money to spare, thing stops you from going for nan apical support and getting nan Ryzen 9 7950X3D aliases nan Core i9-14900K, but nan 7800X3D is very adjacent to some of them and costs a batch less.

Video editing and different CPU-heavy workflows

Gaming streamer moving connected desktop editing content.

Buying a CPU for activity is difficult — making nan correct prime is moreover much important present than successful different cases. If your activity mostly revolves astir nan browser and Microsoft Excel, you tin conscionable mention backmost to our day-to-day section. However, if you thin to put your PC done nan wringer for a living, you’ll request 1 of nan champion processors connected nan market.

Tasks for illustration contented creation, video editing, rendering, and encoding return a toll connected nan CPU. You’ll request a spot pinch a decent magnitude of cores and timepiece speeds to match. We urge nan Core i7-13700K arsenic a starting point, but you tin moreover upgrade to nan Core i9-14900K if your fund tin grip it. Alternatively, nan newer 285K is usually better, but it’s rather inconsistent.

For AMD, nan X3D chips are nary bully present — instrumentality to nan regular X-series processors from nan latest Ryzen 9000 lineup. The Ryzen 7 9700X, Ryzen 9 9900X, and nan Ryzen 9 9950X are each bully options, though they each person less cores than their Intel counterparts.