AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is surely a top-of-the-line chip for the best gaming performance, but you don’t necessarily have to pay nearly $500 to achieve high frame rates in your favorite titles.
Achieve High Gaming Performance Without Spending Over $400 on a CPU by Opting for These Budget CPUs That Offer Even Better Value for the Money
Considering you own a system where your GPU choice doesn’t belong to Tier 1, i.e., high-end segment, it’s better to settle for a budget CPU rather than spending several hundred dollars on a CPU alone. It’s more sensible to invest less in a CPU and more in a GPU, assuming that neither of the components will cause a bottleneck. If getting the best bang for the buck is your goal, then consider going for the following CPUs instead of CPUs like Ryzen 9800X3D or 9950X3D.
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
| Architecture | Cores/Threads | Base/Boost Clock | L3 Cache | TDP | Socket |
| Zen 5 | 6/12 | 3.9 / 5.4 GHz | 32 MB | 65W | AM5 |
The Ryzen 5 9600X is one of the fastest sub-$200 gaming CPUs from AMD. Despite being one of the cheapest in the Ryzen 9000 lineup, the 9600X offers an equivalent gaming performance to the 9700X, which is much more expensive. Being a 6-core/12-thread CPU with the latest Zen 5 architecture, it is a solid budget/mid-range choice for most modern gaming builds, which trades blows with higher-core-count Intel processors.
While it doesn’t bring huge generational uplifts over its predecessor, considering it doesn’t generate heat as much as the 7600X, the 9600X will be much easier to cool. That said, if you are also into some rendering programs, then the 9600X does offer decent uplifts in single-core and multi-core performance, making it an overall better choice.
Buy AMD Ryzen 5 9600X From Amazon
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D
| Architecture | Cores/Threads | Base/Boost Clock | L3 Cache | TDP | Socket |
| Zen 4 | 6/12 | 4.1 / 4.7 GHz | 96 MB | 65W | AM5 |
By adding the X3D V-Cache chiplet on top of the CCD, the Ryzen 5 7600X3D is able to convert the non-X3D variant into a superior gaming chip that not only beats the Ryzen 9600X in gaming but even the higher-end 9000 SKUs. Based on the Zen 4 architecture, the Ryzen 7600X3D brings the same 6-core/12-thread configuration as the 9600X, but despite being older in architecture, it’s able to meet the intensive gaming demand by delivering an additional 64 MB of L3 cache.
The CPU uses the AM5 platform, and therefore, you will not only have an advantage in gaming performance over Ryzen 9000 CPUs, but you will be able to upgrade it later on easily without having to change the motherboard. Still, keep in mind that this might be the most expensive 6-core/12-thread processor you will invest in, as it’s priced at $299. This price tag may not offer you the most fps per dollar, but remember that it’s the cheapest AM5-compatible X3D CPU you can buy today.
Initially, it was launched exclusively on Micro Center, but gradually it was made available in multiple regions, and if you are lucky, your favorite retailer might have one for you.
Buy AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D from Micro Center
Intel Core i5 14600K
| Family | Cores/Threads | Base/Boost Clock | L3 Cache | TDP | Socket |
| Raptor Lake Refresh | 14 (6+8)/20 | 3.5/5.3 GHz (P-Core) 2.6/4.0 GHz (E-Core) |
24 MB | 125W | LGA 1700 |
Despite Arrow Lake’s release, the Raptor Lake Refresh continues its dominance in the gaming segment. Intel’s 14th gen is one of the strongest from the company yet, and the Intel Core i5 14600K is a killer gaming CPU on a budget, which trades blows with the Ryzen 9600X and sometimes beats it with a noticeable margin. The LGA 1700 platform might have ended with the 14th-gen CPUs, but if you want the best possible gaming performance for a sub-$200 price tag, then the 14600K has a slight edge over most CPUs.
The Core i5 14600K does that while also meeting the demanding requirements of modern intensive applications, which tend to favor higher core counts. With an excellent 14-core/20-thread configuration, you won’t be lagging in these applications and will get the job done in minutes, whether you are a content creator or a professional who works on various CPU-oriented apps.
Buy Intel Core i5 14600K from Amazon
Things to Consider When Buying a Budget Gaming CPU:
Cooling Solution: Since none of the CPUs mentioned above come with a stock cooler, you will need an aftermarket cooling solution. Of the three CPUs mentioned, it’s usual to see Ryzen 5 9600X running the coolest, while the Core i5 14600K needs a somewhat better cooling solution to handle all those 14 cores. A 240mm AIO will do a great job, but some dual-tower air coolers will be effective as well. Ryzen 5 7600X3D, on the other hand, might not consume power as much as the other two, but due to the X3D chiplet being placed on top of the CCD, it may require a decently powerful cooler as well.
GPU Choice: Whether you are making a purchasing decision for a GPU or a CPU, it’s crucial to balance the configuration to eliminate all kinds of bottlenecks. Thankfully, almost all the above-listed CPUs will have no problem in handling high-end graphics cards, but we would rather recommend spending $200 or more on a CPU like Ryzen 7800X3D or 9800X3D if you are going for the flagship cards like RTX 5090. However, if you are sticking with a 70 or 60-class card, then our recommended CPUs will be a perfect match for your GPUs.
Motherboard Chipset: Motherboards come with various chipsets that determine your system’s capability to support modern and powerful components and devices. When it comes to CPUs, it’s recommended to choose the one that allows increasing the core clocks of your CPU and RAM, which will result in a noticeable performance increase. While not necessarily a dealbreaker, when all three components, i.e., the CPU, GPU, and RAM, are overclocked properly, you might see decent gains in gaming and applications.
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