Best budget CPU in 2024 – our top pick cheap processors

Best budget CPUs for gaming and productivity right now

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What is the best budget CPU? It really all depends on what you define as “budget”. There are a lot of CPUs on the market today, all with vastly varying budgets in mind. Both AMD and Intel have been battling to bring the best CPUs to the market since we can remember, but there is one name that sticks out most when you think of a budget CPU. That name, of course, is AMD.

While these options aren’t regarded the best CPUs for gaming, the value for money is fantastic and performance is more than enough for many users. Without further delay, here are our picks for the best budget CPU in 2024.

Today’s best CPU deals

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Best budget CPU in 2024

Here we have the best overall budget CPU, We selected this because of its amazing performance for the price, here’s a closer look.

Intel Core i3-10100F

Core i3-10100F

best Budget CPU

Intel Core i3-10100F

Brand

Intel

CPU Model

Core i3

Cores (Threads)

4 (8)

CPU Speed

3.6 GHz

CPU Socket

LGA 1200

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Pros

• Low cost
• High base and boost speeds for i3
• Easy to cool

Cons

• Low multi-threaded performance

The best budget CPU in 2024 is the Intel Core i3-10100F. This is an entry-level processor released by Intel in late 2020 at an MSRP of $107. Its price has since decreased, and you can find it these days for less than $80, which is quite the bargain price considering the performance you get. This is the most ideal CPU for pushing high frame rates on a budget.

The Core i3-10100F is a 4-core, 8-thread CPU from Intel’s 10th-generation lineup. It’s the first desktop Core i3 processor that supports hyperthreading, which affords it a massive performance upgrade over Core i3 processors from previous generations, such as the i3-9100 and i3-8100. 

With hyperthreading, each of the 10100F’s cores can serve two threads simultaneously. Therefore, despite being a 4 core processor, it has 8 threads or “logical cores.”

8 threads are plenty for casual PC usage and gaming, even today. As you likely already know if you’re into PC gaming, most games are more reliant on single-thread performance, in which department the i3-10100F shines. 

It has a 4.3GHz maximum clock speed, which allows it to outperform other processors available in its price range in single-thread workloads and, consequently, gaming.

At an $80 price tag, this processor can offer you decent gaming performance. You can expect to play most games at 1080p and 60FPS as long as you pair it up with a decent GPU.

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Best Budget CPU for Productivity

Here is our best pick for the best budget CPU for productivity.

Ryzen 5 5600X

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

Best value Ryzen CPU for productivity

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

Speed

3.7GHz/ 4.6GHz

Core (Threads)

6/12

Socket

AM4

TDP

65W

How We Review

Hands-on Review

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Pros

• Set to out-perform the 10600K
• Great value for money
• Unlocked overclocking

Cons

• Slightly more expensive than what we’re used to from AMDs midrange offering
• Requires CPU cooler

The Ryzen 5000 series CPU lineup generated much excitement, particularly for the 5600X, thanks to impressive benchmarking rumors. The CPU delivered remarkable value and performance, both for gaming and workflow scenarios, making it a top recommendation for those seeking an affordably priced CPU that can deliver over 100fps for AAA games and has excellent multi-tasking capabilities. It’s why it’s on our list of best CPUs for gaming.

This chip boasts one of the best price-to-performance ratios we’ve seen in a long time, with a base clock speed of 4.1GHz and a boost clock frequency of 4.8GHz, putting it up there with some of the top performers. Furthermore, with a 19% increase in IPC, it outperforms the last generation of 3000 series CPUs. The CPU also comes with its own cooling fan, which AMD says is newly designed for excellent efficiency and low noise output – a feature that even the premium CPU options in AMD’s 5000 series lineup can’t match.

Although the 11600K is cheaper and offers better single-core performance, the 5600X is still one of the best CPUs you can get at this price point. Not to mention the fact it already comes with a stock cooler, that is pretty capable. Helping mitigate build costs further.

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Best Budget CPU for gaming

Here we will have the heavy-hitting CPUs, ones with big core and tread counts. It’s why we’re going to recommend the 12600KF, as thanks to the 13th gen, it can be found for a great deal online. If you want to pay less, you can always drop a generation, or opt for a 5000 / 3000 series Ryzen.

Core i5-12600KF

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Intel Core i5-12600KF

Best value Intel CPU

Intel Core i5-12600KF

Boost clock speed (single core)

4.9 GHz

Total Cores / Threads

10/16

P-cores

6

E-cores

4

Socket

LGA 1700

Overclockable

Yes

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Pros

• Powerful single core performance
• Amazing multi core performance
• Overclockable

Cons

• No in box cooler
• Still more power-hungry than Ryzen

Intel has released the i5-12600K, it’s latest mid-range CPU that offers impressive performance at a more affordable price point. With 10 cores and 16 threads, it matches its predecessor the 11900K, but with architectural improvements that result in a notable 30% increase in FPS on some games. Although the AMD 5600X still surpasses it in multi-core tests, making it the superior choice for workstation purposes in this price range, the i5-12600K often outperforms it in single-core and gaming scenarios.

This performance is largely due to the CPU’s impressive base clock speed of 3.7Hz, with a max single-core boost frequency of 4.9GHz. Overclocking enthusiasts will find plenty of potential in this chip, with some able to push it up to 5.3GHz, putting it in the same league as the 10900K. However, keep in mind that this level of overclocking requires an expensive cooling rig, and the chip runs hot even without overclocking.

As long as you have an LGA1700 socket motherboard (as the chipset is not backward compatible), the i5-12600K is an excellent choice for a gaming rig. It’s hard to find anything that can match its performance at this price range, making it a fantastic CPU from Intel.

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Best budget Ryzen 7000 series CPU

The best budget Ryzen 7000 series CPU has to be the Ryzen 5 7600.

Ryzen 5 7600

Ryzen 5 7600

Best gaming CPU under $300

AMD Ryzen 5 7600 (Non-X)

Cores

6

Threads

12

Base speed

4.7GHz

Boost speed

5.3GHz

Cache

L3 32MB

Socket

AM5

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Pros

• Incredible single-core performance
• Interesting IHS
• Very power efficient
• surpasses other CPUs with more cores

Cons

• Lesser CPU performance than 7600X

A budget of around $300 offers some versatility in terms of balancing gaming and productivity needs. It’s possible to select a processor that excels in either area or both. The 12600K is the top choice for a sub-$300 CPU overall, but for gaming specifically, the Ryzen 5 7600 is the optimal pick under $300.

Released in January 2023 with an MSRP of $229, the Ryzen 5 7600 still costs the same today. It is a 6-core, 12-thread processor with a maximum clock speed of 5.1GHz. It’s built on the Zen 4 architecture, which boasts improved IPC compared to the previous generation of Ryzen processors.

The Ryzen 5 7600 performs slightly better than the 12600K in single-threaded tasks such as gaming. This is due in part to its larger cache size. The 7600 features a 32MB L3 cache while the 12600K only has a 20MB L3 cache.

It’s worth noting that compared to similarly priced Intel processors, the Ryzen 5 7600 has fewer cores and threads. Its specifications are tailored for gaming performance, and AMD markets it accordingly as a gaming processor, which is a valid claim.

Read more: Is Ryzen 5 7600 better than Core i5-12600K?

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Best budget Intel 13th gen CPU

The best value budget Intel 13th gen CPU has to be the Core i5-13600K

Core i5-13600K

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Core i5-13600K

Middle-ground Intel CPU

Intel Core i5-13600K

Cores

14

Threads

20

Base speed

P-cores 3.5 GHz / E-cores 2.6 GHz

Boost speed

P-cores 5.1 GHz / E-cores 3.9 GHz

Cache

20MB

TDP

125 W / 181 W boost.

How We Review

Hands-on Review

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Pros

• High core count for an entry level CPU
• High base and boost speeds
• Efficient
• backwards compatible with 12th gen motherboards

Cons

• Runs very warm

The Intel i5-13600K is a very power-efficient CPU, especially due to it being a 14-core, 20-thread CPU clocked over 5GHz. It gets nowhere near as hot as its 13900K bigger brother. This is a testament to just how well Intelo can do at the low end, as well as the high end.

The 13900K is incredibly cost-effective, costing between the 7600X and the 7700X on team red’s side, but pretty well outperforming the former and just getting the latter, Intel is seriously a force to be reckoned with this time around. 

The 13600K is perfect for average gamers looking to upgrade their CPU without breaking the bank, and it has a full 20 threads to back it up when you want to do some multi-core-based workloads. This is a special balance that not many other CPUs have, they weather aim for one or the other. The 13600K is very much a jack-of-all-trades. 

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Best budget CPU: Things to consider

There are plenty of things to consider when opting for a budget CPU, factors range from Core speed to generation. We assume that you’re not going to be opting for the latest generation of CPUs, but we’ve included them just in case.

Here are what we believe to be the factors you should consider when finding the best budget CPU.

Cores and threads

A CPU’s cores are the processing units that execute instructions and perform calculations. The more cores a CPU has, the more tasks it can perform simultaneously. This can result in faster and more efficient processing of tasks, particularly in applications that can take advantage of multiple cores, such as video editing or rendering software.

Threads, on the other hand, are virtual cores that allow a single physical core to execute multiple tasks simultaneously. CPUs with support for multi-threading can handle more tasks concurrently than those without, resulting in faster processing times and improved overall performance.

The combination of core and thread count is important because it can have a significant impact on a CPU’s performance in different tasks. A CPU with a higher core count and multi-threading support can perform well in tasks that require high parallelisms, such as gaming, video editing, or scientific simulations. However, a CPU with fewer cores but higher clock speeds may perform better in tasks that require single-threaded performance, such as some gaming or office applications.

Core speed

Core speed, also known as clock speed, refers to the rate at which a CPU’s processing cores can execute instructions. The higher the core speed, the faster the CPU can process data.

The importance of core speed in a CPU lies in its ability to affect overall system performance. A higher core speed can enable a CPU to complete more instructions per second, allowing for faster and more efficient processing of tasks, such as running applications or playing games.

CPU generation

CPU generation refers to the version or iteration of a CPU’s design and architecture. Each CPU generation represents an improvement or advancement over the previous generation, with enhancements to the design, architecture, and manufacturing process.

The importance of CPU generation lies in its impact on CPU performance. Newer generations of CPUs typically offer better performance and efficiency than older ones due to advancements in technology, such as increased core counts, higher clock speeds, and improvements in power efficiency.

For example, newer generations of CPUs may feature improved architectures that enable faster and more efficient processing of instructions. They may also include additional features, such as integrated graphics, enhanced security, or support for newer technologies like PCIe 5.0 or USB 4.

Additionally, newer CPU generations are often manufactured using smaller process nodes, which can result in lower power consumption and better thermal performance. This can be particularly important for laptops and other mobile devices where power efficiency is critical. But we don’t need to consider the mobile platform.

CPU socket

A CPU socket is a physical interface on a computer’s motherboard that houses the CPU. It is a connector that allows the CPU to communicate with other components on the motherboard, including memory, expansion cards, and storage drives.

The CPU socket is designed to match the specific requirements of the CPU, including its size, shape, and electrical properties. Different CPU models from different manufacturers have different socket types, so it is important to ensure that the motherboard socket matches the CPU socket type.

When installing or upgrading a CPU, it is essential to ensure compatibility between the CPU and the motherboard, including the socket type. If the CPU and the motherboard have different socket types, they will not be compatible, and the CPU will not fit or function correctly.

Now that we have the things to consider out of the way, we can start to home in on our choices for the best budget CPU. But what should you go for?

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How good are modern budget CPUs?

Thanks to the fierce ongoing competition between the two tech giants, Intel and AMD, there are numerous budget-friendly processors available to you. Budget processors are designed to offer you the best performance for the price you pay. In other words, you get the best bang for your buck. 

That’s not to say modern budget processors lack in performance, though. Budget processors are noticeably weaker than their more expensive counterparts from the same lineup, but the difference is felt mostly in productivity applications that rely heavily on multicore performance. 

If you’re a casual PC user or interested in gaming, you’ll find the budget CPU we recommend more than capable of handling those activities.

If you are, however, looking for a productivity or workstation processor, you may want to raise your budget to go with something that has more cores and threads. 

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Should you get an older CPU when on a budget?

Certainly, older CPUs have the advantage of being cheaper, but you might be sacrificing performance because of the generational differences and the difference in architecture.

With that being said, it’s important to note that you may be able to grab yourself a deal and obtain an upgrade in the core count for the same money as a modern lesser-count CPU. In this case, it’s almost always worth it, unless you have a specific use case in mine, such as gaming, or are worried about future-proofing.

For example, a Ryzen 7 3700X will perform better in multi-core benchmarks than a newer Ryzen 5 5600X would. you can’t really beat the power of additional cores, but the 5600X will have the 3700X beat in single-core workloads, thanks to more advanced core technology.

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Best budget CPU for gaming: Single-core or multi-core?

Single-core performance is more important for gaming than multi-core performance because most games are designed to utilize only one or two cores of a processor. While some modern games can utilize more cores, the vast majority of games still rely on single-threaded performance.

This means that the speed and efficiency of a single core are more important than the number of cores a processor has. A processor with a high clock speed and a powerful single core will provide better performance for gaming than a processor with many cores but a lower clock speed.

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Is a budget CPU worth it?

Whether a budget CPU is worth it or not depends on your specific needs and use case. A budget CPU may be a good choice if you’re building a computer for basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and email.

However, if you plan on using your computer for more demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, a budget CPU may not be able to keep up with the demands of these applications. In this case, you may want to invest in a more powerful CPU.

Another factor to consider is the longevity of the CPU. While a budget CPU may be a good option for short-term use, it may not last as long as a more expensive CPU. If you plan on using your computer for several years, investing in a higher-end CPU may be a better long-term investment.

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Final Word

In conclusion, finding the best budget CPU can be a challenging task, but it’s worth the effort to get the most out of your money. After researching and testing various options, we have found that the Ryzen 5 5600X is the top choice for those seeking a powerful CPU at an affordable price.

It provides excellent performance and value for its cost, making it an ideal choice for gamers, content creators, and anyone who needs a reliable and efficient processor for their everyday needs. However, there are other options to consider based on your specific needs and budget, so be sure to do your research and choose the CPU that best fits your requirements.