Best CPU for Developers

If you're a full-time developer, it's well worth investing in a decent CPU

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Developers spend much of their time debugging or refactoring code rather than writing new code. Most developers get laptops from their employers, and that’s more than enough to handle their workloads. However, for those of you who are in the freelance industry or like to work on your own projects, here are the best CPUs for developers.

Before we begin, we’d like to note that the horsepower you need from your computer depends entirely on your workload. Still, we’ll be recommending CPUs based on performance, so you can still get the best value possible out of your purchase.

Without any further delays, these are the two best CPUs for developers.

Best CPU for Developers – Intel Core i7 13700K

Intel Core i7-13700K

Cores

16

Threads

24

Base speed

P-cores 3.4 GHz / E-cores 2.5 GHz

Boost speed

P-cores 5.4 GHz / E-cores 4.2 GHz

Cache

24MB

TDP

125 W / 253 W boost.

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Specs:

• Speed: 5.4GHz (Boost Clock)
• Cores/Threads: 16/24
• Socket: LGA1700
• TDP: 125W

Right now, the Intel Core i7 13700K is arguably the best CPU you can buy for both gaming and productivity. This is because this processor boasts 16 cores and a whopping 24 threads. Eight of those cores are P-cores, and the other eight are E-Cores. This processor is also quite impressive in terms of its speed, as it can boost up to 5.4GHz.

Thanks to the high core count and boost clock, this CPU can handle anything you want to throw at it. It’s great for game development, animation, Blender, photo/video editing, and much more. There’s a lot of versatility you can squeeze out of this processor, and that makes it an excellent choice value-wise.

It also happens to be a great choice for gaming. We know many developers also happen to be avid gamers, and this processor won’t disappoint in that regard. Compared to the Ryzen processors this generation, the 13700K is clearly the better choice.

Best Budget CPU for Developers – AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

Speed

3.7GHz/ 4.6GHz

Core (Threads)

6/12

Socket

AM4

TDP

65W

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Specs:

• Speed: 4.6GHz (Boost Clock)
• Cores/Threads: 6/12
• Socket: AM4
• TDP: 65W

We were tempted to suggest the 13600K here. While that’s a great mid-range processor, the 5600X is too hard to ignore right now budget-wise. You’re getting six cores, excellent productivity performance, great gaming performance, and superb efficiency. It’s the processor to buy right now if you want to build a workstation or gaming PC for cheap. The value of this processor is even better these days because it has fallen quite a bit in price.

Final Word

In conclusion, if you’re looking for the best CPU for developers in general, then the 13700K is a great choice. It might be a bit overkill for some people but won’t leave you disappointed. On the other hand, the Ryzen 5 5600X is a great budget choice right now.