So its time to upgrade your pc again, But what PC processor do you choose? It’s really easy to lose track of current PC technology given the rate at which is evolves and changes. The fastest CPU money can buy today might not be the fastest tomorrow, that’s just how fast PC technology is changing and evolving.
Over the course of this article, I am going to show you the fastest PC processors to suit all budgets, so don’t worry if you only have a small amount to throw at a new CPU we will find something for you.
Lets kick off with the big gun!.
Fastest Gaming Processor Money Can Buy
So you have money to burn and you want to buy the best processor that money can buy huh? 80% of the time someone comes to me and says “Money is no issue, give me the best CPU you have” I turn to Intels extreme edition CPU.
Intel Core i7-5960X Extreme 3.00GHz – $1,199.99
The socket 2011-V3 i7-5960x Extreme edition looks deceiving on the surface with a core clock speed of just 3ghz (turbo boost upto 3.5ghz) but when you look closer at the box and realise this animal has 8 physical cores, 16 threads, a staggering 20mb of cache AND DDR4 2133mhz support, you can see why it’s so pricey.
The Intel 5960X extreme edition is the ultimate CPU not just for out of the box PC gaming but for overclocking enthusiasts as well, coming complete with a fully unlocked multiplier, now you might be saying to yourself that a lot of CPUs are unlocked these days and that’s true! but the difference between an extreme edition CPU and a bog standard off-the-shelf processor is the quality of the CPU wafer.
Intel have been known to use the highest quality CPU wafer from the center of the batch which results in stable chips that can really hit crazy heights with extreme pc cooling solutions.
Fastest CPU on a Low Budget
Finding the fastest and best gaming cpu on a low budget used to be really simple, go with AMD, but in recent years Intel have really dominated the market for all budgets and uses. If you plan on any type of high-resolution gaming then you will need at least an Intel i3 processor, if you can save the extra dimes or pennies to grab an i5 then I highly recommend you do that as you will not regret it.
Intel Core i3-4160 Processor – $119.99 (was $149.99) + Free delivery via Amazon
The i3 4160 falls into the low-end of the budget scale but that does by no means it can’t handle itself clocking in at 3.6ghz. The Intel 4160 is a hyper-threading enabled dual-core processor based on the haswell core architecture meaning you can benefit from upto date technology and better energy efficiency all round.
While the on-chip Intel 4400 graphics will by no means have you playing games at ultra settings, its ok to some older titles smoothly. If you want to play modern PC games then you will need to buy a stand-alone video card.
Fastest Mid-Tier Gaming Processor
Intel Core i5-4690K Processor – $234.98
The Intel Core i5-4460 is nearly double the price of the i3-4160 however you do get double the amount of cores! If you are budgeting on the CPU because you are putting more into a new graphics card or plan to overclock then this cpu is perfect for you.
The 4460 is a mid-range processor which is also based on haswell architecture and the perfect CPU for people looking to game at high resolutions without breaking the bank while making sure there system is as cool and energy-efficient as possible.
unfortunately for overclocked this CPU does not include an unlocked multiplier, while it’s not a huge issues and wont limit your overclock, it will hinder your RAM which will most likely result in having to put a divider between your CPU and RAM. If squeezing the most out of your CPU and components is an important factor when you are buying a new cpu, then consider the Intel Core i5-4690K.
Best Processor for Overclocking
So gaming is not your primary purpose and you want a chip that has consistently proved itself over and over in the overclocking community then you should consider the Intel core-i5 4770k which is a fully unlocked over-performing monster of a cpu geared towards the seasoned overclocker coming in at $239.99
The 4770k has proven itself over and over again as a solid contender in the overclocking world setting plenty of overclocking records holding 4 of the top 5 spots with a staggering maximum overclock of 7194Mhz (7.2ghz!).
Again based on Haswell and clocking in at 3.5ghz per core, this cpu is energy-efficient, overclocks to speeds faster than The Flash and has proven itself time and time again.
In my opinion you cannot buy better than this right if you plan on overclocking your cpu, if you have a mean water cooling loop or phase-change setup then expect some mind-blowing figures, this CPU is not for the feint of heart, you have been warned.
Where’s the AMD Processors at?
You might be thinking to yourself Gee, we have an Intel fanny here but that could not be further from the truth.
The truth is I am actually an AMD fanboy and always will be, not because they are the fastest or because they might or might not have some technology Intel doesn’t, it’s because I like supporting the underdog but then doesn’t that contradict my recommendations?
I don’t want you to go out and spend money on a CPU and be disappointed, I want you to be happy with your purchase. There is no denying that since desktop based motherboards surfaced for Intel’s Centrino cpus they have dominated AMD and the market and have done ever since. Haswell based cpus are simply the best and fastest gaming processors money can buy for all budgets and uses at current.