Best Budget CPU For Gaming
The right processor depends on what your PC will be used for mainly. In order to avoid investing in high-end components you don’t need, it is always best to figure out your use case before buying the latest and fastest hardware you can afford. Even if you build a PC for light gaming, most of the best CPUs will be overkill if you only use a few browser tabs or basic productivity apps. As we look at some of the best cheap CPUs available right now in 2022, we’re going to take a look at some of the most popular ones. As far as budget gaming CPU for gaming are concerned, AMD Athlon 3000G and Intel Pentium Gold G6405 are both strong competitors.
It has been a while since budget CPUs have improved greatly. Even a low-end chip can now handle demanding tasks. Furthermore, many of these cheap CPUs come with bundled stock coolers, are compatible with a wide range of motherboards, and have other advantages as well. In contrast to old low-end CPUs, many of these newer affordable options are now a good value for money.
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AMD Ryzen 5 5600~ Best cheap CPU from AMD
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G 6-Core 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
In recent years, AMD processors have improved significantly in performance. We have recommended several AMD processors in our articles, including the best CPUs for gaming, the best gaming CPU, and many others. You can also buy AMD’s Ryzen 5 5600 if you’re on a budget given the price. The Ryzen 5 5600 is from the previous generation, but it’s still a great deal given its price.
Based on AMD’s 7nm Zen 3 platform, this is AMD’s fourth-generation desktop processor. A six-core, 12-thread processor with a 65W TDP and a Wraith Stealth cooling system comes with it. The processor’s base clock is 3.5GHz and the boost clock is 4.4GHz. AMD’s 500-series chipset motherboards, as well as older ones assuming that they have the correct BIOS, will work with the Ryzen 5 5600 with its 35MB cache, which drops into the AM4 socket.
modest boost in the CPU and memory
Dual-channel DDR4 memory is supported by all Ryzen 5000 series chips, and the Ryzen 5 5600 can be overclocked. Gains will vary, but with a modest boost in the CPU and memory, you can even push your budget system even further.
While there are more powerful CPUs out there in 2022, we think the Ryzen 5 5600 is still worth considering mainly because of its effectiveness in handling a lot of demanding workloads, even today. Even though older Ryzen CPUs lack integrated graphics, they are still a viable alternative to some more expensive CPUs for gaming. However, you will need a dedicated GPU to use one of these.
It may be a previous-generation CPU, but it now offers great value considering its performance. Ryzen 5 5600 features six cores and twelve threads.
Speed ~3.5GHz
Socket~AM4
Brand~AMD
TDP~65W
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AMD Ryzen 3 3400~Alternate best cheap AMD CPU
AMD Ryzen™ 3 4100 4-Core, 8-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
We think the Ryzen 3 3400 is another great AMD CPU to check out if you are looking for a cheap CPU. This particular CPU has the potential to be a good choice for all-purpose use and lighter gaming in 2022, as it was considered a “lite” version of the Ryzen 3 3300X when it first emerged in 2013. A 16MB L3 cache and a base clock of 3.9GHz and a turbo frequency of 3.6GHz make up the AMD Ryzen 3 3400’s specifications. It uses AMD’s 7nm process technology and is part of AMD’s Zen 2 architecture. It slots into AMD’s AM4 socket, which has only just been replaced with AMD’s AM5 socket for its Ryzen 7000 processor.
For a few dollars less, this particular chip delivers impressive general performance that matches the general performance of the Ryzen 3 3300X. As a result of the Ryzen 3 3100’s unlocked nature, it is also possible to squeeze out a little more performance with careful tweaking, even though it is an entry-level, non-X model. The box also comes with a pretty great stock cooler, so you are really set.
All Ryzen CPUs before 7000 series lack integrated graphics, so displaying output requires a dedicated GPU.If you are looking for reliable performance under $200, the AMD Ryzen 5 3400 is an excellent choice. If you want reliable performance under $200, the AMD Ryzen 5 3400 is a good alternative. Just make sure you have a graphics card.
Brand~ AMD
CPU Speed~3.6GHz
CPU Socket~AM4
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Intel Core i3-12100~ Best cheap Intel CPU
INTEL CORE I3-12100F DESKTOP
The launch of Intel’s 12th-generation Alder Lake chips made a huge impact on the PC hardware space. Even outside the high-performance category, the Alder Lake series offers some good choices, and we think the Intel Core i3-12100 is the best low-cost CPU. And it’s certainly the best if you prefer Intel.
In terms of specifications, the Intel Core i3-12100 features a four-core, eight-thread design with DDR5 memory and PCI Gen 5. It is a future-proof budget CPU, with its DDR5 memory and PCI Gen 5 compatibility. However, unlike the high-end Alder Lake chips, this particular CPU only has Performance cores (P-cores) rather than Efficiency cores (E-cores). In other words, you lose out on the hybrid design benefits while getting four cores that are higher in performance.
Featuring a base clock of 3.3GHz and a single-core speed of 4.3GHz, the Intel Core i3-12100 processor is capable of achieving high performance. The Core i3-12100 can also be used with either DDR4 or DDR5, and it can handle a maximum of 128GB of RAM. Lastly, this CPU comes equipped with Intel’s UHD 770 graphics, so it should stay cool at a reasonable temperature with its relatively low base TDP of 60W and max TDP of 89W. Gaming won’t benefit much from it, but it has the advantage of not requiring a dedicated graphics card.
As an entry-level productivity computer, the Intel Core i3-12100 is a solid performer.
It makes for a great entry-level CPU for a productivity machine. If you have a dedicated GPU, you may want to consider the F variant.
Brand~Intel
CPU Speed~3.3GHz
CPU Socket~LGA 1700
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Intel Pentium Gold G6405~Best cheap CPU under $100
Intel Pentium Gold G6405 4.1GHz 4MB Desktop Processor
There are several high-end chips in the current generation that cost more than the Intel Pentium Gold G6405, but it matches their performance in general. Intel Pentium Gold G6405 Processors cost less than $80.
Despite Intel’s decision to cease the Pentium brand, one of its final versions is among the best cheap CPUs available today. Featuring two cores and four threads, the Intel Pentium Gold G6405 is a dual-core entry-level chip that competes with AMD’s Athlon processors. It is based on the 10nm Golden Cove core architecture and has a clock speed of up to 3.7GHz and 6MB of L3 cache. The TDP is 46W. The Pentium Gold G6405 is an Alder Lake processor without a hybrid P/E core combination. That’s reserved for more advanced processors, but its overall performance is still excellent.
DDR4-3200 and even DDR5 memory up to 4800 are supported on the Intel Pentium Gold G6405 processor memory front. The new Pentium Gold G6405 chip is also future-proof compared to many of its competitors in this price range, as it supports PCIe Gen 5 as well. Additionally, the Pentium Gold G6405 processor features Intel UHD graphics 710, which should be sufficient for basic everyday graphics tasks.
Comes with a cooler
Compared to AMD’s older quad-core chips, the new Intel Pentium Gold G7400 is powerful enough to stand up to them. Additionally, the Pentium Gold G7400 comes with a cooler in the box, which allows you to get started right away. For a basic, very tight budget system, this CPU is a pretty awesome CPU. It is more powerful than the Celeron G6900 CPU, for a lot less money.
In spite of its low price, Intel Pentium Gold G7400 is a high-end chip from the previous generation with comparable performance. There are some higher-spec CPUs from the previous generation that cost more than $80, but the Intel Pentium Gold G7400 is less than $80 and matches some of them in general performance.
Brand~Intel
CPU Speed~3.7GHz
CPU Socket~LGA 1700
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AMD Athlon 3000G~AMD APU under $100
AMD Athlon 3000G 2-Core, 4-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
We still think the Athlon 3000G CPU is an excellent CPU to consider even now, even though it was above and beyond what Intel had to offer until the Alder Lake chips appeared on the market. AMD’s Athlon processors are extremely popular among budget users. Since it is an APU, it comes with integrated graphics, and it is AMD’s first Zen-based unlocked Athlon processor.
The AMD Athlon 3000G has two cores, four threads, a clock speed of 3.5GHz, a 4MB L3 cache, and an integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics card. As with its predecessor, the Athlon 200GE, it is based on the Zen 1.0 architecture and is compatible with AM4 motherboards. The Vega 3 graphics feature three GPU cores and a clock speed of up to 1,100MHz. In addition to the Zen+ architecture, there are some meaningful improvements. In addition to slightly higher clock speeds, the 12nm manufacturing process allows AMD Athlon 3000G to outperform its predecessor.
You would be surprised at how much you can get out of the AMD Athlon 3000G when it is overclocked. As a result of its Radeon Vega 3 graphics, the Athlon 3000G is also an excellent choice for gaming. It delivers a decent 720p gaming experience with less resource-intensive games such as Rocket League and CS:GO. The amount of performance you can squeeze into something so affordable is ridiculous.
Despite costing the same as a Pentium Gold G7400 CPU, AMD’s Athlon 3000G is an excellent entry-level chip.
In terms of entry-level chips, AMD’s Athlon 3000G is an excellent choice. It features strong integrated graphics and could even support a few games.
Great entry-level gaming PC
It is important to note that all of the processors listed in this collection are priced under $200. Intel Pentium Gold G7400 and AMD Athlon 3000G can sometimes be purchased for under $100 and are capable of building a pretty powerful computer on a budget. A great entry-level gaming PC can also be built with the Core i3-12100 from Intel, as well as the Ryzen 5 3600 from AMD. These processors are both excellent gaming chips for 2022.
In our collection of the best CPUs and the best CPUs for gaming, we recommend you check out some other options if you don’t mind spending more money or need more horsepower. If you want to build an excellent PC in 2022 for way under $1,000, you can also check out our entry-level PC build guide and our home/office work PC build guide. Our friendly community of XDA Computing experts will be happy to assist you with your new PC build in our XDA Computing Forums.
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Final thoughts on Best Budget CPU For Gaming
As far as budget gaming CPU for gaming are concerned, AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and Intel Core i5-10600K are both strong competitors. While the Ryzen 5 5600X excels at multi-threaded performance and energy efficiency, the Intel Core i5-10600K excels at single-threaded performance and higher base clock speeds. In the end, the best budget gaming CPU depends on your specific requirements and budget. The type of games you play, the resolution and settings you want, and any other specific requirements you have should all be taken into consideration. Furthermore, it is important to take into consideration the cost of the CPU in relation to the other components of your build, including your GPU, memory, and motherboard.
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