CPU Buying Guide – December 2021

Budget Gaming - Intel

Core i3 - 10100(F)

For office and budget gaming systems, you cannot go wrong with the i3-10100. The 4 cores and 8 threads of the i3 means while it may struggle with heavy CPU bound games or anything short of the most basic productivity, it is simply unmatched for value in the quad core market. Its main competitors are the 10105 and 3100, however the 3100 is currently $280 USD on Amazon, so it is currently not even worth considering.

Core i3 - 10105(F)

For slightly more than the 10100, you have the 10105. To be honest, it is just a slightly more expensive and slightly faster version of the 10100, so everything said about the 10100 applies to the 10105 as well. This CPU was released as a Comet Lake Refresh hence the slightly higher clocks (and prices as well).

Mainstream Gaming - Intel

Core i5 - 10400(F)

In our next budget range, we have the 10400(F). A solid 6 core and 12 thread CPU that's not too expensive and will handle just about any game you throw at it well. The main limitations come with certain productivity workloads, which it may not excel at, but will handle smaller workloads just fine. However, its performance is unmatched in this price range. Especially since the Ryzen 5 3600, the CPU it competes with, cannot be found at this price anymore. At the time of writing, the 3600 is $240 USD on Amazon, versus the $170 USD of the 10400F.

Core i5 - 11400(F)

Think of 11400 as a slightly faster 10400 with PCIE 4.0, 4 more PCIE lanes for m.2 NVME and a nicer looking stock cooler. It also has the ability to increase power limits on the board to get more performance, limits will either be a toggle in BIOS or on higher end boards removed by default, however you will want a better cooler on it like an SE-224-XT. It is a nice option to get over 10400 if it isn't much more, but if you are talking 50$ or more then just stick with 10400.

Core i5 - 10600K(F)

Another alternative from Intel, a 6 core and 12 thread unlocked CPU for fans of overclocking. Everything that applies to the 10400(F) applies here, except for the CPU being overclockable for an extra performance boost with an adequate motherboard and cooling.

Mainstream Gaming - AMD

Ryzen 5 - 5600G

A competitor in this price range is the 5600G, another 6 core, 12 thread CPU in the Zen 3 architecture. Better known for its iGPU performance rather than its performance as a CPU, the Vega 7 is close to being the best iGPU on a desktop CPU. This is perfect for those with needs of a cheap, good performing system, or need temporary graphics in times of GPU shortages.

Gaming + Streaming - Intel

Core i5 - 12600K(F)

Newly released, it has shown itself to be fiercely competing with AMD's offerings this time around. With 6 P cores and 4 E cores for a total of 10 cores and 16 threads, the 12600K is a great choice in this price range. It has great gaming and productivity workload performance, with a decent price. It also offers PCIe Gen 5.0 and support for the brand new DDR5. However, it requires a Z690 motherboard, and with some of them, strictly DDR5, which at their current prices, can be quite pricey. The CPU requires a good enough aftermarket cooler with support for LGA 1700.

Ryzen 7 - 5700G

The cut down version of the 5800X with a Vega 8 iGPU and an overall lower price than the 5800X. Everything that applies to the 5600G applies here, with the main difference being the extra 2 cores, for a total of 8 cores and 16 threads for extra productivity performance.

Productivity and Gaming - Intel

Core i7 - 12700k(F)

Yet another Alder Lake CPU making it onto the list, with 8 P cores and 4 E cores for a total of 12 cores and 20 threads. Like the 12600K(F), it has great overall performance for both gaming and productivity at the expense of requiring a more expensive motherboard, more expensive and effective cooling and possibly having to pay extra for DDR5.

Gaming + Streaming - AMD

Ryzen 7 - 5800X

A solid 8 core and 16 thread CPU. Will easily handle gaming and productivity workloads at the expense of being very difficult to cool effectively and a very high MSRP. It comes with PCIe Gen 4.0 support should you need it and has the benefit of having cheaper motherboards available for it, as opposed to the 12600K(F) previously mentioned.

Productivity and Gaming - AMD

Ryzen 9 - 5900X

One of the best Ryzen CPUs, with 12 cores and 24 threads and offering great gaming and fantastic productivity performance

Workstation and Gaming - Intel

Core i9 - 12900K(F)

For those who want high performance and the most cores on mainstream Intel, or just the fancy box to display and show off to your friends, the 12900K has you covered. With 8 P cores and 8 E cores, this CPU is 24 Threads of pure power. So unless your workload requires the massive core count of a Threadripper, you will be satisfied. Just make sure to avoid looking at your bank account afterwards.

Workstation and Gaming - AMD

Ryzen 9 - 5950X

At the top end of the Ryzen 5000 series stack, we have the 5950X. With 16 cores and 32 threads, it has the highest thread count and is tied for core count out of all mainstream CPUs. Because of that, its productivity performance is only matched by Intel's new flagship 12900K. As well as offering fantastic gaming performance to boot. Just like with the 12900K, don't look at your bank account for a while afterwards.