Best Gaming CPU: $50-$100
Best gaming CPU for $55:
Athlon 64 X2 5200+ (Check Prices)
| Athlon 64 X2 5200+ | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Brisbane |
| Process: | 65nm |
| CPU Cores: | 2 |
| Clock Speed: | 2.7 GHz |
| Socket: | AM2 |
| L1 Cache: | 2 x 128KB |
| L2 Cache: | 2 x 512KB |
| HyperTransport: | 2,000 MHz |
| Thermal Envelope: | 65W |
For about $50, the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ is a great gaming baseline. Performance results show us that two CPU cores are the minimum for a respectable gaming machine, and the 2.7 GHz clock speed allows this CPU to deliver playable performance in all but the most demanding titles.
Best gaming CPU for $70:
Dual-Core Pentium E5300 (Check Prices)
| Dual-Core Pentium E6300 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Wolfdale-2M |
| Process: | 45nm |
| CPU Cores: | 2 |
| Clock Speed: | 2.6 GHz |
| Socket: | LGA 775 |
| L2 Cache: | 2MB |
| Front Side Bus: | 800 MHz |
| Thermal Envelope: | 65W |
Intel and its 45nm process make a first showing on the recommended list with the Pentium E5300.
This processor is based on the Core 2 Duo architecture. The Wolfdale-2M core is essentially a Wolfdale-based Core 2 Duo CPU with one third of the cache and a slower front side bus (FSB). Even with these handicaps, Intel's CPU is an impressive performer for the cost.
Best gaming CPU for $80: Tie
Athlon II X2 250 (Check Prices)
| Athlon II X2 250 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Regor |
| Process: | 45nm |
| CPU Cores: | 2 |
| Clock Speed: | 2.8 GHz |
| Socket: | AM2+ |
| L1 Cache: | 2 x 64KB |
| L2 Cache: | 2 x 1MB |
| HyperTransport: | 4,000 MHz |
| Thermal Envelope: | 65W |
For $70, you can buy the Athlon II X2 250, based on the new newer Phenom II architecture instead of the older Athlon designs. The Athlon II X2 250 sports a solid 3 GHz clock speed, so despite the lack of shared L3 cache this CPU performs very well for the price.
Pentium Dual-Core E6300 (Check Prices)
| Pentium Dual-Core E6300 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Wolfdale-2M |
| Process: | 45nm |
| CPU Cores: | 2 |
| Clock Speed: | 2.8 GHz |
| Socket: | LGA 775 |
| L2 Cache: | 2MB |
| Front Side Bus: | 1066 MHz |
| Thermal Envelope: | 65W |
Not to be mistaken for the older Core 2 Duo E6300, the Pentium E6300 is similar to the E5300, but offers a higher clock speed as well as a faster front side bus speed.
Best gaming CPU for $90:
Phenom II X2 545
| Phenom II X2 545 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Callisto |
| Process: | 45nm |
| CPU Cores: | 2 |
| Clock Speed: | 3 GHz |
| Socket: | AM2+ |
| L1 Cache: | 2 x 64KB |
| L2 Cache: | 2 x 1MB |
| L3 Cache: | 6MB |
| HyperTransport: | 4,000 MHz |
| Thermal Envelope: | 80W |
The Phenom II X2 545 gives the sub-$100 CPU market a full 6MB of L3 cache combined with a 3.0 GHz core clock speed. There's not much more to say except that this is a deadly fast CPU for this price.
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I have an E8500. Nothing wrong in an 'old fashioned' quick processor. When I bought it I couldn't justify the price increase for a 3Ghz+ quad core. I use it for simulating the physics of electrical components and systems as part of my uni work. These programs are old, referencing ‘cards’ and ‘stacks’ in the error codes, so have never heard of multi-threading. The E8500 provides a large amount of required brute force for those applications. It does see its fair share of gaming too! No complaints about the performance there either. Best of all, while going flat out on both cores, it won’t try to melt its way through the floor. (that could be because I threw the stock cooler away??)
Yes, you can buy a better/newer/expensive cpu but unless you really have to have the 4 cores I don’t think the expense is justified (yet). Especially for me when upgrading to Intel’s latest offering will mean a whole new motherboard and memory too. I’ll have to stick with the E8500 for a few more years.
It would take a Lottery win for a £300+ cpu.
Great review. I just bought a x2 5200+ for a client and I have no complaints whatsoever. I'd also like to add that despite a thermal pad, the retail cooler does an awesome job..it's barely even warm under load and you can hardly hear it. Couldn't ask for more.
Note: The Athlon II X2 250 is incorrectly listed as 2.8GHz in the chart, instead of 3GHz
Sorry to be pedantic, but I think some more data is wrong for the following CPU's:
Athlon II X2 250
. 2x 128K L1 cache (not 2x 64K)
Phenom II X2 545
. 2x 128K L1 cache (not 2x 64K)
. 2x 512K L2 cache (not 2x 1MB)
And the new X4-945 revision has been out for a while, so all the ones on the shelves currently are 95W TDP units, not 125W!
Funny how there are no "unfortunate mistakes" with the Intel CPU listings! Given Don did this article methinks one of the Intal-sponsored editors went around the article with the bullshitometer!
Not a bad article at all. I'm personally very happy with my Q6600 (B3, not G0 unfortunately), which is sitting at 3.2 GHz. I know the i7-920 could beat it at about 2.8GHz, maybe lower, but not by enough to justify the cost of an upgrade from my X48-based system.
I personally need a multi-core PC for 3D rendering that I let my flatmate do while I'm in work, and for my own personal Flight Sim enjoyment. Maybe I'll upgrade to an 8-core i9 someday.
Another good article Don. I think your def the best reviewer here now and the unbiased careful language you use is a big plus.
You could also do an article on the best cpu for the buck in terms of raw overclocking (that's doable, stable and on the stock cooler though)for gaming.
My thoughts are the E5xxx and low end Q9xxx series are probably the best bang for the buck in that department as I would leave out the 65nm parts are they are getting harder to get now.
Possibly the triple core 45nm AMD parts would also give them a run for the money with the extra core ... based on price / performance.
I'd concentrate on three games only and average the scores, and pick a few dual, triple and quads, and compare the 45nm penryn, 45nm AMD dual, triple and quad, and throw in a couple of i7's.
This should keep you busy in the lab and it would be a great little piece I think.
Probably need some charts and stay well below 4Ghz where the thermals become an issue for cooling ... remember stock coolers !!
I think it would be a shootout between the dual core 45nm E5's and the AMD tripples ... just a prediction.
The E5200 might just get there ?
Work on $ per frame eh?
I think this article fails to mention one thing about the e8500, when ran at stock, expect temperatures of 80-90+ celcius. Seriously, the thing comes with a non copper heatsink, and was running at 90+ celcius. Im sure some people have a lot better cooling setup inside, but for a HTPC, im not so sure, because if you have to get a 3rd party heatsink and fan, goodluck fitting it inside one of those machines
what about the athlon 7750 be , I got mine for under £50 brand new and it outperforms the 5200 on nearly everything at stock and it overclocks to 3 ghz easily
Prices in $ and link to price comparison is to a US version.
Really starting to give up on THG. Bit-tech is far far superior at the moment.