Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

Best Gaming CPU: Mid-range

Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: April 2012
By

Best Gaming CPU for ~£85: None

Honourable Mention:
FX-4100

FX-4100
Codename: Zambezi
Process: 32 nm
CPU Cores: 4
Clock Speed (Max. Turbo): 3.6 GHz (3.8 GHz)
Socket: AM3+
L2 Cache: 4 x 1 MB
L3 Cache:   8 MB
HyperTransport: 4000 MT/s
Thermal Envelope:
95 W
At its stock clock rate, AMD's FX-4100 isn't a particularly compelling gaming product compared to lower-priced options from Intel. However, enthusiasts are sure to appreciate its unlocked ratio multiplier and plenty of headroom to overclock. When it's pushed, this processor helps enable similar frame rates as some of our favorite Core i3 CPUs, though it uses significantly more power in the process. Nevertheless, with Phenom IIs quickly disappearing from retail, the FX-4100 remains AMD's best value in the gaming CPU space, earning an honourable mention.

Best Gaming CPU for £95:

Core i3-2120

Core i3-2120
Codename: Sandy Bridge
Process: 32 nm
CPU Cores/Threads: 2/4
Clock Speed: 3.3 GHz
Socket: LGA 1155
L2 Cache: 2 x 256 KB
L3 Cache: 3 MB
Thermal Envelope:
65 W

As our sub-£160 CPU gaming comparison article proved, the budget Core i3-2120 is a surprisingly capable gaming processor with the ability to beat some of the quad-core CPUs we've recommended at this price in the past.

Yes, you have to essentially forsake the potential for overclocking, given (what we consider to be) enthusiast-unfriendly locks on the multiplier and a base clock with very little room to scale beyond 100 MHz. But its stock performance is compelling, and this CPU still warrants a recommendation.

Read our review of the Sandy Bridge-based CPUs here.

Best Gaming CPU for £150:
Core i5-2400

Core i5-2400
Codename: Sandy Bridge
Process: 32 nm
CPU Cores/Threads: 4
Clock Speed (Max. Turbo): 3.1 GHz (3.4 GHz)
Socket: LGA 1155
L2 Cache: 4 x 256 KB
L3 Cache: 6 MB
Thermal Envelope:
95 W

Intel's Sandy Bridge microarchitechture is undeniably fast. Test data suggests that the Core i5-2400 can stand toe-to-toe with older LGA 1366-based processors when it comes to gaming performance. We're not talking about the entry-level models, either. This affordable processor has the chops to compete with Intel's thousand-dollar Extreme Edition chips.

Read our review of the Sandy Bridge-based CPUs here.

Ask a Category Expert

Create a new thread in the UK Article comments forum about this subject

Example: Notebook, Android, SSD hard drive

Display all 7 comments.
This thread is closed for comments
  • 1 Hide
    bemused_fred , 2 April 2012 15:57
    Why are the standard i7's not considered good value for money? It's only 20 quid more and comes with hyperthreading. I'm not criticizing, I'm just unsure.

    Good article, BTW
  • 1 Hide
    blubbey , 2 April 2012 16:36
    Bemused_FredWhy are the standard i7's not considered good value for money? It's only 20 quid more and comes with hyperthreading. I'm not criticizing, I'm just unsure. Good article, BTW

    Because HT doesn't improve gaming performance and this is a list based on gaming performance.
  • 0 Hide
    l2ez4m , 2 April 2012 19:04
    Just a small typo - Core i5-2550K doesn't have integrated Intel graphics
  • 0 Hide
    bemused_fred , 3 April 2012 00:16
    blubbeyBecause HT doesn't improve gaming performance and this is a list based on gaming performance.


    Ah, thanks. Makes sense.
  • 0 Hide
    Anonymous , 3 April 2012 07:17
    Hold on. How is the 2550K better than the 2500k? The 2500k is always picked in this article (deserves it I might add)
  • 0 Hide
    aje21 , 4 April 2012 21:21
    Primey0Hold on. How is the 2550K better than the 2500k? The 2500k is always picked in this article (deserves it I might add)

    Did you read the opening text?
  • 0 Hide
    kilohawk , 14 April 2012 20:10
    blubbeyBecause HT doesn't improve gaming performance and this is a list based on gaming performance.


    Yes it does, well, if you play Multi Player BF3 anyway....