Best Gaming CPU for £90:
Honourable Mention:
FX-6300
| FX-6300 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Vishera |
| Process: | 32 nm |
| CPU Cores/Threads: | 6/6 |
| Clock Speed (Max. Turbo): | 3.5 GHz (4.1 GHz) |
| Socket: | AM3+ |
| L2 Cache: | 3 x 2 MB |
| L3 Cache: | 8 MB |
| Thermal Envelope: | 95 W |
While Intel's -3220 is a faster gaming processor, you'd have a hard time telling the difference between it and AMD's FX-6300. On the other hand, the FX is £10 cheaper, features an unlocked ratio multiplier for easy overclocking, which the Core i3 lacks, and features six integer cores that benefit performance in .
Read our review of the Vishera-based FX CPUs here.
Best Gaming CPU for £100:
Core i3-4130
| Core i3-4130 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Haswell |
| Process: | 22 nm |
| CPU Cores/Threads: | 2/4 |
| Clock Speed (Max. Turbo): | 3.4 GHz |
| Socket: | LGA 1150 |
| Integrated GPU: | HD Graphics 4400 (350 MHz, 1.15 GHz Turbo) |
| Cache: | 2 x 64 KB, 2 x 256 KB, 3 MB |
| Thermal Envelope: | 54 W |
Intel's Haswell-based CPUs are very capable in games, though we're increasingly seeing dual-core Pentiums lagging behind in our favorite titles. Conversely, benchmark data makes it clear that the company's Hyper-Threading technology is effective in helping improve the performance of Core i3 CPUs in those same blockbusters. Although a locked multiplier limits overclocking to a few-megahertz bump in BCLK frequency, we still consider Intel's Core i3-4130 to be a good starting point for gamers who might upgrade to a faster LGA 1150-based processor in the future.
Read our review of the Haswell-based CPUs here.
Best Gaming CPU for £135:
Core i5-3350P
| Core i5-3350P | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Ivy Bridge |
| Process: | 22 nm |
| CPU Cores/Threads: | 4 |
| Clock Speed (Max. Turbo): | 3.1 GHz (3.3 GHz) |
| Socket: | LGA 1155 |
| L2 Cache: | 4 x 256 KB |
| L3 Cache: | 6 MB |
| Thermal Envelope: | 69 W |
Intel's Sandy and Ivy Bridge-based Core i5 processors are well-known for their gaming prowess at reasonable prices, and the Core i5-3350P is a particularly interesting option at £135.
The P suffix is an indication that Intel disables its HD Graphics engine, but we're perfectly alright with such a decision. If you're buying a gaming processor, you're going to want discrete graphics anyway. Consequently, this CPU ducks in under 70 W.
Read our review of the Ivy Bridge-based CPUs here.
Create a new thread in the UK Article comments forum about this subject
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1 Hidebemused_fred , 19 September 2013 10:07Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the FX-4130 is based on the bulldozer architecture, not Vishera. It's the FX-4300 that's based on the Vishera architecture.....
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-1 Hidejldevoy , 19 September 2013 16:02Taking the 3770k over the 4770k because it needs a new motherboard was dumb; since i was on an x58 system before they both needed a new motherboard.
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0 HideFisheth , 24 September 2013 20:03Wish I saw this before I dropped 600 on a new PC... Show's what a little bit of research can do! Never saw this article before.
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0 Hidexystus , 7 October 2013 09:55I'm still playing on my 2500K @ 4.5GHz...on the one side it's good I haven't had the need to upgrade but on the other hand I am itching for an upgrade but I guess I'll have to wait another two years.