Best Gaming CPU for £90:
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 £130:
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 £130.
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.
Now, if only we could bypass Intel's compiler...
Intel's done that sort of thing for a long time with most OEMs, such as Dell and Acer.
£107 with Far Cry Blood Dragon, i5 performance, easy OC to 8350 level, loads of great motherboards at low price point
throw in a sub £50 FM2 mobo and my existing 8gb ddr3 ram and im looking at a quad core bundle for a whisper over £100..... ( currently using a Pentium G620 ) ....
at the end of the day ( and with money tight ) it makes more sense buying the Athlon X4 750K and then overclocking it to 4.2ghz... that said with a 4ghz turbo clock I don't think I will need to ....
Something a little bit cheaper but still very powerful is AMD FX-8350 Eight-Core for around 200 $.