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Best Mid-Range Gaming Processors

Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: January 2014
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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 £140:

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 £140.

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.

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  • 2 Hide
    Warlord Zorg , 24 January 2014 17:04
    aren't the i7-4770K and i5-4670k LGA1150 Socket?
  • 1 Hide
    Warlord Zorg , 26 January 2014 22:15
    Us site Got it right?? And aparrently more people to comment!??
  • 1 Hide
    mironso , 27 January 2014 08:42
    "...while we generally recommend against purchasing any gaming..."Is there missing something, is this right, this sentence? Generally recommend against - not the best mix of words.
  • 1 Hide
    mironso , 27 January 2014 08:44
    "...while we generally recommend against purchasing any gaming..."Is there missing something, is this right, this sentence? Generally recommend against - not the best mix of words.
  • 1 Hide
    mironso , 27 January 2014 08:45
    "...while we generally recommend against purchasing any gaming..."Is there missing something, is this right, this sentence? Generally recommend against - not the best mix of words.
  • 0 Hide
    ruban71 , 9 February 2014 22:38
    AMD FX 8320 is available for £110. Would be my choice for mid range