Best Gaming CPU for £55:
Athlon X4 750K
| Athlon X4 750K | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Trinity |
| Process: | 32 nm |
| CPU Cores/Threads: | 2/4 |
| Clock Speed (Max. Turbo): | 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz) |
| Socket: | FM2 |
| Cache: | 2 x 64 KB + 4 x 16 KB, 2 x 2 MB |
| Thermal Envelope: | 100 W |
At around £90, AMD's A10-5700 isn't a particularly compelling gaming processor. But imagine if it was £35 cheaper and included an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. That isn't a dream any longer. At last, the Athlon X4 750K is available. Selling for roughly £55, this is the cheapest enthusiast-friendly CPU you'll find. And while its lack of L3 cache hurts in games, we at least like knowing that its 100 W thermal ceiling isn't divided between x86 cores and graphics.
Read our review of the Trinity-based A series CPUs here.
Best Gaming CPU for £80:
AMD FX-6300
| AMD FX-6300 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Vishera |
| Process: | 32 nm |
| CPU Cores/Threads: | 6/6 |
| Clock Speed (Max. Turbo): | 3.4 (4.1) GHz |
| Socket: | AM3+ |
| Cache (L1, L2, L3) | 3 x 64 KB + 6 x 16 KB, 3 x 2 MB, 8 MB |
| Thermal Envelope: | 95 W |
The FX-6300 fares well in gaming tests, presumably thanks to better multi-core utilization and optimization for AMD's architecture over time. While Intel's Core i3-4130 offers more potential, you won't be able to tell the difference most of the time. On the other hand, the FX-6300 costs less, sports an unlocked clock multiplier, and features six integer cores that unquestionably benefit performance in threaded desktop applications.
Create a new thread in the UK Article comments forum about this subject
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1 Hideruban71 , 12 February 2014 23:03For mid range I would go for the AMD FX8320 which is now under £110
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0 HideRobCrezz , 13 February 2014 11:22Small mistake in the article. You list the 4930k as Sandybridge-E, when its Ivybridge-E.
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1 HideRobCrezz , 13 February 2014 11:23And you also list the 4770k as Ivybridge, when it is Haswell.
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0 HideWarlord Zorg , 13 February 2014 13:50as thet did last month - they do not follow the comments aparrently
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0 HideOMGninjakiller , 13 February 2014 23:11Don't the i5-4670K and the i7-4770K use LGA 1150 not 1155 as mentioned here?
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0 HideWarlord Zorg , 14 February 2014 08:20Indeed it does
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2 HideUsmanM4 , 14 February 2014 15:34how is an i5 2300 better than a fx8320.