Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

Best Entry-Level Gaming Processors

Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: February 2014
By

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.

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
    ruban71 , 12 February 2014 23:03
    For mid range I would go for the AMD FX8320 which is now under £110
  • 0 Hide
    RobCrezz , 13 February 2014 11:22
    Small mistake in the article. You list the 4930k as Sandybridge-E, when its Ivybridge-E.
  • 1 Hide
    RobCrezz , 13 February 2014 11:23
    And you also list the 4770k as Ivybridge, when it is Haswell.
  • 0 Hide
    Warlord Zorg , 13 February 2014 13:50
    as thet did last month - they do not follow the comments aparrently
  • 0 Hide
    OMGninjakiller , 13 February 2014 23:11
    Don't the i5-4670K and the i7-4770K use LGA 1150 not 1155 as mentioned here?
  • 0 Hide
    Warlord Zorg , 14 February 2014 08:20
    Indeed it does
  • 2 Hide
    UsmanM4 , 14 February 2014 15:34
    how is an i5 2300 better than a fx8320.