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Best Mid-Range Gaming Processors

Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: February 2014
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Best Gaming CPU for £85:

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 £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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  • 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.