Best CPUs To Buy 2024
In this post we plan on highlighting some of the best CPUs (Central Processing Units) currently available on the market at the start of 2024 and what option is best for your system as well as your budget. We’ll delve into what options are available for budget-friendly choices, solid choices that are a little bit more pricey, higher tier options, and the flagship powerhouse options while also attempting to highlight which brand might be right for your particular PC. What we mean by this is that certain CPU + GPU (Graphical Processing Unit) combinations have benefits that you might miss out on if you go with an alternative choice.
For instance, if you choose to buy a modern intel CPU for your PC build you’ll have access to a technology called Resizable BAR, normally abbreviated to ReBAR, which will allow your CPU to access the whole frame buffer memory of a compatible GPU which will in turn increase performance. If your PC build ends up being a 10th gen or later Intel CPU + compatible Nvidia/AMD/Intel GPU you’ll have access to ReBAR. If you don’t go with Intel and instead go with an AMD CPU that is a newer Ryzen CPU (Zen 3 and newer) + compatible Nvidia/Intel GPU you’ll also have access to ReBAR. Now if you decide to go with an AMD CPU (Zen 3 and newer) + compatible AMD GPU combo, instead of ReBAR you’ll have access to a technology called AMD Smart Access Memory which does the same thing as ReBAR but with driver optimization by AMD. Regardless of which part combination you go with, it is important to know about these if your goal is to get the maximum amount of performance out of the PC parts you end up selecting. Of course, these features might not always be enabled by default on your computer and might require you to go into your BIOs and enable them yourself, so keep that in mind after you’ve finished assembling your PC build.
The Budget Friendly Options
For our budget friendly Intel option we’ve chosen the Intel Core i5-12600K as a great choice. Equipped with ten cores (6 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores) and a clock speed of 3.70 GHz that can reach up to 4.9 GHz with turbo boost, this CPU should be able to handle a standard user’s needs both for work related tasks and gaming without issue. As for the socket type, this CPU utilizes LGA 1700 for easy installation for supported 600 series and 700 series chipset-based motherboards. As this is an Intel CPU, it comes equipped with UHD 770 Graphics which means you won’t necessarily need a discrete GPU to operate your system in some particular scenarios. This can be useful in scenarios where your dedicated graphics card is having issues and you need to get into windows in order to troubleshoot the issue if possible. At the moment this CPU can be purchased off of Amazon for around $200-$215 USD which in comparison to some of the other CPUs we plan on talking about is pretty cheap, especially for what you’re getting.
Amazon Affiliate Link (US): Intel Core i5-12600K Desktop Processor
Our other budget friendly choice is the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 if you plan on going with an AMD centric build over Intel. Designed with a 6 core configuration and processor clock speed of 3.80 GHz makes this an excellent choice in terms of performance for productivity and gaming usage. Other noteworthy things about this CPU is that it’s utilizing a modern AM5 socket, and it should be noted that this CPU is relatively new on the market with its release in the first quarter of 2023. This makes it a newer option than the Intel i5-12600k which came out in the fourth quarter of 2021. Regardless of how new either of these options are though, both are great choices in this price range. Right now you can get the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 off of Amazon for around $230 USD. Either one of these two CPUs are great options, so I would advise going with whichever one is cheaper if you’re on a budget. Another thing to note is that even though one of these CPUs might be more expensive at any given point in time, sometimes you can save money if a compatible Motherboard is also on sale, so make sure to keep an eye on those prices to help determine which choice will give you the most performance to price for your budget.
Amazon Affiliate Link (US): AMD Ryzen™ 5 7600
The Solid Mid-Range Options
Moving up in price to our Mid-Range options, on the Intel side we have the Intel Core i5-13600K Desktop Processor as a compelling choice. With 14 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) and 20 threads, this CPU should be capable of handling the most demanding applications and multitasking needs thanks to its unlocked clock speed of 5.1 GHz and 24M Cache. As this is a 13th generation Intel CPU it utilizes an LGA 1700 CPU Socket and is compatible with Intel 600 series and 700 series chipset motherboards. Of course, being an Intel CPU also means this CPU has Intel Integrated Graphics for situations where you might find yourself lacking a GPU. Overall this CPU is a great option for Mid-Range buyers and will cost you around $280-$330 USD on Amazon. Alternatively, you could also get yourself an Intel i5-14600K which is a part of the 14th generation Intel CPU lineup instead of the 13th generation but both CPUs offer around the same level of performance so you should go with whichever option is cheaper in your market at your time of purchase.
Amazon Affiliate Link (US): Intel Core i5-13600K Desktop Processor
Amazon Affiliate Link (US): Intel Core i5-14600K Desktop Processor
On the AMD side we have the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X as an incredible mid-range option capable of handling all of your modern gaming needs. With 8 cores and 16 processing threads that utilizes AMDs Zen 4 architecture as well as a base clock of 4.5 GHz and Boost Clock of 5.4 GHz, this CPU will easily be able to handle any task you throw at it for the foreseeable future. As for the socket, this CPU utilizes an AM5 CPU Socket and can support PCIe 5.0 on certain 600 Series motherboards, so this CPU should be able to last you some time while still keeping up with modern emerging technologies. At the moment you can get this CPU on Amazon for around $350-$400 USD. Regardless of if you go with Intel or AMD in this price range, we believe all of these mid-range options should be able to satisfy your needs either way.
Amazon Affiliate Link (US): AMD Ryzen™ 7 7700X 8-Core Desktop Processor
The Best Overall Options
Now if you’re looking for a current generation flagship CPU that will let you handle any task currently in the present without issue, the Intel Core i7-14700K might be what you’re looking for. In terms of specifications, this CPU comes with 20 cores (8 of which are P-cores and 12 of which are E-cores) and 28 threads while also reaching a clock speed of 5.6 GHz. As for compatibility, this CPU will work with Intel 600 or 700 series chipset motherboards while also supporting both DDR4 and DDR5 meaning it is designed with both current and emerging technologies in mind. If you’re an enthusiast always seeking to buy some of the best tech currently available, you can purchase this CPU off of Amazon for around $400-$470 USD depending on price fluctuations and sales.
Amazon Affiliate Link (US): Intel Core i7-14700K Desktop Processor
Moving over to the AMD side of things we have the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D as another standout choice. Equipped with 8 cores and 16 threads with a base clock speed of 4.2 GHz as well as a boost clock speed of 5 GHz this processor allows for reliable performance under the most intense workload scenarios. As for the socket, this CPU utilizes an AM5 socket which is to be expected for a cutting edge CPU on the AMD side of things. Normally you can find this CPU for around $400-$450 USD off of Amazon depending on price fluctuations and sales which makes it a great choice when concerning price-to-performance. Of course, new technology is also constantly emerging so keep in mind the price of this CPU as well as the others we’ve mentioned have the potential at any point in time to drop in price. That is technically a hypothetical though, and if you need cutting edge technology that is currently available today either of these options will surely satisfy and maybe even surpass your expectations for your processor needs.
Amazon Affiliate Link (US): AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Desktop Processor