The ideal gaming processor: Buying tips for AMD and Intel CPUs

With the 14th series of Core processors, Intel has once again worked with a crowbar: the Intel Core i9-14900K‘s power consumption is significantly greater for just a few percentage points more performance compared to its predecessor, the Intel Core i9-13900K.

However, that measly gain in gaming performance isn’t enough to knock the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D off its throne. The AMD processor wins the duel of the fastest gaming CPU thanks to its sizeable 3D cache.

The biggest disadvantage of AMD’s 7000 series? The platform costs. You have to pay at least $100 for a motherboard with a B650 chipset. (And for motherboards with the top AMD X670E chipset, you’re spending at least $250.) Plus, the additional costs for DDR5 RAM. In many cases, the AM4 platform can be the cheaper way to upgrade.

More on this: The best gaming motherboards

The same applies to the 13th and 14th Gen Cores from Intel: for motherboards with the top Z790 chipset, you’ll pay at least $200. Suitable motherboards for the AMD Ryzen 5000 series are significantly cheaper (from $50), and DDR4 memory can still be used here. Plus, both AMD series usually offer better multi-core performance per dollar.

So, let’s check out AMD’s and Intel’s CPU ranges. We’ll help you find the ideal gaming processor for your budget, with summarized tips to consider when buying a CPU right now.