Building a gaming computer requires careful consideration while picking the right graphics card and CPU. You have to ensure that one does not bottleneck the other. Pairing a high-end CPU with a mid-range GPU or the other way around will simply empty your wallet and give you sub-par gaming experience. To get things right, we've put together a list of the best CPUs for gaming from Intel and AMD.
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Desktop Processor
The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a reasonably-priced processor, equipped with 8 cores and 16 threads, which stays the same as its predecessor the Ryzen 7 2700X. However, with its new 7nm manufacturing processor, it delivers substantially better performance and is more power-efficient. You get a lot of bang for your buck with this processor, and it does well in gaming as well as running other intensive apps.
Intel® Core™ i7-9700K Processor
The Intel Core i7-9700K is a capable gaming processor that doesn't break the bank. It features eight cores and eight threads. Its maximum Turbo Boost speed is bumped by 200MHz, which takes its top speed up to 4.9GHz. However, you will need to pair this up with a good cooling solution when overclocking to avoid thermal throttling. For PC gamers, this processor is a smart purchase since it serves up almost similar performance, at a lower cost than the Intel Core i9-9900K.
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Desktop Processor
Featuring a solid blend of single and multi-threaded performance, the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X is a slightly older processor but offers a better value proposition. It is a compelling upgrade over the Ryzen 7 3600X in some situations with better power efficiency and performance in some games. The 3rd Gen 3600X is ahead in terms of IPC. The processor also comes with a bundled coller and X470 compatibility. If your requirements include gaming as well as performing other tasks in single and multi-threaded applications, then this processor is a good choice over its Intel counterparts.
Intel Core i7-10700K Desktop Processor
A recent addition to the list, the 10th Gen Core i7-10700K improves upon the 9th Gen Core i7 processors by enabling HyperThreading, so the value proposition in getting a Core i7 desktop processor has improved by a large magnitude. Moreover, with 8 cores, the 10700K is sitting at the sweet spot for gaming applications since most games top off at six physical cores and more game engines get optimised to use more cores. As with all 10th Gen Core processors, there has been an improvement in the clock speeds with the base frequency now being 3.8 GHz and the Max Turbo Boost frequency scaling up to 5.1 GHz.
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Mithun Mohandas
Mithun Mohandas is an Indian technology journalist with 10 years of experience covering consumer technology. He is currently employed at Digit in the capacity of a Managing Editor. Mithun has a background in Computer Engineering and was an active member of the IEEE during his college days. He has a penchant for digging deep into unravelling what makes a device tick. If there's a transistor in it, Mithun's probably going to rip it apart till he finds it. At Digit, he covers processors, graphics cards, storage media, displays and networking devices aside from anything developer related. As an avid PC gamer, he prefers RTS and FPS titles, and can be quite competitive in a race to the finish line. He only gets consoles for the exclusives. He can be seen playing Valorant, World of Tanks, HITMAN and the occasional Age of Empires or being the voice behind hundreds of Digit videos. View Full Profile
