The best CPU for game design doesn’t have to have the most cores and threads or the fastest clock speed. In many cases, older chipsets that were more reasonably priced a few years ago are just as capable of running the most recent games as the most cutting-edge processors.
It’s a new year, and we’ve already seen what’s coming up on the Zen 4 roadmap, which appears to be extremely promising in 5nm. After seeing the 12th generation Intel CPUs, we can reasonably predict that there will be strong rivalry on both sides.
If you’re looking for a current-generation CPU, it’s a close call between the Intel Core 11th and 12th generation, as well as the AMD Ryzen 5000 series. It’s worth noting, though, that an Intel chipset from a few years back, as well as the AMD Ryzen 3000 range, are feasible options if you can buy them at a price.
Fortunately, prices for previous-generation chipsets have constantly been declining, allowing you to save a significant amount of money and invest in components that will benefit the most from the upgrade, such as the best graphics cards, best SSD for gaming, and best RAM for gaming.
When using the best CPU for gaming this year, motherboard compatibility will also dictate the type of chipset setup you can choose. The AM4 socket is used by AMD’s Ryzen 3000 and 5000 CPU lines, but things get a little more difficult when it comes to Intel’s last few generations.
Although Intel still uses LGA, if you want the 12th generation with DDR5 RAM compatibility, you’ll need an LGA 1700 socket motherboard, which might be quite pricey at the moment. If you choose the 10th or 11th generation, take in mind that both chipsets use the LGA 1200 socket, so keep that in mind when pricing your entire build.
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