Best Processors For Gaming In 2022

Best Processors For Gaming In 2022

AMD or Intel: Which is right for me?

Choosing a processor (CPU) manufacturer can be difficult for newcomers into the PC gaming space and all the choices can be overwhelming. Depending on your use case, both AMD and Intel have a wonderful selection of processors to fit your needs. Which brand to choose really comes down to the following:

  • What games/software you plan on using
  • Budget VS Futureproofing

What do you want to do with your computer?

Gaming typically requires a processor that has 4 physical cores at minimum, while 6 or more cores is recommended for modern titles like Tom Clancy's: Rainbow Six Siege and Escape From Tarkov which utilize more than the typical single cores most games use.

Content Creation is usually done with heavier core count processors from 6 cores to 16 cores, depending on your budget and software. Streaming with OBS (Open Broadcast Software) historically used high core count processors up until NVIDIA's Turing NVENC Encoder for their graphics cards was released back in 2019. Now its rare to see streamers use processors for streaming, even though it is still possible. Video editing on the other hand is the complete opposite, with most modern video editing software like Adobe Premier Pro using the processor to encode the finalized video when its ready to be saved and uploaded. This is why having a high core count processor is good for both video editing and streaming, as both can be done quite well when paired with the proper processor.

3D Modeling and Animation can be done with lower core count processors, although a higher core count is always better for these CPU-intensive tasks. Like video editing, 3D modeling and animation use the computer's processor to render the final product, meaning the more cores you have the faster the render.

 

What matters more: Core Count or Clock Speed?

Clock speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz) and is the speed the processor operates at. The higher the clock speed, the faster the processor does certain tasks, though most modern CPUs adjust their clock speed based on the current task and the CPU temperature which is why you will see a base speed (minimum) and a turbo speed (maximum) listed with most processors.

Cores are the processor's processors. Every core is able to handle its own tasks. Its common these days for a modern computer to have at least 4 cores, or 4 threads (see below).

Threads are the number of independent processes a CPU can handle at a time, which is basically the same as cores. However most modern CPUs have multithreading which allows a single core to create 2 threads, allowing for double the amount of processes being done at once.

 

Should I be overclocking?

Overclocking can be a great way to get the most out of your processor, allowing it to operate higher than it's factory allotted clock speed. While this may sound great, it can be a tedious task that requires a bit of extra knowledge and if done improperly, can lead to hardware failure and damage. Although overclocking for some use cases can be reasonable, the performance increase is usually not worth the risk of damage, or the voiding of your warranty with Intel or AMD.

 

Our Top Picks For 2022

1. Intel Core i5 12600K

The best all around CPU for gaming right now

Specifications

  • 6+4 Cores
  • 16 Threads
  • Base Clock 3.7 GHz
  • Boost Clock 4.9 GHz
  • Overclockable

 

2. Intel Core i9 12900K

The best top of the line CPU for heavy workloads

Specifications:

  • 8+8 Cores
  • 24 Threads
  • Base Clock 3.2 GHz
  • Boost Clock 5.2 GHz
  • Overclockable

 

3. Intel Core i5 12400

The best budget gaming CPU

Specifications:

  • 6 Cores
  • 12 Threads
  • Base Clock 2.5 GHz
  • Boost Clock 4.4 GHz
  • Not Officially Overclockable

 

4. AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

AMD's best CPU for heavy workloads at a reasonable price

Specifications:

  • 12 Cores
  • 24 Threads
  • Base Clock 3.7 GHz
  • Boost Clock 4.8 GHz
  • Overclockable

 

5. AMD Ryzen 5600X

AMD's most affordable gaming CPU

Specifications:

  • 6 Cores
  • 12 Threads
  • Base Clock 3.7 GHz
  • Boost Clock 4.6 GHz
  • Overclockable

 

6. Intel Core i5 10400F

Older budget friendly Intel gaming CPU

Specifications:

  • 6 Cores
  • 12 Threads
  • Base Clock 2.9 GHz
  • Boost Clock 4.3 GHz
  • Not Overclockable

 

7. AMD Ryzen 7 5700G

The best CPU that doesn't need a graphics card

Specifications:

  • 8 Cores
  • 16 Threads
  • Base Clock 3.8 GHz
  • Boost Clock 4.6 GHz
  • Overclockable
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