Welcome to VekTech.

If you’re building a PC in 2026 – choosing the right processor can be extremely confusing.

• Here’s the thing: Spending more money on a CPU doesn’t mean you’re going to necessarily get a better gaming experience. On the other hand, there are certain games where spending extra money on your CPU can make an enormous difference.
  • That’s why I created this guide, to try and help make the extremely confusing process simple.

I’m Tommy from VekTech and these are my recommendations for the best gaming CPUs at each price range – and most importantly why I think they’re worth your money. I’m not rich or anything like that, so to me value is very important in buying any part of a computer, I want to get my dollars worth!

The CPU is basically the brain of your computer. It’s one of the most important parts of the computer, but many make a big mistake buying this part. You don’t want to spend too little as your games won’t run at all, and if you spend too much you’re just wasting money – and most importantly, you won’t see much of an improvement in performance. It’s very difficult to find the balance. So, it’s important you follow my recommendations here to avoid getting caught in the trap.

• Last Updated: October 2026

• Side Note: Due to RAM prices exploding, you need to consider how much the RAM will be when you buy a CPU as sometimes buying a different CPU that uses “older” DDR4 RAM may save you a significant amount of money. I will discuss those options below, so don’t worry! Just remember to not pull the trigger without putting everything together first!

The best CPU for your PC depends on what you’re actually trying to accomplish.

• If you’re building an inexpensive 1080p gaming PC, something like the Ryzen 5 5600 might be perfectly adequate.

• If you’re building a new midrange gaming PC, I’d lean toward a modern AM5 processor like the Ryzen 5 9600X.

• If you spend a lot of time editing videos, rendering, or performing other demanding productivity tasks, an Intel processor with additional cores might be worth considering.

• And if you’re building a high-end gaming PC specifically for demanding simulation games or extremely high frame rates, that’s where a processor like the Ryzen 7 9800X3D becomes especially good.

Table of Contents

So What Matters in Gaming CPUs? (In a simple to understand way)

So real quick, before we get into any recommendations, what should you actually be looking for when buying a gaming CPUs in a simplified easy to understand way?

And I mean that – so many videos have complicated advice, “The 20 thread rippers or cores make this- ” I’m going to explain this stuff in simple english so you understand it well.

Not All Video Games Use Your CPU The Same Way

One of the best things about switching from console to PC gaming is that you get access to all kinds of games, simulators, and mods that you simply can’t play on a console.

I’m talking about games like BeamNG.drive (one of the most hyper realistic racing/driving simulators), Microsoft Flight Simulator, ARMA (military simulator), and heavily modded GTA V with FiveM or LSPDFR. Or other games like Civilization or even Warhammer that can boast having 1000 NPCs on screen at one time. Or think of games like Battlefield on PC that can have 200 player lobbies.

Here’s the thing, these types of games can absolutely destroy a weaker processor.

Games like BeamNG.drive have to calculate vehicle physics, crashes, and the behavior of different vehicles in the world. Games like 200 player lobby battlefield matches have to calculate all the movement at the same time. These things can be where buying a stronger CPU can genuinely make a huge difference.

But what if you’re just playing normal games? Like Cyberpunk 2077 or other popular AAA titles? – In most of these games, your graphics card is going to be doing most of the heavy lifting.

That’s why I don’t recommend everybody just goes out and buys a $500 processor, for many people it isn’t applicable. Likewise on the other hand, if all you play is Microsoft Flight Simulator, BeamNG.Drive, GTA V LSPDFR, and ARMA 3 all day – it’s not a good idea to spend all your money on a graphics card and it’s better to get a better CPU.

That’s why it’s kind of hard to make these decisions. It depends on the games you play and enjoy – and many people don’t know that, that’s why I made this video.

All the other YouTubers and stuff just throw big specifications at you expecting you to know what or if that means anything, we’re being real out here and saying what it is.

• Tommy’s VekTech Advice: If you play primarily simulation games, heavily modded games, or competitive games at extremely high frame rates, consider investing more in your CPU. Otherwise, a good mid-range processor is probably all you need.

AMD vs Intel – The Two Major CPU Companies

The two major companies that made CPUs/processors are called AMD and Intel. If you’ve read my graphics card guide, you’d probably notice that NVIDIA is not listed here! That’s right, NVIDIA does not make CPUs despite them being a huge presence in the gaming market. AMD makes both graphics cards and CPUs, so it can be confusing when you learn NVIDIA doesnt.

So, there’s only two real companies for PC building processors, AMD vs Intel – and this is a part you really need to pay attention.

• Intel USED to be the hands down best processor, but these days they are in my opinion an absolute avoid if you can option.

You see, Intel recently had a scandal with their latest processors all having a factory defect causing them to break after 2 years. Additionally, their prices have climbed and their price to performance is horrible now.

So, you may be asking – why would anyone buy Intel CPUs? And why do I have one? (In fact, I have an Intel CPU in my main system, but later bought an AMD CPU for my TV PC build)

-Well, to be honest – I bought the Intel without knowing about all the issues they have now and the poor price to performance. Going back, I would have bought the AMD chip. Especially since Intel chips can use 3-4x the power and generate significantly more heat, which later caused even more problems with my computer overheating.

But, Intel is not all bad. As a video creator, Intel CPUs help me a lot as they are very good at video editing and rendering. Additionally, if you do work involving CAD or othe productivity work like Photoshop and other intensive applications like that, Intel CPUs generally tend to run those programs significantly faster. But, that does come at at increased cost. That being said, if you plan to use this computer for work, video editing, etcetera – an Intel CPU without the stated defects (that intel claims a software update fixes, and apparently they are releasing new CPUs soon) might be worth it.

• But generally speaking, in almost every case especially for gaming the AMD CPUs are almost always the better choice. They are significantly LESS money, offer way better performance, use considerably less power therefore require less cooling – so why is the Intel chip so expensive? That, I can’t answer with anything except look at Intel’s failing stock price. They don’t even realize how terrible the product is and they’re still pricing it high. Anyways…

What Are CPU Cores and Threads?

One of the things you’ll see on a CPU is Cores and Threads.

In my guide below, I won’t really get too in-depth on the comparison but instead recommend you just the best CPU at the price.

To explain this all would be way too complicated. I like to think of each core like another brain, and each thread like another set of hands. That’s very oversimplified – you need to also remember, just like in real life, not every brain is 200 IQ. So, just because something has more cores doesn’t always mean it’s better. But, you certainly don’t want a CPU with just one or two cores. Most CPUs come with 6-8 cores and that’s usually perfectly fine.

But as an aside, if you’re someone who is building a computer and planning to do a lot of multi purpose application stuff: Say – live streaming, multiple workspaces open, multiple monitors, CAD, photoshop/video editing – having more cores can help offload some of that so the rest of your computer can still function.

For example, I can render a video and be photoshopping on the other tab and still have spotify or a YouTube video playing uninterrupted or with no slow downs on my computer because there’s so many cores on my CPU that it can handle all those different tasks at high speed.

On the contrary, on my solely PC gaming only TV PC I built – I got a much cheaper CPU with less cores as all that stuff wasn’t needed. I just needed the game to run and a less expensive CPU does much better there.

DDR4 vs DDR5

DDR4 vs DDR5 is the type of RAM. DDR5 is the newest RAM that is out. DDR4 is an older version.

The thing is, due to the expensive RAM prices, sometimes it is smart to buy an “older” CPU on this list that uses DDR4 RAM as it will save you quite a bit of money. There is of course a double edge sword, as you likely won’t have the best “upgrade path” in the future, but if you’re not planning on buying a new CPU or RAM for the next 5 years it’s not a big deal and is a smart way to save some money.

Best Extreme Budget Gaming CPU ($100-150)

PROS

• Extremely affordable, often near $100
• Good 1080p performance
• Comes with a stock cooler saving you $$ there (always verify where you’re buying from that it has one)
• Compatible with inexpensive DDR4 RAM
• 6 Cores / 12 Threads

CONS

• Older architecture, older motherboard, limits future upgrades
  • (You’d have to buy a new motherboard, RAM, etc to upgrade long term)
• Can struggle in very CPU intensive games to provide super high FPS
• No ‘integrated graphics’ so you will need to buy a graphics card

Why I’d Buy It:

The Ryzen 5 5600 is getting pretty old to be honest – but that’s one of the reasons I actually think it’s such a good budget processor.

Due to its age, its using the “AM4” platform, meaning you can find new RAM and motherboards for much cheaper than the newest “AM5” platform. And when you’re on a tight budget, those savings matter.

This CPU, despite its age, is a surprisingly capable gaming CPU. It’s got enough processing power to handle a majority of modern games without any problems.

Now, if you’re trying to play intense simulation games like BeamNG.Drive or Microsoft Flight Simulator with a ton of simulations happening at once, you’re going to notice some of its limitations.

But, if you’re someone just trying to get into PC gaming and play popular games and have a decent experience without spending a fortune, it’s an excellent choice.

Best Budget Gaming CPU ($150-250)

Pros

• Modern AMD Zen 5 Architecture
• Excellent Gaming Performance
• 6 cores / 12 Threads
• Low power consumption
• Opens avaliability to upgrade CPU without necessarily replacing motherboard/RAM

Cons

• Requires DDR5 Ram (which can be more expensive)
• Not ideal for a very demanding productivity workload
• No bundled CPU cooler

Why I’d Buy It

I really like the Ryzen 5 9600X. The reason is simple – it’s a simple purchase that makes the most sense for the overwhelming majority of people building a gaming PC.

It’s powerful, efficient, and you’re not spending a fortune on this and you’re able to put that money towards your graphics card instead.

But there’s another thing, it’s on the new AM5 architecture. Aside from the improvements there, this means say in a couple years you want a faster processor and want to upgrade, you can just switch out the processor without replacing the motherboard or RAM. (In most cases, always check before you change your CPU)

That’s a pretty big advantage, because if you’re on a budget now but can save some money over the next few years – assuming you aren’t satisfied with the CPU’s performance, you could save up and get a much stronger CPU and easily switch it out without much hassle.

Best Mid-Budget Gaming/Productivity CPU ($200-250)

Pros:

• 18 Cores / 18 Threads
  • (6 Performance Cores, 12 Efficiency Cores)
• Great balance of gaming + productivity performance
• Great for video editing/other demanding tasks
• Competitive pricing

Cons:

• Isn’t the best “price to performance chip”
• Limited future upgrade path due to retired motherboard chipset
• Doesn’t match AMD X3D processors in CPU-intensive gaming
• Requires seperate CPU cooler

Why I’d Buy It:

There is probably some people reading/watching this that are actually looking to do a lot of productivity or multitasking work on their computer along with gaming.

For example, this could include: CAD, Video-editing, Multiple office/excel tabs, multiple browser/applications open all day/other work from home things.

This is a CPU that enables a ton better productivity access, and also works much better in simulation/CPU intensive games. This is mainly due to all the extra cores it has, it allows much faster rendering/task completion by the CPU.

But, this isn’t the perfect solution. It does have some cons as listed above, and I don’t think it’s a great value pick if you’re looking to just get a computer for gaming. In my opinion, you need to really have a justified productivity reason such as using Blender/CAD/Video-editing/some other task to really make this “worth it”. You also have to realize here you need to spend quite a bit of extra money on a strong CPU cooler. I bought a cheap one for my computer and regretted it as the chip ran so hot I needed to upgrade the cooler later. Unless you have a distinct productivity need, I really wouldn’t look at this chip.

Best Mid-Range Gaming CPUs ($250-350)

Pros:

• 8 Cores / 16 Threads
• AMD X3D V-Cache Technology
• Excellent gaming performance
• Modern AM5 chip
• Efficient chip during gaming

Cons:

• The price can be weird, sometimes buying the 7800X3D is only $20 more, so be sure to check that before buying – as that chip is significantly faster for $20 more.

Why I’d Buy It:

Now we’re getting into the category where I’d start looking at AMD’s X3D processors.

The X3D processors add a dedicated “cache” on the processor that in simple terms, adds a little part of the chip that can do things extremely fast before using the RAM for the game. This means in very CPU intensive games like BeamNG, Battlefield, or Microsoft Flight Simulator – it can use this dedicated part of the CPU to quickly run something extremely faster than it would normally by going through the full CPU/RAM process. This can be an insanely good advantage in these games and help you get a significant FPS boost.

But, it does come with a price increase.

These chips are an insanely good option for someone wanting a gaming-focused chip that gives super-high end performance without paying a ton of money for a super high-end chip. This is still a very good value and still has great price-to-performance.

Best High-End CPU ($450)

Pros:

• Insanely good gaming performance.
• New Zen 5 CPU.
• 8 cores / 16 threads
• Demolishes any game with ease.

Cons:

• Expensive, not the best “value option”
• Requires a seperate CPU cooler
• Better values if you’re doing “productivity” work

Why I’d Buy It / Important Note:

This is basically the hands down go-to for high-end gaming CPUs that will last you a long time and run games amazingly for years.

For simulation games – this will handle those without problems and is known to have minimal “1% lows” which are basically like ‘lag spikes’. This is an insanely strong processor.

• But, there’s an important note: It is a better value at this point to buy one of the lesser option CPUs and put money towards a better graphics card if you are limited on the budget. No point in having an expensive CPU and a very low-end graphics card. Your money goes further investing in the graphics card – but again, if you play a ton of simulation games and have some extra money to spend, this is a very good CPU.

Enthusiast Gaming CPUs ($500+) (Gaming + Productivity)

This is the section where the “value factor” starts losing it and you see diminishing returns. But, if it’s your goal to build an absolutely insane gaming computer, look no further – as now you’re going to see some of the most unbelievably powerful processors.

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First, let’s talk about the gaming CPU, then in the next section we will talk about the productivity CPU.

AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D (Gaming)

Pros:

• 8 Cores / 16 threads
• Among the fastest gaming CPUs ever
• AMD X3D V-Cache
• Excellent performance in CPU-intensive games
• Great for extremely high-refresh-rate gaming

Cons:

• Expensive, not great “price-to-performance”
• Performance advantage compared to 9800X3D isn’t there for the price

AMD Ryzen 7 9950X3D (Gaming + Productivity)

Pros:

• 16 Cores / 32 Threads
• Excellent gaming performance
• Insanely good multi-core productivity performance
• Great for demanding rendering/CAD/photoshop/other professional workload

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Unnessecary for most people
• Requires adequete cooling

Why I’d Recommend These:

This is basically the end of the line for most people wanting an extremely powerful gaming or productivity CPU.

There are a few other options above these CPUs, but those can be thousands of dollars and those don’t really work/are incompatible with most like “normal use” those chips are generally only used in like servers/devices that run different things. Sure, there are a few that work for gaming but I didn’t really mention them as that value to performance just isn’t there and isn’t really something I’d ever really buy per se.

These two chips are just insanely powerful hands down. If you’re looking to play gaming at its best experience it’s hard to beat the value on these. For any game, or even extremely CPU heavy intensive games like simulators or Battlefield this chip will just chew through it without any problems.

The 9950X3D has double the cores as the 9850X3D and its geared more for productivity tasks. So if you’re someone that live-streams, does productivity in Adobe products like photoshop or video rendering/editing, or CAD/whatever else – you should make the jump to that as it has better productivity gearing.

But, if you don’t have a productivity use I would just stick with the 9850X3D.

Do note: Both of these while they have great performance, do not exactly have the best “value”. This is for people that want to go all out on a computer and don’t care about the price they are paying. I don’t even own chips like these in my own computer, I stick with the high-end CPUs as I still see a decent price-to-performance for it.

But, buying these doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting 100x faster the performance, they are faster chips for sure, but it’s not like they run laps around the chips right below them. They’re still both very fast chips and you won’t be disappointed either way.

Is a More Expensive Gaming CPU Actually Worth It?

At this point, you might be wondering whether you should simply buy the most expensive processor you can afford.

I wouldn’t recommend doing that.

The best CPU for your PC depends on what you’re actually trying to accomplish.

• If you’re building an inexpensive 1080p gaming PC, something like the Ryzen 5 5600 might be perfectly adequate.

• If you’re building a new midrange gaming PC, I’d lean toward a modern AM5 processor like the Ryzen 5 9600X.

• If you spend a lot of time editing videos, rendering, or performing other demanding productivity tasks, an Intel processor with additional cores might be worth considering.

• And if you’re building a high-end gaming PC specifically for demanding simulation games or extremely high frame rates, that’s where a processor like the Ryzen 7 9800X3D becomes especially interesting.

But the most important thing is balancing your components.

A gaming PC is only as useful as the performance you’re actually getting out of it.

There’s little reason to buy an extremely expensive processor if you’re pairing it with a graphics card that will be the performance bottleneck in nearly every game you play.