Top processor under $300 USD for gaming is ideal.
Top processor under $300 USD for gaming is ideal.
I'm balancing between two price points for high-end gaming setups. The 3700X at $324 and the 10600k at $251 both offer solid performance, but I'm leaning toward the former if it means better value. For gaming only, it really depends on what you're doing—gaming demands are clear, but future-proofing matters too. The Ryzen's extra cores might help with multitasking, while Intel's higher clock speeds could give an edge in sustained performance.
For context, the games I play—Star Citizen, Arma 3, Post Scriptum, and No Man’s Sky—stress my current 1700x processor quite hard.
Skip any non-HP CPUs. With more cores/threads, the 10600k gives 6/12 and the 3700x gives 8/16—slightly slower now but better for the future. Just a joke, edited Dec 24, 2020 by Gich165
I considered both choices, but with triple A titles, developers are moving toward multi-core processing (like in Cyberpunk 2077). An 8-core processor today feels outdated compared to the 4C/8T from years ago. Buying it for around $300 seems like a poor value, especially with Ryzen options available. It’s similar to upgrading from a 4790K in 2015. If you need more stability than raw speed, Intel still has solid choices. Also, game developers often favor either Intel or AMD, which can affect performance metrics. Lastly, AMD’s Ryzen 5000 chips are scarce, just like their graphics cards and Nvidia RTX 30 series.
You have several choices depending on your location. For a budget of 9900k you should consider a solid cooler, while the 9700k is suitable for a price of 200. The 10700k might be a bit high after holidays, but between 3700x and 10600k a 3700x offers future flexibility with extra cores and threads. The 5600x is also an option. Intel’s 11th gen chips are expected soon, which could lower prices later. It’s a great time to buy CPUs.