Intel i9-13900KS ($1000)

Currently, the best CPU for gaming is the i9-13900KS. After reclaiming this top spot from AMD with their previous generation of CPUs last year, Intel has managed to hold onto it with their new 13th generation. It’s a return to form for the previously perennial CPU powerhouse.

In particular, the i9-13900KS sports 24 cores and 32 threads, a massive max native single-core speed of 6.0 GHz, and DDR5 RAM support. This all equates to tremendous gaming power. The only caveat to be aware of—apart from its price tag—is that the i9-13900KS is a very power-hungry and thermally demanding CPU, especially for those who pursue additional performance through overclocking. Nevertheless, a builder whose top priority is exceptional gaming performance should prioritize this chip (directly after the top gaming PC priority: a stellar graphics card).

Runner Up: AMD R9 7950X3D ($650)

The 16-core, 32-thread R9 7950X3D may not be the very best chip on the market for raw gaming performance, but its top speed of 5.7 GHz and its enormous 144MB cache make it the second best chip for that purpose. And it usually costs at least $300 less. So, folks with relevant budgetary requirements (or a preference for AMD products) will find this option to still be capable of powering an impressive gaming machine.

Now, for those of you who do various workstation tasks with your PC in addition to gaming—such as video editing, 3D rendering, or complex audio production—it may interest you to know that the gap in multi-core performance between the R9 7950X3D and the i9-13900KS is much smaller than the gap in single-core performance between them. This is because 16 of the Intel chip’s cores are what they call ‘efficiency cores,’ which run at lower speeds and lack multithreading. So this should be a very strong contender for rendering and editing professionals.

Intel i5-13600K ($320)

This chip wins the category on price alone. In terms of gaming performance, it and the runner-up from AMD are practically identical. Technically, the i5-13600K comes out ahead by a couple frames in most benchmarks, which firms up the choice. But realistically, that’s within any reasonable margin of error, and the 7700X has a higher native max speed (which is usually the most important metric for gaming performance). So it’s the noticeable difference in price that settles the debate conclusively.

Boasting specs comparable to the top-tier chips of the previous generation for a lower cost, this CPU is likely to be a very popular choice among gamers in the coming years.

Runner Up: AMD R7 7700X ($350)

For $400 or less, the second-best CPU currently available is the R7 7700X. As explained above, it has almost interchangeable gaming performance with the 13600K that wins this category. So, if it is cheaper than the 13600K in your region, or if it is in-stock when that one is unavailable, by all means you should opt for the 7700X.

It’s a sign of Intel’s resurgence, however, that it’s an i5 from them that’s toe-to-toe (and even winning) against AMD’s newest R7—a battle that was historically reserved for Intel’s i7 lineup.

AMD R5 7600X ($250)

With no 13th-gen locked i5 available from Intel yet to compete in this category, AMD’s new R5 7600X easily scoops up the victory. This is an excellent midrange 6-core/12-thread processor, very suitable for most users’ gaming needs now and into the years ahead.

The 7600X’s 5.3GHz native top speed is actually higher than that of the 13600K (though, naturally, not as high as the 7700X). And, like every entry in the list until now, its speed can be driven even further through overclocking. Just be sure to proceed with caution, and have high-quality cooling and power systems in your PC before attempting that!

Runner Up: Intel i5-12600K ($260)

In virtue of the 7600X, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where someone focused on gaming should choose this slightly more expensive, slightly older, slightly less powerful CPU from Intel. But it’s good to have options, and it is at any rate true that the i5-12600K is currently the second-best CPU for less than $300 for gaming.

As with the 7700X in the previous category, the i5-12600K should now really only be considered by gamers if its price drops considerably or the R5 7600X is consistently out-of-stock. But for workers who also game, it is worth noting that the multi-core performance of the 12600K does slightly beat that of the 7600X.

AMD R5 5600G ($130)

Planning to cut your budget down as low as conceivably possible while still leaving the door open for some gaming? The R5 5600G is for you. It’s not as impressive in terms of CPU power as the runner-up in this category, but (unlike that Intel option) this R5 includes an integrated graphics processor, allowing the builder to skip the expensive graphics card in their system.

In fact, just saying that the 5600G has “an integrated graphics processor” is underselling it. This R5 APU has one of the best iGPUs ever made, capable of smooth (low settings) 1080p gameplay in many recent titles. So, between that and the low price of this chip, it should be an excellent ally for those of us who love to game but are rather short on funds.

Runner Up: Intel i5-12400F ($160)

For folks that want to build a somewhat budget system, but not as threadbare as a 5600G rig—an i5-12400F would be a solid choice. The 12400F is a six-core with respectable speeds.

This i5 is somewhat more powerful as a CPU (and somewhat more expensive) than the R5 5600G, but it lacks an iGPU and so must be installed alongside a separate GPU. It's still an awesome option, though, and one that makes much more sense than the 5600G for budget gamers who know they’re definitely building with a graphics card.