Best Gaming CPU: $100-$200
Best Gaming CPU for $125:
Core i3-2100 (Check Prices)
| Core i3-2100 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Sandy Bridge |
| Process: | 32 nm |
| CPU Cores/Threads: | 2/4 |
| Clock Speed: | 3.1 GHz |
| Socket: | LGA 1155 |
| L2 Cache: | 2 x 256 KB |
| L3 Cache: | 3 MB |
| Thermal Envelope: | 65 W |
As our Who's Got Game? Twelve Sub-$200 CPUs Compared article proved, the budget Core i3-2100 is a surprisingly capable force in the gaming arena, able to beat the powerful quad-core CPUs that traditionally dominate this price segment. And with budget LGA 1155-based motherboards readily available below $70, this processor is a great starting point for folks who want to enjoy solid gaming performance now, with an option to upgrade to Ivy Bridge-based parts in 2012.
Yes, you have to essentially forsake the potential for overclocking, given (what we consider to be) enthusiast-unfriendly locks on the multiplier and a base clock with very little room to scale beyond 100 MHz. But the stock performance is compelling, and this CPU still warrants a recommendation.
Read our review of the Sandy Bridge-based CPUs here.
Honorable Mention:
Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition (Check Prices)
| Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Deneb |
| Process: | 45 nm |
| CPU Cores: | 4 |
| Clock Speed: | 3.2 GHz |
| Socket: | AM3 |
| L1 Cache: | 4 x 128 KB |
| L2 Cache: | 4 x 512 KB |
| L3 Cache: | 6 MB |
| HyperTransport: | 4000 MT/s |
| Thermal Envelope: | 125 W |
A former flagship of AMD's Phenom II X4 family, the 955 offers the best value in the company's line-up. It is a true quad-core processor with a large 6 MB L3 cache and an unlocked clock multiplier. Based on our experience, a great majority of Phenom II X4 955 processors can run just as fast as a Phenom II X4 975 through a simple BIOS multiplier change from 16x to 18x. That's an easy way to put this $125 processor on par with a stock ~$200 Core i5-760 when it comes to gaming.
The real competition for the Phenom II X4 955 BE is Intel's Sandy Bridge-based Core i3-2100. Intel's budget-oriented processor can out-game the Phenom II X4. But AMD's CPU is a good entertainment-oriented option better suited to multitasking, thanks to its quad-core architecture. Since this list is focused on game performance, the Phenom II X4 955's price is too close to the superior Core i3-2100 to take a full recommendation. It does deserve an honorable mention for those looking to upgrade an aging Socket AM2+ or AM3 system, though.
Read our review of the Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition, right here.
Best Gaming CPU for $190:
Core i5-2400 (Check Prices)
| Core i5-2400 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | Sandy Bridge |
| Process: | 32 nm |
| CPU Cores/Threads: | 4 |
| Clock Speed (Max. Turbo): | 3.1 GHz (3.4 GHz) |
| Socket: | LGA 1155 |
| L2 Cache: | 4 x 256 KB |
| L3 Cache: | 6 MB |
| Thermal Envelope: | 95 W |
Intel's Sandy Bridge microarchitechture is undeniably fast. Test data suggests that the Core i5-2400 can stand toe-to-toe with Core i7-900-series processors when it comes to gaming performance. We're not talking about the entry-level models, either. This affordable processor has the chops to compete with Intel's thousand-dollar Extreme Edition chips.
As great as the Core i5-700-series chips are, the Core i5-2000 processors hit the afterburners and fly right by. Plus, the LGA 1156 interface is essentially dead, so it seems silly to sink any money into it at this point.
Read our review of the Sandy Bridge-based CPUs here.
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please test the fx 4100 gaming performance, eagerly waiting for some decent benchmarks.
Interesting list. I see Intel isn't far from dominating ever category for gaming CPUs. The ~$80 zone is holding them back. I'm still glad to see AMD holding up.
yeah well, still waiting for ivy, i'll get the same speed if not faster than a 2700k but with less heat and less energy,and a better oc, maybe a better price too,,
I believe Intel owns sub $80 as well. The G850 costs just $82 and beats the Athlon II X3 455 easy, and the $60 Celeron G540 is faster than any Athlon II X2.
The only AMD CPU worth buying right now is the Phenom II X2 955.
love the new hierarchy chart
i read fx 4100's performance in a legitreviews article, that this got beaten by a core i3 and a llano a8 in a lot of cases and it sucks more power (at stock settings) than core i3. it does have a lower price tag than bigger fx cpus but what amd conveniently skips over is this - fx 4100 is a Dual Module, 4 core, 95w processor. it's more like a core i3 (65w), but unlocked and far more watt-hungry. imo one can get more out of a ph ii x4/x6 + 990x/990fx or an (oc over 3 ghz) a8 3850 + a75 combo for gaming.
thankfully my e8500 is still pretty high up in the hierarchy so ill hold off upgrading till later
*Sigh*... does this really have to come out every month? i5-2500K for gaming, Sandy Bridge Pentium or Core i3 for budget builds, i7-2600K for enthusiast or future-proof gaming, period. No need for a new article every month until IB is out
Micro Center was selling the 2500K for $149.99 on Black Friday....
...and I gots me one.
Hmmm....i looked up Anandtech for benchmarks for the Pentium G860 and Phenom II x4 840, they didn't have them, so i had to compare the Phenom II x4 940 and Pentium G850, and well, Intel wins mostly, except in some threaded applications. Games favour Intel slightly too.
Here's the permalink
please test the fx 4100 gaming performance, eagerly waiting for some decent benchmarks.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/amd- [...] -review/10 it sucks for gaming and everything else. Get yourself a phenom II x4 over any FX chip.
Request to editors.
When you do test out the FX4100, please make a direct comparison with the X4 955. Not the 965, not the 980, not the A8-3850. The 955.
Wow, Intel dominates basically every price range in the consumer field. I think giving AMD the $80 range was just out of pity, since the G850 beats the Athlon II X3 455, as mention above.
The recommendations have remained unchanged for the past few months, with the exception of the $600+ range thanks to the introduction of the LGA2011 platform.
I used to recommend AMD for quite a while over Intel for budget gamers, but Sandy Bridge really pushed Intel above and beyond anything that AMD can offer at multiple price points. For once, Intel's prices are actually justified.
I'm a gamer, just got the Intel Core i7-2600K from best-gaming-computer.info for around $300 and it satisfies all my gaming needs. I was tempted to go with the Core i7-3930K for even more speed but the double price tag 0f $600 turned me off. I can play any game now this this and don't see the need for anything faster. Maybe eventually.
can anyone tell me in now day intel is good or amd i know great performance but i want to know it
Great article!
Intel is actually the best for gaming at all price points.
Celeron G530: $57
Athlon II X2 250: $62
The G530 beats the 250 by 15-25% in gaming.
Pentium G620: $72
Athlon II X3 445: $75
The G620 beats the 445 in gaming by 5-15%.
Pentium G850: $88
Athlon II X4 640: $100
The G850 beats the 640 in gaming by 5-15%.
Core i3-2100: $125; Core i3-2120: $130
Phenom II X4 955: $125; Phenom II X4 965: $130
Both beat the 955 and 965 in gaming by 5-10%, respectively.
Everything above these get no competition at all from AMD when it comes to gaming. The Phenom II X6 1090T isn't a gaming processor; if you want that you get a 955/965.
The 2500K is such an amazing gaming CPU.
It will really take something special, both in price and performance, to beat it.
Please benchmark the Athlon II X4 631. It runs about equal to 300~400MHz higher clocked older athlon II's and is lower priced. At $89.99 its a much better deal than the X3's and price wise better than any older X4's. Possible this CPU can give the FX-4100 a run for the money.