12 best processors

Computers have entered our lives so tightly that we already consider them to be something elementary. But their structure can not be called simple. Motherboard, processor, RAM, hard drives: all of these are integral parts of a computer. Throw this or that detail can not, because they are all important. But the processor plays the most important role. No wonder that it is called the "central".

The role of the CPU is huge. He is responsible for all calculations, which means it depends on him how quickly you will carry out your tasks. It can be surfing the web, writing a document in a text editor, editing photos, moving files and much more. Even in games and 3D modeling, where the main load falls on the graphics accelerator, the central processor plays a huge role, and with an incorrectly chosen “stone” the performance of even the most powerful video card will not be revealed to its fullest.

Currently, there are only two major processor manufacturers in the consumer market: AMD and Intel. We will talk about them in the traditional rating.

The best inexpensive processors: a budget of up to 5,000 rubles.

4 Intel Celeron G3900 Skylake

An extremely weak processor of the Celeron line opens the rating. Model G3900 has two cores of the previous generation - Skylake, which, together with a frequency of 2.8 GHz, gives the lowest performance result. In synthetic tests, the processor shows a result about twice as small as Core i3. But the price here is quite budget - 4-4.5 thousand rubles. This means that this processor is perfect for building, for example, a simple office computer or a multimedia system for a living room. In general, it is impossible to call this model bad. Nevertheless, the 14 nm process technology provides good energy efficiency, and the graphics core HD Graphics 510 is suitable for casual games.

Advantages:

• Lowest price in class
• Perfect for office PC or HTPC

Disadvantages:

• Does not support Hyper-Threading

3 AMD Athlon X4 845 Carrizo

Athlon line processors belong to the budget class, which is clearly seen in the cost of the bronze medalist. But for three and a half thousand rubles you will get a very interesting stone. Here are 4 cores (2 logical cores for each physical one), made on 28 nm technical process. Due to this, the power consumption is low, and the heat release is low enough for AMD - only 65 watts. True, this is not particularly happy because of the blocked multiplier - it will not work to overclock the processor. Also, the disadvantages include the lack of a built-in graphics core, which means that when assembling an office PC or multimedia system, you will have to purchase a video card separately.

Advantages:

• Lowest price in class
• Excellent performance at this cost

Disadvantages:

• Lack of integrated graphics core
• Unlocked multiplier

2 AMD FX-6300 Vishera

AMD's FX-6300 is the only processor in the six-core category. Unfortunately, there is no reason to hope for high power in the budget class - the model is based on the 2012 Vishera core. In normal mode, the cores operate at 3.5 GHz, but, like many AMD CPUs, it accelerates well. Yes, performance, judging by user feedback, is enough even for games, but there are still some cons.

One of the main - high power consumption. Due to the use of an inexpensive 32 nm process technology, AMD is very hot and consumes a lot of electricity. Also note the lack of support for modern standard DDR4 RAM. Because of this, the processor can be advised not to build a new PC, but to upgrade the old one without replacing the motherboard and other components.

Advantages:

• 6 cores. Perfect for several simple tasks at the same time.
• Good overclocking potential
• Low cost

Disadvantages:

• Poor energy efficiency
• Obsolete platform

1 Intel Pentium G4600 Kaby Lake

To recommend for purchase in this category, we can just the good old Pentium. This processor, like the previous participants, is made on a 14 nm process technology, socket LGA1151. Refers to one of the latest generations - Kaby Lake. The cores, of course, are only 2. They operate at a frequency of 3.6 GHz, which causes the Core i3 to lag about 18-20%. But this is not much, because the price difference is double! In addition to the frequency of the cores, the relatively low power is due to the small L3 cache - 3071 Kb.

In addition to the excellent price-performance ratio, the advantages of this CPU can include the presence of an integrated Intel HD Graphics 630 graphics core, which is more than enough for comfortable use of a PC without a discrete graphics card.

Advantages:

• Great price with such performance
• Kaby Lake Generation
• Good integrated graphics core

The best middle class processors: a budget of up to 20,000 rubles.

5 Intel Core i3-7320 Kaby Lake

Let's open the rating with the most affordable i-core processor. The model is extremely difficult to call excellent in terms of price / quality, because the cheaper ryzen 3 shows even slightly better results in synthetic tests. Nevertheless, the model that opens the TOP-5 can be safely chosen not only for the office system, but also for the gaming computer.

There are only two physical cores, but these are modern 14 nm chips of one of the latest generations - Kaby lake. The frequency is 4100 MHz. This is a very nagging indicator. In addition, there is the possibility of overclocking. Given the excellent energy efficiency and low heat dissipation - even with a complete cooler at idle temperature stays at 35-40 degrees, under load up to 70 degrees - you can safely increase the frequency. Unlike competitors from AMD, the Core i3 has a built-in graphics core, which allows it to be used in an office system without a discrete video card. But keep in mind that officially it only works in Windows 10

Advantages:

• Integrated graphics core
• Overclocking capability
• Low temperatures

Disadvantages:

• Weak performance for a given value

4 AMD Ryzen 3 1200 Summit Ridge

Ryzen 3 is the youngest low-cost new line of AMD processors, designed to re-impose the fight against Intel. And the model 1200 does an excellent job. For 7 thousand rubles, the buyer receives a 4-core processor. Factory frequencies are low - only 3.1 GHz (in the performance mode of 3.4 GHz), but the multiplier is unlocked, which means that enthusiasts can easily make the “stone” a little faster.

The transition to new chips not only improved performance, but also reduced power consumption, and also made it possible to reduce temperatures to acceptable values. Due to the lack of an integrated graphics chip, we can recommend this processor only for budget game assemblies. Performance is only slightly higher than that of the previous participant.

Advantages:

• Excellent price / performance ratio
• Unlocked multiplier

Disadvantages:

• No integrated graphics chip

3 Intel Core i5-7600K Kaby Lake

To begin with, i5-7600K is by no means an outsider. Yes, in terms of performance, it is somewhat worse than the mastodons, which you will see below, but for most gamers it will be enough for the head. The processor has four Kaby Lake cores operating at 3.8 GHz (in reality up to 4.0 GHz with TurboBoost). There is also a built-in graphics core - HD Graphics 630, which means that you can play even the demanding games on the "minimals". With a normal video card (for example, GTX 1060), the processor reveals itself completely. In most games with FullHD resolution (most gamers have such monitors) and high graphics settings, the frame rate rarely drops below 60 fps. Do you need something else?

Advantages:

• Best price
• Sufficient power for most gamers
• Excellent graphics core

2 AMD Ryzen 5 1600 Summit Ridge

The second line of TOP-5 mid-level processors is occupied by one of the best processors in terms of price / performance ratio. With an average cost of only 12,000 rubles, in synthetic tests the Ryzen 5 is able to withstand the well-known Intel Core i7-7700K on standard settings (PassMark 12270 and 12050 points, respectively). This power is due to the presence of six physical cores Summit Ridge, made by 12 nm process technology. The clock frequency is not a record - 3.6 GHz. The possibility of overclocking is present, but in the reviews, users claim that at frequencies above 4.0–4.1 GHz, the processor behaves unstably and gets very hot. With the factory settings at idle, the temperatures are kept at 42-46 degrees, in games 53-57 using a regular cooler.

Also, high performance is due to large amounts of caches of all levels. The CPU supports the modern standard DDR4-2667, which allows creating excellent computers based on this processor for playing at medium-high settings in FullHD.

Advantages:

• Excellent price / performance ratio
• Little heated

Disadvantages:

• Low overclocking potential

1 AMD Ryzen 7 1700 Summit Ridge

It is expected, the processor from the top line Ryzen 7 has the best performance in the class. Again, one can not forget about the cost - for 17 thousand rubles, we get power at the level of the top Core i7 of previous years. The processor includes eight cores divided into two clusters. The standard clock frequency is only 3.0 GHz, guaranteed to Ryzen 7 accelerates to 3.7, and with a little luck and to 4.1 GHz.

Like the previous representatives of the line, the leader is based on a 12 nm process technology, which allows energy saving. The heat generation situation is good - in stress tests the temperatures are kept at 70-75 degrees.

Advantages:

• High performance
• There is a possibility of overclocking
• Fresh platform that will be maintained for at least 4 years

Best Top Processors

3 Intel Core i7-7700K Kaby Lake

Most recently, the i7-7700K was the top processor in the Intel lineup. But technologies are developing extremely rapidly, and in 2018 it is difficult to recommend this particular chip for purchase. According to the synthetic tests, the model clearly lags behind the competitors - in the PassMark CPU it scores only 12 thousand points, which is comparable to modern mid-level processors. But these figures are achieved at standard settings, when 4 physical cores operate at 4.2 GHz, and the CPU can be easily overclocked to even higher frequencies, thereby increasing performance.

Yes, the bronze medalist is lagging behind competitors, but it costs at least twice as cheap, and given the popularity it is quite possible to find a good used processor. Also, the high prevalence and long-term presence in the market allows you to find an affordable motherboard with a LGA1151 socket. In general, we have an excellent base for a powerful gaming system at a relatively low cost.

Advantages:

• Good price for this class
• High performance
• Great overclocking capabilities
• High popularity

Disadvantages:

• Not quite relevant in 2018

2 Intel Core i9-7900X Skylake

Until recently, the top line of Intel was a series of Core i7. But modern realities require more power. If you have few familiar solutions, pay attention to the Core i9-7900X. The processor is already at a standard clock frequency capable of entering the TOP-10 of the most powerful CPUs. For example, in PassMark the model fills almost 22 thousand points - this is twice as much as the bronze prize-winner of the rating. At the same time, in the reviews, users talk about the smooth acceleration to 4.2-4.5 GHz in the presence of high-quality air cooling. Temperatures do not exceed 70 degrees under load.

Such high performance is due to the use of 10 cores, made by 14 nm process technology. The model supports all the necessary modern standards and commands, which allows it to be used for any tasks.

Advantages:

• Top performance
• Excellent overclocking potential
• Acceptable temperatures

Disadvantages:

• Very high cost
• No solder under the lid.

1 AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X

The leader of the rating is insane in everything - starting at the price of 65 thousand rubles, ending with an incredible performance. In terms of power in synthetic tests, the model slightly overtakes the previous participant. The internal device is significantly different. Threadripper uses 16 (!) Cores. The clock frequency is comparable to the Core i9 - 3400 MHz - but the overclocking options are more modest. Steadily, the “stone” operates at a frequency of 3.9 GHz, with an increase in interest rates, the necessary stability is lost.

Such a large number of cores perfectly shows itself in all tasks. But using a monster for games is not entirely reasonable - not all projects can reveal its potential. AMD is useful for professional video monitors, 3D-designers, etc. - in professional software, the addition of cores gives a significant increase in render speed.

Advantages:

• Relatively low price tag
• High power
• Excellent performance in professional programs

Popular vote - which manufacturer of computer processors do you think is the best?
We vote!

AMD

Intel

Total votes: 337

Vote results