10 best budget processors

It's time to talk about the budget processors, namely, models in the price segment up to 15,000 rubles. Conventionally, they can be divided into 3 parts:

• Up to 5,000 rubles. Here are outdated, but current models for installation in office computers, or in gaming systems as a temporary solution.
• 5000-10000 rubles. Here, for the most part, are the middle or top models of past generations.
• 10,000-15,000 rubles. Actual news that received universal honor and respect for their characteristics.

We can say with confidence that AMD is now the leader in this segment. The “Reds” were able to find the perfect balance between the price-performance ratio, which is becoming more and more popular with customers. Intel remains here in the role of a follower and periodically respond to new items from AMD, supplying their devices with simple but clever technologies.

We have prepared for you the top 10 best budget processors for office and gaming PCs.

Top 10 best budget processors

10 AMD Athlon 200GE

After the release of this model, the Internet stirred up new articles from “discoverers” who were able to overclock this “pebble” to 3.9 GHz and get good performance with minimal investment in its price segment. By itself, this is a dual-core four-threaded processor with a base frequency of 3.2 GHz, 4 MB L3 cache and video core Radeon Vega 3 at frequencies up to 1000 MHz.

Built-in memory controller ensures support for DDR4 memory with a frequency of up to 2666 MHz in dual channel mode. Declared heat pack is 35 watts. With discrete graphics, the processor communicates through 4 lines of PCI-E Express 3.0. Unlike other processors on the Zen architecture, the Athlon lost unlocked multipliers, and this concerns not only the cores, but also the memory and the integrated video core.

9 Intel Pentium G4560 Kaby Lake

Any self-respecting geek knows G4560. Many believe that the days when the Pentium was productive, are long gone, and in principle they will be right. In the new generation, Intel has issued “hemp” hyper trading, when one physical core is divided into two logical ones. The output is a dual-core four-thread burly, continuing to enjoy success among ultrabudgetary assemblies.

The frequency of the processor is 3.5 GHz, in addition there is a built-in Intel HD 610 graphics. If you have an extra 1000 rubles, you can also take the "senior brothers" – G4600 with 3.6 GHz and HD Graphics 630 or G4620 with 3.7 GHz with identical video chip. It is recommended for use in the office or for ultrabudget PCs paired with the GT1030 or GTX 1050.

8 AMD A8-9600

Those wishing to assemble a gaming PC on a new AM socket, but not having a large budget, will be suitable for a temporary A8-9600 processor. It has 4 cores and integrated graphics with a frequency of 900 MHz, which, unfortunately, will not work. It will not work for games either - the characteristics are weak, but on the other hand, Chrome will master a couple of dozen open tabs in Chrome. After flashing the BIOS, the motherboard can accelerate to a stable 3.9 GHz.

Level 3 cache is missing. The heat pack for the budget model is a tall one - 65 W, but this is a disease of almost all AMD lines. When using it is desirable to put the dies of the RAM in dual channel mode, otherwise the performance will come to nothing. For office machines and work with documents - the very thing.

7 AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000 / Phenom FX 5000

This amazing processor has hidden cores. Initially, this is the usual dual-core model with a frequency of 2.6 GHz. If you go into the BIOS and delve into the settings, unlocking the kernel, it transforms into the Phenom FX 5000. In addition, the level 3 cache is unlocked.

Such manipulations will give a double increase in performance. It should be noted that the owners of a new iteration of this model will be able to carry out such a “transformation” - the old versions are not adapted for this. In addition, the product is not massive and it is extremely difficult to get it.

6 AMD FX-6300

We fall even lower and catch an inexpensive FX-6300. 6 cores and 6 threads will show themselves well in entry-level gaming PCs. In stock it has 3.5 GHz with boost up to 3.8. However, this is the case when it is better to save up money and take the 8 nuclear FX8300. Due to the lack of native support for iron, the throughput of the ficus and all ports on the board as a whole significantly decreases. In addition, it does not always cope with a ton of "junk" software in the operating system, especially on the "top ten", where Microsoft is trying to fix some new application.

To cope with these problems will help the "Orthodox", as they say IT specialists, overclocking the bus. Coupled with the improvement of hypertransport and the north bridge, you will get good performance for your segment, but you will have to seriously take care of cooling, otherwise the computer will turn into an oven. Pair the GTX 1050 + 8 GB of RAM with a frequency of 1600-1866 MHz and the budget assembly is ready. It will not draw all the modern games, but you can play the network shooters or projects until 2015 with such a system.

5 AMD FX 8300

Slightly lower "hemp" was the most controversial and amazing processor of all time. – AMD FX 8300. For less than 5,000 rubles, you will immediately receive 8 cores and 8 threads along with a level 3 cache with 8 MB. It does not have a built-in graphic core and in the drain it has a dull 3.3 GHz with a low frequency per core. It would seem you can finish, but no. By purchasing a motherboard at 970, or better at 990 chipset, adding RAM with a minimum frequency of 1866 MHz and putting a GTX 1050 Ti card, you can begin to enjoy the game. Add to this a powerful cooler, overclock the processor through the memory bus and raise the frequency and get a game monster.

This model is able to withstand the younger younger “ryazhenkami” in stock, but does not withstand against overclocked models, due to the honorable age of AM3 +, which is already more than 12 years. The processor is more suitable for enthusiasts and having a very limited budget. The elder “ficus” is extremely demanding on his hands, but in return he will thank the owner in full. With the right settings and configuration, he will drag all modern games and make his owner proud of himself and the system as a whole. Of the serious drawbacks, it is worth noting a large heat pack of 95 W and a shortage of top-end motherboards for the processor.

4 Intel Pentium Gold G5400

For 5500 rubles, we suggest paying attention to the Pentium Gold or “Penechek”, as technobloggers affectionately call it. 2 cores, 4 streams, integrated graphics and overclocking to 3.9 GHz - these parameters are admirable. There are no complaints about performance either - an inexpensive processor “drags” even in heavy projects, although not as quickly as modern analogues.

Split level 2 cache with a capacity of 512 KB paired with a level 3 cache with a capacity of 4 MB greatly help with heavy loads, leaving the data necessary for further calculations in their memory and not wasting time collecting information on the new one. Heat dissipation in the drain is 36 W, and during overclocking it is up to 54, which is extremely small even for Intel. The processor, paired with a GTX 1060 video card of 6 GB and 16 GB of RAM, will pull out PUBG on an ultra preset of 80-90 frames, and the notorious Witcher 3 will show 76 frames on out of limit settings.

3 AMD Ryzen 1200

4 cores, 4 threads, processor frequency 3.1 GHz with overclocking capability up to 3.5 and more. For a GTX 1050 Ti or GTX 1060 video card of 3 GB or less, it’s the most. Its Full HD, although not always at ultra settings, it will pull. 1200 will be a good option for the future to go to Zen 2. If desired, the ryazhenka can be overclocked to 4 GHz at a voltage of 1.38 Volts. When overclocked with a budget tower on 2 heat pipes, you will get 64 degrees under load, and if you do not stint on a spinner with 3 or more tubes, then the temperatures will become even lower.

When you first start it may surprise you, as it often starts with 3.6 GHz, but here a lot depends on the motherboard. Remarkably, AMD did not save on the younger model and supplied it with solder. Recommended for installation in low-end gaming systems with an emphasis on future improvement.

2 AMD Ryzen 5 2600

Ryzen 5 2600 is the central processor today. For 12,000 rubles, you will receive a boxed version with a standard fan included. It’s up to you to take the 2600X or not, but there’s not much difference between them, because the 2600X is just a model overclocked from the factory. The Ryzen refresh line introduced more IPS, higher frequencies, lower power consumption and a thin process technology, which made the 2600 more than competitive.

In the legacy of the FX series, the processor has good acceleration and can accelerate to 3.9 GHz. The new architecture uses 6 cores and 12 threads, and although the ryazhenka loses to the rivals from Intel in terms of frame rates, the time-frame schedule for games in the 2600 is much smoother. Do not forget about the immediate - the processor loves high-frequency memory, 2933 MHz will be the most for him. If you want to save money, you can get the usual version without a cooler and buy something to your liking, because the TDP here is extremely low and is 65 watts. We recommend to buy, because for performance and price on the market there is nothing like this.

1 AMD Ryzen 5 1600X

The status of the best popular processor gets Ryzen 5 1600X. There is probably no limit to your surprise, but we have placed 1600X above 2600 for a number of reasons. It is he who follows the clear principle of "maximum performance for his investments", but what do you want? It costs only 11 thousand, while it has a boxed cooler, 6 cores, 12 threads. If you have at least basic knowledge of overclocking processors, then it will not be difficult for you to increase the frequency to 3.8 GHz and leave it with the reserve of 5 years.

The same 2600, it's just 1600. Only with overclocking to 4.1 GHz. Good performance on the core of the 1600 will please anyone who wants to buy this model for games. Put a good RAM to it, do not stint on the video card and can get an inexpensive gaming computer. Add to this a motherboard for overclocking, a liquid cooling system, and feel free to enjoy the game process in AAA projects. Despite the heat pack of 95 W, the processor in the spirit of the best traditions of AMD has a solder, which means that fans of scalping “stones” will have to calm down.

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