Best budget CPU for a gaming PC
Right now the cheapest new CPU with 6 or more cores we track is the Ryzen 5 4500 at $75.00 (6 cores, AM4). Below are the cheapest of the 129 current desktop models we have a new, in-stock price for, one row per model, from today's prices across the stores PriceSniff tracks.
Cheapest gaming CPUs with 6+ cores
| CPU | Socket | Cores / threads | Graphics | Price now | Per core |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 4500 | AM4 | 6 / 12 | None | $75.00 | $12.50 |
| Ryzen 5 5500 | AM4 | 6 / 12 | None | $76.99 | $12.83 |
| Ryzen 5 3600 | AM4 | 6 / 12 | None | $94.90 | $15.82 |
| Ryzen 5 8400F | AM5 | 6 / 12 | None | $99.99 | $16.67 |
| Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE | AM5 | 6 / 12 | Radeon (APU) | $100.00 | $16.67 |
| Ryzen 5 5500X | AM4 | 6 / 12 | None | $110.99 | $18.50 |
| Ryzen 5 5500F | AM4 | 6 / 12 | None | $116.84 | $19.47 |
| Core i5-12400 | LGA 1700 | 6 / 12 | Basic | $118.99 | $19.83 |
| Core i5-12500T | LGA 1700 | 6 / 12 | Basic | $125.00 | $20.83 |
| Core Ultra 5 225F | LGA 1851 | 10 / 10 | None | $129.68 | $12.97 |
"None" under graphics means the chip needs a graphics card to show a picture. "Basic" can run a desktop but not games.
Best value per core
Price per core favours chips with many cores, so it suits builds that also stream, encode or compile. For gaming alone, the cheapest list above is the better guide.
- Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus: $9.44 per core (18 cores at $169.99)
- Core Ultra 7 265F: $9.75 per core (20 cores at $195.00)
- Core Ultra 5 250K Plus: $10.11 per core (18 cores at $181.99)
- Core Ultra 5 250K: $10.28 per core (18 cores at $185.00)
- Core Ultra 5 245: $11.07 per core (14 cores at $154.98)
Cheapest CPU on each socket
| Socket | Cheapest 6+ core CPU | Price now | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| AM4 | Ryzen 5 4500 | $75.00 | DDR4. No new CPUs are coming, but boards and memory are cheap. |
| AM5 | Ryzen 5 8400F | $99.99 | DDR5. AMD still releases new chips for this socket. |
| LGA 1700 | Core i5-12400 | $118.99 | Intel 12th-14th gen, DDR4 or DDR5 boards. No new CPUs are coming. |
| LGA 1851 | Core Ultra 5 225F | $129.68 | Intel Core Ultra 200S, DDR5. The current Intel desktop socket. |
The CPU is only part of the platform cost: match the socket to a board on motherboard prices, and check RAM prices for DDR4 versus DDR5.
Gaming without a graphics card
AMD's G-series chips have Radeon graphics built in, good enough for esports and older games at 1080p on low settings until you add a card.
- Ryzen 5 PRO 3400G at $67.00 (4 cores, AM4)
- Ryzen 3 8300G at $79.00 (4 cores, AM5)
- Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE at $89.99 (4 cores, AM4)
- Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE at $100.00 (6 cores, AM5)
- Ryzen 3 3200G at $124.56 (4 cores, AM4)
Black Friday CPU deals
Prices above are today's. For CPUs that are at or below their own 90-day low, see Black Friday PC parts deals, updated daily.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best budget CPU for gaming?
Right now the cheapest new CPU with at least 6 cores we track is the Ryzen 5 4500 at $75.00 (6 cores, 12 threads, AM4). The table above lists the next cheapest models, with their price per core.
How many cores do I need for a gaming PC?
Six cores and twelve threads is the floor for current games. Eight cores help if you stream or record while you play. More than that mostly pays off in work like video encoding, not in frame rates, so a budget gaming build is usually better off putting the difference into the graphics card.
Should a budget gaming PC use AM4 or AM5?
The cheapest AM4 chip with 6+ cores we track is the Ryzen 5 4500 at $75.00; on AM5 it's the Ryzen 5 8400F at $99.99. AM4 uses DDR4, which costs less than DDR5 right now (see RAM prices). AM5 costs more up front but AMD still releases CPUs for it, so you can upgrade later without a new board.
Can I build a gaming PC without a graphics card?
Yes, with an AMD G-series chip. The cheapest we track is the Ryzen 5 PRO 3400G at $67.00. Its built-in Radeon graphics run esports and older games at 1080p on low settings. Other CPUs with integrated graphics can drive a display but aren't made for games. Add a graphics card later when the budget allows.
Are there Black Friday deals on CPUs?
We check every CPU against its own 90-day price history and list the ones at or below their low on the Black Friday PC parts deals page. It updates daily, before and after Black Friday.
See every CPU we track, cheapest first with price per core, in the AMD and Intel CPU price lists. Pairing it with a card? See the best graphics card for 1080p gaming.