5 Best Processors for PC Gaming in 2024, Tested and Reviewed

When looking for a new processor as either an upgrade or the powerhouse of a brand new PC, there are some key factors to consider. These can get a bit jargony, so we've laid everything out below in plain English.

When looking for a new processor as either an upgrade or the powerhouse of a brand new PC, there are some key factors to consider. These can get a bit jargony, so we've laid everything out below in plain English.

Cores and threads: These numbers determine how many processing units a CPU has and how many tasks it can execute simultaneously. In gaming, you usually don't need more than an eight-core, 16-thread CPU, but many of the best gaming processors exceed that.

Speed: CPU clock speed measures power. Clock speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz). In general, CPUs with higher clock speeds can run games more smoothly at higher frame rates. Some processors allow you to overclock them to get more power out of your current CPU.

Motherboard support: The first thing you probably want to do when shopping for a new processor is check which CPUs are compatible with your motherboard. Intel and AMD both have this information listed on their websites.

RAM support: The same goes for RAM. Not all CPUs support every RAM format. Check which generations of DDR your processor supports to see if that matches your current (or future) RAM situation.

Cache memory: This is essentially how much onboard memory your CPU has. Higher L3 cache memory will often lead to more consistent and stable frame rates while gaming.

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