The Best CPUs of 2023

In the fast-paced world of PC hardware, finding the best CPUs for your needs can be a daunting task. With new releases and innovations happening regularly, staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest CPUs is essential for both gamers and professionals. In this article, we’ll delve into the top CPUs of 2023, providing you with a comprehensive guide to help you make an informed decision.

Best Overall CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X 3D

The first award category is for the best overall CPU of 2023, and it goes handily to the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X 3D CPU. This CPU has seen price reductions down to around $360, making it an incredible value. It’s a double winner, as it also takes our best gaming CPU category.

What Makes the Ryzen 7 7800X 3D Stand Out?

• Pricing: The 7800X 3D is priced just right, falling in the range where high-end gaming CPUs used to be. This price point brings chart-leading frame rates back to a more affordable level for high-end gaming machines.
• Single CCD Solution: Unlike some other CPUs with dual CCDs or complex core setups, the 7800X 3D keeps it simple with a single CCD solution. This simplifies scheduling and streamlines the setup.
• Efficiency: The 7800X 3D is an extremely efficient CPU, ranking right behind the new Threadripper parts. This not only reduces power consumption but also opens up a wide range of cooling options, reducing the cost barrier to entry.
• Gaming Performance: When it comes to gaming, the 7800X 3D shines. It offers excellent gaming performance, making it a top choice for gamers who want to maximize their frame rates.
• Production Performance: While it may not be the leader in production benchmarks like Blender, the 7800X 3D still performs more than acceptably in non-gaming tasks, making it a versatile choice for content creators.

This CPU is particularly well-suited for those looking to maximize frame rates in gaming, especially when paired with high-end GPUs like the RTX 490 or RX 7900 XT.

Most Balanced CPU: Intel i5K Skew CPUs

Our next category is for the most balanced CPU, and this one goes to the Intel i5K skew CPUs, specifically the 13600K or 14600K, depending on whichever is more affordable. These CPUs are essentially the same, and you can opt for the KF versions to save a bit more money and forgo the integrated graphics.

Why Are the i5K CPUs Balanced?

• Price and Value: Priced around $270, these CPUs offer excellent value for the performance they deliver. They compete favorably in their price range.
• Performance: The i5K CPUs strike a balance between gaming and production performance. They perform well in a wide range of tasks, including gaming, Photoshop, and more.
• Competitive Gaming: In gaming, these CPUs hold their ground and offer strong performance for the price. They are particularly impressive in titles like Starfield, where they achieve high frame rates.
• Power Efficiency: The power consumption of these CPUs is relatively low, which means you won’t need an expensive 360mm AIO cooler to keep them cool. This reduces the overall cost of your build.
• Versatility: While not the best in any single category, the i5K CPUs are well-rounded and versatile. Whether you’re gaming or working on content creation, they can handle the workload.

These CPUs strike a balance between price, gaming performance, and production capabilities, making them an excellent choice for users who want a well-rounded CPU.

Best CPU for Gaming: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X 3D

When it comes to pure gaming performance, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X 3D takes the crown as the best gaming CPU of 2023. This category focuses solely on achieving the highest frame rates in games.

What Makes the Ryzen 7 7800X 3D the Best for Gaming?

• Stackable Cache: The use of AMD’s stackable cache (VCash) significantly impacts gaming performance. The 7800X 3D’s 96MB of L3 cache enhances its gaming prowess.
• Affordable: Priced at around $360, this CPU offers an exceptional price-to-performance ratio for gamers. It competes well with more expensive options.
• High Frame Rates: In games like Cyberpunk Phantom Liberty, the 7800X 3D delivers impressive frame rates, often outperforming the competition. It ensures a smooth gaming experience even in demanding titles.
• Minimum Bottlenecks: This CPU is an ideal choice for high-end GPUs like the RTX 490 or RX 7900 XT, as it minimizes bottlenecks, allowing your GPU to shine.
• Versatile Gaming Performance: Whether you’re playing Starfield, Stellaris, or Baldur’s Gate 3, the 7800X 3D consistently performs well and provides an exceptional gaming experience.

While the Ryzen 7 7800X 3D may not lead in all production benchmarks, its gaming performance and overall value make it the go-to CPU for high-end gaming machines.

Best Upgrade Value CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 3D

The best upgrade value CPU category recognizes the CPU that offers the most value when upgrading from a previous generation. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 3D takes this award.

Why the Ryzen 7 5800X 3D is the Best Upgrade Value CPU:

• Compatible with Older Boards: This CPU can drop into boards of past AMD generations, making it a cost-effective upgrade option.
• Improved Performance: The 5800X 3D significantly improves performance over older CPUs while still being budget-friendly.
• Low Power Consumption: Despite its performance gains, this CPU maintains relatively low power consumption, making it easy to cool with affordable coolers.
• Cost Savings: Upgrading to the 5800X 3D often allows you to keep existing components like RAM and motherboards, saving you money.
• Strong Gaming and Production Performance: This CPU offers a well-rounded performance profile, excelling in both gaming and production workloads.

The Ryzen 7 5800X 3D is a fantastic choice for those looking to upgrade older systems without breaking the bank.

Most Efficient CPU: AMD Threadripper 7980X

In terms of efficiency, the AMD Threadripper 7980X stands out as the most efficient CPU of 2023, particularly under an all-core workload.

What Makes the Threadripper 7980X the Most Efficient CPU:

• Low Power Utilization: The 7980X exhibits exceptionally low power utilization per core, with voltage hovering around 0.84 to 0.85 volts under all-core operation. This leads to impressive efficiency.
• Workstation Performance: In workstation applications that fully utilize all 64 cores, the 7980X outperforms the competition, completing tasks quickly and efficiently.
• Gaming Efficiency: While primarily a workstation CPU, the 7980X still holds its own in gaming, offering a high frame rate per watt efficiency.

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Thermally Efficient: The CPU runs relatively cool under an all-core workload, which reduces the demand for high-end cooling solutions, ultimately saving you money.

• Value for Workstation Users: If you’re a professional in need of a powerful workstation CPU that won’t break the bank in terms of power and cooling costs, the 7980X is an excellent choice.

The AMD Threadripper 7980X is not only an efficient CPU but also a powerhouse for professionals who require high-core-count performance.

Best Budget CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 6600

For those on a tight budget, the AMD Ryzen 5 6600 is the best budget CPU of 2023.

Why the Ryzen 5 6600 is the Best Budget CPU:

• Affordable: Priced around $150, this CPU provides solid performance without emptying your wallet.
• Good Gaming Performance: The Ryzen 5 6600 offers respectable gaming performance for budget-conscious gamers, especially when paired with a mid-range GPU.
• Efficient: This CPU maintains relatively low power consumption, reducing the need for expensive cooling solutions.
• Upgrade Path: If you start with the Ryzen 5 6600, you have an upgrade path to higher-tier CPUs in the future without changing your motherboard.
• Value for Money: In terms of price-to-performance ratio, the Ryzen 5 6600 excels, making it an excellent choice for budget builds.

The Ryzen 5 6600 is perfect for those who want to build an affordable gaming PC or upgrade an existing system without spending a fortune.

Best CPU for Content Creators: Intel i9-14900XE

Content creators require CPUs with a good balance of single-threaded and multi-threaded performance, and the Intel i9-14900XE delivers precisely that.

Why the i9-14900XE is the Best for Content Creators:

• Multithreaded Performance: With its high core count and impressive multithreaded performance, the i9-14900XE excels in content creation tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, and more.
• Single-Threaded Performance: Intel’s architecture provides strong single-threaded performance, ensuring that your applications remain responsive and snappy.
• Versatile Workload Handling: Whether you’re working with Adobe Creative Suite, Autodesk software, or other content creation tools, the i9-14900XE can handle a variety of workloads.
• Support for PCIe 5.0: With PCIe 5.0 support, this CPU can take advantage of high-speed storage and other PCIe 5.0 devices for faster data transfer.
• Quad-Channel Memory: The i9-14900XE supports quad-channel memory, providing ample bandwidth for memory-intensive tasks.

If you’re a content creator who needs a CPU that can handle demanding workloads, the Intel i9-14900XE is an excellent choice.

Best High-End Desktop CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7990X

For users who require the absolute best high-end desktop CPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 7990X is the top choice of 2023.

What Makes the Ryzen 9 7990X the Best High-End Desktop CPU:

• Extreme Multithreading: With 96 cores and 192 threads, the Ryzen 9 7990X offers unprecedented multithreaded performance, making it ideal for extreme workstations and rendering tasks.
• Quad-Channel Memory: Supporting quad-channel memory, this CPU ensures that memory-intensive applications run smoothly and efficiently.
• High PCIe Lane Count: With plenty of PCIe lanes, the Ryzen 9 7990X can accommodate multiple high-speed GPUs, storage devices, and expansion cards.
• Exceptional Workstation Performance: Whether you’re a 3D artist, video editor, or scientific researcher, this CPU handles demanding workloads with ease.
• Threadripper Platform: The Ryzen 9 7990X is compatible with the Threadripper platform, providing extensive connectivity and expandability options.

The AMD Ryzen 9 7990X is a behemoth of a CPU, designed for users who require the utmost performance and scalability in their high-end desktop systems.

Best Mini-ITX CPU: Intel i5-12500T

Mini-ITX builds require compact, efficient, and powerful CPUs, and the Intel i5-12500T fits the bill perfectly.

Why the i5-12500T is the Best Mini-ITX CPU:

• Compact and Efficient: The i5-12500T is a low-power CPU that fits perfectly in Mini-ITX cases, allowing for small and efficient builds.
• Strong Performance: Despite its low power consumption, this CPU provides impressive performance for its class, making it suitable for gaming and productivity tasks.
• Integrated Graphics: The i5-12500T comes with integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a dedicated GPU in some Mini-ITX builds.
• Low Heat Output: With its low TDP, this CPU generates minimal heat, reducing the demand for elaborate cooling solutions in small cases.
• Affordable: Priced reasonably, the i5-12500T offers good value for those looking to build a compact PC.

If you’re planning to build a Mini-ITX system, the Intel i5-12500T is an excellent choice for a balance of performance and efficiency.

Conclusion

In 2023, the CPU market offers a wide range of options catering to various needs and budgets. Whether you’re a gamer, content creator, or professional in need of a powerful workstation, there’s a CPU for you. Keep in mind that the best CPU for you depends on your specific use case and budget. Make sure to consider factors such as gaming performance, productivity needs, power efficiency, and upgrade options when choosing the right CPU for your PC build.