TOP—7. The best budget processors. October 2021. Rating!

AMD Ryzen 5 2600

Number of cores: 6
Number of threads: 12
Base frequency: 3400 MHz
Maximum frequency: 3900 MHz
L3 cache size: 16 MB
Process technology: 12 nm
Standard TDP: 65 W

Among budget models there are not only entry-level stones, but also intermediate ones. In the case of AMD, this has been the Ryzen 5 line for several years now. With each new generation, the relevance of past models may subside, but very slowly, which cannot be said about prices. Usually you can see how before the sale of new processors, almost two old ones become cheaper. This arrangement is obviously extremely profitable; many users even specifically expect such moments in order to save money.

A good example of this is the Ryzen 5 2600, which is almost half the price of its newer version. Although there are not so many differences between them.

According to the characteristics, we have 6 full cores and 12 threads at a maximum frequency of 3.9 GHz. The technical process corresponds to 2021 - 12 nm. The volume of the third level cache is 16 MB. This was a lot two years ago and is still a good value, even though in the new generation of AMD stones they doubled the L3 cache. You can also play both standard and current games, as well as more demanding projects.

If we take the nominal hardware parameters as an example, then in ultra games we can get the following results for average FPS: in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided 80 frames, in Watch Dogs 2 - 65 frames, and this also applies to a processor overclocked from the factory, in Battlefield 1 around 100 FPS and finally Assassin's Creed Origins 76 FPS. Generally speaking, these are quite solid indicators for a stone that can be snatched for up to 10 thousand rubles in a store.

Intel Core i5-9400F

Number of cores: 6
Number of threads: 6
Base frequency: 2900 MHz
Maximum frequency: 4100 MHz
L3 cache size: 9 MB
Process technology: 14 nm
Standard TDP: 65 W

I would call the Core i5-9400F a direct competitor to the previous processor. At first glance, one might immediately doubt it, because there is no multi-threading as such in this case, which means that in certain games the Ryzen 5 2600 will definitely be ahead, but not everything is so clear. It is worth understanding that currently existing games, as well as those that are coming out, are not as CPU-dependent as they seem. Long ago, there was a shift in the industry towards video cards, especially for single-user projects. This is why you can see significant growth in the graphics industry and slight stagnation in the case of processors.

Nowadays, in games there are much fewer objects that have their own physics, and the level of realism and colorfulness of the final image is much higher, which can also be achieved more likely with hardware tools, take as an example the same RTX line from NVIDIA with ray tracing.

Moreover, the specifics of Intel stones also play a role here. Everyone who is familiar with this topic understands well that Intel and AMD processors are different; their differences lie in architecture and optimization. It just so happened that Intel for a long time was the company that was preferred by more people, due to which they had enough time and money to improve their product not in the form of big numbers in characteristics, but in optimization. It is for this reason that you can observe the superiority of the Core i5-9400F in games: in Assassin's Creed Odyssey more than 72 FPS, in Battlefield V 138 FPS, in Call of Cthulhu 101 FPS and almost 130 frames in Conan Exiles.

For this reason, it is important to clearly understand what tasks you are going to use your computer for. If it's gaming, then Intel is your choice; for work, AMD is irreplaceable.

Gaming processor under 5,000 rubles: AMD Athlon 200GE - the cheapest reasonable gaming processor

The AMD Athlon 200GE especially stands out among cheap processors. This is a dual-core, four-thread processor, and today two cores and four threads are the absolute minimum in a gaming computer. Not only because of performance, but also because more and more new games don't want to run on a computer with a dual-threaded processor, or even if they do run, they run very, very poorly.

It is so strong that if you are a less demanding player or primarily play popular eSports games such as CS:GO, League of Legends, Fortnite, then its performance should satisfy you. However, it should be made clear that in more demanding games this can quickly become a bottleneck limiting the performance of the graphics card (especially in newer titles such as The Witcher 3, Far Cry 5, Battlefield V). If your gaming PC has a $250 (or more) graphics card, the Athlon 200GE won't be your best companion. It will perform well as a companion to cards like the GeForce GTX 1050/1050 Ti and Radeon RX 560.

The AMD Athlon 200GE is theoretically a direct competitor to the Intel Pentium Gold G5400 processor, which is also a four-thread system and provides slightly higher (from several to ten percent) gaming performance. However, current prices for Intel processors are greatly inflated, which makes the purchase of Pentium very unfavorable compared to AMD's offer. Plus, the AMD processors are decent with the B350 chipset, which allows them to be overclocked cheaper than similarly equipped motherboards compatible with Intel's 8th generation processors. If we add to it fairly good integrated graphics that can play older and less demanding games, then it turns out that people on a very tight budget have only one reasonable choice.

Intel Core i3-9350KF

Number of cores: 4
Number of threads: 4
Base frequency: 4000 MHz
Maximum frequency: 4600 MHz
L3 cache size: 8 MB
Process technology: 14 nm
Standard TDP: 91 W

In general, Intel has always been a company that was not afraid to experiment both in the server computer market and with products that are available to all users. However, most often this is expressed in the form of lucrative offers tailored to a narrower audience.

By default, Intel prefers to release processors with standard integrated graphics, which are not capable of much in terms of games. This also affects sales; it is more profitable for the user to buy such a stone and insert it into his computer, which, for example, is designed simply for viewing media content and checking mail, thereby saving on a video card. However, Intel goes even further and sells exactly the same stones, but with non-working graphics, but at a reduced price, which creates a huge rush around people who want to save as much as possible. An ideal example of this is the Core i3-9350KF, which, in addition, is marked K, which also attracts the attention of users. To be clearer, the K marking on Intel processors indicates a free multiplier, and this completely frees up the hands of all those who like to overclock their system.

And even though this is a junior stone with 4 cores and without multithreading, Intel took care of a high maximum frequency and a good amount of L3 cache memory of 8 MB. Although it is worth recognizing that this was reflected in the TDP, which is 91 W.

Rating of budget processors

Best Budget Processor for Socket AM3+

AMD FX-6300 Vishera

AM3 + AMD FX-6300 Vishera is a desktop processor based on Vishera architecture, which is designed for office systems. It is manufactured using a 32nm process technology and has 6 cores and 6 threads. The multiplier is locked, so this stone is not suitable for overclocking. The frequency is a maximum of 3800 MHz. The heat dissipation is 95 W. Supports DDR3-1866 memory.

L1 cache size is 48 KB.
L2 cache size is 6144 KB.
L3 cache size is 8192 KB.

The price of about 3,800 rubles will not frighten a computer geek who will appreciate the high characteristics of the model.

Price: ₽ 3,800

Best budget processor for gaming on socket AM4

AMD Ryzen 3 2200G (4800)

The 4-core processor is manufactured using a 14-nanometer process technology. Installed in socket AM4. The cores operate in four threads at a frequency of 3500 MHz. In automatic mode, overclocking to 3700 MHz is allowed. Considering modern characteristics, the price of about 5,500 rubles will not seem excessive.

L1 cache - 95 KB.
L2 cache - 2 MB.
L3 cache - 4 MB.

Dual-channel fast DDR4 memory with a frequency of 2993 MHz is supported. The Vega 8 graphics module built into the processor operates at a frequency of 500 MHz. The integrated graphics capabilities are enough for watching high-definition videos and for simple games.

Price: ₽ 5,550 Check on CITYLINK

The best budget processor for the LGA1151 v2 socket

Intel Core i3-9100F

The desktop version of the processor has been available since April 2021. A modern model costing about 6,000 rubles based on Coffee Lake architecture is suitable for offices. Has 4 cores and 4 threads. The operating frequency is 3600 MHz and the maximum frequency is 4200 MHz. Manufactured using a 14 nanometer process. The multiplier is locked, so you can't count on overclocking.

L1 cache - 64 KB.
L2 cache - 256 KB.
L3 cache - 6 MB.

The Core i3-9100F comes with built-in technologies that enhance security, such as anti-hacking. DDR4-2400 memory format is supported. Compatible with socket LGA1151 revision 2. The heat dissipation is a rather modest 65 W. A good choice for a quiet but productive machine.

Price: ₽ 6,090 Check on CITYLINK

AMD Ryzen 5 3500X

Number of cores: 6
Number of threads: 6
Base frequency: 3600 MHz
Maximum frequency: 4100 MHz
L3 cache size: 32 MB
Process technology: 7 nm
Standard TDP: 65 W

And the last stone for today from AMD, the specification of which could also be called gaming. A bit like Intel, but with higher performance figures. As you can understand from the official website, this stone was originally intended only for China, so it should not have ended up on the Russian market. But as we see, things are different.

Essentially, this is a factory-overclocked CPU with six cores without multi-threading, but with a respectable maximum frequency of 4.1 GHz and using the latest 7 nm process technology. The nominal TDP, even taking into account the existing overclocking, is only 65 W, which indicates good optimization. But what’s more pleasing is the solid volume of third-level cache memory of 32 MB, which allows you to enter the world of processor-dependent games and settle down there thoroughly.

It is not so surprising that there are few tests with this stone; nevertheless, it can be called specific in some way. However, according to the data available on the Internet, we can say that the Ryzen 5 3500X is capable of the following results: 108 FPS in Metro Exodus, 150 FPS in Battlefield V, 148 FPS in The Division 2 and almost 110 FPS in The Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Very solid and worthy if you want to get maximum profit in games for minimal money expenses.

AMD Ryzen 3 3200G processor

The AMD Ryzen 3 3200G processor with Radeon graphics will get the job done quickly and easily. Efficient multi-threaded processing dramatically improves productivity in office applications, photo editing, and web browsing and popular streaming.

Enhanced unlocked quad-core processor for eSports and PC gaming. It's smooth, responsive and ready for anything.

Performance on par with much more expensive PCs.

Ryzen's AMD SenseMI technologies use true AI to speed up the processor.

With VR support, the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G processor provides the processing power needed to handle demanding VR workloads.