New CPUs: Current Market Status

It is crucial to be up-to-date with the GPU and CPU market to get the best PC in your budget. Keeping up with GPUs is easy as there are considerably fewer SKUs than CPUs, and you won’t have to worry about compatibility issues.

Keeping up with CPUs is more complicated, considering how many SKUs are available. Intel’s 12th generation alone has dozens of SKUs. Picking the correct motherboard and RAM is another factor that complicates things even further.

Related:CPU Hierarchy 2023 – PC Processors Tier ListHow Many CPU Cores Do You Need?What Is CPU Cache? (L1, L2, and L3 Cache)

To help you stay up to date with all the new CPUs, we wrote this guide to explain the current market status in detail.

Let’s get right into it!

About The CPU

The Ryzen 7000X3D Series was one of the most anticipated lineups of CPUs because of how powerful 3D V-Cache was on the Ryzen 7 5800X.

The Ryzen 9 7950X3D is AMD’s flagship 3D V-Cache CPU and it is currently the fastest gaming CPU in the world.

It’s priced at $699, while the i9-13900K costs $580 and the Ryzen 9 7950X has a new price of $589. So, definitely one of the more expensive options.

Performance

However, even though it was very anticipated and ended up as the fastest gaming CPU, the performance gains from the extra L3 cache didn’t prove as good as with the Ryzen 7 5800X3D.

Nevertheless, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is incredibly fast and it tops almost any game benchmark.

Here it is against various processors:

Note that it is only marginally faster than the cheaper i9-13900K and that the upcoming Ryzen 7 7800X3D might be the faster CPU when it releases in April of 2023.

Productivity-wise, the Ryzen 9 7950X is slightly faster than the Ryzen 9 7950X3D because certain cores are clocked lower.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Ryzen 9 7950X3D draw considerably less power than the R9 7950X and i9-13900K.

Specifications

Base Clock	4.2GHz
Max Boost Clock	5.7GHz
Cores	16
Threads	32
Socket/Chipset	AM5
L2 Cache	16MB
L3 Cache	128MB
TDP	120W
Process	5nm

About The CPU

When the Ryzen 9 7950X3D was released, it took up the mantle of the fastest gaming CPU in the world, overtaking the i9-13900K.

However, this was expected to be a short run since the much cheaper Ryzen 7 7800X3D was planned to release only a few months later. And, here it is in all its glory.

For $450, it’s practically as fast as the X3D Ryzen 9, which is why it falls into this “Fastest Gaming CPU” category.

Performance

The Ryzen 9 has that extra performance for multi-threaded tasks since it has 8 more cores than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

But, if you’re looking for a gaming system, you get the same gaming performance for $250 less.

Have a look at this chart:

When paired with a high GPU like the RTX 4090, the Ryzen 9 and Ryzen 7 provide almost identical performance in 12 different games including Cyberpunk 2077, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, F1 2022, and more.

But, that’s not all!

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is also incredibly efficient, peaking at just 86W, which is significantly lower than most of the high-end Intel or AMD CPUs on the market right now.

Specifications

Base Clock	4.2GHz
Max Boost Clock	5.0GHz
Cores	8
Threads	16
Socket/Chipset	AM5
L2 Cache	8MB
L3 Cache	96MB
TDP	120W
Process	5nm

About The CPU

The Intel Core i9-13900K was undoubtedly the fastest gaming CPU in the world, but it was recently overtaken by the Ryzen 7000X3D CPUs.

This i9 is priced at $589, putting it $289 more expensive than the 7700X, but it is also about $110 cheaper than AMD’s flagship Ryzen 9 7950X3D. It’s also $10-$20 cheaper than the R9 7900X3D.

If you are looking to get the best of the best, the i9-13900K is up there with the top 3 CPUs.

Performance

When paired with an RTX 4090 and fast DDR5 RAM, at 1080p, the i9-13900K is one of the fastest gaming CPU in the world. It surpasses all Ryzen 7000 CPUs and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, and losing by a small margin to the 7950X3D and 7900X3D.

However, do note that the difference in performance is less than 5%. If any of these top 8-10 CPUs are paired with a weaker GPU, the performance difference will be even smaller.

For productivity work, the i9-13900K trades blows with the Ryzen 9 7950X even though AMD’s CPU has 16 “big” cores.

The i9-13900K comes very close to the 7950X even though Blender usually favors Ryzen CPUs.

Considering that the Ryzen is $100+ more expensive, the i9-13900K definitely seems like the better offer here for everyone.

Specifications

Base Clock	3.0 GHz
Max Boost Clock	5.8 GHz
Cores	24
Threads	32
Socket/Chipset	LGA1700
L2 Cache	32MB
L3 Cache	36MB
TDP	125W
Process	10nm Enhanced SuperFin / Intel 7

About The CPU

Even though the Intel i9-13900K is a beast of a CPU, holding the top of the chart, the Ryzen 7 7700X is still the second-best gaming CPU in the world for almost $300 less.

Keep in mind, though, any Ryzen 7000 CPU needs an AM5 motherboard with DDR5 RAM, which is more expensive than DDR4 RAM and motherboards.

Performance

It is still a bit early for review compilation/round-up, but current tests show the Ryzen 7 7700X averaging at the top of the gaming charts.

Here’s Hardware Unboxed’s chart of a 12-game average:

Even though this chart is a bit older (pre-13th-gen) release, it’s still relevant. The Ryzen 7 7700X is faster than the i9-12900K, negligibly faster than the i7-13700K, and about 4% slower than the i9-13900K.

The Ryzen 7 7700X lacks in productivity work though since the i7-13700K, i9-13900K, and even the i5-13600K have more threads.

In this Corona 1.3 benchmark, for example, the i7 stomps the Ryzen 7.

Specifications

Base Clock	4.5GHz
Max Boost Clock	5.4GHz
Cores	8
Threads	16
Socket/Chipset	AM5
L2 Cache	8MB
L3 Cache	32MB
TDP	105W
Process	5 nm

About The CPU

The Ryzen 9 5900X and 5950X were AMD’s fastest CPUs, but once Intel took over the number one gaming CPU spot with the i9-12900K, AMD had to answer.

AMD’s answer was to 3D stack L3 cache onto the 5800X, leading to better performance. This is how we got the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, the fastest gaming CPU, together with the Intel Core i9-12900KS.

At $449, this Ryzen is around $300 cheaper than Intel’s fastest gaming CPU. But, there are some caveats.

Performance

Even though the difference in gaming performance between these high-end processors is relatively small, we understand that some people want to obtain the one at the top of the CPU hierarchy.

This 8-core and 16-thread CPU is almost identical to the Ryzen 7 5800X, with the significant difference being the L3 cache. With 3D stacking technology, the 5800X3D has 96MB of L3 cache, while its predecessor has only 32MB.

Here are a few benchmarks to show the performance gap between Intel’s flagship i9 and AMD’s new CPU king:

Out of the 40 games tested at Hardware Unboxed, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D comes out only 1% faster than the i9-12900K. Also, expect a negligible difference with the 12900KS since it isn’t any quicker either.

If you look at the review roundup we posted above, you’ll see that the Ryzen is only 1% slower than the KS.

So, as you can see, the FPS you get will mostly be the same whether you go for Intel or AMD.

However, if you are looking for a quieter, cooler, and less power-hungry system, the Ryzen 5800X3D is the clear winner because the Intel churns almost 250W.

On the other hand, the Ryzen is pretty weak at productivity work since it has eight cores and is clocked slower than the non-3D 5800X.

Specifications

Base Clock	3.4GHz
Max Boost Clock	4.5GHz
Cores	8
Threads	16
Chipset	AM4
L2 Cache	4MB
L3 Cache	96MB
TDP	105W
Process	7nm

About The CPU

At $409, the Intel Core i7-13700K is the best value high-end CPU, no doubt.

At the same price point ($10 more expensive) as the Ryzen 7 7700X, users get 8 more (efficiency) cores. That amounts to 24 threads, while the 7700X has just 16.

Additionally, this i7 can be paired with DDR4 motherboards and memory, which leads to a cheaper system than a Ryzen 7 7700X build.

Performance

While the i9-13900K and Ryzen 7 7700X get a “Best Gaming CPU” title, the truth is that all of the top CPUs perform quite similarly.

Intel’s new i7 is about 5% slower than the Ryzen if it is paired with DDR4 memory. When paired with DDR5, the performance gap is almost non-existant.

For productivity tasks, the i7-13700K is an absolute beast thanks to the 16 cores and 24 threads.

In Blender, the i7-13700K is 35% faster than the Ryzen equivalent. So, if you are looking for a CPU to game on, but also do some rendering/editing work, the i7 is the perfect choice.

Specifications

Base Clock	3.4 GHz
Max Boost Clock	5.4 GHz
Cores	16
Threads	24
Socket/Chipset	LGA1700
L2 Cache	24MB
L3 Cache	30MB
TDP	125W
Process	10nm Enhanced SuperFin / Intel 7

About The CPU

The Ryzen 7 7600 isn’t a high-end CPU based on its price, but it can be considered as such once you factor in its performance.

It competes with contenders like the i7-13700K, Ryzen 7 7700X, and even Ryzen 7 5800X3D, so it definitely deserves a spot on this list.

To further its attractiveness, AMD put a $229 price tag on this CPU.

Performance

In this 12-game average, this $229 CPU is only 10% slower than Intel’s $589 flagship.

It also had identical performance with the $300+ i5-13600K and Ryzen 7 5800X3D.

When compared to the Ryzen 5 7600X, it’s only about 4% slower. So, a very small difference while drawing considerably less power.

If you’re looking for more than gaming, you’re probably better off checking out Intel’s 12th or 13th Gen CPUs.

Still, here are some numbers:

In multi-core testing, the 7600 is comparable to the 7600X but still quite a bit slower than the i5-13600K, or even the i5-12600K.

If you prioritize gaming and productivity comes second, the 7600 may still be a good choice for a CPU.

Specifications

Base Clock	3.8GHz
Max Boost Clock	5.1GHz
Cores	6
Threads	12
Socket/Chipset	AM5
L2 Cache	6MB
L3 Cache	32MB
TDP	65W
Process	5 nm

About The CPU

The Ryzen 5 5600X was the best six-core processor for some time, and it was AMD’s best-value CPU after being overtaken by Intel’s 12th gen CPU.

Today, AMD’s best budget six-core CPU is the Ryzen 5 5600 non-X. It’s $100 cheaper (at MSRP) than the X version, performs almost identically, and draws less power.

For less than $150, the Ryzen 5 5600 is a great choice; however, it note that the i5-12400F outperforms it and may come at a lower cost.

But if you are already on the AM4 platform, it’s a no-brainer.

Alternative Pick

The i3-12100F or i3-13100F may be a good alternative Intel option, but they will perform about 10% worse or more in games.

Performance

As mentioned previously, the top 5 or even 10 CPUs globally have no more than a 10% difference in gaming performance. That means whether you have a flagship i9 or a Ryzen 5, your gaming experience will be very similar.

Here’s a look at a 10-game average benchmark:

We can see that the i7-12700K outputs only about 4% more FPS than the Ryzen 5600. So sure, the i7 is faster, but it is also $100+ more expensive with a far more costly platform.

Currently, getting on an AM4 platform can be very cheap. For example, you can find a good B450 board for less than $80. If you want to go an even more affordable path, there are A520 motherboards available. Just make sure you get a fast DDR4 kit.

The reality is that this CPU can handle any of today’s GPUs, including the RTX 3090 or RX 6900 XT. So there’s no real need to go for $500+ CPUs except for better multi-threading.

Like all other Ryzen 5000 Series CPUs, the 5600 has a low power draw and operates at low temperatures. With a Corsair H150i, it stays around 60C.

Specifications

Base Clock	3.5GHz
Max Boost Clock	4.4GHz
Cores	6
Threads	12
Socket/Chipset	AM4
L2 Cache	3MB
L3 Cache	32MB
TDP	65W
Process	7 nm

About The CPU

Intel’s and AMD’s high-end CPUs are definitely appealing options, delivering some insane performance inside and outside of games.

However, realistically, most people are looking to get the most value out of their money when buying a CPU. Intel’s i5-13600K is that best-value CPU.

At $330, it is $30 more expensive than the Ryzen 5 7600X, but when considering the price of RAM and a motherboard, the Intel system can be $100 cheaper (if you go with DDR4.)

Performance

On a 12-game average, at 1080p resolution with NVIDIA’s flagship GPU, the new i5 is only about 3% slower than the Ryzen 5.

Although, if you go with DDR4 memory, the performance gap can increase to about 8% (if you have a very high-end GPU in your system.)

The Ryzen 7 7600X isn’t always so lucky though. This 20-thread CPU demolishes the 6-core Ryzen in Blender by about 25%.

Specifications

Base Clock	3.5GHz
Max Boost Clock	5.1GHz
Cores	14
Threads	20
Socket/Chipset	LGA1700
L2 Cache	20MB
L3 Cache	24MB
TDP	125W
Process	10nm Enhanced SuperFin / Intel 7

About The CPU

Intel’s i5-11400/F was undoubtedly the best value processor for a time. Luckily for Intel, the processor that took over that position was an Alder Lake SKU. The i5-12400 comes at just $209, while the F-edition is around $180.

If you’re considering getting the newer i3-13400, we still recommend going with the i5-12400 since the performance difference is almost negligible.

AMD’s only alternative is the Ryzen 5 7600.

Performance

Far Cry 6, Hitman 3, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider place the i5-12400 in a similar performance range as the 5600X. In other, more CPU-reliant titles such as Rainbow Six Siege, CS: GO, and F1 2021, the 5600X is faster.

Overall, the 5600X is about 6% faster than the i5 but is also 50% more expensive (at MSRP). So realistically, the Ryzen has a 25% higher price tag.

In terms of power consumption, it’s pretty similar to the 5600X. For example, an i5-12400 system draws about 430W in Cyberpunk 2077, while a 5600X system draws around 450W.

Regarding heat, the i5 CPU runs much cooler using Corsair’s H150i, hitting an average of 50 degrees Celsius, which is around 10 degrees cooler than the Ryzen counterpart.

Another massive benefit to this i5 is that it is overclockable even though it is a non-K SKU (with the right motherboard). Der8auer’s overclock pushes the 12400 faster than the i9-12900K.

Specifications

Base Clock	2.5GHz
Max Boost Clock	4.4GHz
Cores	6
Threads	12
Socket/Chipset	LGA1700
L2 Cache	7.5MB
L3 Cache	18MB
TDP	65W
Process	10nm Enhanced SuperFin

About The CPU

A title previously held by AMD’s Ryzen 9 5950X and now by the latest flagship, Ryzen 9 7950X.

This is another 16-core CPU, now priced at $700 compared to $800 for the predecessor.

The Ryzen 9 7950X is the world’s fastest productivity processor, but there’s a catch! The new Intel i9-13900K sometimes outperforms it, so the Ryzen 9 7950X barely holds on to its title of best productivity processor.

Performance

Our first look will be at productivity work.

In Gamers Nexus’ chart of Blender testing, the Ryzen 9 7950X ends up around 9% faster than the i9-13900K and just about the same increase in performance compared to its predecessor.

In code compiling, the Ryzen 9 is around 13% faster than the i9.

So, the performance gains are pretty obvious here. The 7950X also gets a win in power consumption and efficiency since the i9-13900K draws almost 300W.

Specifications

Base Clock	4.5GHz
Max Boost Clock	5.7GHz
Cores	16
Threads	32
Socket/Chipset	AM5
L2 Cache	16MB
L3 Cache	64MB
TDP	170W
Process	5nm

Newly Released CPUs

We looked at some of the most popular, fastest, and overall best processors available on the market right now. However, there might be some new processors that didn’t end up on this list.

To find out the latest CPUs, check out this list that provides information on their features and when they were released.

Note: Some processors on this list might not be available in retail.

Upcoming CPUs

If none of these CPUs have caught your eye and you want a more significant upgrade to your system, consider waiting for the new CPU generations, specifically AMD’s Ryzen 8000 and Intel’s 14th Gen Meteor Lake-S series.

Make sure to come back for the next big CPU series release to see the current best CPUs on the market!