The state of gaming processors in 2020 is very exciting. Not so long ago, Intel was the go-to brand for CPUs for desktop, whilst AMD was still looked at as an inferior alternative. However, Intel struggled to advance from the 14nm architecture to 10nm, and that set them back considerably. In the meantime, AMD released a 7nm chip which put them ahead of the game.
Intel also released a few 10th generation chips this year but they are not considerably better than their previous 9th gen processors. On the other hand, AMD’s chips are some of the best on the market right now. Without further ado, we’re going to be reviewing some of the best processors for gaming in this article.
Intel Core i5-10600K
Although AMD has some of the best chips right now, the i5-10600K is overtaking AMD slightly, getting the first position on our list. It is an all-around great processor with six cores and twelve threads. Its top boosted frequency can reach up to 4.8GHz, which is incredibly high. This processor delivers performance near the i9-10900K and i7-10700K but at half the price. It is one of the best chips you can have right now, especially if you’re a gamer on a budget.
AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
The AMD Ryzen 9 3950X is a high-performance processor with 16 cores, 32 threads, and a 4.7GHz frequency. It offers top-level HEDT-class performance at a considerably lower entry point, making such impressive power available to more people. The Ryzen 9 3950X is a bit of an overkill for gaming alone since this chip is prepared to take on a lot of other resource-intensive tasks. But, if you want something that can kick ass professionally but still deliver top-gaming performance, this is a great choice.
AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS
The i5-10600K is an all-around great desktop CPU, and the Ryzen 9 3950X is awesome for intensive work but, the Ryzen 9 4900HS is the ultimate chip for laptop gaming. It’s a 35W laptop chip with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a maximum boosted frequency of 4.4 GHz. The processor can be found in the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, and it’s meant to deliver desktop gaming performance, in a thin and compact laptop format. For this reason, it certainly deserves a place on this list.
Things to consider besides the CPU
Keep in mind that a powerful gaming PC or laptop needs more than just a processor. A powerful GPU, RAM, and SSD are also essential. Depending on your gaming needs, you might want to pick and choose some of these features.
For the GPU, you can go with an integrated or dedicated card. An integrated card is often found in pre-built budget setups. This can be great for casual gaming, browsing, and especially browser gaming. If you’re into gambling and casino games, an integrated card with an entry-level CPU is more than enough. Online casinos like Gametwist are pretty accessible, as long as you have a good enough internet connection. So, if you’re into simpler games filled with adrenaline, your computer setup is not that important.
But, you will need a pretty good GPU to run some of the latest titles. Something like the Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti or AMD RX 580-8GB will be good enough for a lot of powerful games but you might want to upgrade for competitive gaming. In terms of RAM, 8GB should be the minimum but 16GB is recommended in today’s world.
