What is the Best Intel Processor for Gaming in 2021?

Over the years, Intel has revolutionized the world of Hardware by releasing ever more efficient processors, even if the brand has been criticized a lot for its lack of innovation before the arrival of Ryzen AMD.

what’s the best intel processor for gaming? Intel is in the tenth generation of the Intel Core processor, and we have decided to give you a comparison of the best models available on the market today. For each model, we will list the strengths and weaknesses of the latter.

We have also prepared a sort of “buying guide” for you showing you how to choose your Intel CPU in 2021.

So without further ado, here are the best Intel processors in 2021!

Comparative table of processors for streamer/gamer

Intel Pentium G5400 Best CPU for Gaming 2021

Intel Pentium G5400

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Pros

• Hyper-Threading Compatible
• Good single-core performance

Cons

• Hardly overclockable
• Rather bad graphics part

Product Description

The Intel Pentium G5400 is a processor with only two cores released by Intel in 2018. This G5400 is based on the manufacturer’s Cofee Lake architecture and is engraved with a fineness of 14nm. This processor is part of the “Pentium” range from Intel, a range that therefore offers entry-level models, with certainly few cores but not too bad “single-core” performance. Very often (and this G5400 is no exception to the rule) Intel Pentium processors will have very good factory frequencies, which allows them to be relatively fluid in basic tasks. Here, this G5400 is factory clocked at 3.7GHz, all with a TDP of 54W. This frequency can obviously be overclocked, but in this case, it will be necessary to provide a good cooling system.

At the motherboard level, you must have a model equipped with an 1151 socket to be able to install this G5400. Be careful, however, not all 1151 cards are compatible with this Intel processor. Only cards with a 300 series chipset, for example with a Z390 chipset, will be able to accept it.

A big positive point, this G5400 also integrates an Intel HD Graphics 610 graphics chipset, which can therefore potentially replace the graphics card if your use is limited to office automation. At the gaming level, this Intel G5400 processor will be perfect for running small games, regardless of the resolution. However, the performance of this CPU will be very quickly limited on AAAs, like Red Dead Redemption 2. At high resolutions, you will generally be limited by your graphics card, so that even if your CPU is a little weak, you won’t. won’t have any freeze or jerk problems.

Intel Core i3-9100F Best Budget Gaming CPU 2021

Intel Core i3-9100F

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Pros

• Excellent performance/price ratio
• Very efficient on simple tasks
• Possibility of reaching very good frequencies in “Turbo Boost” mode

Cons

Product Description

Now let’s take a look at a slightly more upscale model, the Intel Core I3-9100F. This model is exactly the same as the I3-9100, with the difference that here it does not include a graphics chipset. So if you want a similar GPU with a graphics part, you can turn to the Intel Core I3-9100. We, therefore, find a processor with 4 physical cores and 4 logic cores as well. Each of these cores is factory clocked at 3.6GHz, but it is possible to increase the frequency to 4.2Ghz thanks to Intel’s “turbo boost” technology.

Among the positive points, we can in particular mention the fact that this model is delivered with a cooler, which thus avoids the additional expenses to buy one.

Overall, the performance of this 9100F is quite good for a processor under $100. In 1080p, it manages to run all the latest AAAs at over 60 frames per second (with the graphics card that goes of course). This GPU will therefore not limit you in your gaming performance. In application, however, the performance is below what could be obtained with a Ryzen processor of the same price.

Please note, you must plan to purchase a dedicated graphics card to use this Intel Core I3-9100F.

Intel Core i5-9400F Best Intel Processor for Gaming

Intel Core i5-9400F

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Pros

• Performance close to an i7 in gaming
• Easily overclockable

Cons

• Delivered without cooler
• Compatible motherboards quite expensive

Product Description

The Intel Core i5-9600K is a mid-range CPU from Intel with 6 physical cores and 6 threads. This 9600k is factory clocked at a frequency of 4.1Ghz, with the possibility of reaching 4.60GHz thanks to Intel’s Turbo Boost technology. It is therefore a little better than the 3.60GHz of the model of the previous generation, namely the I5-8600K. With the arrival of the new Ryzen, however, we could have expected a drop in price on this model, but this is unfortunately not the case since it will always cost around $240 to acquire it. In addition, the manufacturer also does not provide a cooler when buying the processor, unlike AMD, which means that you have to buy one more.

The letter “F” at the end of the model name means that this processor is easily overclockable for better performance. Be careful, however, overclocking tends to considerably increase the heating, and you will therefore have to provide a relatively efficient fan to compensate for this heating.

In terms of consumption, you should not exceed 50W when no application is launched. In intensive use, this CPU should consume around 130W, which is very fair.

This processor from Intel is rather intended for gaming, since it offers in-game performance similar to what can be found on i7 or i9, and is, therefore, more than sufficient to run AAAs like Red Dead Redemption 2. That is why we recommend this model only for PCs which are primarily intended for gaming.

Intel Core i7-9700K Best Processor for PC

Intel Core i7-9700K

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Pros

• Excellent in gaming and applications
• Presence of 8 hearts

Cons

• No “Hyper-Threading”
• Relatively high price

Product Description

We cannot talk about the best Intel processors without mentioning the manufacturer’s Core i7 range. This range includes models that are not only efficient in gaming, but also very good in application to stream your game live, for example. The model we have here chosen is the best i7 currently on the market, the Intel Core I7-9700K.

This 9700K is priced at around $400, which is much higher than the price of the previous model, the i5-9600K. But is this price difference justified by the performance gain? Well, it will depend on your use. For hard-core gaming, you won’t have much difference between the 9600K and this i7-9700K. In application, however, the two physical and logical cores, in addition, will bring a real gain in performance. In addition, this 9700K overclock better than its counterpart in the i5 range, and if your cooling allows it, it is possible to reach 4.90GHz thanks to Turbo Boost technology.

As with many Intel CPUs, “single-core” performance is excellent, and it is for this reason that Intel will generally be preferred over AMD for gaming. However, we can assume that in the years to come games will tend to be optimized to use all the cores of the processor, which is unfortunately not the case today.

Intel Core i9-9900K Best Intel Processor for Gaming Budget

Intel Core i9-9900K

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Pros

• Performance much higher than what is needed for gaming
• Presence of 16 threads

Cons

• Very high prices

Product Description

Intel recently released a new line of processors, the Core i9s. These are very high-end models, intended for very specific uses such as heavy video editing for example. This Intel Core i9-9900K is sort of the messiah of processors, the best consumer processor available on the market today. This 9900K has no less than 8 physical cores, 16 logic cores with the possibility of reaching a frequency of 5.0GHz in boost mode.

First of all, know that this 9900K is not made for gaming, because as said previously, current games struggle to properly use processors with a lot of cores. In France, Intel offers this model for around $500, not including the price of the motherboard, which is also quite substantial. This CPU is therefore unfortunately not very affordable financially.

Quite impressively, this 9900K manages to embed 8 cores and 16 threads while maintaining a TDP of 95W, which is therefore similar to what we find on a 9600K. Another novelty on this processor, Intel has integrated a new heat dissipation technology, thus limiting the heating in intensive use. On average, this 9900K will be about 10 degrees cooler than an I7-8700K.

As on the 9700K, this Intel Core i9-9900K has an Intel HD Graphics 630 graphics chip, which is sufficient for fairly light gaming, but which will have to be replaced by a dedicated graphics card to hope to run the big AAAs of the moment, such as Cyberpunk 2077. As you will have understood, the i9-9900K is reserved for people who want the best possible performance in application. If you are a gamer, we recommend you instead look to the i5-9600K see the i7-9700K because you will not see any difference between these and this i9-9900K.

How to choose your Intel processor?

The choice of a processor should be primarily based on the characteristics of the processor. So, here are the main criteria to check if you want to buy an Intel CPU.

• The number of cores: In general, the more core a CPU has, the more efficient it will be. However, this rule is not verified in video games, as developers tend to optimize their games more for high CPU frequencies than for a large number of cores. In 2021, the less powerful Intel processors generally have at least 4 cores, except the most entry-level processors which have 2 cores.
• Frequency: The frequency of the CPU obviously has a big impact on performance. The higher the frequency, the better the performance, but the more the heating is likely to be too. Thus, it is recommended to have a good cooler if you ever decide to increase the factory frequency on your CPU.
• The graphics chip: Intel is known to integrate a graphics part into a large number of these processors. This graphics chip is used to avoid having to put an additional graphics card on PCs that are limited to office automation. Indeed, Intel’s graphics chipset is sufficient to provide all the basic functions of a computer, such as Internet searches.
• The socket: Not all processors are compatible with all motherboards. Each motherboard has what is called a “socket”, it is in a way an indication that indicates the compatible CPU. Currently, Intel processors are compatible with socket 1151 motherboards. A notion of chipset indicating the processors compatible from a software point of view is also to be taken into account, generally, the compatible models are indicated on the manufacturer’s site.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a gaming processor?

The processor of a gaming computer is the electronic chip that executes all the instructions provided by the operating system of the computer. This is the central element that has access to the data stored on the hard drive, as well as to the information in the RAM.

A gaming processor is an electronic element with an internal clock . The latter allows the processor to maintain a high rate of data analysis. It is therefore the clock frequency, indicated in gigahertz (GHz) , which determines the power of the gaming processor .

Who is it for?

 The best gaming processor in our comparative test is intended for PC video game players who choose to build their computer à la carte. The exceptional performance of a gaming processor in terms of data processing and computing power makes it possible to offer great fluidity and better speed to the entire computer.

It is therefore especially experienced gamers who understand the usefulness of a gaming processor to improve the operation of their video games . Many French video game players mainly play on their computers. Among this population, nearly half are equipped with a gaming PC running on a powerful processor.

How does a gaming processor work?

In order to offer an opinion that clearly reflects the reality of the market and to help you find the product that wins the reviews of the best gaming processor, we have studied how this computer component works. The processors powerful are comprised of millions of transistors.

These miniaturized components measure just a few micrometers (µm). They function as switches that open or close when the electrode to which they are connected is supplied with current.

Thanks to the complex architecture of gaming processors, which defines the way in which the transistors are arranged, the chip is able to perform calculations at the rate of its internal clock.

All the data received by the other components of the computer are thus analyzed by the processor and redirected to the motherboard to ensure a high speed of execution of the video game.

How to buy the best gaming processor?

To get the best processor, rely on our comparison. We have researched a lot of external tests, reviews, and specialist articles to provide you with a comparison of the best Intel processor for gaming in 2021.

When to change a gaming processor?

It is necessary to replace a processor when it is damaged or when it is obsolete and no longer sufficient to launch new games. To find the best replacement processor, take a look at our comparison!

What are the effects of a good video game processor?

A suitable gaming processor improves the fluidity and speed of a video game.

Is the right processor important for playing video games?

Yes, it is important to choose the right processor to play heavy video games, especially the most recent. To find the processor at the best quality / price ratio, see our comparison.

How to install a gaming processor?

The best way to install a processor is to rely on the instructions provided by the manufacturer. This component attaches to the motherboard. It must be connected to a cooling system using a thermal paste to avoid overheating.

How many cores must my gaming processor have to be efficient?

The number of cores in a processor affects the number of simultaneous tasks that can be performed by the computer. A minimum of 4 cores is recommended for lightweight games, 6 cores for heavy games, and 8 or more cores for 4K and VR games.

Along with the processor, what are the important components for a good gaming computer?

In addition to providing your computer with the best processor, it is important to ensure that your PC is equipped with a suitable graphics card and a powerful network card for online gaming or streaming.

What is the recommended minimum clock speed for a gaming processor?

The minimum clock frequency used by high-end processors is 3.5 GHz. It is the average frequency indicated in the comparisons that must be taken into account.

What is the right power for a gaming computer processor?

The power of a processor is simply its power consumption. It is expressed in watts. A minimum power of 50 watts is recommended. The clock frequency is the most significant value concerning the performance of the component

Where to buy your gaming processor?

To avoid wasting time and take advantage of the best prices, buying online is the safest way. Thanks to our comparison, there is no need to go to a specialized store: you already have all the advice you need!