Which Intel processors are there and which Intel processor for gaming? MeinMMO explains what you need to consider when buying a new processor and which one might be worthwhile for your new system.
Team Blue: Along with AMD, Intel is the most important manufacturer of processors in the PC sector. There are now various sockets and processors that you can buy for your system.
If you have decided on Intel for your next PC upgrade, then in the following article you will find the best processors from Intel that you can currently buy for your gaming system.
Latest updates: 02/26/24, 02/14/23.
Which Intel processor for gaming?
Basically, the same pattern applies to all Intel processors: Core i3, i5, i7 and i9 are counterparts to AMD’s Ryzen 3, 5, 7 and 9 and represent roughly the same performance class:
Best Intel CPU for around 100 euros: Intel Core i3-14100F
For beginners: The Intel Core i3-14100F is considered the best recommendation on the market if you need a cheap and fast processor to get started. With the Intel Core i3-14100F you get the fastest i3 processor for around 120 euros.
If you are coming from a previous model, such as the i3-12100F or the 13100F, then the upgrade is not really worth it.
Best Intel CPU for 200 euros for gamers: Core i5-13400F
For gamers: Intel’s Core i5-13400F is considered the best recommendation for gaming if you don’t want to spend more than around 200 euros on a processor. The price currently fluctuates between 190 and 210 euros, depending on the retailer. The F in the name means that the processor does not have a graphics chip, so you definitely need a graphics card.
If you have a larger budget, you can also choose the more modern and faster i5-12600KF, which is currently the best mid-range from Intel. However, the price here is over 300 euros. The i5-13400F is around 10 – 15 percent slower than its successor, the 14600KF, but it also costs 100 euros less:
Best Intel CPU under 600 euros: Core i9 14900KF
For enthusiasts: The fastest and best CPU from Intel is currently the Intel Core i9-14900KF. This is aimed primarily at users who want to have the fastest and best processor in their gaming PC. The price here is around 600 euros.
However, this is not absolutely necessary, as you need a fast graphics card rather than a processor, especially for high resolutions beyond Full HD. If you already own a Core i5-12600K or even the Core i9 13900K, then the upgrade won’t give you much additional performance:
LGA 1200, LGA1700 or LGA1851 – Which socket should I choose?
The sockets for the processors are hidden behind the cryptic number sequences. The corresponding CPU is inserted into the socket.
The LGA1200 is the oldest socket still recommended and supports the 10th and 11th generations (2020 and 2021) of Intel processors. We would no longer recommend an older socket because purchasing the hardware is hardly worth it anymore.
LGA1700 is Intel’s current socket and has been supported since the 12th generation (2022). The 13th generation (“Raptor Lake”) and the 14th generation are also supported. We suspect the next base will appear in 2025.
In the future there will also be LGA1851. So far there are speculations that Intel wants to release “Meteor Lake” in 2023 and then the next socket with the 14th generation. So far there is no further information about LGA1851.
DDR4 or DDR5 – Which RAM do I need for Intel?
In contrast to AMD, Intel has decided to support both DDR4 and DDR5 with the LGA1700 socket. This means that with a current processor you can use both DDR5 RAM with up to 5,600 MT/s and DDR4 RAM with up to 3,200 MT/s.
However, there is a catch. Before buying a motherboard, you have to choose either DDR4 or DDR5. Because the mainboard only offers you the socket for one of the two RAM types.
Further questions: FAQ about Intel
Currently there are Celeron, Pentium Gold, i3, i5, i7 and i9 from Intel.
The best core is the i9. This is followed in descending order by i7, i5 and i3. The fastest Intel processors can be found under the abbreviation i9.
If you want to use the current socket, then LGA1700 is the first choice. But you can still use LGA1200, even if no other processors for this type are presented.
LGA1700 is the current socket for Intel processors and replaces the previous socket LGA1200. We suspect that the socket will continue to be supported until at least 2024. Intel itself states that all 12th, 13th and 14th generation desktop processors are supported.
The Intel Core i9-14900KF is currently the best gaming processor you could buy from Intel.
With the newer processors, Intel has divided the processors into sub-processors, so-called P-Cores and E-Cores: While P-Cores are intended to take on the main load of your computer, the E-Cores are primarily intended to take on small tasks and background tasks. Hence the name E for efficiency.
Further recommendations and tips for purchasing hardware: Are you still looking for tips and recommendations and would you like to buy a suitable graphics card for your new processor? On MeinMMO we explain in detail what you need to consider when buying a graphics card:
When it comes to a graphics card, how important is whether I buy AMD or Nvidia?