With so many processor models to choose between and – for many people – the question of whether to save some cash and put it towards a faster graphics card, it can be tough to figure out which is the right CPU for you.
Hopefully you already know whether you want to go down the AMD or Intel route, but even if you’re still deciding that, the deals you’ll find below may help you narrow down that choice.
If you’re upgrading an existing CPU and keeping your motherboard, you’ll need to know which processors will work in your current motherboard. In some cases you might have to upgrade your motherboard and other components because they just aren’t compatible with modern CPUs. If that sounds like a daunting task it might make more sense to buy a whole PC.
Top 10 CPU Deals
AMD Ryzen 7 3800X
The Ryzen 7 3800X has 8 Cores and 16 threads with a 4.5 GHz Boost, 3.9 GHz base clock, 36 MB total cache and 105 Watts TDP. It’s a formidable CPU for creatives, if slightly overkill for gamers.
AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
This processor has 6 cores and 12 threads (the same as Intel’s 8700K) with slightly slower clock-speeds at a much lower price. When you take into account the excellent air-cooler that AMD includes in the box with all its performance CPUs, this is a fantastic option.
How to choose the best CPU
As mentioned already, the motherboard must support the CPU you wish to use, so be careful to purchase a compatible motherboard or buy a CPU that fits your current board.
The general rule of thumb is that Intel processors are superior for single core performance, whereas AMD processors tend to be better value while also having more cores than the equivalent price Intel chip. This is a generalisation and there are exceptions to this rule, as ever. For more details, see Intel vs AMD.
Activities such as gaming tend to use up to 4 cores, so there’s little point in buying a 16-core chip: you may as well go for a 4-, 6- or 8-core chip and put the money you saved into a graphics card. That’s why a Ryzen 5 3600X is a very good choice at the moment.
However, if you’re content creating, video editing or doing rendering tasks, you’re better off with a greater number of slower cores, over fewer, faster ones.
Top 10 CPU Deals
AMD Ryzen 7 3800X
The Ryzen 7 3800X has 8 Cores and 16 threads with a 4.5 GHz Boost, 3.9 GHz base clock, 36 MB total cache and 105 Watts TDP. It’s a formidable CPU for creatives, if slightly overkill for gamers.
AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
This processor has 6 cores and 12 threads (the same as Intel’s 8700K) with slightly slower clock-speeds at a much lower price. When you take into account the excellent air-cooler that AMD includes in the box with all its performance CPUs, this is a fantastic option.
When is Black Friday 2020 – should you wait for a better deal?
Black Friday will take place on Friday 27 November, immediately followed by Cyber Monday on 30 November. Traditionally the biggest sales event of the year, it may yet throw up some even greater tech deals – but with so much uncertainty around finance and retail, and no guarantees regarding what discounts we will see, we advise you not to wait: if you see a deal you like, on a product you need, and you can afford the outlay, buy it today.