CPU Comparison: Popular Intel & AMD Processors

Choosing a CPU is mostly about cores/threads, cache, platform cost (motherboard + RAM), and whether you need strong integrated graphics. These popular options cover common gaming and productivity builds — always verify socket and chipset compatibility.

Links go to official merchant or provider sites. When Usual Deals has a configured affiliate relationship, those outbound links may be tagged automatically; otherwise they are plain product/provider URLs. We do not invent commissions on unwrapped links.

Name	Segment / platform	Price	Highlights	Link
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D	AM5 · 8c/16t · 3D V-Cache gaming focus	Check price	Frequent pick for high-FPS gaming on AM5	Check price
AMD Ryzen 5 7600	AM5 · 6c/12t · value mainstream	Check price	Strong price/performance for 1080p/1440p builds	Check price
Intel Core i5-14600K	LGA1700 · hybrid P+E cores · unlocked	Check price	Balanced gaming + productivity on the 700/600-series platform	Check price
Intel Core i7-14700K	LGA1700 · higher E-core count · unlocked	Check price	More multi-threaded headroom for creators who still want gaming	Check price
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X	AM5 · Zen 5 · high core count	Check price	Workstation-class multi-core for compile, 3D, and heavy encodes	Check price
Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) mobile	Laptop platform · NPU + efficiency focus	Check price	Look at whole-laptop reviews; iGPU and thermals vary by OEM	Check price

Buying tips

Budget the whole platform: CPU + motherboard + RAM (and cooler) often matter more than a small IPC bump.
For gaming at 1440p/4K, GPU usually limits FPS more than a mid vs high-end CPU.
3D V-Cache (X3D) chips excel in many games; higher core non-X3D chips win more at heavy multi-threaded export/encode.
Check cooler clearance and whether the box includes a stock cooler.