A processor for a desktop can be selected in terms of the budget and the requirement. Intel and AMD are both very good brands. Basically these days the number of cores of the processor is more important than clock speed. A four core CPU is the one that will be recommended by most experts these days. While selecting cores you shouldn't give much concentration on threads as it is the sub. Multi-threading can be seen in almost all processors of today. A 2.5 Ghz and Higher clock speed CPU is enough even for extreme gaming when you have 4 cores.
Choosing CPU Budget wise:
1. 500 $ and above:
Get the Intel i7 - 970 processor, it is a 6 core processor and 12 threads with a cache of 12MB, it has a base clock of 3.2Ghz and is at 3.46Ghz at turbo mode, It costs 590$. It can be said better than i7 980x (Price 950 $) in terms of price.
2. 300 $ to 500 $
This is not most common budget but most high end CPUs come under it. I would recommend an Intel i7 - 2600k (330 $) CPU. This processor is a beast as it is just unleashed with an unlocked multiplier. the 2600k Sandy Bridge's multiplier is unlocked which means it can be overclocked to the extreme. It has base clock of 3.40 Ghz and 3.8 Ghz at turbo mode. I would say to buy this processor rather the 970 shown above.
3. 200 $ to 300 $
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| A basic CPU chip base |
Choosing CPU Budget wise:
1. 500 $ and above:
Get the Intel i7 - 970 processor, it is a 6 core processor and 12 threads with a cache of 12MB, it has a base clock of 3.2Ghz and is at 3.46Ghz at turbo mode, It costs 590$. It can be said better than i7 980x (Price 950 $) in terms of price.
This is not most common budget but most high end CPUs come under it. I would recommend an Intel i7 - 2600k (330 $) CPU. This processor is a beast as it is just unleashed with an unlocked multiplier. the 2600k Sandy Bridge's multiplier is unlocked which means it can be overclocked to the extreme. It has base clock of 3.40 Ghz and 3.8 Ghz at turbo mode. I would say to buy this processor rather the 970 shown above.
This is a pretty solid budget, this can fulfill the high end CPU expectations. At this budget you should get the
i5 -2500k (230 $), I recommend this CPU as it is another beast in the market which can be overclocked easily. This can go upto 5 GHz. It is another quad core processor, but it does not have hyper-threading technology which won't bother you much. It has got a base clock of 3.30 GHz and 3.70 GHz at turbo mode.
4. 100 $ to 200 $
This a budget in which most of the quad core AMD processors can be bought. The AMD Phenom II X4 series basically come under this budget. I would recommed the AMD Phenom II X4 975 Black (190 $). It has a base clock of 3.6 Ghz, Quad core and a Cache of 6 MB which makes it come into the high end CPUs.
5. Below 100 $
In this budget you would get mostly a dual core processor which I don't recommend The AMD Phenom II X2 555 Is one of the best in there and it is only for 90 $. It has a base clock of 3.2 Ghz and is dual Core with 6 MB cache.
i5 -2500k (230 $), I recommend this CPU as it is another beast in the market which can be overclocked easily. This can go upto 5 GHz. It is another quad core processor, but it does not have hyper-threading technology which won't bother you much. It has got a base clock of 3.30 GHz and 3.70 GHz at turbo mode.
4. 100 $ to 200 $
This a budget in which most of the quad core AMD processors can be bought. The AMD Phenom II X4 series basically come under this budget. I would recommed the AMD Phenom II X4 975 Black (190 $). It has a base clock of 3.6 Ghz, Quad core and a Cache of 6 MB which makes it come into the high end CPUs.
In this budget you would get mostly a dual core processor which I don't recommend The AMD Phenom II X2 555 Is one of the best in there and it is only for 90 $. It has a base clock of 3.2 Ghz and is dual Core with 6 MB cache.
