Besides the obvious, here are 6 things to remember when buying a CPU

When planning to build a PC, the CPU is easily one of the most crucial components around which the entire system is built. You might know the most important CPU specs to look out for, how to match your CPU and motherboard, and the mistakes to avoid when pairing your CPU and GPU. These things are undoubtedly important, but they’re also relatively basic.

With the way things are developing in the desktop CPU space, the old rules no longer apply. You can’t just stick with the brand you’re more familiar with, ignoring SKU-level differences and fundamental issues plaguing a particular CPU generation. There are some other essential factors you need to keep in mind before buying a CPU.

6 Conventional core count wisdom is changing

“6 cores for gaming” isn’t gospel anymore

For the longest time, people would happily advise you to get a 6-core processor for a gaming-focused build. The logic behind the rule of thumb was that games didn’t really make use of more than 6 cores, and single-threaded performance was much more relevant than more cores and threads. While the latter remains true, the former is changing fast.

As we saw with Cyberpunk 2077 and other high-end games, CPU utilization has been steadily ramping up when it comes to the latest titles. If you monitor your CPU usage while playing these titles, you’ll see the games utilizing 8 cores pretty heavily, with many of them scaling pretty well as you increase the core count even more.

Faster single-core performance will still reign supreme, but even in those cases, “8 cores” is the new gold standard when it comes to getting the most out of your processor. Specialized chips like the Ryzen X3D CPUs (they’re 8-core models) will be even better for gaming, but as a general rule, you might want to consider an 8-core CPU whether or not you’re building a PC just for gaming.

5 TDP is a double-edged sword

More performance comes with a toastier chip

TDP or Thermal Design Power showcases the maximum amount of power in watts that a processor can consume in regular operating conditions. It doesn’t mean a 105W processor will always consume 105W when you’re gaming, editing videos, or doing anything else, but it gives you a tool to compare the heat output of processors from the same generation or those having the same performance.

By opting for a CPU with higher power limits, you’re probably going with a high-core-count model which will provide you more CPU horsepower, but it’ll also come with higher cooling requirements. If you have to have a 12-core or 16-core processor for your professional workloads, then there’s no way around it — grab a Core i9-14900K or Ryzen 9 9950X with a top-tier 360mm AIO.

However, if you don’t have any need for all that power, and only need a capable chip for gaming, a power-efficient 8-core processor like the Ryzen 7 7700 might be the best gaming CPU for you. The 65W CPU delivers virtually the same gaming performance as the 170W Ryzen 9 7950X or Ryzen 9 9950X.

4 Manual overclocking isn’t as important anymore

Modern processors are already delivering close to their maximum

Today’s processors from both Intel and AMD aren’t what they used to be. Where earlier you could achieve significant gains by overclocking your CPU, today’s processors already come with great out-of-the-box performance. They’re engineered to run close to their maximum operating temperature and have automatic boosting algorithms that always aim to maximize performance.

Plus, for those who want more, mechanisms like Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) on AMD’s side can automatically tweak the CPU’s power and current settings to sustain the boost frequency for longer periods of time. Whether you’re chasing the highest FPS or the maximum boost clocks, modern processors can hit record frequencies at stock settings, provided you have a powerful CPU cooler.

Hence, spending extra on that “K” series chip from Intel just so you can overclock it and get a 100MHz boost isn’t as alluring anymore. Just look at benchmarks from multiple publications, and buy the processor that comes with the best stock performance within your budget.

3 Focus on L3 cache if you care only about gaming

L1 and L2 cache are faster, but L3 cache is where it’s at

Besides the number of cores, single-core frequency, and IPC, the CPU cache is perhaps the biggest determinant of your CPU’s gaming performance. Every CPU has three types of cache — L1, L2, and L3. While the L1 cache is the fastest as it’s the closest to a CPU core, it’s quite small in size. The L2 cache is relatively bigger, slower, and shared between multiple cores.

The L3 cache is the largest, and available for use by all the CPU cores. This “Last Level Cache” is what delivers the biggest gains, especially in games, as we’ve seen with processors like the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and other X3D chips from AMD. These CPUs feature unusually high amounts of L3 cache, also known as 3D V-Cache, which is stacked vertically on compute chiplets.

3D V-Cache delivers exceptional FPS gains at the cost of a frequency hit in some non-gaming applications. So, while they might not be the fastest CPUs universally, they’re undoubtedly the best for gaming. I’m waiting for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D to see what kind of gains we’ll see compared to the 7800X3D.

2 Platform longevity might not matter to everyone

Many gamers don’t touch their CPUs for 5 years or even longer

A big advantage of going with AMD over Intel is that you’ll probably get to keep the same motherboard if you choose to upgrade to a newer processor on the same socket. AMD’s AM4 socket saw four generations of processors, from the Ryzen 1000 series to the Ryzen 5000 series. The same might play out with the current AM5 socket, as AMD continues to support it with newer CPU generations.

Compare that to Intel, where you don’t see a socket last for more than two CPU generations — the 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen CPUs on LGA 1700 are exceptions. If you’re someone who wants to upgrade their processor every year, 2 years, or even 3 years, or at least wants to have the option to do so, then AMD might be better for you.

However, if you only upgrade your CPU with a new PC build every 5 years or more, platform longevity might not hold any value to you. Many PC builders pick a flagship or high-end CPU from a generation, and stick with it for years, only thinking of making a change when their processor is obsolete by all standards. If you operate similarly, a long-lasting AM5 socket might be outdated by the time you’re in the market for an upgrade anyway.

Hence, it might make more sense to simply buy the better-performing chip in your budget at the time, and reassess the market several generations later. If, at that point, the best processor for you happens to be compatible with your existing motherboard, that’s just a bonus. If not, that’s just fine too for most people.

1 You should not chain yourself to brand loyalty

Companies aren’t trying to make you happy

Companies like Intel, AMD, and Nvidia aren’t making products with hopes that you’ll sing their praises on Reddit. They operate for shareholders, and will continue to do what is best for business. If that means satisfying the AI chip demand instead of the gaming market, they’ll do that without a second thought. So, you’re not doing yourself any favors by blindly buying one company’s products over another’s.

You should take an objective assessment of the market, and pick the product that works best for you. When AMD was struggling prior to the launch of the Ryzen CPUs in 2017, Intel was essentially the only option for the best desktop CPU. When AMD brought more cores, lower cost, more efficiency, and eventually, better single-thread performance to the market, the market naturally rewarded their CPUs.

Intel struggled to get its 10nm process off the ground for years — sticking with 14nm for 7 generations of CPUs — and is embroiled in a major defective CPU scandal even now. So, it doesn’t make sense for you to put blind faith in Intel right now. Even the Ryzen 9000 CPUs have basically delivered the same performance as the Ryzen 7000 series, so there’s no reason for AMD fans to buy the latest CPUs.

The point is that every manufacturer will go through cycles of rapid progress and inevitable stagnation, so don’t play favorites, buy what’s best for your needs, and call a spade a spade.

Don’t buy into the hype; buy the best CPU for yourself

Choosing a CPU is a big decision — it determines the platform you’ll be on for many years, the motherboard you can buy, the RAM support you’ll get, and the kind of cooling hardware you’ll need. So, it’s only natural that you spend considerable time before making the purchase. Besides the basic stuff, take note of some of the deeper questions surrounding this purchase.

Companies will sing their own praises in their marketing materials, showcase basically false benchmarks (both Intel and AMD are guilty of it), and have no qualms about selling defective products until it becomes a huge PR nightmare. Hence, don’t be a fanboy, do your research, and buy the product that’s the best (for you) at the moment.