Assembling a personal PC is not an easy task. Many have to spend months to find balanced components. This is often associated with a huge choice, in which you need to consider cost, compatibility, performance, etc.
It so happened that not everyone in our time can afford to assemble an expensive system. Many gamers have a limited budget, so they are trying to find the most balanced option. For such users, you need the best budget processor.
CPU task
To choose the best budget processor, you must accurately understand its tasks and requirements. The central processor is the basis for the computer, without it, it can not function. CPU processes data and performs computational operations.
In order not to be mistaken, many users look at various ratings and reviews, but forget that when choosing, you will have to take into account a large number of factors in order not to encounter a lack of compatibility and other technical problems.
CPU choice
So, in order to understand which budget processors are the best, you need to determine a number of parameters by which you should choose PC components.
Since cost is important to many users, it will therefore be the first on the list. When you determine the amount that you are willing to spend, you can proceed to the choice of the manufacturer.
Of course, this is not the most important parameter when choosing an inexpensive processor. But many players and just those who build a PC often have preferences in one direction or another. Therefore, you have to figure out the difference between AMD and Intel.
Next, you will have to choose the technical specifications: frequency, number of cores, bus frequency, socket, package bundle, etc. Only by sorting out these parameters, you will be able to choose a good budget processor for your computer.
Cost
So, since cost is the main component in choosing exactly the budget component, you need to understand what the average user can count on.
On average, the cost of a budget chip is from 5 to 10 thousand rubles. In this price segment you can find some good performance components that can be combined with powerful new graphics cards.
Manufacturers
Now it’s worth dealing with processor manufacturers. It's no secret that you will choose only among AMD and Intel. These two companies are leaders in their field. Of course, it is better not to push the fans of one or the second producer with their foreheads, otherwise endless polemics and conflicts will begin. It is better for yourself to decide what is a priority for you, and only then choose the desired product.
Intel processors quickly encode information because they have higher frequencies, at the same time, AMD has a high-performance computing unit and, consequently, high performance in games.
Previously, the main argument against AMD was their excessive heat dissipation, but now there are much fewer problems with this. At the same time, these processors are definitely cheaper than from Intel, although the latter are trusted more.
Frequency
This parameter is noteworthy, since the execution time depends on it. The unit is one hertz. The higher the frequency, the greater the processor performance.
Number of Cores
Another parameter due to which you can choose the best budget processor. The speed of working with documents and the performance of games depends on the number of kernels. If these are simple projects, three-dimensional, then a dual-core processor will cope with them, more productive games require more cores.
Socket
This is one of the important parameters when choosing a processor. The compatibility of the system depends on it. A socket is a processor socket, thanks to which it will be possible to choose a motherboard. Also, thanks to the socket, you can choose a processor cooler.
Equipment
Two options are available for buyers: with and without a cooling system. If there is a cooler in the box, it means there will be a Box mark on it, without such a designation you can not look for an additional fan inside. If there is no cooler inside, there is a high probability that such a processor can cost less.
The question is different: do you need such savings? The fact is that buying a third-party cooling system can be much more expensive, and questions may arise with its compatibility, which cannot be said about the native cooler, which is suitable in any case and is an excellent option for the processor.
Market situation
For technology, the year has just begun, and so many interesting and exciting things have already been shown. And even among the new products there are a couple of good budget models that users may be interested in.
But do not forget about already experienced processors, which have long been pleasing to everyone who wanted to get a budget and productive device. You definitely heard about these processors if you had already planned to build a PC before, because they are advised everywhere and always.
The best budget processors:
- AMD Athlon 200GE.
- Intel Pentium G4560.
- AMD Ryzen 3 1200.
- AMD Ryzen 3 2200G.
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600.
- AMD Ryzen 5 2400G.
In addition to these models, there are a couple of others that many would not be able to afford, but they can still be considered budgetary, but in a more expensive price category.
For example, these options include AMD Ryzen 7 1800x and other options that will cost you more than 10 thousand rubles.
AMD Athlon 200GE
You can carry out an endless number of tests of budget processors, but still from all sides you will hear models that are already familiar to many users. Most likely, you will hear constantly about Celeron or Pentium.
But now Intel has problems with the release of a 14-nm chip, so the cost of earlier budget models has risen. To quickly replace the favorite in this race, AMD released the Athlon 200GE.
This is a dual core processor with four threads. It operates at a frequency of 3.2 GHz. The architecture manufacturer used Zen. The peculiarity is that the company used integrated graphics.
Often this model is compared with the Intel Pentium G4560, but an integrated card is significantly better. After its release, its capabilities became known: unofficially, but it can be dispersed. Thanks to this, the model easily takes the first positions in the budget segment.
Intel Pentium G4560
This is the best budget gaming processor that has been on the market for several years now. Thanks to this, he had a good reputation. Although, of course, his experience is not the most important thing.
Its peculiarity is that the manufacturer overdid and “killed” its Core i3 line by the release of this processor. He first got HyperThreading technology, because of which the cores were able to work in two threads. Since all the chips went up last year, the Pentium Gold G5400 seems to be the most profitable now.
This is a budget Intel game processor that can easily cope with all modern games. Of course, for this it will be necessary to purchase a budget graphics card, for example, GeForce GTX 1050 TI.
The processor runs on two cores, processes two streams of calculations. The frequency is 3.7 GHz. The passport indicates an energy consumption of 58 watts, but in reality it absorbs only 30 watts. Such a processor will cost 6 thousand rubles.
AMD Ryzen 3 1200
It's no secret that budgeting and Intel are almost incompatible, with the exception of the Pentium Gold G5400. Therefore, it is not surprising that the rating of the cheapest processors contains more models from AMD.
The Ryzen 3 1200 is a good quad-core chip that handles gaming projects. Its peculiarity is in the Zen architecture, thanks to which the manufacturer managed to catch up with the elusive Intel.
The processor frequency is 3.1 GHz, and auto acceleration to 3.4 GHz is also available to the user. Consumes 65 W chip. Due to the features of the processor, it does not need an expensive motherboard, etc. The only thing they do not recommend saving on is the system’s RAM.
AMD Ryzen 3 2200G
This is the next best budget AMD processor, which is practically no different from the previous model. This is a slightly improved model with a frequency of 3.5 GHz. Auto overclocking is 3.7 GHz.
This is still the same quad-core processor that does not support SMT. By the way, the cache size has somehow become less, so some have doubts about the improved version.
But here, any experienced user will notice the integrated graphics, which is precisely the main upgrade. You should not have high hopes for the integrated video card, but this option will definitely prove to be an excellent temporary component. Such a model will cost you 6400 rubles.
AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Not so long ago, Intel released the eighth generation of its processors. Perhaps the manufacturer would have fed its audience with familiar and already outdated technologies for a long time, but AMD began to step on its heels, which means it had to act quickly.
But the “red ones" were not taken aback and released AMD Ryzen 5 1600. Many people compare Ryzen 5 with Core i5 and it’s not in vain. The AMD processor was technically no worse than its competitor, but it turned out to be cheaper, which attracted the attention of users. This option will cost us 9 thousand rubles.
AMD Ryzen 5 2400G
This is a relatively new processor that does a great job with games. Many even believe that it can do without a video card. The chip works with four cores and SMT technology.
The cores process 8 threads at a frequency of 3.6 GHz. The third cache level has 4 MB of memory. The integrated graphics core works with the Vega module. It contains 11 clusters, 704 stream processors.
Of course, this is a good video card, but it will not be able to cope with games in FullHD and at maximum settings. Nevertheless, the processor will be able to reproduce some of the simplest gaming projects.
Other processors
As already mentioned, the more expensive models can be attributed to the budget ones, those that are in a different price segment, but still seem cheaper than their competitors.
For example, AMD Ryzen 7 1800X, which will cost 15-20 thousand rubles. Its feature is cost. In some aspects, he can easily compete with the Core i7-6950X, and in some aspects he can save in front of the Core i7-7700K.
The processor is suitable for rendering and encryption, working with video. Worse, he handles archiving operations. Although in general the same could be said of predecessors. Therefore, advertisers decided to focus on games.
The AMD Ryzen 7 1800X is special, and its feature is precisely in adapting to games. Thanks to fast memory, a large number of computing units, the processor manages to provide excellent gameplay to the player. The only thing is that experts put some conditions for successful use: overclocking up to 4 GHz, energy-saving OS functions and fast RAM.
Another contender for the title of a budget processor in the non-budget segment is the Intel i7 8700. The chip in the Coffee Lake family is the eighth generation of devices that, in principle, cannot be called budget ones, nevertheless, this model may seem to be the best way out of the situation.
There are 6 cores inside, and the LGA 1511 socket is most likely version v2, so it is important not to make a mistake with the choice of the motherboard, since it will be slightly different from the regular version.
Made by Intel i7 8700 according to the 14 nm manufacturing process, consumes 65 watts. The maximum heating temperature is 100 ° C, but this temperature can be achieved during acceleration, without a high-quality cooling system. The core frequency is 3.2 GHz.
Another good option in the expensive price segment is the Intel i5 8400 processor. This is the most affordable six-core processor of the eighth generation. But his features do not end there.
Despite the increased number of cores, the manufacturer managed to maintain its power consumption and heat dissipation. It also turned out to establish stable frequencies, which is rather difficult to do with an increase in the number of cores. Thus, the frequency can reach 3.8-4 GHz.
All these technical parameters helped the processor to become really productive in any tasks. If the load on the chip is low, then it shows stable operation, “not falling asleep” while on the go. With multitasking, these very six cores help the processor.
conclusions
As you can see, the choice of budget processors is not so small. Despite the fact that companies annually release a dozen new models, there are already well-established processors that can suit any player or user.
When choosing a good budget chip, you will first have to rely on the cost from 5 to 10 thousand rubles. Next, you will need to highlight one of the manufacturers. But remember that most of the cheap but productive processors were developed by AMD.
Next, we look at the necessary characteristics so that they coincide not only with your desire, but also with the capabilities of the system. Remember that the processor must first match the motherboard in order to be able to install it. Then it remains to choose the right RAM, and then choose the right balanced graphics card, if, of course, this is important for you.
Low-cost processors include the AMD A6-9500 and AMD A6-9500e, which in general can cope with modern games with minimal settings, even with an integrated graphics card.
The Intel Celeron G4900 and Intel Celeron G4920 are good models for budget builds or multimedia systems. There is also a built-in video card, but it is enough for old toys or the simplest modern projects. The rest of the processors cope well with all sorts of tasks.