Best Intel processor: Which CPU should you buy? (2024)

We always review multiple CPUs at once to compare data, using consistent components for fair testing where possible.

We use a mix of both synthetic and in-game benchmarks to gauge performance, while also considering additional features and pricing.

We also measure the likes of power consumption and peak temperature under stress to get an idea of performance efficiency.

£580$590

£310$330

$289

£250$262

Intel Core i9-14900K

Most powerful Intel processor

The Intel Core i9-14900K is the most powerful consumer desktop processor you can currently buy, from Intel or any other processor manufacturer. This should come as no surprise to anyone looking at the specs sheet, with the chip packing 24 cores, 32 threads and 6GHz peak clock speeds.

Our benchmark scores back up these impressive performance claims, with the Intel Core i9-14900K posting higher scores than all of the competition. This was the case for both synthetic benchmarks and in-game tests, showcasing that this desktop chip excels at pretty much everything.

With that said, the performance jump isn’t significant compared to the last-gen Intel Core i9-13900K, but that’s not really an issue considering both chips are priced the same.

What’s more, the Intel Core i9-14900K will play nice with the latest RAM and SSDs thanks to support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. So if you’re looking to build the most powerful PC possible, then the Intel Core i9-14900K is undoubtedly the best pick.

Reviewer: Zak Storey
Full review: Intel Core i9-14900K review

Intel Core i5-14600K

Best value Intel processor

The Intel Core i5-14600K may not be quite as powerful as its i9 sibling, but it’s not far behind in terms of performance considering its more affordable price. The chip features 14 cores, 20 threads and is capable of up to a 5.3GHz boosted clock speed.

Despite its modest specs, it offers outstanding gaming performance, easily outperforming the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and AMD Ryzen 5 7600X in every single game on test. In fact, we’d wager that you’ll struggle to find a better gaming performance from a desktop CPU for less than the £300/$300 price point.

Of course, the constrained core count does limit the multi-core performance compared to the i9, but it’s certainly no slouch for the likes of content creation, making it a fantastic all-rounder chip.

Lastly, the Intel Core i5-14600K offers support for both PCIe 5.0 and DDR5, which means you can build a PC with all of the latest and greatest components. So if you want to build (or upgrade) a cutting-edge PC without breaking the bank, this is our top recommendation.

Reviewer: Zak Storey
Full review: Intel Core i5-14600K review

Intel Core i5-12600K

Best value for gamers

We’re jumping back a couple of generations for this one, but we think the Intel Core i5-12600K still represents outstanding value if gaming is your top priority for your next PC build.

With just 10 cores and 16 threads, it’s seriously lagging behind its newer siblings in terms of multi-core performance, which means it’s probably not the best option for creatives who deal with 4K video edits and complex 3D animations.

If you’re sticking to gaming however, the Intel Core i5-12600K proves to be a more affordable alternative to the Intel Core i5-14600K. Not only were the gaming results excellent, but it also proved to be highly efficient in our benchmark tests, so it won’t send your energy bills spiralling out of control.

Best of all, the Intel Core i5-12600K supports DDR5 and PCIe 5.0, allowing you to build a cutting-edge gaming PC. And with the Intel Core i5-12600K being so cheap, you’ll be able to spend more money on the likes of a graphics card to give gaming performance a serious push.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Intel Core i5-12600K review

Intel Core i5-11600K

Best budget Intel processor

The Intel Core i5-11600K launched back in 2021, making it one of the oldest CPU options in this best Intel processor list but it still packs a powerful performance for gamers thanks to its 4.9GHz max clock speed, especially when you consider the bargain-friedly price.

It aced our gaming benchmark tests, punching above its weight by remaining competitive with the Intel Core i9-11900K and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X. It runs impressively cool under stress too, ensuring a consistent performance that doesn’t need an ultra-expensive cooling system.

There are some caveats by going this cheap, with the 6-core and 12-thread counts highlighting its limitations for multi-threaded workloads – creators may want to stay clear as a result. Support is limited to DDR4 memory and PCIe SSDs too, lowering the ceiling of potential upgrades for your gaming PC.

But if you simply want a cheap-as-chips gaming PC, the Intel Core i5-11600K remains an excellent option with a surprisingly strong performance given its age and low cost.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Intel Core i5-11600K review

We’ve reviewed

178

Processors

See all reviews

Intel Core i9-14900K

£580

$590

Intel

B0CHBJGFBC

2023

21/11/2023

BX8071514900K

–

6 GHz

14th Gen Intel Core (Raptor Lake)

3.2 GHz

24

32

600 / 700 Series

7 nm

Intel UHD Graphics 770

Intel Core i5-14600K

£310

$330

Intel

B0CHBGVFHP

2023

21/11/2023

‎BX8071514600K

–

5.3 GHz

14th Gen Intel Core (Raptor Lake)

3.5 GHz

14

20

600 / 700 Series

7 nm

Intel UHD Graphics 770

Intel Core i5-12600K

–

$289

Intel

B09FX4D72T

2021

04/11/2021

–

195.6 W

4.90 GHz

Intel Core 12th Generation

3.70 GHz

10

16

Z690

–

Intel UHD Graphics 770

Intel Core i5-11600K

£250

$262

Intel

B08TX3M96F

2021

–

–

201 W

4.9 GHz

Intel Core 11th Generation

3.9 GHz

6

12

Z590

14 nm

Intel UHD Graphics 750