Intel and AMD both are giving each other a good competition time by releasing powerful gaming and workstation processors every year. Here you need to know that there is a difference between gaming and workstation processors, and they can’t be used in replacement of each other in a fair competition. You might know that the CPU is the major and necessary component of every gaming PC, and we can’t and shouldn’t compromise on it. In this CPU hierarchy, we have divided the top known processors according to their price and performance, and I’m sure you will find this CPU tier list helpful while buying or searching for a guide to a new processor.
Knowing the requirements helps in buying process of computer hardware very easily, but if you don’t, then it may be difficult and confusing. Also, you have to check a couple of factors in the processor, as not every CPU performs the same in games and other heavy applications. There was a simple time when I saw there is hyper-threading in core i3 and core i7 only but now the grounds are changed and even I get confused at pointing out the number of core threads of a desktop processor.
In this cpu tier list, you will find the performance of processors in the same category identical, but their specifications may vary. These CPU hierarchy charts are neither specific to gaming nor the multi-threaded applications, but we’ve made an overall list for every kind of user as the majority of the users are requesting a CPU tier list 2021.
Tier 1: Workstation Processors
On top of the list, we got some potent computer processors that offer exceptional performance in server related work. There I would like to mention that AMD Threadripper processors perform well in multi-threaded applications while the Intel processes are suitable for raw gaming performance. These processors have advantages over those mentioned in other tiers, but you might need to give them more power with the performance. The primary use of these processors is in the servers as they can’t give you maximum performance in games and consider this before buying.
Some dedicated people have reviewed the AMD Threaripper processors, and you need to know that these processors can easily beat the Intel i9 9900k in multi-threading performance. Rendering 3D models and video editing can be easily done with these gaming beasts but consider getting something typically made. Some of the models in this list got more than twenty cores, and we all know this amount of power is not required for gaming machines. Those users who have to do work other than gaming and need high performance can consider these processors.
The entries on this intel CPU tier list are some high-end models of the Intel Core i9 series and, yes, the high-end CPUs. I was thinking of including the i9 9900k too in this list, but because these processors are powerful enough compared to that eight cores and sixteen threads processor, I skipped it for the next tier. The least cores and threads in this tier are eight and twelve, while the most are thirty-two and sixty-four so we can imagine these beasts’ performance. You have to note that these processors work on sockets for the workstations, not the normal ones (LGA 1151).
| Company | CPU Model | Number of Physical & Logical Cores | Base Clock Speed | Boost Clock Speed | TDP | CPU Socket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel | Intel Xeon W 3175X | 26 – 56 | 3.1 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 255 W | LGA 3647 |
| Intel | Intel Core i9 7980XE | 10 – 20 | 3.30 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 165 W | LGA 2066 |
| Intel | Intel Core i9 7960X | 12 – 24 | 2.90 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 165 W | LGA 2066 |
| Intel | Intel Core i9 7940X | 14 – 28 | 3.10 GHz | 4.20 GHz | 165 W | LGA 2066 |
| Intel | Intel Core i9 7920X | 16 – 32 | 2.80 GHz | 4.20 GHz | 140 W | LGA 2066 |
| Intel | Intel Core i9 7900X | 18 – 36 | 2.60 GHz | 4.20 GHz | 140 W | LGA 2066 |
| Intel | Intel Core i9 9980XE | 18 – 36 | 3.0 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 165 W | LGA 2066 |
| AMD | Ryzen Threadripper 1900X | 8 – 16 | 3.8 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 180 W | TR4 |
| AMD | Ryzen Threadripper 1920X | 12 – 24 | 3.5 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 180 W | TR4 |
| AMD | Ryzen Threadripper 1950X | 16 – 32 | 3.4 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 180 W | TR4 |
| AMD | Ryzen Threadripper 2920 WX | 12 – 24 | 3.5 GHz | 4.3 GHz | 180 W | TR4 |
| AMD | Ryzen Threadripper 2950 WX | 16 – 32 | 3.5 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 180 W | TR4 |
| AMD | Ryzen Threadripper 2970 WX | 24 – 48 | 3.0 GHz | 4.2 GHz | 250 W | TR4 |
| AMD | Ryzen Threadripper 2990 WX | 32 – 64 | 3.0 GHz | 4.2 GHz | 250 W | TR4 |
Tier 2: High-End Gaming
The next processors on our list are the high-end gaming choices, which enthusiasts consider for their builds. This list includes some mainstream processors and some flagship models, and we’ve combined all of them there. If you’re looking for gaming performance, consider any processor from this list according to your budget and gaming needs. Along with gaming, you can also use these processors for some side work, including streaming and 3D rendering. The sockets used by these processors are the most common ones in the market, including the LGA 1151 and AM4.
All these processors’ performance is no budget high enough, and pairing them with any good graphics card can give you excellent frame rates. The core count of these processors starts from four and eight, and it goes up to sixteen and thirty-two cores and threads, respectively. You need to know about these processors if you consider gaming and stream, the best choice you can get is from AMD as they perform well in multi-threading while for pure gaming, Intel has the game. You may notice in this tier that Ryzen and Intel i7 processors offer the same cores and clock speeds, but their performance might differ.
As we already know that Intel cut off the Hyperthreading from some of their mainstream, and you will see this in the i9 9900k and some other CPUs. For AMD processors from the AMD CPU tier list, you will see simultaneous Multi-Threading, which is the same as Intel Hyper-Threading technology. We don’t have to worry about the Hyperthreading cut off because Intel has increased the physical cores so that they will handle the applications very well. The clock speed of these processors is reasonable, and with any aftermarket cooler, you can easily hit a 5 GHz figure with this.
| Company | CPU Model | Number of Physical & Logical Cores | Base Clock Speed | Boost Clock Speed | TDP | CPU Socket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel | Intel Core i7 6700T | 4 – 8 | 2.80 GHz | 3.60 GHz | 35 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 6700 | 4 – 8 | 3.40 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 65 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 6700K | 4 – 8 | 4.00GHz | 4.20 GHz | 91 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 6800K | 6 – 12 | 3.40 GHz | 3.60 GHz | 140 W | LGA 2011-3 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 6850K | 6 – 12 | 3.60 GHz | 3.80 GHz | 140 W | LGA 2011-3 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 6900K | 8 – 16 | 3.20 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 140 W | LGA 2011-3 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 7700T | 4 – 8 | 2.90 GHz | 3.80 GHz | 35 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 7700 | 4 – 8 | 3.60 GHz | 4.20 GHz | 65 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 7700K | 4 – 8 | 4.20 GHz | 4.5 GHz | 91 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 7740X | 4 – 8 | 4.30 GHz | 4.5 GHz | 112 W | LGA 2066 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 6950X | 10 – 20 | 3.00 GHz | 3.50 GHz | 140 W | LGA 2011-3 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 7800X | 6 – 12 | 3.50GHz | 4.00 GHz | 140 W | LGA 2066 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 7820X | 8 – 16 | 3.60 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 140 W | LGA 2066 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 8700 | 6 – 12 | 3.20 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 65 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 8700K | 6 – 12 | 3.70 GHz | 4.70 GHz | 95 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 9700K | 8 – 8 | 3.60 GHz | 4.90 GHz | 95 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i9 9900K | 8 – 16 | 3.60 GHz | 5.00 GHz | 95 W | LGA 1151 |
| AMD | Ryzen 7 1700 | 8 – 16 | 3.00 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 7 Pro 1700 | 8 – 16 | 3.00 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 7 1700X | 8 – 16 | 3.40 GHz | 3.80 GHz | 95 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 7 Pro 1700X | 8 – 16 | 3.40 GHz | 3.80 GHz | 95 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 7 1800X | 8 – 16 | 3.60 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 95 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 7 2700 | 8 – 16 | 3.20 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 7 2700X | 8 – 16 | 3.70 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 105 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 7 3700X | 8 – 16 | 3.60 GHz | 4.40 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 7 3800X | 8 – 16 | 3.90 GHz | 4.50 GHz | 105 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 9 3900X | 12 – 24 | 3.80 GHz | 4.60 GHz | 105 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 9 3950X | 16 – 32 | 3.50 GHz | 4.70 GHz | 105 W | AM4 |
Tier 3: Mid Range Gaming
For mid-range gaming, we don’t need much power, and that’s why we’ve picked up some of the flagship models from the old generation and some mainstream CPUs from the new generation. These processors don’t offer high numbers of cores and threads, but still, for mid-range gaming, they offer the best value for their price. As we know, older CPUs from the Intel i7 series are cheap these days to consider them for mid-range gaming. With a little overclocking, we can get exceptional performance from these processors for a very affordable price.
The least number of cores in these processors are four and eight, while the highest number is six and twelve cores and threads. We don’t consider i5 9400f or Ryzen 2600 like processors for this tier because they are a bit weak compared to the entries from the first generation of Ryzen 7 processors. Intel Core i7 4th generation processors and Ryzen 7 first gen are comparable in some ways as they offer almost the same performance. But the thing that makes them different from each other is that the fourth generation is a bit old these days.
Also, we need to know that Ryzen uses the DDR4 memory while the 4th generation of Intel uses the DDR3 memory. That makes a massive difference in these processors, and it may limit the future upgrade options for you. So take care of these few things before buying any processor for your upcoming mid-range build. The TDP of these processors is not much high, and there you will get an advantage of a bundled CPU cooler with the Ryzen processors, which is good as far as you don’t overclock these processors.
| Company | CPU Model | Number of Physical & Logical Cores | Base Clock Speed | Boost Clock Speed | TDP | CPU Socket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel | Intel Core i7 4770 | 4 – 8 | 3.40 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 84 W | LGA 1150 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 4770K | 4 – 8 | 3.50 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 84 W | LGA 1150 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 4770S | 4 – 8 | 3.10 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 65 W | LGA 1150 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 4770T | 4 – 8 | 2.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 45 W | LGA 1150 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 4770R | 4 – 8 | 3.20 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 65 W | BGA 1364 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 4771 | 4 – 8 | 3.50 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 84 W | LGA 1150 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 4785T | 4 – 8 | 2.20 GHz | 3.2 GHz | 35 W | LGA 1150 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 4790 | 4 – 8 | 3.60 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 84 W | LGA 1150 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 4790T | 4 – 8 | 2.70 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 45 W | LGA 1150 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 4790K | 4 – 8 | 4.00 GHz | 4.40 GHz | 88 W | LGA 1150 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 4820K | 4 – 8 | 3.70 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 130 W | LGA 2011 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 4930K | 6 – 12 | 3.40 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 130 W | LGA 2011 |
| Intel | Intel Core i7 4960X | 6 – 12 | 3.60 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 130 W | LGA 2011 |
| AMD | Ryzen 5 1400 | 4 – 8 | 3.20 GHz | 3.40 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 5 Pro 1500 | 4 – 8 | 3.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 5 1500X | 4 – 8 | 3.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 5 Pro 1600 | 6 – 12 | 3.20 GHz | 3.60 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 5 1600 | 6 – 12 | 3.20 GHz | 3.60 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 5 1600X | 6 – 12 | 3.60 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 95 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 5 2400G | 4 – 8 | 3.60 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 5 3400G | 4 – 8 | 4.20 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 5 2600 | 6 – 12 | 3.40 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 5 2600X | 6 – 12 | 3.60 GHz | 4.20 GHz | 95 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 5 3600 | 6 – 12 | 3.60 GHz | 4.20 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 5 3600X | 6 – 12 | 3.80 GHz | 4.40 GHz | 95W | AM4 |
Tier 4: Budget Gaming CPUs
The budget range of processors includes some entries from the Intel Core i3, i5, and Ryzen 3 and Ryzen 5 processors. These processes are okay as long as you don’t prefer high resolutions and in-game settings, but make sure that you are using some graphics card that matches these processors’ performance and doesn’t bottleneck them. Usually, these processors come with two cores and two threads, while the higher number of cores you can see in this tier are six, which are useful in any budget gaming processor. The TDP of these processors is not too high, and the Intel stock cooler can easily handle them.
The clock speed of these processors is not too high, but some support is overclocking, and you can hit reasonable clock rates with them. The budget gaming processors don’t support side applications like streaming and gaming, as they can barely run games these days. You have to compromise on a few things like resolutions and settings in the latest titles, but if you prefer to play Esport games, only these processors are useful. The sockets we need for these processors are very common, and they can be efficiently run on the LGA 1151 socket.
I want to mention these processors don’t expect something more than average with these processors. The high-end models in this tier list are great enough, and they can be used for modern games and applications. Some of the processors in this list also don’t support boost clocks.
| Company | CPU Model | Number of Physical & Logical Cores | Base Clock Speed | Boost Clock Speed | TDP | CPU Socket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel | Intel Core i3 7100 | 2 – 4 | 3.90 GHz | NA | 51 W | LGA 2011-3 |
| Intel | Intel Core i3 7100T | 2 – 4 | 3.40 GHz | NA | 35 W | LGA 2011-3 |
| Intel | Intel Core i3 7101TE | 2- 4 | 3.40 GHz | NA | 35 W | LGA1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i3 7101E | 2 – 4 | 3.90 GHz | NA | 54 W | LGA1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i3 7300T | 2 – 4 | 3.50 GHz | NA | 35 W | LGA1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i3 7300 | 2 – 4 | 4.00 GHz | NA | 51 W | LGA1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i3 7320 | 2 – 4 | 4.10 GHz | NA | 51 W | LGA1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i3 7350K | 4 – 4 | 4.20 GHz | NA | 60 W | LGA1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i3 8100 | 4 – 4 | 3.60 GHz | NA | 65 W | LGA1151 |
| Intel | Intel Core i3 8350K | 4 – 4 | 4.00 GHz | 4.50 GHz | 91 W | LGA1151 |
| AMD | Ryzen 3 1200 | 4 – 4 | 3.10 GHz | 3.40 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 3 Pro 1200 | 4 – 4 | 3.10 GHz | 3.40 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 3 Pro 1300 | 4 – 4 | 3.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 3 1300X | 4 – 4 | 3.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 3 2200G | 4 – 4 | 3.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 65 W | AM4 |
| AMD | Ryzen 3 3200G | 4 – 4 | 4.00 GHz | 3.60 GHz | 65W | AM4 |
Tier 5: Entry Level Processors
In the end, we got the entry-level processors, which can be used for fundamental work, and they are not recommended for AAA gaming. These processors serve fundamental features, and they don’t offer performance more than average. However, the number of cores and threads are more than the Mid-range processors. The socket used for these processors is the LGA 1151, which you know is the most commonly used one. Entry-level processors are not specific for gaming; instead, their primary use is in offices and professional work. So hold your horses and let’s check out what’s right for us in these processors.
The number of cores in these processors starts from two while it goes up to six, which is useful if you want to do regular gaming. Overclocking is not possible in these processors as in Intel, it can only be done with unlocked processors, and k series processors got unlocked multipliers from the factory. While some of the processors in this series also offer internal graphics cards, which is a plus point for those who don’t like to buy an external graphics card. Some processors from the AMD FX series are listed in this tier, which you know is one of the best processors in their time.
| Company | CPU Model | Number of Physical & Logical Cores | Base Clock Speed | Boost Clock Speed | TDP | CPU Socket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel | Intel Pentium G G4400 | 4 – 8 | 3.30 GHz | NA | 54 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Pentium G G4400T | 4 – 8 | 2.90 GHz | NA | 35 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Pentium G G4500 | 6 – 12 | 3.50 GHz | NA | 51 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Pentium G G4500T | 6 – 12 | 3.00 GHz | NA | 35 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Pentium G G4520 | 8 – 16 | 3.60 GHz | NA | 51 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Pentium G G4560 | 2 – 4 | 3.50 GHz | NA | 54 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Pentium G G4560T | 2 – 4 | 2.90 GHz | NA | 35 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Pentium G G4600 | 2 – 4 | 3.60 GHz | NA | 51 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Pentium G G4600T | 2 – 4 | 3.00 GHz | NA | 35 W | LGA 1151 |
| Intel | Intel Pentium G G4620 | 2 – 4 | 3.70 GHz | NA | 51 W | LGA 1151 |
| AMD | AMD FX-4100 | 4 – 4 | 3.60GHz | 3.80 GHz | 95W | AM3 + |
| AMD | AMD FX-4130 | 4 – 4 | 3.80 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 125W | AM3 + |
| AMD | AMD FX-4300 | 4 – 4 | 3.80 GHz | 4.00 GHz | 95W | AM3 + |
| AMD | AMD FX-4320 | 4 – 4 | 4.00 GHz | 4.10 GHz | 95W | AM3 + |
| AMD | AMD FX-4350 | 4 – 4 | 4.20 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 125W | AM3 + |
| AMD | AMD FX 6100 | 6 – 6 | 3.30 GHz | 3.90 GHz | 95W | AM3 + |
| AMD | AMD FX-6200 | 6 – 6 | 3.80 GHz | 4.10 GHz | 125W | AM3 + |
| AMD | AMD FX-6300 | 6 – 6 | 3.50 GHz | 3.80 GHz | 95W | AM3 + |
| AMD | AMD FX-6350 | 6 – 6 | 3.90 GHz | 4.20 GHz | 125W | AM3 + |
Conclusion
Every processor in the market has its specific use, and we can’t use a gaming processor for server type work and a server processor for gaming. We’ve made a CPU hierarchy where all of the processors are categorized so that users will easily get the best options for them if they know their requirements. These lists include the best value flagship and mainstream processors, including the Ryzen 7 2700x and the Intel Core i9 9900k, which offers the best overclocking potential and power in games. Check out the processors on this list, select the best one according to your budget, and get it for your upcoming build.
Frequently Asked Questions
