cpus

Best CPUs for Gaming and Streaming in 2023

by Sohaib Arif

Many gamers and streamers are looking for a top-notch CPU to make their gaming experience as smooth as possible. With so many processors out there, it can be hard to find the best one for you. Some CPUs are better suited for gaming than others- and some are specifically designed for streaming videos on YouTube.

You need to decide which gaming CPU is best for you based on your budget and the type of games you play. Intel and AMD both make quality processors, but each has its strengths and weaknesses. Intel is better at multitasking, while AMD is stronger in graphics processing.

The latest processors are powerful enough to handle any game, but what about streaming? What CPU is the best for gaming and streaming at the same time? To find out, we’ll compare some of today’s top CPUs and give you a few options on what to go with!

At A Glance:

Best pick

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Higher boost frequencies

It fits in an AM4 socket

Reasonable price-per-core

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Staff Pick

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core

Efficient and fast

Compatible with X470

The price-performance ratio is unbeatable

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Budget Pick

AMD Ryzen 5

AMD Ryzen 5

AMD Ryzen 5

Excellent power consumption and efficiency

Great value for money

Multithreading support

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Our Recommendations

Award Modal Design Retailer
AMD Ryzen 9 3950X AMD Ryzen 9 3950X AMD Ryzen 9 3950X View on amazon
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core View on amazon
AMD Ryzen 5 AMD Ryzen 5 AMD Ryzen 5 View on amazon
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X AMD Ryzen 9 5900X AMD Ryzen 9 5900X View on amazon
Intel Core i7-10700K Intel Core i7-10700K Intel Core i7-10700K View on amazon
Intel Core i5 Intel Core i5 Intel Core i5 View on amazon
Intel Core i9-10850K Intel Core i9-10850K Intel Core i9-10850K View on amazon
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X AMD Ryzen 7 5800X AMD Ryzen 7 5800X View on amazon

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Best pick AMD Ryzen 9 3950X View on amazon

Brand: AMD | CPU Model: Ryzen 9 3950X | CPU Socket: Socket AM4 | CPU Speed: 4.7 GHz | Processor Count: 16 | Item Dimensions: 1.57 x 1.57 x 0.24 inches | Wattage: 105 watts

AMD believes that their new processor will bring you enough power to play the popular games with cutting-edge ultra-fast speeds.

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X offers 16 cores and an impressive 32 threads of processing power. The world’s most popular video games run at ultra-fast frame rates of 100+ FPS on this CPU. AMD recommends liquid cooling with 280 millimetres or larger radiators to keep the CPU cool while in use.

It is best for gamers, but Intel might be better for you if you’re interested in streaming videos on YouTube. This CPU is still quite expensive, but it is worth it for hardcore gamers who need the extra power. It is more powerful than its predecessor- it’s an impressive upgrade.

The Pros

Higher boost frequencies

It fits in an AM4 socket

Reasonable price-per-core

The Cons

Limited overclocking headroom

Needs extra cooling

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AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core

Staff Pick AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core View on amazon

Brand: AMD | CPU Socket: Socket AM4 | CPU Model: AMD Ryzen 7 | CPU Speed: 4.4 GHz | Item Dimensions: 1.57 x 1.57 x 0.24 inches | Processor Count: 8 | Wattage: 65 watts

This model can fulfil all your dreams by combining world-class gaming performance with incredible content creation. It boasts the AMD X570 chipset, ready for future upgrades and can support up to 128GB of DDR4 memory. You can boost the clock speed up to 4.4 GHz by increasing the frequency.

In the world’s most demanding games, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X delivers 100+ frames per second. This processor is also equipped with 8 Cores and 16 Threads, as well as an AMD Wraith Prism cooler with colour-control LEDs.

Featuring many exciting features that set it apart from other processors

Aside from that, the 4.4GHz max boost speed and 3200 MHz DDR4 memory specification offers ultimate gaming and streaming performance.

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The Pros

Efficient and fast

Compatible with X470

The price-performance ratio is unbeatable

The Cons

Overclocking potential is limited

Lack of integrated graphics

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AMD Ryzen 5

Budget Pick AMD Ryzen 5 View on amazon

Brand: AMD | CPU Model: Ryzen 5 2600 | CPU Socket: Socket AM4 | Device Type: Processors CPU | Speed: 3.9 GHz | Processor Count: 6 | Wattage: 65 watts | Item Dimensions: 1.6 x 1.6 x 0.3 inches

AMD Ryzen 5 is the perfect choice for gamers and streamers who are looking to upgrade their system. It is a new line of processors designed to offer you the best mix of price, performance, and reliability. Their focus is on enhancing system responsiveness which is perfect for gamers and streamers.

It also includes features that will improve your gaming experience with enhanced load times, file management, and boot times. The future-proof mainstream computing platform means that the CPU will handle any game that comes out in the future.

Additional features will blow your mind and make it smarter than average CPUs. The enhanced hardware-level artificial intelligence, ensuring your system will perform perfectly.

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The Pros

Excellent power consumption and efficiency

Great value for money

Multithreading support

The Cons

PCIe 3.0 connectivity

Only six cores

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AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X View on amazon

Brand: AMD | CPU Speed: 4.8 GHz | CPU Model: Ryzen 9 | CPU Socket: Socket AM4 | CPU Socket: Socket AM4 | Processor: 12 | CPU Speed: 4.8 GHz | Wattage: 105 watts

Those who demand the best will love AMD’s Ryzen 9 5900X desktop gaming processor. With 12 cores and 24 threads, the chip delivers more than 100 frames per second in games like Battlefield V. It boasts 4.8 GHz Max Boost speeds, which can be overclocked, and DDR3200 support.

This processor is world-class in both gaming and streaming, thanks to its impressive graphics capabilities. Moreover, its high clock speeds keep your gaming experience smooth even when a lot is going on on-screen.

The powerful CPU not only makes it easier to play the latest PC games with no lag, but it’s also a great help in recording gameplay videos or live streams to YouTube channels.

The Pros

A new single-core champion

Power efficiency

Leading 1080p gaming

The Cons

More expensive than its predecessor

No integrated graphics

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Intel Core i7-10700K

Intel Core i7-10700K View on amazon

Brand: Intel | CPU Model: Core i7 | Processor Count: 8 | CPU Speed: 3.8 GHz | Item Dimensions: 7.09 x 6.3 x 3.94 inches | Wattage: 125 watts

If you’re looking for a high-quality processor to maximize the performance of your computer, check out the 10700K. It offers a wide variety of features, which make it an excellent CPU for gamers and streamers.

Streamers and gamers alike find Intel’s Core i7-10700K to be a powerful and popular processor. ThisFeaturing many exciting features that set it apart from other processors; this model is compatible with motherboards powered by Intel 400 series chipsets.

It has unlocked new overlocking controls that offer additional performance tuning flexibility and up to 5GHzclock speed with Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology.

Furthermore, it is the most powerful Intel processor available in the market. It comes with strong single-core and multi-core performance, plus integrated graphics to deliver an excellent game experience.

The Pros

High overclocking headroom

Unlocked multiplier

Significant thermal improvement even in OC

The Cons

Requires new motherboard

High power consumption

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Intel Core i5

Intel Core i5 View on amazon

Brand: Intel | CPU Model: Core i5 | CPU Socket: BGA 437 | CPU Speed: 2.9 GHz | Processor Count: 6 | Item Dimensions: 2.91 x 4.17 x 4.72 inches | Wattage: 65 watts

As the third generation of Intel Core CPUs, Intel Core i5-10400 is the newest and most powerful option for gamers. Further, it boasts a 40% improvement in efficiency over previous processors and is compatible with Intel 500 series chipset.

Intel Core i5-10400 is an awesome processor that can simultaneously process different types of information.

It is perfect for gaming enthusiasts who want to play their favorite games in ultra settings. With Turbo Boost, your processor knows when to kick in, so you don’t have to worry about losing frames or lag during intense gameplay.

This CPU also features Quad Core Technology - one of the latest advances in processing power that helps improve overall performance by splitting tasks between cores.

The Pros

High-end gaming performance

Workable bundled cooler

Affordable

The Cons

Weak PCIe 4.0 support

Power consumption

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Intel Core i9-10850K

Intel Core i9-10850K View on amazon

Brand: Intel | CPU Model: Core i9 | CPU Speed: 3.6 GHz | Wattage: 125 watts| Processor Count: 1

Intel has released the Core i9-10850K, a desktop processor designed to help users upgrade from previous models. It features a 3.6GHz base clock speed.

This product uses Intel Optane Memory, Intel VT-d virtualization, and Intel Hyper-Threading technology for improved performance.

The Intel Core i9 is best suited for gamers who love to play multiple games at once. It also provides incredible performance even if you are streaming videos on YouTube. This processor can eliminate all lags and hiccups in your game. It can provide you with a terrific streaming experience as well!

It also features built-in support for Intel Optane Memory, allowing it to load memory at a 2X faster rate than normal memory modules. The Intel 400 series chipset and Intel Turbo Boost Max 3.0 are compatible with this chip.

The Pros

Cheaper than Core i9-10900K but performs similarly

Faster than AMD CPUs when overclocked

Worth the value

The Cons

Poor power efficiency

PCIe 3.0 interface

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AMD Ryzen 7 5800X

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X View on amazon

Brand: AMD | CPU Model: AMD Ryzen 7 | CPU Speed: 4.7 GHz | CPU Socket: Socket AM4| Item Dimensions: ‎1.57 x 1.57 x 0.24 inches | Processor Count: 8

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AMD has been making great improvements in the CPU market over the past few years, and the Ryzen 5 5800X is no exception. AMD’s newest Ryzen 7 5800X processor is designed for power users who want to maximize the performance of their system. This 8 core processor can keep 100-plus FPS in popular games with ease, even when playing on a 4K resolution monitor.

With 16 processing threads, AMD’s latest 8 core CPU for mainstream desktops has proven its worth as a top-end processor both for gaming and streaming. The X570 and B550 motherboards are also PCIe 4.0 compatible, allowing gamers to take advantage of the latest SSDs without any lag or bottlenecking.

Its quality ultimately comes down to your budget, but with such powerful specs, it is a great choice for those future planning upgrades and those looking to future-proof their purchase right now.

The Pros

Strong gaming performance

Single-core performance hits new highs for Ryzen

Low power consumption

The Cons

Pricey

Minimal overclocking headroom

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Factors to Consider Before Choosing the Best CPU for Gaming and Streaming

The most important thing to consider is which games you play. If you play many video-based games, look for a processor with high graphics processing power. Additionally, processors can also be divided into streamers and gamers, so keep this in mind when choosing the right one for you.

  • When buying a gaming CPU, the main factors are the price and the number of cores (or processors). While you’ll often see high-end CPUs with more than eight cores, they’re not very practical for most users.
  • Next, you’ll have to decide whether you’d like an Intel or AMD processor. Both have pros and cons that you’ll have to weigh out before purchasing a CPU.
  • Mainly, the difference is in their cores - Intel’s processors usually have about four cores, while AMD usually has six.
  • AMD is generally cheaper than the Intel counterpart, but it tends to heat up more easily and can’t perform well when multitasking. Because of this, if you’re only using your CPU for gaming, AMD usually gets the job done at an affordable price.
  • However, if you use your CPU for tasks like streaming videos on YouTube, Intel is the smarter choice because it has stronger architecture.
  • Intel CPUs are more expensive, but they run cooler and can handle multitasking much better.
  • Finally, there’s also the question of what generation of processor you should buy. Newer processors tend to have more cores, but the price usually goes up as well.
  • Also, keep in mind that you should consider your motherboard when buying a CPU. If your motherboard doesn’t support whatever CPU you buy, it’s not going to work.
  • Unfortunately, if you decide to upgrade later on and get an Intel processor instead of AMD or vice versa, you may also require to buy a new motherboard.

Summary

Award Modal Design Retailer
AMD Ryzen 9 3950X AMD Ryzen 9 3950X AMD Ryzen 9 3950X View on amazon
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core View on amazon
AMD Ryzen 5 AMD Ryzen 5 AMD Ryzen 5 View on amazon
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X AMD Ryzen 9 5900X AMD Ryzen 9 5900X View on amazon
Intel Core i7-10700K Intel Core i7-10700K Intel Core i7-10700K View on amazon
Intel Core i5 Intel Core i5 Intel Core i5 View on amazon
Intel Core i9-10850K Intel Core i9-10850K Intel Core i9-10850K View on amazon
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X AMD Ryzen 7 5800X AMD Ryzen 7 5800X View on amazon

Conclusion

In the end, it’s all about what type of tasks you’ll be doing and how much money you’re willing to spend on the best CPU for gaming and streaming.

The decision of what CPU to use comes down to personal preference. If you’re a gamer, then an Intel CPU is your best option. You can use either Intel or AMD processors if you’re a professional gamer or a video streamer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of Cores?

Cores are the number of processors in a CPU. They usually range between 2 and 32. Most processors have 4 to 8 cores, but 12 cores are now much more popular for better gaming performance.

How many cores are recommended for streaming and gaming?

The majority of games are developed or optimized to run well on four-core processors. Two-core processors are sufficient for streaming. Having an Intel Core-i7 processor, powerful graphics card, and 8GB of RAM is ideal for gaming and streaming at the same time.

Is AMD better than Intel for gaming?

It's hard to choose between the two. However, Intel wasn't producing powerful chips a few years ago, so AMD seized the opportunity by making better processors at a lower price. AMD seems to be winning in gaming and streaming even though Intel also produces excellent processors at competitive prices.

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