So what makes a chip one of the best cheap processors in 2025? It’s a question I’ve had to look at pretty seriously when rewriting this guide, since price alone isn’t enough.
Sure, you could buy a dual-core Intel Celeron processor for next to nothing, but you can go too far down the stack and end up with a dirt-cheap chip that doesn’t give you enough performance for even basic modern tasks.
So, when I approached the rewrite of this guide, I bought a bunch of cheap processors, focusing on chips that offer at least four processing cores and more recent platforms like AMD AM4 and AM5, as well as Intel LGA 1700. I then ran these chips ragged with various benchmarks and real-world use cases, gathering all of these results together. Then, I used the results of these tests to select the chips on this list (you can see these results for all the chips on this page towards the end of this guide).
This offers the best path for budget PC builders to put together a quality system with a solid but affordable processor at the center, based on their needs and budget.
With that in mind, rather than try to put the best processors on this list into an arbitrary ranking, I’ve broken it down by price and chipmaker so that you can go right to the best cheap processor by system and the budget you have in mind and find my recommendation, backed by dozens of hours of extensive testing.
The Ryzen 5 8600G is a very strong processor available for under $250 across a bunch of retailers, offering AMD Zen 4 performance and integrated RDNA 3 graphics.
The Core i7-12700K is still available at several retailers right now for under $250, offering workhorse processing prowess with eight performance cores for a very accessible price.
The Ryzen 7 5700X is a fantastic cheap processor for the AMD AM4 platform that gets you some speedy performance cores for multithreaded performance at a cheap price.
The Core i5-12490F doesn’t come with integrated graphics and might be a bit hard to find, but if you can find it and pair it with a good graphics card, it offers solid performance for the price.
For under $100, your best bet is going to be the AMD Ryzen 5 5500. Unlike later AMD chips, the Ryzen 5 5500 doesn’t have integrated graphics, but its performance is fantastic for its price.
Arguably the best value of all the chips on this list, the Core i3-13100F is fantastic for its price, rivaling chips with far more cores, though you’ll need a graphics card as it doesn’t come with an iGPU.
As TechRadar’s components expert, I’ve spent hundreds of hours in the lab testing processors and system components over the past few years, and I have personally run each of the processors you’ll find here through hours of testing each to ensure that my recommendations are backed up by solid data and hands-on experience.
The best cheap AMD processor under $250
When I recently put the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G through my CPU testing suite, I was honestly surprised at how much performance AMD packed into a chip that has a retail MSRP under $250.
This 6-core, 12-thread processor feels like an absolute steal at its current price point, running at 4.3GHz and boosts up to 5GHz out of the box with the bundled Wraith Stealth cooler that kept the max 83.252W power draw underneath 90°C.
Critically, it also packs in an 8-core Radeon 760M integrated GPU, which managed to get some pretty decent 1080p gaming performance at medium settings without needing a graphics card, making it a fantastic choice for gaming PC builds on a very tight budget. It won't blow you away, visually speaking, but it still impresses when you consider it can play Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p on medium settings and clear a minimum of 45 fps, with a consistent average above 60 fps.
It also features a 16 TOPS AMD XDNA NPU, one of the few chips you're going to find at this price to include AI-specific hardware. It's not going to be enough to run Microsoft Copilot+, much less any serious machine learning workloads, but it's a little bit of future-proofing that's a nice-to-have feature for some people.
It does require an AM5 socket, though, which might push the upgrade cost of this chip out of the budgets of AM4 users who want something more current, but with a bunch of new and somewhat older budget-friendly AM5 motherboards out there and much cheaper DDR5 RAM, this is one of the best AMD processors on the market to build a budget gaming PC around.
The best cheap Intel processor under $250
When I set out to find the best cheap processor from Intel under $250, I immediately went looking for a Core i7, and found the 12700K right in line with my price expectations, given its age. But don't let the fact that this chip is four years old fool you: it is the top-performing chip in this entire group overall in my testing, still holding its own against more recent-gen AMD and Intel processors that cost way more.
Originally launched with a $409 MSRP, the Intel Core i7-12700K has come down in price significantly, with several retailers like Newegg and Amazon listing the chip below $250, a price drop that makes it an unbeatable value if you're looking for a powerful workhorse of a processor at a more budget-friendly mainstream price.
With 12 cores overall (eight performance cores and four efficiency cores) and 20 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading, this chip still delivers incredible multitasking power. In workloads like Cinebench R23, Passmark, and Crossmark, its multi-core performance beats out every other chip on this list handily. This also directly translates into better productivity and creative performance, as well as system responsiveness.
This makes it the best Intel processor for budget workstations, especially since it is generally the most expensive chip on this list, so it's best suited for those users who can absorb a bit more cost up front.
The base clock of 3.6GHz and boost clock up to 5.0GHz ensure it’s snappy in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. For budget enthusiasts who want to tinker, it’s an unlocked chip, so you can definitely overclock it if you want, just make sure you have adequate cooling.
Another big advantage of this chip is flexibility: the 12700K supports both DDR4 and DDR5 RAM, so you can build a system that fits your budget without being forced into pricier components. It also offers PCIe 4.0 support, keeping it current for modern GPUs and storage drives, though you might miss out on the cheaper PCIe 5.0 SSD drives we're seeing come to market.
Simply put, despite it being a few generations old, the i7-12700K is still incredibly fast, as my numbers show. I’ve tested plenty of budget-friendly CPUs, but none strike the same balance of raw performance, overclocking potential, and modern features at this sub-$250 price point. If you want the best cheap Intel CPU, this is the one I’d buy every time if you have some wiggle room in your budget.
The best cheap AMD processor under $150
Below $150, you're going to have to make some compromises on performance to keep on budget, but the Ryzen 7 5700X is still a very speedy processor that is more than capable of chewing through heavy workloads.
Running it through my benchmarking and real-use tests, the Ryzen 7 5700X excels at multi-core performance, creative workloads, and gaming, making it a great choice for a cheap gaming PC, creative workstation, or general-purpose build.
Its single-core performance isn't quite up to where Intel is in this price range, but it is effectively tied with the Intel Core i5-12490F, which is really the chip to beat in this price class.
Launched at a $299 MSRP, the Ryzen 7 5700X has dropped to a budget-friendly sub-$150 range at several retailers, but given that this is a nearly four-year-old chip, stock is harder to come by in 2025.
If you can dig it out of the discount bins, you're getting an eight-core/16-thread processor with a modest 3.4GHz base clock rate, with boost speeds up to 4.6GHz. These are more than enough for just about anything you'll need for a few years, but do note that it does not come with an integrated GPU, so you'll also need to sort through some of the best cheap graphics card options to find a good GPU to pair it with.
What stood out to me most during testing is how efficient it is. With a 65W TDP, the Ryzen 7 5700X runs cooler and uses significantly less power than comparable chips, making it easier (and cheaper) to cool; even a simple box cooler like the Wraith Stealth was enough to keep this chip under 66°C throughout my testing.
Given that this is a fairly old chip at this point, it's not going to be able to support new technologies like PCIe 5.0 or DDR5 RAM, but this does mean that if you're building a system fresh, the parts for this build will still be pretty cheap, and if you're upgrading on an AM4 board, you likely don't have to worry about incompatibility with your other components.
The best cheap Intel processor under $150
Choosing the best Intel processor under $150 was honestly the hardest choice in this entire guide, given the incredible value offered by the Intel Core i5-12600K. Unfortunately, that chip consistently sells for more than $200, so I've gone with a bit of a surprise pick: the Core i5-12490F.
Originally a China-exclusive SKU, many of these chips have been making their way to online retailers in North America and Europe, and the performance is almost as good as what you'd find with the 12600K.
After putting the 12490F through my testing process, I've found it to be the best overall processor in this price class, almost entirely thanks to its much higher single-core and productivity performance.
Meanwhile, its multi-core performance is within striking distance of the Ryzen 7 5700X despite the latter having two additional cores and a higher base clock speed.
The i5-12490F is also atypical of this generation of Intel chips in that it does not have efficiency cores, so all of its cores are more powerful performance cores, making core scheduling for apps and games easier to manage, freeing up system overhead.
On the downside, there's no integrated graphics here, so you'll need a graphics card. Also, this isn’t an unlocked chip, so you won't really be able to overclock it, so you'll have to live with its out-of-the-box performance. Thankfully, though, this performance is generally excellent, especially considering the sub-$150 price point.
Lastly, this chip was originally only supposed to be sold in China, so even though they've made it to the global market, stock of this chip is going to be more limited than some of the other chips on this list that had a well-supported global release. If you're having trouble finding this one, definitely look at the Intel Core i5-12400F, Intel Core i5-12600K, or Intel Core i5-12600KF for comparable performance.
The best cheap AMD processor under $100
At less than $100, you'd be amazed at the level of performance you're able to get out of a Zen 3 AMD chip like the Ryzen 5 5500.
If you’re shopping for the best AMD processor under $100, you'll want to check out the Ryzen 5 5500. Having ran it through extensive testing across synthetic, creative, and gaming performance, nothing else AMD has put out comes as close to balancing performance and efficiency for so little money.
Launched in 2022 at an MSRP of $159, the Ryzen 5 5500 has since dropped well below $100, making it a very compelling chip for AMD builders. It features six cores and 12 threads, so it has enough processing power to handle general multitasking, light content creation, and modern gaming fairly well for its price point.
With a 3.6 GHz base clock and boost speeds up to 4.2 GHz, though, its single-core performance lags behind Intel's best sub-$100 chip, the Core i3-13100F, so that means it also lags on some key applications like Adobe Photoshop, and most PC games.
Still, the Ryzen 5 5500 feels snappy in everyday tasks while still delivering enough headroom for heavier multi-threaded workloads. It also has an unlocked multiplier, making overclocking easier.
Despite the power, the Ryzen 5 5500 runs efficiently with a 65W TDP, with an actual max power draw of just 69.7W in my testing. For that little power, you won’t need a big chonky cooler to keep the chip running smoothly.
It supports DDR4 memory, which helps keep platform costs low, but the real drawback here is that it’s limited to PCIe 3.0, in addition to lacking integrated graphics. As such, you’ll need a discrete graphics card to use this chip, and you shouldn't bother with more expensive PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0 SSDs, but for a budget gaming or productivity build, those trade-offs are more than acceptable.
The best cheap Intel processor under $100
If I had to crown one CPU in this guide as the best performance per dollar, it would be the Intel Core i3-13100F.
Watching it run through my battery of benchmarks, I was genuinely impressed by the scores it was getting as well as the speed at which it was churning through tests. To be clear, as a quad-core processor, this chip cannot compete against more mainstream or enthusiast CPUs. That said, in practice, I didn't notice any especially bad performance.
Sure, some workloads took longer, like encoding Tears of Steel from 4K to 1080p in Handbrake without GPU acceleration (which it did at 35 frames per second, compared to the Ryzen 5 5500's 45 fps or the 12700K's 86 fps), but for a quad-core CPU, that's to be expected.
Meanwhile, in gaming, the 13100F never dipped below 71 fps in any game I tested it with at 1080p on the lowest graphics settings, so with a reasonable graphics card like the RTX 4060, you should easily be able to play AAA titles at high settings at 1080p with high frame rates.
What really sells this chip, though, is its price. We purchased it for the lab for just $91, and I've seen it cheaper elsewhere after we got it in from Newegg. Of all the chips I've tested, this one offers you the best bang for your buck, which was something I was truly not expecting. Budget builders everywhere, do take note.
How to choose the best cheap processor for you
Budget-friendly processors have to walk a much finer balance of price and performance, often making the choice of which cheap processor to choose especially challenging. Fortunately, there are a couple of key points to consider to help guide your decision-making.
The most important factor is to consider your platform. If you already have a motherboard, you’ll want a processor that fits your current motherboard socket and chipset to avoid the extra cost of upgrades. Given the current stock on the market, you’re really going to be looking at AMD AM4, AMD AM5, and Intel LGA 1700.
Each of those sockets also have different chipsets.
- AMD AM4: A300, A320, A520, B350, B450, B550, X370, X470, X570
- AMD AM5: A620, A620A, Pro 600, B650, B650E, B840, B850, X670, X670E, X870, X870E
- Intel LGA 1700: H610, B660, H670, Q670, Z690, W680, B760, H770, Z790
If you have a motherboard with one of the above, make sure you are choosing the right processor to fit the socket you have, and if you are building a new system, make sure you’re also buying the appropriate motherboard for the chip you want.
Price is the next key factor. Set a clear budget and remember that spending slightly more up front can save you money in the long run by extending the usable life of your system. Entry-level CPUs are excellent for basic tasks like web browsing or office work, while midrange options deliver better longevity for light gaming and multitasking.
Finally, assess performance requirements. Think about what you’ll use your PC for—casual gaming, creative work, or everyday productivity. More cores and threads benefit multitasking and demanding workloads, while higher clock speeds give smoother performance in apps that rely on single-core power. Using these three factors, you can find the right balance for your needs.
How I tested the cheap processors on this list
To curate the cheap processors on this list, we purchased a number of processors and I put them on my testbench, running them through many hours of testing, assessing synthetic, creative, and gaming performance. This involved running industry standard benchmarks like Geekbench 6, CineBench R23, and Passmark, as well as real world creative performance tests Blender Benchmark, V-Ray 6, and PugetBench for Creators.
Finally, I ran in-game benchmarks for several modern PC games like Cyberpunk 2077, F1 2024, and others at 1080p resolution and the lowest quality settings, paired with an Nvidia RTX 5090, to isolate the chip gaming capabilities. I also ran a couple of gaming AI benchmarks to measure how well each processor manages game logic.
Each test is run three times and the average of scores is the final result for that test. I then take a geometric mean for each category (synthetic, creative, and gaming), and take a straight average to arrive at the final score for the chip. I then divide this score by the price we paid for the processor to arrive at the processor’s value score.
The best cheap processors: FAQs
What is cheaper, Intel or AMD?
Neither chipmaker is definitively ‘cheaper’ than the other, given the rather deep stack of products that each offers. Generally, older chips are going to be cheaper, though, and you are going to be very hard-pressed to find a current-gen processor from either for less than $250.
What is the best CPU for gaming under $200?
According to my testing, the best cheap gaming processor right now is the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X, but all of the sub-$200 chips on this list offer solid gaming performance at 1080p, especially when paired with one of the best cheap graphics cards so you can crank up the visual quality settings.
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