Now that Raptor Lake is here, it’s time to revisit the best Intel processors on the market. And buyers are spoiled with options right now.
Even while facing downAMD’s Ryzen 7000 processors, Intel has come out on top with its Raptor Lake CPUs. The best Intel processor you can buy right now is the Core i5-13600K, but in a strange change of pace, Intel has several excellent options on the market right now.
From high-end gaming CPUs to some recent 12th-generation CPUs that are under $100, Intel has a compelling option at just about every price point. The AMD versus Intel war rages on, but for fans of Team Blue, these are the best Intel CPUs you can buy today.
Why you should buy this: It’s inexpensive, packed with cores, and offers much more performance than its price would suggest.
Who it’s for: Gamers and power users who want peak performance without breaking the bank.
What we thought of the Intel Core i5-13600K:
The dilemma between Core i5 and Core i7 is always present with Intel processors, but the Core i5-13600K changes that dynamic. It’s around $120 less than the Core i7-13700K while offering similar performance in both productivity tasks and gaming. In some cases, it even beats down the flagship Core i9-13900K, making it one of the best CPUs you can buy right now.
For around $300, you’re getting a 14-core CPU with clock speeds upward of 5.1GHz, which would have been unheard of even a couple of years ago. Not all of those 14 cores are built equally, though. Similar to Intel’s previous generation, the Core i5-13600K mixes performance (P) cores and efficient (E) cores. With the Core i5-13600K, you’re getting six P-cores and eight E-cores.
The six P-cores are more than enough for gaming, which is what allows the Core i5-13600K to compete with AMD’s Ryzen 5 7600X at the same price. It’s the extra E-cores where Intel shoots ahead, though, offering better multi-core performance in demanding tasks like video encoding and rendering.
In addition, the Core i5-13600K isn’t pushed to the brink like the more expensive chips in Intel’s Raptor Lake lineup. It still has some headroom for CPU overclocking, so power users can squeeze extra performance out of the processor.
Why you should buy this: It’s inexpensive while still offering highly competitive performance.
Who it’s for: PC builders on a tight budget that only need a few cores.
What we thought of the Intel Core i5-12400F:
Intel always follows up its main releases with more budget-friendly options as a generation goes on, and unfortunately, they don’t always get the limelight they deserve. That couldn’t be more true than it is with the Core i5-12400F. At around $100 less than the Core i5-12600K, you’re getting similar performance and a recent Intel architecture.
This one comes from the last-gen Alder Lake range, but don’t let that scare you off. Instead of a hybrid architecture, the Core i5-12400F opts for six performance cores and no efficient cores. That means you’re still getting 12 threads, along with a boost clock speed of 4.4GHz.
Gaming is where the chip shines most, oftentimes only taking a backseat of 5% to 10% compared to the more expensive Core i5-12600K. You can push the processor further by removing its power limit, too, allowing it to rival even the Core i9-11900K from a couple of generations back. That’s a lot of CPU power for around $150.
There are a couple of caveats for this one, though. For starters, it doesn’t support overclocking, but you can still remove the power limit for a performance boost. In addition, it doesn’t include integrated graphics, so you’ll need to pair the CPU with one of the best graphics cards. You can pick up the Core i5-12400, which is the same CPU with integrated graphics, but it’s about $25 more expensive.
Why you should buy this: It’s the second most powerful Intel processor you can buy right now.
Who it’s for: Anyone who needs the best without majorly overpaying.
What we thought of the Intel Core i9-12900K:
Intel’s flagships haven’t been impressive over the past couple of generations, but the Core i9-12900K changes that. It’s the flagship of flagships, sporting 16 cores and single-core boost speeds of up to 5.2GHz. It blows past everything else on the market, making it a great choice for gaming, content creation, and everything in between.
