The Best Budget CPUs of 2020 & 2021 – Intel & AMD Ryzen Cheap Processors
We are all about value for money here so find out what we think are the best budget CPUs to get you up and running
- Last Updated Jan 8, 2021
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Your central processing unit (CPU) is the brain of your gaming rig. In fact, it processes all the information that your computer touches. Much like our own brains, the CPU sends electrical signals to other parts of the computer to communicate.
While the GPU determines more of what you are capable of doing without a good CPU, it will be bottlenecked resulting in lower framerates and in some cases, severe stutters.
While this might sound cataclysmic, picking a good processor– especially a budget CPU– doesn’t have to be that hard. If you’re able to buy a cheap CPU with a stellar price to performance ratio, you’re in business!
In this guide, we’re going to be talking about the best budget CPUs on the market in 2020. And at the end we will give you the tools you need to make the right choice for your next gaming setup!
Products at a Glance
The Best Budget CPUs of 2020 & 2021 – Intel & AMD Ryzen Cheap Processors
The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G is a second generation Ryzen processor, meaning it features an Accelerated Processing Unit (APU). In layman’s terms, that means this CPU has onboard (integrated) graphics.
Its integrated Vega 8 graphics are actually more than twice as powerful as the Vega 3 graphics seen on the Athlon CPUs. If you’re going to be using this iGPU for a little while, then this is the best value CPU.
The CPU has four physical cores and four physical threads, in addition to incredible overclocking potential. It has a max boost frequency of 3.7 GHz.
Similarly to other CPUs in the Ryzen family, the 2200G ships with an AMD Wraith Stealth cooler, that provides adequate cooling at stock frequencies. It can even be used for light overclocking, though you’ll have to upgrade to an aftermarket cooler for any serious overclocking.
Arguably one of the best performing CPUs in this roundup, the Intel Core i3-8100 is a truly stupendous budget gaming CPU. It outperforms the Ryzen 3 1300X in both multi-threaded and single-threaded performance, despite both chips having four physical cores and four threads. That makes this CPU the best budget gaming CPU on the market.
This CPU will couple well with a GTX 1050 Ti, and it could even be paired with a top-tier GTX 1060 without any issues. It’s great for gaming in addition to some other workstation tasks, such as video editing and multitasking. For the price, it’s a wonderful all-around processor.
Unfortunately, nothing is perfect, and this CPU is no exception. It doesn’t ship with a stock cooler from the factory, meaning you’ll have to invest a bit more in an aftermarket CPU cooler. This will probably run you around $20 if you choose a standard aftermarket cooler, like the Hyper 212 EVO. That price difference, makes the choice between Ryzen 3 1300X – which includes a great CPU cooler– a bit more difficult.
Much like the Intel Core i3-8100, the Ryzen 3 1300X has four physical cores and four threads. It employs AMD’s 14nm Zen architecture. Sporting a 3.5 GHz base clock and a boost clock of 3.7 GHz, this chip is great for gaming.
Unlike the i3-8100, this cheap AMD processor actually includes a stock cooler in the box, and it’s pretty darn good too. This will save you around $20, which is money that can be allocated elsewhere in the build.
Keep in mind that this CPU does not have integrated graphics, a feature that can only be found with second-generation Ryzen chips. This shouldn’t be a red flag, though, because a gaming PC should have a dedicated video card anyway.
Cost wise, Ryzen 3 CPUs are better than Intel Core i3 CPUs, especially when you factor in the additional $20 for an i3-8100 cooler, and the higher motherboard prices for LGA 1151 chips as well.
The AMD Athlon 240GE is the company’s flagship budget gaming CPU. Its integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics mean you can play low-demand games in 720p without a dedicated GPU.
While this isn’t ideal, it does allow you to save up for an actual GPU while still being able to use your PC in the meantime. You’ll have to be okay with playing at lower resolutions and graphical settings, but that’s to be expected on a budget like this anyway.
Although the chip doesn’t technically support overclocking, it can be done after following a quick tutorial online. Once overclocked, the chip’s performance rivals that of higher-tier CPUs. Even without overclocking, this CPU is among the best in its price range.
Despite providing 90% of the Ryzen 3 1300X’s performance, the Ryzen 3 1200 is $30 cheaper than its big brother.
In fact, when overclocked the Ryzen 3 1200’s performance is nearly the same as the 1300X’s performance.
I have a Ryzen 3 1200 in my rig, paired with a GTX 1060 3GB. I have my CPU overclocked to 3.9GHz and it is an absolute powerhouse– well, not a powerhouse really, but it is certainly very capable– especially considering its low cost. Oh, and did I mention that I’m using the stock cooler?
Things To Consider
Intel vs. AMD: Which is Best For You?
A few years ago, most in the PC gaming community would have probably agreed that Intel CPUs were the best for gaming. At the time, AMD only offered outdated and slow 32nm CPUs.
That is until the age of Ryzen CPUs began in the summer of 2017, which instantly made AMD CPUs a viable option for both gaming and workstation-related tasks. This quickly lit a fire under Intel that has seen rapid growth to both company’s respective CPU architecture over the last couple of years.
When deciding between the two companies, the choice comes down to several important factors.
Base Performance
In most cases, Intel CPUs have better single-core performance, whereas Ryzen CPUs provide superior multi-core performance.
It’s important to note that single-core performance tends to be more important for gaming, whereas multi-core performance tends to have a more significant impact on workstation tasks. Nevertheless, the performance difference is usually marginal.
Overclocking
AMD Ryzen CPUs really shine through in terms of overclocking potential. Even the cheapest Ryzen CPUs ship factory unlocked, and their overclocking performance is outstanding. Even Ryzen stock coolers are good enough for light overclocking. For example, I managed to overclock my Ryzen 3 1200 to a stable 3.9GHz with the stock cooler.
Intel CPUs often have cheaper, locked models and more expensive, unlocked models (notably, none of the Intel CPUs on our list are actually designed to be overclocked). Even the unlocked Intel CPUs don’t always see the same performance boosts that Ryzen CPUs can offer.
Moreover, most Intel CPUs don’t have stock coolers and the ones that do are rarely up to par with the stock coolers packaged with Ryzen CPUs.
Don’t worry, overclocking is actually pretty easy, and there are a plethora of easy-to-follow overclocking tutorials online.
Integrated Graphics (iGPU)
This isn’t really important or even noteworthy for more expensive CPUs, but when it comes to budget CPUs it can be the difference between gaming while saving up for a better GPU and merely using your computer for browsing.
The second generation Ryzen line CPUs have integrated Vega graphics onboard, which blow Intel’s integrated graphics out of the water. You’ll be able to game comfortably in 720p, playing older games and well-optimized games that don’t demand too much processing power.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, DOTA 2, and Minecraft are all good examples.
Integrated graphics should only be used on an extreme budget– if you do choose to stick with integrated graphics as opposed to buying an additional dedicated graphics card, don’t expect to play any demanding games. You’ll need a dedicated GPU to handle most AAA titles.
Pricing
In terms of pricing, AMD CPUs often tend to be cheaper than their Team Blue counterparts. If you’re on a budget, AMD CPUs usually offer the best price to performance options, which are great when you’re building a cheap gaming PC. This is compounded by things we have mentioned above: unlocked overclocking, superior stock coolers, and better integrated graphics.
If you don’t plan on overclocking, Intel CPUs will be more powerful than comparable AMD CPUs… as a rule of thumb. Even then, AMD CPUs often represent a better value. If you do plan on overclocking, then the scale significantly tips in favor of AMD.
FAQs
How Do I Pick the Best Budget Gaming CPU for Me?
Our Verdict
In truth, all of these processors are great budget-dependent picks. AMD is still currently kings of the castle but if you are wedded to Intel there is a very solid choice in this round-up too. The Ryzen 3 2200G is the best value CPU if you are intended to not upgrade for a while. The performance it puts out will survive the market longer than the others here. If you want to overclock though you will need to spend extra on better cooling.