Best Overall Value
Price: £167.92 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.7)
Here's the thing: the Ryzen 5 7600 is the chip that makes this whole roundup make sense. It sits comfortably under £135, lands on AMD's modern AM5 platform, boosts to 5.1 GHz, and comes with the Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. That's a lot sorted for not much money.
For gaming specifically, the 7600 is genuinely excellent. Six Zen 4 cores with 38MB of combined cache handle modern titles without breaking a sweat, and the high boost clock keeps frame rates competitive even against pricier chips. At 1080p and 1440p, you're unlikely to find a meaningful bottleneck here unless you're pairing it with a very high-end GPU like an RTX 4090, which would be a strange pairing at this budget anyway.
The integrated Radeon graphics are a nice safety net. They won't run demanding games at playable settings, but they'll get you into Windows and let you troubleshoot if your discrete GPU ever plays up. It's a small thing, but it matters when you're building a new system.
AM5 is the real selling point beyond raw performance. Unlike AM4, AMD has committed to supporting AM5 through future Ryzen generations, so you can drop in a Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 down the line without swapping the board. That future-proofing is worth paying for. And at this price, you're barely paying a premium over older AM4 options anyway.
The Wraith Stealth cooler is adequate for stock operation, though if you plan to push the chip hard for long gaming sessions, a budget aftermarket cooler wouldn't go amiss. Temperatures stay reasonable under normal gaming loads, though.
Pros
- Modern AM5 platform with genuine upgrade path
- 5.1 GHz boost clock is excellent for gaming
- Integrated graphics included as a fallback
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- 38MB cache handles modern game assets well
Cons
- AM5 motherboards cost more than AM4 equivalents
- Integrated graphics won't handle demanding games
- Wraith Stealth cooler is just adequate, not impressive
Buy on Amazon
Best Under £100
Price: £139.99 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.8)
The Ryzen 5 5600X was one of the best gaming CPUs ever made when it launched, and it's aged remarkably well. At around £146, it's still a proper decent chip for 1080p and 1440p gaming, built on AMD's Zen 3 architecture with six cores, twelve threads, and a 4.6 GHz boost clock.
For gaming under £300, the 5600X punches well above its weight. The Zen 3 IPC improvements over Zen 2 were substantial, and real-world gaming performance sits surprisingly close to newer Zen 4 chips in many titles. If you already have an AM4 board, this is an easy, cost-effective upgrade that won't require a platform change.
The 35MB of combined cache is generous for the price, and the 65W TDP means it runs cool and quiet under the included Wraith Stealth cooler. Power efficiency is solid. You won't be paying a fortune in electricity bills running this chip through long gaming sessions.
The honest limitation here is the platform. AM4 is effectively a dead socket. AMD has confirmed no new CPUs will support it, so the 5600X is a terminal upgrade for that ecosystem. If you're building fresh, the Ryzen 5 7600 on AM5 makes more sense long-term. But if you're upgrading an existing AM4 system, the 5600X is one of the best CPUs for gaming under £300 at this price point, full stop.
Pros
- Excellent Zen 3 IPC, still competitive in 2026
- Runs cool and quiet at 65W TDP
- Wraith Stealth cooler included
- Great for existing AM4 system upgrades
- Strong 1080p and 1440p gaming performance
Cons
- AM4 is a dead platform with no upgrade path
- No integrated graphics
- Newer AM5 chips offer better future-proofing at similar prices
Buy on Amazon£139.99
Best Build Quality
Price: £238.99 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.8)
If you want the best gaming performance available in this roundup and you're willing to spend close to the £300 ceiling, the Ryzen 7 9700X is the chip to get. Eight Zen 5 cores, 5.5 GHz boost, and AMD's latest architecture make this a genuinely future-proof gaming processor.
The jump from six to eight cores won't transform your frame rates in most current games, but it does give you headroom as titles become more threaded. More importantly, the Zen 5 IPC improvements over Zen 4 are real, and the 9700X's single-core performance is among the best in its class. Gaming is still largely a single-core workload, so that matters.
At 65W TDP, the efficiency is remarkable for an 8-core chip. It runs cooler than you'd expect, which is great news for quieter builds. The catch: no cooler in the box. Budget for a decent aftermarket option, something like a DeepCool AK400 or similar, which will add £25 to £35 to the total cost. Factor that in before you buy.
For gaming under £300, this is the top-tier option. Pair it with a capable GPU and a decent AM5 board and you'll have a system that won't need a CPU upgrade for years. The build quality of Zen 5 silicon is AMD's finest work to date.
Pros
- Best gaming performance in this roundup
- Zen 5 architecture with excellent IPC
- Remarkably efficient at 65W for 8 cores
- AM5 platform with long upgrade path
- 5.5 GHz boost clock is class-leading
Cons
- No cooler included, add £25 to £35 to budget
- Near the £300 ceiling, less room for GPU spend
- Overkill for pure 1080p gaming
Buy on Amazon£238.99
Best for Beginners
Price: £149.99 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.7)
The Ryzen 5 8600G is a clever chip for anyone building their first gaming PC. Six Zen 4 cores, a 5.0 GHz boost, and RDNA 3 integrated graphics mean you can actually game on this processor without a discrete GPU. Not at ultra settings, but for esports titles like Valorant, CS2, and Rocket League, the iGPU is genuinely capable at 1080p medium settings.
That makes it perfect for beginners who want to get a system up and running now and add a dedicated GPU later when budget allows. It's a phased approach that makes a lot of sense when GPU prices are unpredictable. You're not stuck waiting to play anything.
The AM5 platform gives it a proper upgrade path, and the Wraith Stealth cooler is included so you're not scrambling for cooling on day one. At around £147, it's competitively priced for what it offers. The 22MB cache is lower than the 7600's 38MB, which can show up in cache-sensitive games, but for most titles the difference is minor.
For a first build where flexibility matters more than peak performance, the 8600G is one of the most sensible picks among the best CPUs for gaming under £300.
Pros
- RDNA 3 iGPU enables GPU-free gaming at 1080p
- AM5 platform with upgrade path
- Wraith Stealth cooler included
- Good for phased builds, add GPU later
- Ryzen AI features for future software compatibility
Cons
- Lower cache than Ryzen 5 7600
- iGPU won't handle demanding AAA titles well
- Slightly pricier than the 7600 for less CPU performance
Buy on Amazon£149.99
Best Efficiency
Price: £166.99 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.8)
The Ryzen 5 9600X is the Zen 5 version of the 7600, and it's a proper step forward. Six cores, 5.4 GHz boost, 38MB cache, and AMD's latest architecture at 65W TDP. For gaming, the IPC improvements in Zen 5 translate to noticeably better performance in CPU-bound scenarios compared to the 7600.
At around £167, it costs more than the 7600 but less than the 9700X, sitting in a sensible middle ground. If you're building a high-refresh gaming rig and want the best 6-core gaming chip available, the 9600X is it. The 5.4 GHz boost clock is particularly impressive for a 65W chip.
The main gripe: no cooler in the box. AMD has started dropping the Wraith Stealth from their X-series chips, which is a bit annoying at this price. Budget an extra £25 or so for a decent cooler. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's worth knowing upfront.
Integrated graphics are included as a fallback, which is handy. Overall, the 9600X is an excellent gaming CPU that earns its place among the best CPUs for gaming under £300 for anyone who wants cutting-edge Zen 5 performance without going to 8 cores.
Pros
- Zen 5 IPC improvements over Zen 4 are meaningful
- 5.4 GHz boost at just 65W is impressive
- 38MB cache, same as the 7600
- AM5 platform, future-proof
- Integrated graphics included
Cons
- No cooler included
- Costs noticeably more than the Ryzen 5 7600
- Marginal gaming gains over 7600 in most titles
Buy on Amazon£166.99
Best AM4 with iGPU
Price: £161.99 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.8)
The 5600GT is a bit of an oddity, and that's actually what makes it interesting. It combines the Zen 3 CPU cores of the 5600X with RDNA 2 integrated graphics, giving you a chip that can handle light gaming without a discrete GPU on the AM4 platform. That's a combination that didn't exist when AM4 was in its prime.
For gaming, the CPU performance matches the 5600X closely, which is still very capable. The integrated RDNA 2 graphics are a step up from the older Vega iGPUs and can handle esports titles at 1080p low to medium settings. Not brilliant, but functional.
At around £160, it costs more than the 5600X without the iGPU, so you're paying a premium for the integrated graphics. Whether that's worth it depends on your situation. If you're upgrading an AM4 system and want a GPU fallback, it makes sense. If you're building fresh, the 8600G on AM5 is a better long-term choice with a stronger iGPU and a future-proof platform.
The Wraith Stealth cooler is included, which keeps the total cost manageable. A solid chip, but one with a fairly specific use case.
Pros
- Zen 3 CPU performance matches the 5600X
- RDNA 2 iGPU better than older Vega graphics
- Wraith Stealth cooler included
- Good for AM4 system upgrades with iGPU fallback
Cons
- AM4 is a dead platform
- Costs more than the 5600X for a modest iGPU
- 8600G on AM5 is a better new-build choice
- 19MB cache is lower than the 5600X's 35MB
Buy on Amazon
Best Legacy Value
Price: £149.00 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.8)
The Ryzen 5 3600 is the granddaddy of budget gaming CPUs. It launched in 2019, and it's still shifting units in 2026. That tells you something. Six Zen 2 cores, 4.1 GHz boost, 35MB cache, and a 65W TDP make it a competent 1080p gaming chip even today, though it's showing its age in more demanding titles.
At around £140, it's harder to recommend than it used to be. The 5600X offers meaningfully better performance for only a few pounds more, and the 7600 on AM5 gives you a modern platform for similar money. The 3600 only makes sense if you find it significantly cheaper than listed, or if you're upgrading a very old AM4 system that can't support Zen 3.
For gaming, it handles 1080p well in most titles but can show CPU bottlenecks in more demanding games at higher frame rates. Paired with a mid-range GPU like an RX 6600 or RTX 3060, you'll get solid results at 1080p. Push to 1440p and the GPU becomes the limiting factor anyway, which masks the CPU's age.
The Wraith Stealth cooler is included and perfectly adequate for stock operation. A decent chip, but one that's been overtaken by better value options at similar prices.
Pros
- Proven, reliable Zen 2 architecture
- 35MB cache is generous for the generation
- Wraith Stealth cooler included
- Handles 1080p gaming competently
Cons
- Zen 2 IPC noticeably behind Zen 3 and Zen 4
- AM4 dead platform, no upgrade path
- 5600X is better value at a similar price
- No integrated graphics
Buy on Amazon£149.00
Best for Multitasking
Price: £299.59 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.8)
The Ryzen 9 9900X is technically within budget at just under £300, but it's a strange fit for a pure gaming build. Twelve cores and 24 threads are genuinely impressive, and the 5.6 GHz boost clock is the highest in this roundup. But games don't use 12 cores. Most titles top out at 6 to 8 cores, which means you're paying for a lot of silicon that sits idle during gaming sessions.
Where the 9900X makes sense is if you're building a dual-purpose machine: gaming and content creation, streaming, video editing, or 3D rendering. In those workloads, the extra cores earn their keep. For pure gaming, you'd be better served by the 9700X or 9600X and putting the savings toward a better GPU.
The 120W TDP is also worth noting. You'll need a proper aftermarket cooler (not included) and a board with decent VRM cooling. That adds cost and complexity. The 76MB of cache is enormous and does help in cache-sensitive games, but it's not enough to justify the premium over the 9700X for gaming alone.
Honest verdict: brilliant CPU, wrong tool for pure gaming on a budget.
Pros
- 12 cores ideal for content creation alongside gaming
- 5.6 GHz boost, highest in this roundup
- 76MB cache is massive
- AM5 platform with long upgrade path
Cons
- Overkill for pure gaming, extra cores go unused
- 120W TDP requires proper cooling, not included
- Near the budget ceiling, less left for GPU
- 9700X is better value for gaming specifically
Buy on Amazon£299.59
Best Mid AM4
Price: £191.78 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.7)
Look, the i7-10700K was a genuinely good chip in 2020. Eight cores, 5.1 GHz boost, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking made it a popular gaming choice. But in 2026, at nearly £286, it's hard to justify. The LGA1200 platform is completely dead. No future Intel CPUs will support it. And the 125W TDP means it runs hot and draws significantly more power than modern AMD alternatives.
For gaming, it can still push decent frame rates in most titles. Eight cores at 5.1 GHz isn't nothing. But the Ryzen 7 9700X offers eight Zen 5 cores at 5.5 GHz with far better efficiency at 65W, on a platform with a future, for less money. The comparison isn't flattering for the Intel chip.
If you already own an LGA1200 system and want to upgrade within that platform, the i7-10700K makes some sense as a top-tier option for that socket. But as a new purchase in 2026? It's genuinely difficult to recommend over the AMD options in this roundup. The platform is dead, the power consumption is high, and the performance per pound is poor compared to modern alternatives.
Pros
- 8 cores and 5.1 GHz still capable for gaming
- Unlocked multiplier for overclocking
- Widely available
Cons
- LGA1200 is a completely dead platform
- 125W TDP, runs hot and draws lots of power
- Poor value compared to AMD alternatives in 2026
- No integrated graphics
- Near the top of the budget for inferior performance
Buy on Amazon
Best Under £50
Price: £59.50 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.7)
The Ryzen 3 3200G is the cheapest chip in this roundup at around £62, and it earns its place by doing something none of the pricier chips without iGPUs can: it lets you game without a discrete graphics card. The Vega 8 integrated GPU is old technology, but it can handle genuinely light gaming at 1080p low settings. Think older esports titles, indie games, and anything that isn't particularly demanding.
Four cores and four threads (no hyperthreading) is the real limitation here. Modern games increasingly want six cores, and the 3200G will show bottlenecks in more demanding titles. The 6MB cache is also quite limited. This is not a chip for high-refresh 1440p gaming. It's a chip for getting a system running on the absolute minimum budget.
But here's the thing: at under £65, nothing else comes close for value if you genuinely cannot afford a discrete GPU right now. The Wraith Stealth cooler is included, the AM4 platform is widely supported, and you can always drop in a better GPU later when budget allows. As a starting point for someone on a very tight budget, it's a practical choice.
Just be honest with yourself about what it can and can't do. Light gaming, yes. Modern AAA titles at decent settings, no.
Pros
- Under £65, the cheapest chip in this roundup
- Vega 8 iGPU enables GPU-free light gaming
- Wraith Stealth cooler included
- 65W TDP, runs cool and quiet
Cons
- Only 4 cores, no hyperthreading
- 6MB cache is very limited
- Vega 8 iGPU struggles with modern demanding titles
- AM4 dead platform
- Zen+ architecture is significantly behind modern chips
Buy on Amazon£59.50
Unclassified
11. Processors
Price: £187.99 | Rating: ★★★★½ (4.8)
This listing provides insufficient product information to make a meaningful recommendation. The title simply reads "Processors" with no specification detail, making it impossible to evaluate for gaming performance, platform compatibility, or value. We'd strongly advise avoiding any listing that doesn't clearly state the CPU model, core count, boost clock, and socket type. There are too many good, clearly-specified options in this roundup to take a risk on an ambiguous listing.
Pros
- Cannot be determined from available information
Cons
- No product specification provided
- Cannot verify gaming suitability
- Ambiguous listing is a risk for buyers
View on Amazon£187.99
