Compare CPUs
Compare processors by current prices, gaming and multi-core performance, socket and specifications. Filter the CPU market by what your build needs, then compare models side by side or rank them using your own priorities.
Market snapshot Nov 14, 2026 · USD · 274 products · 583 offers · The snapshot is when this market was assembled. Each source and each offer keeps its own check time, shown in your time zone. An offer that stops appearing stays listed as last seen, outside current prices and Value.Sources refreshed · 5/5 within 24 h
CPU Value Calculator
Balanced. Balanced CPU performance across gaming and multitasking.
Move a slider — the ranking follows what matters to you. Market: United States · Price basis: lowest verified new offer · Profile: Balanced · Method cpu-value-v6.1
| Save | Offers | Compare | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 627 | AM5 | 88 W | up to $153 · avg $136 | 100 | ||||
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 542 | AM4 | 88 W | up to $135 · avg $115 | 100 | ||||
Intel Core i3-8100Intel | 4 cores | 4 threads | 171 | LGA 1151 | 154 W | 99 | ||||
 Intel Core i3-14100FIntel | 4 cores | 8 threads | 434 | LGA 1700 | 110 W | up to $157 · avg $120 | 95 | |||
| 14 cores | 14 threads | 1,215 | LGA 1851 | 159 W | up to $263 · avg $207 | 94 | ||||
| 10 cores | 10 threads | 874 | LGA 1851 | 121 W | Check on Amazonup to $178 · avg $163 | 93 | ||||
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 449 | AM4 | 88 W | up to $116 · avg $102 | 92 | ||||
| 18 cores | 18 threads | 1,358 | LGA 1851 | 159 W | up to $271 · avg $218 | 90 | ||||
Intel Core i5-7400Intel | 4 cores | 4 threads | 154 | LGA 1151 | 154 W | 88 | ||||
| 18 cores | 18 threads | 1,474 | LGA 1851 | 159 W | up to $289 · avg $237 | 87 | ||||
Intel Core i5-6500TIntel | 4 cores | 4 threads | 134 | LGA 1151 | 74 W | 87 | ||||
Intel Core i3-8350KIntel | 4 cores | 4 threads | 195 | LGA 1151 | 136 W | 84 | ||||
| 14 cores | 14 threads | 1,214 | LGA 1851 | 159 W | up to $277 · avg $217 | 83 | ||||
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 847 | AM5 | 88 W | up to $280 · avg $212 | 82 | ||||
Intel Core i7-6800KIntel | 6 cores | 12 threads | 302 | LGA 2011-3, LGA 2011 (varies by board) | 252 W | up to $53 · avg $51 | 82 | |||
Intel Core i3-10100FIntel | 4 cores | 8 threads | 245 | LGA 1200 | 154 W | 81 | ||||
| 4 cores | 8 threads | 311 | AM4 | 88 W | up to $105 · avg $96 | 78 | ||||
Intel Core i5-6600Intel | 4 cores | 4 threads | 171 | LGA 1151 | 154 W | 78 | ||||
Intel Core i5-4690KIntel | 4 cores | 4 threads | 160 | LGA 1150 | 132 W | 78 | ||||
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 497 | AM4 | 88 W | 77 | |||||
AMD Ryzen 5 2400GAMD | 4 cores | 8 threads | 246 | AM4 | 88 W | 76 | ||||
Intel Core i5-6400Intel | 4 cores | 4 threads | 146 | LGA 1151 | 154 W | 75 | ||||
| 10 cores | 10 threads | 857 | LGA 1851 | 121 W | up to $206 · avg $189 | 74 | ||||
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 606 | AM4 | 88 W | up to $184 · avg $162 | 74 | ||||
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 603 | AM5 | 88 W | up to $207 · avg $179 | 73 | ||||
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 796 | AM5 | 142 W | up to $203 · avg $186 | 72 | ||||
| Intel Core i5-14400FIntel | 10 cores | 16 threads | 718 | LGA 1700 | 148 W | up to $180 · avg $168 | 72 | |||
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 615 | AM4 | 88 W | up to $209 · avg $164 | 72 | ||||
Intel Core i5-8500Intel | 6 cores | 6 threads | 268 | LGA 1151 | 154 W | up to $348 · avg $211 | 71 | |||
Intel Core i5-7600Intel | 4 cores | 4 threads | 185 | LGA 1151 | 154 W | 71 | ||||
| 8 cores | 16 threads | 1,042 | AM5 | 88 W | up to $350 · avg $295 | 70 | ||||
| Intel Core i3-14100Intel | 4 cores | 8 threads | 425 | LGA 1700 | 110 W | up to $174 · avg $146 | 70 | |||
Intel Core i7-9700FIntel | 8 cores | 8 threads | 371 | LGA 1151 | 154 W | up to $127 · avg $112 | 69 | |||
Intel Core i5-9600KIntel | 6 cores | 6 threads | 300 | LGA 1151 | 142 W | up to $84 · avg $84 | 69 | |||
Intel Core i5-9600KFIntel | 6 cores | 6 threads | 300 | LGA 1151 | 142 W | 68 | ||||
Intel Core i5-7600KIntel | 4 cores | 4 threads | 192 | LGA 1151 | 136 W | 68 | ||||
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 627 | AM4 | 88 W | up to $205 · avg $188 | 66 | ||||
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 398 | LGA 1200 | 225 W | 66 | |||||
| 10 cores | 16 threads | 775 | LGA 1700 | 150 W | up to $200 · avg $183 | 65 | ||||
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 510 | AM4 | 128 W | 64 | |||||
Intel Core i5-4690Intel | 4 cores | 4 threads | 158 | LGA 1150 | 126 W | 64 | ||||
| 14 cores | 20 threads | 1,052 | LGA 1700 | 181 W | 63 | |||||
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 687 | AM5 | 88 W | up to $193 · avg $179 | 63 | ||||
Intel Core i3-10105FIntel | 4 cores | 8 threads | 250 | LGA 1200 | 154 W | 63 | ||||
| 6 cores | 12 threads | 709 | AM5 | 88 W | up to $242 · avg $221 | 62 | ||||
| Intel Core i5-14400Intel | 10 cores | 16 threads | 707 | LGA 1700 | 148 W | up to $247 · avg $200 | 62 | |||
Intel Core i5-8600KIntel | 6 cores | 6 threads | 286 | LGA 1151 | 142 W | 62 | ||||
Intel Core i5-7500Intel | 4 cores | 4 threads | 170 | LGA 1151 | 154 W | 62 | ||||
Intel Core i5-8400Intel | 6 cores | 6 threads | 260 | LGA 1151 | 154 W | 61 | ||||
| 14 cores | 20 threads | 1,079 | LGA 1700 | 181 W | up to $391 · avg $285 | 60 |
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How the CPU Value Calculator works
Value says how much of what matters to you an offer delivers for its price. The calculator recomputes it in your browser for every product in the list as soon as a priority changes. Prices and specifications are never altered: only the order and the Value column change.
How to use it
- Pick one of our presets in the calculator row. Each one is a ready set of priorities for one typical job.
- Press “Custom priorities” and move the sliders. 0 switches a priority off, 100 makes it count the most. The list re-sorts by your Value while you drag, and the row is marked “Custom”.
- Tick “Include 3-year energy cost” to count three years of electricity, at the rate you enter, as part of every price.
- Set a minimum capability to keep only the products graded at that level or higher for the scenario you choose.
- Copy the page address to keep or share the result: it carries your priorities and filters.
What each control does
- Purchase price
- How much price counts. At 50, Value is quality per dollar: a model 10% dearer must be 10% better to tie. 0 ignores price; 100 asks 21% more quality for 10% more money.
- Multi-core performance
- Higher weight rewards multi-core compute throughput.
- Single-core performance
- Higher weight rewards single-core clock responsiveness.
- Gaming performance
- Higher weight rewards gaming performance.
- Core count
- Higher weight rewards higher core counts.
- Cache size
- Higher weight rewards larger L2/L3 cache pools.
- Power efficiency (TDP)
- Higher weight rewards energy-efficient low-power cards.
- Manufacturer warranty
- How much the offer's condition and warranty count. At 50, a used offer must be 25% cheaper than a new one to tie; 0 ignores condition.
- Model freshness & release year
- How much age counts against the quality sliders. Set equal to their total, a 5-year-old model counts half; 0 ignores age.
- Total cost
- Adds three years of electricity at your rate to the price before Value is computed, so an efficient product can outrank a cheaper one that draws more power.
- Minimum capability
- Hides the products below the grade you need, S to D, in one scenario. Grades measure capability without looking at price.
Why our presets are set this way
A preset is nothing more than a set of weights from 0 to 100, one per priority. These are the numbers each preset uses on this page, heaviest first. A priority that is not listed has weight 0 and does not count in that preset.
| Preset | Built for | Weights |
|---|---|---|
| Balanced | Balanced CPU performance across gaming and multitasking. | Purchase price 50 Manufacturer warranty 50 Multi-core performance 35 Single-core performance 35 Gaming performance 35 Model freshness & release year 25 Core count 10 Power efficiency (TDP) 10 Cache size 5 |
| Gaming | Maximum single-thread and gaming FPS performance. | Gaming performance 100 Model freshness & release year 55 Manufacturer warranty 50 Single-core performance 30 Purchase price 25 Power efficiency (TDP) 10 |
| Productivity | Maximum multi-core throughput for rendering and compilation. | Multi-core performance 100 Core count 50 Manufacturer warranty 50 Model freshness & release year 45 Purchase price 25 Single-core performance 25 Power efficiency (TDP) 10 |
| Streaming | High core count for simultaneous gaming and live encoding. | Multi-core performance 90 Manufacturer warranty 50 Core count 40 Model freshness & release year 40 Gaming performance 35 Purchase price 25 Single-core performance 25 Power efficiency (TDP) 10 |
| Strict Budget | Best CPU performance per dollar in entry-level systems. | Purchase price 75 Model freshness & release year 70 Manufacturer warranty 50 Single-core performance 35 Multi-core performance 30 Gaming performance 20 Power efficiency (TDP) 20 Core count 10 |
| Performance per Watt | Maximum compute performance per watt of electricity consumed. | Power efficiency (TDP) 100 Multi-core performance 60 Purchase price 50 Manufacturer warranty 50 Model freshness & release year 50 Single-core performance 30 |
| Home Server | High core density, ECC support and platform stability. | Multi-core performance 100 Core count 80 Power efficiency (TDP) 70 Manufacturer warranty 50 Purchase price 25 Model freshness & release year 10 |
| Code Builds | Optimized for fast code compilation and container virtualization. | Multi-core performance 90 Single-core performance 55 Manufacturer warranty 50 Model freshness & release year 45 Core count 40 Purchase price 25 Power efficiency (TDP) 10 |
| Long Term | Modern platform socket with upgrade path and high performance. | Model freshness & release year 100 Multi-core performance 50 Single-core performance 50 Manufacturer warranty 50 Core count 40 Purchase price 25 Gaming performance 20 |
The Processors market right now
- 274 models have a current offer.
- Offers come from 5 retailers.
- 583 current offers in total.
- The lowest price per model ranges from $35 to $11450; the median is $214.
- 136 models are offered by 2 or more retailers.
- Market snapshot: Nov 14, 2026.
- 30 price drops detected in the last 72 hours.
How to compare CPUs
A processor has to fit your platform first, and after that it comes down to performance for your workload and what it costs. This page lists every CPU we track with a current offer in one table. Value is an optional ranking for weighing price against the performance you need.
Compare gaming and multi-core performance
Processors that look alike on paper behave differently. Compare gaming, single-core and multi-core performance, or blend them in your own priorities.
Check socket and platform compatibility
Socket, memory type and integrated graphics decide what a processor works with. Filter by them first so every CPU you compare fits your build.
Compare current CPU prices
Each row shows the cheapest current new offer and how many retailers carry the processor. Open a row to compare retailers, or add the refurbished and used offers we track.
Use Value to balance price and performance
Value weighs price against the performance and power you care about, including three years of electricity if you choose. Turn priorities off to compare on price alone.
From the market to a shortlist
Filter the market
Set your budget, socket, cores and power. Every filter shows how many are left.
Compare specifications and performance
Sort by gaming, single-core or multi-core performance, or by price, and read the grade for your use case. Switch on priorities if you want Value to rank the list.
Save or compare candidates
Add products to the comparison to see them side by side, or save them to come back to later.
Check current offers
Open a product's offers to compare retailers. Click any price to test an offer you were given against the same market.
Questions about comparing CPUs
What should I compare between CPUs?
Check the socket and memory type first, since they decide whether a processor fits your board. Then compare performance for your workload (gaming, single-core or multi-core), core and thread count, power draw and integrated graphics, and finally the current price.
Gaming or multi-core performance: which score matters?
Gaming performance estimates frame-rate throughput in games, single-core performance covers everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded work, and multi-core performance covers rendering, compiling and other heavily threaded work. Each is a benchmark-based index that compares processors across generations.
Will this processor fit my motherboard?
Check the socket and the memory type first: a processor only fits a board with the same socket, and it works with the memory generation it supports. Filter by socket and memory type to see only compatible processors.
Do I need integrated graphics?
Only if you will run the computer without a graphics card, or want a fallback when one fails. Filter by integrated graphics to keep or drop those models.
How often are CPU prices updated?
Offers are refreshed as market snapshots; each offer shows when it was checked. Retail prices can change at any time, so confirm the final price on the retailer's site before buying.
What does the Value score mean?
Value is a relative score from 0 to 100 under the priorities you choose. Each weighted factor (performance, price, power and so on) is compared with the rest of this market, the factors are combined, and the best result in the current view scores 100. Turn priorities off to browse by price alone.