Even though there’s more competition than ever in the CPU space, Intel’s processors still stand tall as some of the best you can buy. We should know – we’ve tested them.
It doesn’t matter if you’re building a PC from scratch or adapting an existing build to feature more upgrades, having a proper CPU that can keep up with your workload is key. While the more advanced PC builders may just want to take a look at our round-up for the best CPU (and the best graphics card/best gaming CPU at that), those who are starting out should know that Intel offers some of the most reliable chips on the market, which is why Intel processors are always a safe bet.
With that said, there are still a lot of differences at play between Intel’s own-brand options which can make things difficult, but that’s exactly where we come in. Our team of experts have been hard at work, using professional-level benchmarking tests to get a definitive idea of how each processor performs under pressure across gaming, content creation and even everyday work tasks.
Our experts also keep tabs on power consumption as well as peak temperature, giving you a full idea of what it’s like to have each processor as part of your rig and to get a better idea of the additional tools you might need, such as an appropriate cooling fan.
If you’re having second thoughts about building your own PC then you can also check out our guides to the best laptop, best gaming laptop, best student laptop and the best desktop PC. Alternatively, there are plenty of Intel-powered laptops available in our breakdowns of the best Acer laptop, best Asus laptop and the best Windows laptop.
- Best Intel CPU for power: Intel Core i9-13900K – check price
- Best value Intel processor: Intel Core i5-14600K – check price
- Best value for gamers: Intel Core i5-12600K – check price
- Best budget Intel processor: Intel Core i5-11600K – check price
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Learn more about how we test CPUs
We always review multiple CPUs at once to compare data, using consistent components for fair testing where possible.
We use a mix of both synthetic and in-game benchmarks to gauge performance, while also considering additional features and pricing.
We also measure the likes of power consumption and peak temperature under stress to get an idea of performance efficiency.
Intel Core i9-13900K
Pros
- Most powerful CPU we've reviewed
- Fantastic multi-core performance
- Future-proofed with DDR5 and PCle 5.0
- Consistent gaming scores
Cons
- Will require a powerful cooling system
- Can find better value gaming CPUs out there
- Takes a lot of power to run
Intel Core i5-14600K
Pros
- Strong performance in game
- Best value processor right now
- Reasonable temps and power draw
- Price remains the same as last gen
Cons
- No major hardware advancement
- Better professional picks elsewhere
- Lacks Intel’s APO tech
Intel Core i5-12600K
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance
- Huge improvements to multi-core performance
- Future-proofed with PCIe 5.0 and DDR5
- Great power efficiency
Cons
- Teething issues for game compatibility
- Requirement of Z690 motherboard drives up cost
Intel Core i5-11600K
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance
- Support for PCIe 4.0
- Good value for money
- Runs at comparatively low temperatures
Cons
- Poor multi-threaded performance
- Marginal performance gains from 10th generation
Intel Core i9-13900K
Best Intel CPU for powerPros
- Most powerful CPU we've reviewed
- Fantastic multi-core performance
- Future-proofed with DDR5 and PCle 5.0
- Consistent gaming scores
Cons
- Will require a powerful cooling system
- Can find better value gaming CPUs out there
- Takes a lot of power to run
The Intel Core i9-14900K is the most powerful consumer desktop processor you can currently buy, from Intel or any other processor manufacturer. This should come as no surprise to anyone looking at the specs sheet, with the chip packing 24 cores, 32 threads and 6GHz peak clock speeds.
Our benchmark scores back up these impressive performance claims, with the Intel Core i9-14900K posting higher scores than all of the competition. This was the case for both synthetic benchmarks and in-game tests, showcasing that this desktop chip excels at pretty much everything.
With that said, the performance jump isn’t significant compared to the last-gen Intel Core i9-13900K, but that’s not really an issue considering both chips are priced the same.
What’s more, the Intel Core i9-14900K will play nice with the latest RAM and SSDs thanks to support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. So if you’re looking to build the most powerful PC possible, then the Intel Core i9-14900K is undoubtedly the best pick.
Intel Core i5-14600K
Best value Intel processorPros
- Strong performance in game
- Best value processor right now
- Reasonable temps and power draw
- Price remains the same as last gen
Cons
- No major hardware advancement
- Better professional picks elsewhere
- Lacks Intel’s APO tech
The Intel Core i5-14600K may not be quite as powerful as its i9 sibling, but it’s not far behind in terms of performance considering its more affordable price. The chip features 14 cores, 20 threads and is capable of up to a 5.3GHz boosted clock speed.
Despite its modest specs, it offers outstanding gaming performance, easily outperforming the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and AMD Ryzen 5 7600X in every single game on test. In fact, we’d wager that you’ll struggle to find a better gaming performance from a desktop CPU for less than the £300/$300 price point.
Of course, the constrained core count does limit the multi-core performance compared to the i9, but it’s certainly no slouch for the likes of content creation, making it a fantastic all-rounder chip.
Lastly, the Intel Core i5-14600K offers support for both PCIe 5.0 and DDR5, which means you can build a PC with all of the latest and greatest components. So if you want to build (or upgrade) a cutting-edge PC without breaking the bank, this is our top recommendation.
Intel Core i5-12600K
Best value for gamersPros
- Excellent gaming performance
- Huge improvements to multi-core performance
- Future-proofed with PCIe 5.0 and DDR5
- Great power efficiency
Cons
- Teething issues for game compatibility
- Requirement of Z690 motherboard drives up cost
We’re jumping back a couple of generations for this one, but we think the Intel Core i5-12600K still represents outstanding value if gaming is your top priority for your next PC build.
With just 10 cores and 16 threads, it’s seriously lagging behind its newer siblings in terms of multi-core performance, which means it’s probably not the best option for creatives who deal with 4K video edits and complex 3D animations.
If you’re sticking to gaming however, the Intel Core i5-12600K proves to be a more affordable alternative to the Intel Core i5-14600K. Not only were the gaming results excellent, but it also proved to be highly efficient in our benchmark tests, so it won’t send your energy bills spiralling out of control.
Best of all, the Intel Core i5-12600K supports DDR5 and PCIe 5.0, allowing you to build a cutting-edge gaming PC. And with the Intel Core i5-12600K being so cheap, you’ll be able to spend more money on the likes of a graphics card to give gaming performance a serious push.
Intel Core i5-11600K
Best budget Intel processorPros
- Excellent gaming performance
- Support for PCIe 4.0
- Good value for money
- Runs at comparatively low temperatures
Cons
- Poor multi-threaded performance
- Marginal performance gains from 10th generation
The Intel Core i5-11600K launched back in 2021, making it one of the oldest CPU options in this best Intel processor list but it still packs a powerful performance for gamers thanks to its 4.9GHz max clock speed, especially when you consider the bargain-friedly price.
It aced our gaming benchmark tests, punching above its weight by remaining competitive with the Intel Core i9-11900K and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X. It runs impressively cool under stress too, ensuring a consistent performance that doesn’t need an ultra-expensive cooling system.
There are some caveats by going this cheap, with the 6-core and 12-thread counts highlighting its limitations for multi-threaded workloads – creators may want to stay clear as a result. Support is limited to DDR4 memory and PCIe SSDs too, lowering the ceiling of potential upgrades for your gaming PC.
But if you simply want a cheap-as-chips gaming PC, the Intel Core i5-11600K remains an excellent option with a surprisingly strong performance given its age and low cost.
FAQs
PCIe (peripheral component interconnect express) is an interface standard used for connecting high-speed components such as GPUs and SSDs. The PCIe generation will determine the performance handicap for connected components. The latest standard, PCIe 5.0, currently doesn’t have a big impact on GPU performance, but can enable far faster SSD speeds with compatible hardware.
The best thing to look out for when buying a gaming CPU is single-core performance. However, it’s also worth considering other aspects such as supported features, power consumption and temperature.
Test Data
| Intel Core i9-13900K | Intel Core i5-14600K | Intel Core i5-12600K | Intel Core i5-11600K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCMark 10 | 12076 | 13675 | 9470 | 9177 |
| Cinebench R23 multi core | 38088 | 23067 | 16892 | 10904 |
| Cinebench R23 single core | – | 1959 | – | – |
| Geekbench 5 single core | 2178 | – | 1742 | 1647 |
| Geekbench 5 multi core | 16491 | – | 12049 | 7602 |
| Geekbench 6 single core | – | 2821 | – | – |
| Geekbench 6 multi core | – | 17563 | – | – |
| Power consumption | 354 W | – | 195.6 W | 201 W |
| Peak temperature | 100 °C | 93 °C | 68 °C | 64 °C |
| Borderlands 3 frame rate (4K) | 38.59 fps | – | 41 fps | 74 fps |
| Borderlands 3 frame rate (Quad HD) | 69.45 | – | 74 | 73 |
| Borderlands 3 frame rate (Full HD) | 96.89 | – | 102 | 95 |
| Horizon Zero Dawn frame rate (4K) | 54 fps | – | 54 fps | 53 fps |
| Horizon Zero Dawn frame rate (Quad HD) | 95 fps | – | 95 fps | 92 fps |
| Horizon Zero Dawn frame rate (Full HD) | 118 fps | – | 116 fps | 108 fps |
| Dirt Rally (4K) | 74.22 fps | – | 99 fps | 98 fps |
| Dirt Rally (Quad HD) | 138.87 fps | – | 172 fps | 167 fps |
| Dirt Rally (Full HD) | 185.09 fps | – | 220 fps | 187 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (Full HD + RT) | – | 222 fps | – | – |
| F1 22 (Full HD) | – | 162 fps | – | – |
| Total War: Warhammer 3 (Full HD) | – | 201 fps | – | – |
| Power consumption (idle) | – | 141.3 W | – | – |
| Power consumption (under stress) | – | 517.6 W | – | – |
| Idle temperature | – | 43 °C | – | – |
Full Specs
| Intel Core i9-13900K Review | Intel Core i5-14600K Review | Intel Core i5-12600K Review | Intel Core i5-11600K Review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK RRP | £589 | £310 | – | £250 |
| USA RRP | $589 | $330 | $289 | $262 |
| Manufacturer | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Size (Dimensions) | x x INCHES | x x INCHES | x x INCHES | x x INCHES |
| ASIN | B0BG67ZG5R | B0CHBGVFHP | B09FX4D72T | B08TX3M96F |
| Release Date | 2023 | 2023 | 2021 | 2021 |
| First Reviewed Date | – | 21/11/2023 | 04/11/2021 | – |
| Model Number | – | BX8071514600K | – | – |
| Power Consumption | 354 W | – | 195.6 W | 201 W |
| Boosted Clock Speed | 5.8 GHz | 5.3 GHz | 4.90 GHz | 4.9 GHz |
| Architecture | 13th Gen Intel Core (Raptor Lake) | 14th Gen Intel Core (Raptor Lake) | Intel Core 12th Generation | Intel Core 11th Generation |
| Base Clock Speed | 3 GHz | 3.5 GHz | 3.70 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| Number of Cores | 24 | 14 | 10 | 6 |
| Number of Threads | 32 | 20 | 16 | 12 |
| Motherboard Chipset | MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4 | 600 / 700 Series | Z690 | Z590 |
| Manufactoring Process | 10 nm | 7 nm | – | 14 nm |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Intel UHD Graphics 750 |