Best Desktop Processors Compared in 2026

We assess desktop CPUs by workload fit, core and thread layout, clock speeds, cache, socket and memory support, power and cooling needs, integrated graphics, relevant benchmarks and price/performance. Match benchmark results to your own applications core count, frequency and cache help frame a comparison, but cannot predict performance on their own.

5 processors comparedPlatforms AM5 and LGA1700Selection Editorial

Affiliate disclosure. We may earn a commission if you buy through PCHub. This does not change the price you pay. Prices and stock can change, so check the retailer page before ordering.

PC Hardware Compare editorial teamProduct information editor

Winner

AMD Ryzen 5 7600 processor 3.8 GHz 32 MB L2 & L3 Box

If you need a single starting point for comparison, the Ryzen 5 7600 is the most balanced spec sheet in this group a 65 W TDP, a bundled Wraith Stealth cooler that removes an extra purchase, and integrated graphics for display output without a discrete card. This is a practical baseline, not a claim that it performs best.

Check price at PCHub

Product	Brand	Price	Retailers	Architecture	Cores / threads	Base / max boost clock	L1 cache	L2 cache	L3 cache	Total cache	Default TDP	Socket	Memory	Maximum memory	PCI Express	Integrated graphics	Cooler included	Cooler recommendation	Overclocking	Maximum operating temperature	Core topology	Base / max turbo frequency	Processor base / maximum turbo power	Maximum junction temperature
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X processor 4.7 GHz 32 MB L3 Box	AMD	£124.96	PCHub	Zen 4	6 / 12	4.7 GHz / up to 5.3 GHz	384 KB	6 MB	32 MB	38 MB	105 W	AM5	Dual-channel DDR5; up to DDR5-5200 (2 DIMMs), DDR5-3600 (4 DIMMs)	128 GB	PCIe 5.0; 28 lanes total, 24 usable	AMD Radeon Graphics, 2 graphics cores at 2,200 MHz	No	AMD recommends a premium air cooler for optimal performance	Unlocked; Precision Boost Overdrive supported	95 °C	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed
AMD Ryzen 5 7500F processor 3.7 GHz 32 MB L3 Box	AMD	£143.22	PCHub	Zen 4	6 / 12	3.7 GHz / up to 5.0 GHz	384 KB	6 MB	32 MB	38 MB	65 W	AM5	Dual-channel DDR5; up to DDR5-5200 (2 DIMMs), DDR5-3600 (4 DIMMs)	128 GB	PCIe 5.0; 28 lanes total, 24 usable	None; discrete graphics card required	AMD Wraith Stealth (boxed MPK)	Not listed	Unlocked; Precision Boost Overdrive supported	95 °C	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed
AMD Ryzen 5 7600 processor 3.8 GHz 32 MB L2 & L3 Box	AMD	£144.00	PCHub	Zen 4	6 / 12	3.8 GHz / up to 5.1 GHz	384 KB	6 MB	32 MB	38 MB	65 W	AM5	Dual-channel DDR5; up to DDR5-5200 (2 DIMMs), DDR5-3600 (4 DIMMs)	128 GB	PCIe 5.0; 28 lanes total, 24 usable	AMD Radeon Graphics, 2 graphics cores at 2,200 MHz	AMD Wraith Stealth	Not listed	Unlocked; Precision Boost Overdrive supported	95 °C	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed
Intel Core i5-14600K processor 24 MB Smart Cache Box	Intel	£200.03	PCHub	Raptor Lake Refresh; Intel 7	14 / 20	Not listed	Not listed	20 MB	24 MB Intel Smart Cache	Not listed	Not listed	FCLGA1700	Dual-channel DDR4-3200 or DDR5-5600	192 GB	PCIe 5.0 and 4.0; up to 20 lanes	Intel UHD Graphics 770; Quick Sync Video	No	Not listed	K-series unlocked; memory and CPU overclocking supported	Not listed	6 Performance-cores + 8 Efficient-cores	P-core / E-core base 3.5 / 2.6 GHz; max turbo 5.3 / 4.0 GHz	125 W / 181 W	100 °C
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor 4.2 GHz 96 MB L3 Box	AMD	£283.71	PCHub	Zen 4 with 3D V-Cache	8 / 16	4.2 GHz / up to 5.0 GHz	512 KB	8 MB	96 MB	104 MB	120 W	AM5	Dual-channel DDR5; up to DDR5-5200 (2 DIMMs), DDR5-3600 (4 DIMMs)	128 GB	PCIe 5.0; 28 lanes total, 24 usable	AMD Radeon Graphics, 2 graphics cores at 2,200 MHz	No	AMD recommends a liquid cooler for optimal performance	Precision Boost Overdrive and Curve Optimizer supported	89 °C	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed

1. AMD Ryzen 5 7600X processor 4.7 GHz 32 MB L3 Box

Check price at PCHub

Price shown £124.96

The fastest-clocking of the three plain Zen 4 six-core parts, at the cost of a higher 105 W TDP and no bundled cooler.

The Ryzen 5 7600X shares its 6-core/12-thread Zen 4 layout and 38 MB total cache figure with the 7500F and 7600, but distinguishes itself with the highest base clock (4.7 GHz) and highest boost ceiling (5.3 GHz) of the three. That clock advantage comes paired with a 105 W default TDP, well above the 65 W TDP of its two six-core AM5 siblings, and AMD recommends a premium air cooler.

Like the 7600 it includes Radeon integrated graphics, so it doesn't force an immediate discrete GPU purchase the way the 7500F does. It sits on the same AM5 socket and dual-channel DDR5 platform as every AMD chip here, meaning motherboard and memory choice carries across the AM5 lineup. No cooler is included in the box, a point it shares only with the i5-14600K and 7800X3D in this list.

Benchmark

Geekbench 6

Single-core score: 2,580 points
Multi-core score: 13,484 points

Geekbench 6 processor chart averages for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X from community submissions. View Geekbench community source.

PassMark scores captured on 26 October 2026. CPU Mark reflects multi-threaded performance. The single-thread score helps compare lightly threaded work.

CPU Mark multi-thread: 28,260
Single-thread score: 4,128

PassMark averages PerformanceTest submissions from millions of systems and refreshes these results daily. Hardware, memory, cooling and power settings affect results.

Cheapest chip in the roundup at £124.96, but its 105 W TDP and absent cooler mean the effective platform cost includes a cooler purchase that the 7500F and 7600 avoid.

Processor specifications
Specification	Information
Brand	AMD
Price	£124.96
Architecture	Zen 4
Cores / threads	6 / 12
Base / max boost clock	4.7 GHz / up to 5.3 GHz
L1 cache	384 KB
L2 cache	6 MB
L3 cache	32 MB
Total cache	38 MB
Default TDP	105 W
Socket	AM5
Memory	Dual-channel DDR5; up to DDR5-5200 (2 DIMMs), DDR5-3600 (4 DIMMs)
Maximum memory	128 GB
PCI Express	PCIe 5.0; 28 lanes total, 24 usable
Integrated graphics	AMD Radeon Graphics, 2 graphics cores at 2,200 MHz
Cooler included	No
Cooler recommendation	AMD recommends a premium air cooler for optimal performance
Overclocking	Unlocked; Precision Boost Overdrive supported
Maximum operating temperature	95 °C
Manufacturer specifications	Open manufacturer specifications

Compatible hardware

Motherboard B650 and B850 boardsChoose an AM5 board and check BIOS support for this processor.
Memory DDR5 desktop memoryCheck the motherboard memory list and the selected kit configuration.
CPU cooler AM5 compatible coolersNo cooler is included. AMD recommends a premium air cooler for this model.
Graphics PCIe graphics cardsIntegrated graphics can handle display output. Add a discrete card for gaming or graphics workloads.
Storage NVMe M.2 SSDsThe motherboard determines available M.2 slots and drive support.

What we like

Highest boost clock among the three 6-core Zen 4 parts
Integrated Radeon Graphics included for display output
Lowest price in the comparison at £124.96

What we don't like

105 W TDP is notably higher than the 7500F and 7600's 65 W TDP
No cooler included, requiring a separate purchase
AMD recommends a premium air cooler, an added platform cost

Check price at PCHub

2. AMD Ryzen 5 7500F processor 3.7 GHz 32 MB L3 Box

Check price at PCHub

Price shown £143.22

Matches the 7600's 65 W TDP and bundled cooler but strips integrated graphics entirely, making it workload-specific for builds with a discrete GPU already planned.

The Ryzen 5 7500F shares its 6-core/12-thread Zen 4 architecture, 38 MB total cache and 65 W default TDP squarely with the Ryzen 5 7600, and both ship with the AMD Wraith Stealth cooler in the box, avoiding the extra cooler cost that applies to the 7600X, 14600K and 7800X3D. Its clocks sit the lowest of the three 6-core AM5 chips here, with a 3.7 GHz base and a 5.0 GHz boost ceiling, trailing both the 7600 and 7600X.

The defining difference against every other chip in this roundup is the complete absence of integrated graphics, meaning a discrete GPU is required for display output. This makes the 7500F suited only to builds where a graphics card is already budgeted for, unlike the 7600X, 7600, 14600K and 7800X3D, all of which can run a display without one.

Benchmark

Geekbench 6

Single-core score: 2,387 points
Multi-core score: 12,409 points

Geekbench 6 processor chart averages for AMD Ryzen 5 7500F from community submissions. View Geekbench community source.

PassMark scores captured on 26 October 2026. CPU Mark reflects multi-threaded performance. The single-thread score helps compare lightly threaded work.

CPU Mark multi-thread: 26,508
Single-thread score: 3,824

PassMark averages PerformanceTest submissions from millions of systems and refreshes these results daily. Hardware, memory, cooling and power settings affect results.

At £143.22 it costs £18.26 more than the 7600X but only £0.78 less than the 7600, despite lacking integrated graphics, so the small price gap against the 7600 is the key comparison to weigh.

Processor specifications
Specification	Information
Brand	AMD
Price	£143.22
Architecture	Zen 4
Cores / threads	6 / 12
Base / max boost clock	3.7 GHz / up to 5.0 GHz
L1 cache	384 KB
L2 cache	6 MB
L3 cache	32 MB
Total cache	38 MB
Default TDP	65 W
Socket	AM5
Memory	Dual-channel DDR5; up to DDR5-5200 (2 DIMMs), DDR5-3600 (4 DIMMs)
Maximum memory	128 GB
PCI Express	PCIe 5.0; 28 lanes total, 24 usable
Integrated graphics	None; discrete graphics card required
Cooler included	AMD Wraith Stealth (boxed MPK)
Overclocking	Unlocked; Precision Boost Overdrive supported
Maximum operating temperature	95 °C
Manufacturer specifications	Open manufacturer specifications

Compatible hardware

Motherboard B650 and B850 boardsChoose an AM5 board and check BIOS support for this processor.
Memory DDR5 desktop memoryCheck the motherboard memory list and the selected kit configuration.
CPU cooler AM5 compatible coolersThe selected boxed package lists a Wraith Stealth cooler. Check the package SKU before ordering.
Graphics PCIe graphics cardsA discrete graphics card is required because this processor has no integrated graphics.
Storage NVMe M.2 SSDsThe motherboard determines available M.2 slots and drive support.

What we like

Shares the 65 W TDP with the Ryzen 5 7600
Includes AMD Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
Priced only £0.78 below the Ryzen 5 7600

What we don't like

A discrete GPU is required for display output
Lowest base and boost clocks of the three 6-core AM5 chips
Costs more than the 7600X despite a lower clock speed

Check price at PCHub

3. AMD Ryzen 5 7600 processor 3.8 GHz 32 MB L2 & L3 Box

Check price at PCHub

Price shown £144.00

Combines the 65 W TDP and bundled cooler of the 7500F with the integrated graphics of the 7600X, covering the middle ground between the two.

The Ryzen 5 7600 is the only chip in this roundup to combine a 65 W default TDP, a bundled Wraith Stealth cooler and integrated Radeon Graphics in a single part. It shares its 6-core/12-thread layout and 38 MB total cache with the 7600X and 7500F, with a 3.8 GHz base and 5.1 GHz boost that sits between the 7500F's lower clocks and the 7600X's higher ones.

Against the 7600X it trades some boost headroom for a lower TDP rating and the convenience of an included cooler. Against the 7500F it adds integrated graphics for the same AM5 socket and DDR5 platform, at a marginal £0.78 price difference. It remains firmly in the 6-core/12-thread class, well short of the 14600K's 14-core hybrid layout or the 7800X3D's cache capacity.

Benchmark

Geekbench 6

Single-core score: 2,488 points
Multi-core score: 12,981 points

Geekbench 6 processor chart averages for AMD Ryzen 5 7600 from community submissions. View Geekbench community source.

PassMark scores captured on 26 October 2026. CPU Mark reflects multi-threaded performance. The single-thread score helps compare lightly threaded work.

CPU Mark multi-thread: 26,962
Single-thread score: 3,907

PassMark averages PerformanceTest submissions from millions of systems and refreshes these results daily. Hardware, memory, cooling and power settings affect results.

At £144.00 it's £19.04 above the 7600X and just £0.78 above the 7500F, positioning it as the completest spec sheet of the three 6-core AM5 parts rather than the cheapest.

Processor specifications
Specification	Information
Brand	AMD
Price	£144.00
Architecture	Zen 4
Cores / threads	6 / 12
Base / max boost clock	3.8 GHz / up to 5.1 GHz
L1 cache	384 KB
L2 cache	6 MB
L3 cache	32 MB
Total cache	38 MB
Default TDP	65 W
Socket	AM5
Memory	Dual-channel DDR5; up to DDR5-5200 (2 DIMMs), DDR5-3600 (4 DIMMs)
Maximum memory	128 GB
PCI Express	PCIe 5.0; 28 lanes total, 24 usable
Integrated graphics	AMD Radeon Graphics, 2 graphics cores at 2,200 MHz
Cooler included	AMD Wraith Stealth
Overclocking	Unlocked; Precision Boost Overdrive supported
Maximum operating temperature	95 °C
Manufacturer specifications	Open manufacturer specifications

Compatible hardware

Motherboard B650 and B850 boardsChoose an AM5 board and check BIOS support for this processor.
Memory DDR5 desktop memoryCheck the motherboard memory list and the selected kit configuration.
CPU cooler AM5 compatible coolersThe selected boxed package lists a Wraith Stealth cooler. Check the package SKU before ordering.
Graphics PCIe graphics cardsIntegrated graphics can handle display output. Add a discrete card for gaming or graphics workloads.
Storage NVMe M.2 SSDsThe motherboard determines available M.2 slots and drive support.

What we like

65 W TDP matched only by the 7500F in this group
Includes AMD Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
Integrated Radeon Graphics included unlike the 7500F

What we don't like

Lower boost clock than the 7600X (5.1 GHz vs 5.3 GHz)
Still a 6-core/12-thread part, well below the 14600K's thread count
£19.04 more expensive than the cheapest chip here, the 7600X

Check price at PCHub

4. Intel Core i5-14600K processor 24 MB Smart Cache Box

Check price at PCHub

Price shown £200.03

The only hybrid P-core/E-core design here, with the highest thread count and the sole DDR4-or-DDR5 flexibility, rated at a 125 W processor base power and 181 W maximum turbo power, figures defined differently from AMD's TDP rating and not directly comparable to it.

The Core i5-14600K is the only non-AM5, non-Zen 4 chip in this roundup, built on Intel 7 with a hybrid layout of 6 Performance-cores and 8 Efficient-cores for 14 cores and 20 threads in total, well above the 6C/12T AMD trio and the 7800X3D's 8C/16T. P-cores base at 3.5 GHz and boost to 5.3 GHz, matching the 7600X's peak boost, while E-cores run a 2.6 GHz base and 4.0 GHz boost, a split clock structure none of the AMD chips here have.

It's also the only chip supporting both DDR4-3200 and DDR5-5600, up to 192 GB, and the sole FCLGA1700 socket in the lineup, meaning no platform crossover with any AMD part here. Its 20 MB L2 and 24 MB Smart Cache total less than the 7800X3D's 104 MB but structurally differs from the L2/L3 splits on the Zen 4 chips. Processor base power is specified at 125 W, with a separate 181 W maximum turbo power figure, a distinct rating system from AMD's single TDP figure, and no cooler is included.

Benchmark

Geekbench 6

Single-core score: 2,733 points
Multi-core score: 10,411 points

One valid Geekbench 6 community submission for Intel Core i5-14600K. This is a single system result, not an average. View Geekbench community source.

PassMark scores captured on 26 October 2026. CPU Mark reflects multi-threaded performance. The single-thread score helps compare lightly threaded work.

CPU Mark multi-thread: 38,349
Single-thread score: 4,264

PassMark averages PerformanceTest submissions from millions of systems and refreshes these results daily. Hardware, memory, cooling and power settings affect results.

Priced at £200.03, £56.03 above the Ryzen 5 7600 and £83.68 below the 7800X3D, it occupies the middle price tier while offering a fundamentally different core architecture to every other chip here.

Processor specifications
Specification	Information
Brand	Intel
Price	£200.03
Architecture	Raptor Lake Refresh; Intel 7
Core topology	6 Performance-cores + 8 Efficient-cores
Cores / threads	14 / 20
Base / max turbo frequency	P-core / E-core base 3.5 / 2.6 GHz; max turbo 5.3 / 4.0 GHz
L2 cache	20 MB
L3 cache	24 MB Intel Smart Cache
Processor base / maximum turbo power	125 W / 181 W
Socket	FCLGA1700
Memory	Dual-channel DDR4-3200 or DDR5-5600
Maximum memory	192 GB
PCI Express	PCIe 5.0 and 4.0; up to 20 lanes
Integrated graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 770; Quick Sync Video
Cooler included	No
Overclocking	K-series unlocked; memory and CPU overclocking supported
Maximum junction temperature	100 °C
Manufacturer specifications	Open manufacturer specifications

Compatible hardware

Motherboard LGA1700 boardsChoose an LGA1700 board with BIOS support for 14th generation processors.
Memory DDR4 or DDR5 desktop memoryThe processor supports either type, but each motherboard supports only one. Match the kit to the board.
CPU cooler LGA1700 compatible coolersChoose a cooler with an LGA1700 mount and capacity for this processor power level.
Graphics PCIe graphics cardsIntegrated graphics can handle display output. Add a discrete card for gaming or graphics workloads.
Storage NVMe M.2 SSDsThe motherboard determines available M.2 slots and drive support.

What we like

Highest thread count in the roundup at 14 cores / 20 threads
Only chip supporting DDR4-3200 as well as DDR5-5600
Includes Quick Sync Video alongside UHD Graphics 770

What we don't like

125 W processor base power and 181 W maximum turbo power are the highest figures quoted in this group
No cooler included, unlike the 7500F and 7600
Requires an entirely separate FCLGA1700 platform from every AMD chip here

Check price at PCHub

5. AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor 4.2 GHz 96 MB L3 Box

Check price at PCHub

Price shown £283.71

The only 3D V-Cache part here, with 104 MB total cache dwarfing every other chip, built around an 8-core Zen 4 layout rather than the 6-core AM5 parts or Intel's hybrid design.

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the sole 8-core/16-thread chip in this comparison and the only one built with 3D V-Cache, delivering 96 MB of L3 and 104 MB total cache versus the 38 MB total on the three Zen 4 six-core parts and the 44 MB combined L2/Smart Cache on the 14600K. Base clock is 4.2 GHz and boost reaches 5.0 GHz, lower peak boost than the 7600X or the 14600K's P-cores but with a far larger cache pool backing it.

Its 120 W default TDP sits above the 65 W and 105 W ratings of the Ryzen 5 parts, but below the 14600K's 125 W processor base power, though these figures are defined on different bases and shouldn't be read as a direct comparison. It shares the AM5 socket and dual-channel DDR5 platform with the three Ryzen 5 chips, so motherboard and memory choices carry over within the AMD side of this roundup, unlike the 14600K's separate FCLGA1700 platform. AMD recommends a liquid cooler for optimal performance, and no cooler is included in the box.

Benchmark

Geekbench 6

Single-core score: 2,434 points
Multi-core score: 15,585 points

Geekbench 6 processor chart averages for AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D from community submissions. View Geekbench community source.

PassMark scores captured on 26 October 2026. CPU Mark reflects multi-threaded performance. The single-thread score helps compare lightly threaded work.

CPU Mark multi-thread: 34,278
Single-thread score: 3,759

PassMark averages PerformanceTest submissions from millions of systems and refreshes these results daily. Hardware, memory, cooling and power settings affect results.

At £283.71 it's the most expensive chip in the roundup, £83.68 above the i5-14600K and £140.49 above the 7500F, a premium justified only by workload-specific benchmark comparisons involving cache-sensitive applications.

Processor specifications
Specification	Information
Brand	AMD
Price	£283.71
Architecture	Zen 4 with 3D V-Cache
Cores / threads	8 / 16
Base / max boost clock	4.2 GHz / up to 5.0 GHz
L1 cache	512 KB
L2 cache	8 MB
L3 cache	96 MB
Total cache	104 MB
Default TDP	120 W
Socket	AM5
Memory	Dual-channel DDR5; up to DDR5-5200 (2 DIMMs), DDR5-3600 (4 DIMMs)
Maximum memory	128 GB
PCI Express	PCIe 5.0; 28 lanes total, 24 usable
Integrated graphics	AMD Radeon Graphics, 2 graphics cores at 2,200 MHz
Cooler included	No
Cooler recommendation	AMD recommends a liquid cooler for optimal performance
Overclocking	Precision Boost Overdrive and Curve Optimizer supported
Maximum operating temperature	89 °C
Manufacturer specifications	Open manufacturer specifications

Compatible hardware

Motherboard B650 and B850 boardsChoose an AM5 board and check BIOS support for this processor.
Memory DDR5 desktop memoryCheck the motherboard memory list and the selected kit configuration.
CPU cooler AM5 compatible coolersNo cooler is included. AMD recommends a liquid cooler for this model.
Graphics PCIe graphics cardsIntegrated graphics can handle display output. Add a discrete card for gaming or graphics workloads.
Storage NVMe M.2 SSDsThe motherboard determines available M.2 slots and drive support.

What we like

104 MB total cache, far exceeding every other chip in the group
Only 8-core/16-thread part in the roundup
Shares AM5 socket and DDR5 platform with the Ryzen 5 trio

What we don't like

Most expensive chip here at £283.71, £140.49 above the 7500F
Lower boost clock than the 7600X and the 14600K's P-cores
AMD recommends a liquid cooler, adding platform cost; none included

Check price at PCHub

Prices and stock can change. Confirm motherboard BIOS support, memory generation, cooler requirements and current processor specifications with PCHub and the manufacturer before ordering.