When building or upgrading a gaming PC, the CPU (central processing unit) plays a massive role in your system’s responsiveness, frame consistency, and multitasking performance. But with dozens of models and confusing names, how do you know which one is right?

This guide breaks down the essentials—so you can confidently choose a CPU that fits your needs, budget, and gaming goals.

💸 How Much Should I Spend on a CPU?

Short answer: Spend enough to avoid bottlenecking your GPU.

While the graphics card handles most of the heavy lifting in games, your CPU still plays a key role—especially in fast-paced, CPU-heavy titles like Valorant, Warzone, or Starfield.

🔖 CPU Price Brackets (2025)

Entry-Level (£80–£150)
Great for budget builds or light gaming. CPUs like the Intel Core i3-14100F or AMD Ryzen 5 5500 are decent for 1080p and esports titles.

Mid-Range (£180–£300)
The sweet spot for gaming and multitasking. Consider the Intel Core i5-14400F or Ryzen 5 7600 for great all-round performance.

High-End (£350–£500)
Excellent for streaming, content creation, and high-FPS gaming. Look at the Intel Core i7-14700K or Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Enthusiast (£500+)
Built for 4K gaming, heavy multitasking, and workstation use. Options include the Intel Core i9-14900K or Ryzen 9 7950X3D.

⚖️ Pair your CPU wisely. There’s no point buying a £1,500 GPU and pairing it with a £100 processor—it’ll just hold your system back.

🧠 Cores, Threads & Clock Speeds: What Actually Matters?

Here’s a breakdown of the key CPU specs—and what they mean in practice:

Cores: More cores = better multitasking. Modern games benefit most from 6–8 cores.

Threads: Threads allow your CPU to do more at once. Most modern CPUs offer simultaneous multithreading (SMT) or hyper-threading.

Clock Speed (GHz): Higher speeds = faster processing, especially in single-threaded tasks like gaming.

Cache: More cache can improve performance in games and apps, especially with AMD’s 3D V-Cache models.

🕹️ For gaming in 2025, a 6-core / 12-thread CPU is the baseline, but an 8-core / 16-thread chip gives more headroom for modern titles and background tasks like Discord, OBS, and Chrome.

🥊 Intel vs AMD in 2025

Both are excellent, but they excel in different ways:

🔷 Intel (14th Gen Core)

Strong single-core performance

Great out-of-the-box gaming

Hybrid architecture (Performance + Efficiency cores)

Best for high-FPS 1080p gaming

🔶 AMD (Ryzen 7000 / 8000 Series)

Excellent multi-core performance

Power efficient with great thermals

3D V-Cache models (e.g. 7800X3D) offer huge gaming gains

Future-proof with AM5 platform support through 2027

🧠 If you’re after maximum gaming performance, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is hard to beat. For streaming and productivity, Intel i7/i9 or Ryzen 9 chips offer better multitasking grunt.

🧊 Do I Need a CPU Cooler?

Depends on your CPU.

Non-K Intel CPUs (e.g. i5-14400F) and some AMD CPUs (e.g. Ryzen 5 7600) include decent stock coolers.

Unlocked CPUs (e.g. i7-14700K, Ryzen 9 7950X) don’t come with a cooler—you’ll need a good air or liquid cooler.

🌬️ Even if your CPU comes with a stock cooler, upgrading to a quality tower air cooler or AIO liquid cooler can significantly improve temps and reduce fan noise—especially under load.

🧩 Will It Work with My Motherboard?

Your CPU must match your motherboard’s socket and chipset. Here's a quick 2025 guide:

✅ Intel 13th/14th Gen

Socket: LGA1700

Chipsets: B660, B760, Z690, Z790

✅ AMD Ryzen 7000 / 8000

Socket: AM5

Chipsets: B650, X670, X670E

🛠️ AMD’s AM5 platform is expected to be supported until 2027, making it more future-proof for upgrades.

⚡ What PSU Do I Need?

CPUs don’t use as much power as GPUs, but you still need to plan ahead.

Mid-Range CPUs (i5 / Ryzen 5): 65–105W TDP

High-End CPUs (i7/i9 / Ryzen 7/9): 105–170W TDP

Aim for a quality 80+ Bronze or Gold PSU with enough headroom for your GPU and CPU combined.

⚙️ What About Overclocking?

Intel “K” Series (like the i5-14600K or i9-14900K) and AMD “X” / “X3D” chips are unlocked for overclocking.

That said, modern CPUs already boost themselves efficiently.

Unless you’re chasing benchmark records, manual overclocking is optional for most gamers.

🧪 Want easy gains? Opt for a factory-overclocked motherboard profile or use Intel XTU / AMD PBO for safe performance boosts.

Need Help Choosing?

Confused about Intel vs AMD? Wondering if a Ryzen 5 is enough for Elden Ring or Fortnite?

Reach out via my contact page and I’ll help you find the perfect CPU for your build.