The most cost-effective CPU in 2024: do big things with little money

What should I do if I have a limited budget to build a computer or upgrade an old computer? Don't panic, let the veteran driver show you what cost-effective CPUs are worth buying in 2024, so that you can do big things with a small amount of money!

It is said that you get what you pay for, but for computer CPUs, this is not necessarily! Especially in this market, the price of the top CPU is rising, how can ordinary consumers withstand it? Instead of pursuing those top performance, it is better to take a look at these affordable and reliable budget CPUs, they can also meet your daily needs, and also allow you to spend the rest of the money on the blade.

So, which CPUs are the "king of cost performance"? Come and keep up with me, let's take a look!

The most cost-effective CPU in 2024: do big things with little money

First, let's understand the basics of CPUs:

Cores and threads: The more cores you have, the more you can multitask, and the more threads you have, the more instructions you can process at the same time. For games, 6 cores and 12 threads are basically enough, and more than 8 cores and 16 threads can cope with larger games in the future.
Boost frequency: The higher the boost frequency, the faster the CPU can process data. Generally speaking, gamers can choose a CPU with a frequency of 3.5GHz or higher.
Caching: Caching is like a "little warehouse" for the CPU, storing and reading data quickly. The larger the L3 cache, the better the game performance.

Other tips for choosing a CPU:

Compatibility: Make sure the CPU is compatible with the motherboard and memory.
Heat dissipation: High-performance CPUs tend to generate more heat and require a good cooling system.
Overclocking: If you want to squeeze more CPU performance, consider an overclockable model.

The most cost-effective CPU in 2024: do big things with little money

AMD Ryzen 7 5700G: The king of value for money

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G came out on top in our review and is arguably the best affordable AMD CPU. With excellent performance, an affordable price, and integrated graphics, the Ryzen 7 5700G is far ahead in terms of price.

The most cost-effective CPU in 2024: do big things with little money

merit

The integrated graphics performs well, and it performs well in lightweight gaming and esports.
The perfect balance between performance and price.
Maintain low temperature operation under pressure test.
Unlike the previous generation Ryzen 4000G series, the Ryzen 7 5700G can be purchased separately.
包装盒内包含 Wraith Stealth 散热器。

shortcoming

For some players, 8-core processing power may be a bit excessive.
Gaming performance with discrete graphics cards doesn't stand out compared to its price.
At the beginning of the market, there were fewer compatible motherboard models.

Price

1169

Intel Core i5-10400: Value for money, but not perfect

For Intel users looking for affordability, the Core i5-10400 is a cost-effective processor. As part of Intel's 10th Gen Core lineup, the Core i5-10400 has 6 cores and delivers decent performance in gaming.

The most cost-effective CPU in 2024: do big things with little money

Merit:

Gaming performance is decent for a mid-range CPU, and it can run some mainstream games without any problems.
Low power consumption (TDP) is conducive to the power consumption control of the whole machine.
The original radiator is sufficient.

Shortcoming:

The Core i5-10400 tends to lag behind AMD competitors in performance across processors in the same price segment.
Using the LGA 1200 socket means that there is limited room to upgrade the motherboard.
Integrated graphics cards are weak and can only meet some basic needs.

Price

AMD Ryzen 5 5500: the king of the slightly inferior price/performance ratio?

Despite its vaunted value for money, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is slightly underperformed by some of its competitors, making it an alternative. If you're only focused on day-to-day office work and lightweight use, and you're on a tight budget, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is still an option. However, if you're planning to use it for gaming, or if you're willing to budget a little more, there are a few other processors that might be a better fit for you.

The most cost-effective CPU in 2024: do big things with little money

Merit:

Affordable
Acceptable performance in non-game-related tasks

Shortcoming:

Gaming performance is mediocre
There are alternatives that are more powerful and have little price difference

Price

Core i3-10100: Energy-efficient, but limited performance

For those who plan to pair it with a discrete graphics card, the Core i3-10100 is an affordable and energy-efficient option. Although the Core i3-10100 was outperformed by AMD's competitors at the time of launch, its low power consumption still makes it work in a discrete graphics solution.

The most cost-effective CPU in 2024: do big things with little money

Merit:

Low power consumption, quiet operation and heat dissipation.
It has integrated graphics, which is better than some AMD Ryzen processors that don't have integrated graphics.
At the beginning of 2021, the Core i3-10100 was relatively well available and relatively easy to obtain.

Shortcoming:

The Core i3-10100 is at a disadvantage overall among processors in its price segment.
Integrated graphics cards are too weak to meet the demands of mainstream gaming.
A motherboard that needs to be upgraded to an LGA 1200 socket is required to use it.

Price

AMD Ryzen 5 5600G:集成显卡之王

For gamers who are strapped for money and want to play PC games, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G processor with integrated Radeon graphics is definitely a boon for you! With excellent integrated graphics performance, the Ryzen 5 5600G is one of the most cost-effective gaming processors in its price segment.

The most cost-effective CPU in 2024: do big things with little money

merit

The integrated graphics are powerful enough to run some esports games and lightweight AAA games smoothly.
Very competitive price in AMD processor family.
Comprehensively outperforms Intel competitors in integrated graphics performance.
包装盒内包含 Wraith Stealth 散热器。
Compatible with the Radeon™ Software suite for easy graphics setup and optimization.

shortcoming

Compared to its cousin, the Ryzen 7 5700G, the integrated graphics card is slightly less performant.
At the beginning of the market, there were fewer compatible motherboard models.

Price

AMD Athlon 200GE:超低预算装机神器!AMD

For those with an extremely limited budget, the AMD Athlon 200GE is definitely a great value for the machine! As an ultra-low-budget processor, the Athlon 200GE has strong performance in its price segment, making it ideal for daily office and light use.

The most cost-effective CPU in 2024: do big things with little money

Merit:

It's a great price, but it delivers amazing performance
It supports multi-threading, even if you do some multitasking
Integrated graphics is leading the way in its price segment and can meet some basic graphics processing needs

Shortcoming:

The frequency doubling is not adjustable, limiting the performance of overclocking
With the price of Ryzen 3-series processors decreasing, Ryzen 3-series is becoming a more attractive option
The performance of the original radiator is average, and if it is used for a long time with high loads, there may be a problem of insufficient heat dissipation

Price

Intel Pentium Gold G6400: The Artifact of Ultra-Low Budget Builds!

For those looking for an affordable build, the Intel Pentium Gold G6400 is definitely a processor you can't afford to ignore. Compared to the AMD Athlon series of competitors, the G6400 is slightly better in terms of performance, while also being priced lower than the Core i3 and Ryzen 3 series processors. It is ideal for use as a computer host for daily office work.

The most cost-effective CPU in 2024: do big things with little money

merit

Super good value for money
With a 4GHz frequency, it can bring a smooth running experience in daily use
Support for hyper-threading technology can improve multitasking performance to a certain extent

shortcoming

Integrated graphics cards are weak enough to meet gaming and graphics needs
The motherboard price of the LGA1200 platform is slightly higher than that of other platforms, and the upgrade cost also needs to be taken into account

Price

Intel Celeron G5920: Acceptable price/performance

The Intel Celeron G5920 processor has some performance gains over the previous generation, but it still lags behind the AMD Athlon 200GE processor in most tests (provided you can get the Athlon 200GE).

The most cost-effective CPU in 2024: do big things with little money

Merit:

The price is low.
Compared to the previous generation of Celeron series processors, the performance has been improved.

Shortcoming:

In its price segment, performance is not as good as the AMD Athlon™ Athlon 200GE processor.
You need to use a motherboard with a LGA1200 platform, and the upgrade cost needs to be taken into account.

Price

When it comes to choosing the right desktop CPU, the most important deciding factor depends on what you're using it for and how often.

Here are some recommended budget CPUs for common uses:

Web browsing and composing documents:

Intel Celeron G5920
AMD Athlon 200GE

Light Gaming or Video Editing:

Amd 锐龙 3 3100
Intel Core i3-10100

Mainstream Games:

AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
Intel Core i5-11400

Video Editing or 3D Modeling:

AMD Ryzen™ 7 5800X
Intel Core i7-12700K

The most cost-effective CPU in 2024: do big things with little money