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A decent CPU is a must to play AAA games smoothly. Discover the best budget CPUs for the best 1440p gaming, including top Intel and AMD options.
To play modern AAA games or even competitive games, you need a good GPU that can produce enough framerates to run them smoothly. However, a good CPU is equally important, or it could bottleneck the GPU and prevent it from using its full potential. That’s why buying a decently powerful processor is recommended for every gamer, regardless of whether you play AAA or competitive games.
However, high-end CPUs are expensive, especially AMD Ryzen processors, which have increasingly gone out of many gamers’ budgets. Fortunately, there are a few exceptions that offer great performance without putting a hole in your wallet. In this article, we are sharing some of the best CPUs you can buy on a budget.
Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and reflect the writer’s opinions. Also, prices mentioned herein are subject to change.
What Are the Best CPUs for 1440p Gaming?
1) Intel Core i5-13600KF
The Intel Core i5-13600KF is a powerful gaming beast that has no problem running any AAA game. You can easily pair high-end GPUs like Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti or Radeon RX 9070 XT without causing any bottleneck. It can deliver high FPS in many games at 1440p, which is necessary for competitive games. It has a total of 14 cores, the highest on this list. This makes the Intel Core i5-13600KF future-proof against upcoming GPUs and games.
| Specifications | Details |
| Architecture | Raptor Lake |
| P-cores/threads | 6/12 |
| E-cores/threads | 8/8 |
| Total cores/threads | 14/20 |
| Max clock speed | 5.1 GHz |
| L3 cache | 24MB |
| RAM support | DDR4-3200 DDR5-5600 |
| Thermal design power (TDP) | 125W Typical | 181W Max |
| Manufacturing nodes | 10nm |
2) AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
The Ryzen 5 9600X is the only modern AM5-based AMD CPU available under the $200 mark. It is based on the latest Zen 5 architecture, which is not only great for gaming but also good for productivity applications. In fact, the Ryzen 5 9600X is so good in gaming that it can come strikingly close to AMD’s own Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU in some games, though not all.
It is also very competitive with the Intel Core i5-13600KF in many games. Its only caveat is that it has only six cores, which could be a bit of a limiting factor in the future.
| Specifications | Details |
| Architecture | Zen 5 |
| P-cores/threads | 6/12 |
| E-cores/threads | — |
| Total cores/threads | 6/12 |
| Max clock speed | 5.4 GHz |
| L3 cache | 32MB |
| RAM support | DDR5-5600 |
| Thermal design power (TDP) | 65W Typical | 88W Max |
| Manufacturing nodes | 4,6nm |
3) Intel Core i5-12600KF
The Intel Core i5-12600KF is an excellent CPU if you want to future-proof your new PC build without spending too much. It costs under $130, yet it has a total of 10 cores, which is impressive. It supports both DDR5 and DDR4, so you can choose either depending on your budget. If you have a really tight budget, go with DDR4, and you won’t lose too much performance.
However, if you have some budget to spare, we recommend choosing DDR5 instead, as it not only improves performance but also future-proofs your PC.
| Specifications | Details |
| Architecture | Alder Lake |
| P-cores/threads | 6/12 |
| E-cores/threads | 4/4 |
| Total cores/threads | 10/16 |
| Max clock speed | 4.9 GHz |
| L3 cache | 20MB |
| RAM support | DDR4-3200 DDR5-4800 |
| Thermal design power (TDP) | 125W Typical | 150W Max |
| Manufacturing nodes | 10nm |
4) Intel Core i5-13400F
The Intel Core i5-13400F is another fantastic budget CPU from Intel. It has the same core count and similar gaming power as the Intel Core i5-12600KF, but at a lower price and with lower power consumption. It costs under $130, and you won’t find a better processor than this at that price. Like other Intel CPUs on this list, it also supports both DDR4 and DDR5, so you can choose either. The Intel Core i5-13400F also won’t bottleneck high-end graphics cards. Therefore, users with tight budgets should consider buying it.
| Specifications | Details |
| Architecture | Raptor Lake |
| P-cores/threads | 6/12 |
| E-cores/threads | 4/4 |
| Total cores/threads | 10/16 |
| Max clock speed | 4.6 GHz |
| L3 cache | 20MB |
| RAM support | DDR4-3200 DDR5-4800 |
| Thermal design power (TDP) | 65W Typical | 148W Max |
| Manufacturing nodes | 10nm |
5) Intel Core i5-12400F
The Intel Core i5-12400F is the cheapest CPU on this list, yet the value it delivers makes it an exceptional choice. It only has six cores, but it can still deliver excellent gaming performance at 1440p. The Intel Core i5-12400F is best paired with premium mid-range graphics cards, such as RTX 5060 Ti or Radeon RX 9060 XT. However, GPUs more powerful than that will bottleneck a bit at 1440p resolution.
| Specifications | Details |
| Architecture | Raptor Lake |
| P-cores/threads | 6/12 |
| E-cores/threads | — |
| Total cores/threads | 6/12 |
| Max clock speed | 4.4 GHz |
| L3 cache | 18MB |
| RAM support | DDR4-3200 DDR5-4800 |
| Thermal design power (TDP) | 65W Typical | 117W Max |
| Manufacturing nodes | 10nm |
Final Thoughts
The Intel Core i5-13600KF and AMD Ryzen 5 9600X deliver the best performance in 1440p gaming and can be paired with high-end GPUs without any issues. However, cheaper options like the Intel Core i5-13400F and others can also be great alternatives. You should choose a processor based on your needs and budget.
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