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How to choose a processor: cores, platform and what the letters mean

For most people the processor (CPU) matters less than the graphics card for gaming, and more for work like video editing, 3D or compiling code. The right choice depends on what you do with the PC, which motherboard platform you buy into, and a few letters in the model name that change a lot.

1. What will the PC do?

Office, browsing, streaming: any current 6-core processor is more than enough. A model with integrated graphics saves you a graphics card.
Gaming: 6 to 8 fast cores are the sweet spot. Games care more about speed per core and cache than about many cores.
Creative work (video, 3D rendering, photo batches, compiling): more cores pay off directly. 12, 16 or more cores cut waiting times.
Gaming and streaming at the same time: 8 cores or more.

2. Platform: the socket decides your motherboard

A processor only fits motherboards with the same socket, so you choose a platform, not just a chip.

AMD AM5 (Ryzen 7000 and 9000): the current AMD platform, with DDR5 memory. AMD has a track record of supporting a socket for several generations, which makes later upgrades easier.
AMD AM4 (Ryzen 5000 and older): an older platform with DDR4 memory. Still a good, cheap way to build or upgrade, but no new generations will come.
Intel LGA1851 (Core Ultra 200S): Intel's current desktop platform, with DDR5.
Intel LGA1700 (12th to 14th generation Core): the previous platform, with DDR4 or DDR5 depending on the board. Often good value now.

Check the socket on the product page and match it with the motherboard. Upgrading within the same socket may need a BIOS update first.

3. The letters in the name

AMD "X3D": extra cache stacked on the chip. These are the fastest gaming processors available, for a higher price.
AMD "G": a stronger integrated graphics chip, for a PC without a graphics card. Most other current Ryzen models have only very basic graphics.
Intel "K": unlocked for overclocking, usually also the fastest version.
Intel "F": no integrated graphics. Cheaper, but you need a graphics card even to see a picture.

We show integrated graphics on each product page, so you can check before you buy.

4. Cooling and power

Some processors come with a cooler in the box, many (especially the faster ones) don't. Budget €30–60 for a decent air cooler if it's missing; check "Cooler in the box" on the product page.
The TDP (in watts) hints at how much heat the processor makes. Above about 120 W, a solid tower cooler or a liquid cooler keeps it quiet and fast.

5. What to spend

Under €200: 6-core processors, great for gaming and everyday use.
€200–400: 8 to 16 cores, including the best gaming chips.
€400 and up: high core counts for heavy creative work.

Don't overspend on the processor in a gaming PC: the same money usually buys more frames when it goes into the graphics card.

6. How to tell a real deal

Processor prices drop steadily over a generation, and older models often stay listed at their old price. Check the price history on each product page: a real deal is low compared with the last weeks. Compare across generations too: a discounted previous-generation chip can beat a new one at full price.