The top desktop CPUs from AMD and Intel will be the most effective processors in 2023.

The most crucial component of any PC is the greatest CPU. 
It’crucial to select the highest-performing, most energy-efficient one you can afford because they serve as the operation’s brains.

In addition to performing the vital operations that actually make the machine run, the best Intel processors and the best AMD processors even come with integrated graphics processors, which offer massive savings since the best graphics cards can cost hundreds of dollars. 

With the release of Intel Raptor Lake and the AMD Ryzen 7000-series processors, the very best processors from the previous generations are getting some healthy price cuts, which means more savings for you. Although, if you are looking for high-end builds, you’ll find some excellent high-end CPUs are going to provide outstanding levels of performance when it comes to content creation or playing the best PC games at high frame rates, making them worth the splurge.

We’ve tested the best CPUs on the market, putting them through their paces to see how they perform in the real world. And, we’re here to help you make the right choice for your needs and budget. Whether you want something to power your family desktop PC or are looking for a powerful chip for content creation, we have a terrific option for you below.

Intel Core i9-13900K

The Intel Core i9-13900K already had a very high bar to clear given the outstanding performance of the Intel Core i9-12900K, but when AMD released its Zen 4 processors in September 2022 to wide acclaim, Intel’s big. LITTLE follow-up had to essentially do everything right.

Incredibly, Team Blue manages just that with this chip. Whether it’s multithreaded workloads or single-threaded ones like gaming, the Core i9-13900K simply blows away the competition here, which is all the more impressive given the phenomenal performance of the rival AMD Ryzen 9 7950X processor.

Additionally, Intel was able to do this without increasing the cost of the chip compared to the prior generation, which is an amazing achievement given the inflationary pressures on the semiconductor industry brought on by still shaky supply chains, rising raw material prices, and other production-related costs.
Even though it’s still an expensive chip, the performance you receive for the price makes it well worth the expense. 
The long run will be highly beneficial for you with this chip.

AMD Ryzen 5 7600X

The most value-oriented processor in the new AMD Zen 4 lineup is the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, but don’t let its price fool you: this chip is anything but a lightweight. Sure, it can’t hold up against the massive, 16-core Ryzen 9 7950X, but its single-core performance is nearly on par with its beefier cousins.

What’s more, the lack of V-Cache doesn’t slow this chip down one bit when it comes to gaming performance, and gamers looking to make the jump to AMD’s AM5 platform will find a lot to love about this processor, especially as its more accessible cost helps to offset the cost of a new motherboard and RAM.

Fortunately, you won’t need a different CPU cooler if you already have one compatible with AM4, and fortunately the Ryzen 5 7600X manages to stay cool under load.

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X

The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is easily the best processor on the market right now with incredible performance, energy efficiency, and support for the latest DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 technology. There is no area where the processor doesn’t either match or surpass competing chips on the market, and coming in at a slightly lower price point than its predecessor, it is the enthusiast processor to own right now.
If there is one issue with the processor, it is that the new Ryzen 7000 series requires a new AM5 motherboard and does not support DDR4 RAM, necessitating the purchase of a new expensive RAM kit. However, given the generational leap here, there is no doubt that the price is justified for those with the financial resources to make significant system investments.