This year has seen an abundance of new CPUs from AMD and Intel for desktop computers, with both manufacturers unveiling updated processor architectures and variations of existing models.
In the Team Red arena, 2024 commenced with a Zen 3 chip, represented by the Ryzen 7 5700X3D. Essentially, this is just a processor that couldn’t quite qualify as a Ryzen 7 5800X3D; however, it might be preferable due to its lower cost and comparable speed.
Zen 5 made its official debut in August, receiving a somewhat lackluster welcome. This is largely because, even with a total architectural revamp, it doesn’t significantly outperform Zen 4. Yet for sheer computational capability, the Ryzen 9 9950X remains extremely competitive, especially considering it consumes less power than its rivals.
We all had elevated expectations for Intel’s Core Ultra 200S processors, but they unfortunately fell short. Honestly, the majority of PC gaming aficionados were mostly focused on one specific CPU, and when the Ryzen 7 9800X3D finally launched, it did not disappoint us. AMD’s third iteration of 3D V-Cache continues to be impressive.
I have deliberately highlighted these three processors as they are the contenders for the best gaming CPU of 2024. While we will declare the winner on New Year’s Eve, let’s explore the reasons behind their selection.
Best gaming CPU 2024: the contenders
The victor of the PC Gamer Hardware Award for the top gaming CPU will be unveiled on New Year’s Eve. AMD secures a win regardless, but only one of its 2024 processors can achieve the title of best.
